The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - A First for LeBron, The 6 NBA Truths

Episode Date: November 19, 2025

Colin breaks down LeBron James’ season debut for the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers, explaining why LeBron’s on-court chemistry with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves looks seamless early, but why the Lakers could still face major challenges as the competition improves. Colin explains why outrage over Cam Skattebo's appearance on Monday Night Raw is overblown. Plus, Colin delivers the 6 truths about the best players in the NBA.See 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.

Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Joey Dardano, and on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, 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, and 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. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the Iheart radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast Deeply Well with Debbie Brown if you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you to hear more.

Listen to Deeply Well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go.

Wednesday, live in Chicago, it's the herd, people are upset, LeBron's happy, Joel Klatz stops by, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Well, the story last night, and I think I've talked about this all summer long, is that LeBron has always been the best. player on his team. Now, last year, Luca was injured and put on some weight. So I believe on most nights, LeBron was at least Luca's equal and many times he was better than Luca. So last night, LeBron made his season debut and it was a perfect night. Utah's the worst defensive team by a

mile in the NBA. The Lakers had 16 laps and 74 points in the paint. No physicality. It was a home game. The healthiest, the Lakers roster has been in years, and LeBron eased his way back into it. He didn't have the ball much in his hands. His passing was, as usual, exceptional. When Walker Kessler is out for Utah, they are so bad defensively.

And LeBron appropriately did not insert himself into the offense much. In fact, the usage rate is what I want to see going forward. Luca had the ball 44% of the time. I'd be happy at 46-47. Austin Reeves had it 25% of the time. LeBron had it 13, and it was all smiles. Do I think taking seven shots and having the ball in his hands 13% of the time, well, I think LeBron's going to be happy with that in April.

I do not. But LeBron is really smart. he's always calculated, he's always intentional. From the food he eats to the shots he takes. And the Lakers are a fun, well-coached offense, a joyful atmosphere. Last night felt like an intense scrimmage. Utah's that bad defensively. And LeBron's always been an incredibly adaptable player.

Michael Jordan was not. The Lake Kobe was not. Carmelo was not. LeBron's always been adaptable. But let's keep it 100. LeBron now for the first time in his career is absolutely the second best player on a team. He was better than D. Wade. He was better than Bosch. It was better than Kevin Love. He was better than Kyrie. He was better than AD. All of them. And he was better than Chunky Luca last year on most nights. But I said all summer, Skinny Luca is the best offensive player in the world. Skinny Luca last night had 37 points. Could have scored more.

It felt like something you'd see at the Y. he scored whenever he felt like it. Utah is atrocious defensively, and LeBron's calculated. He picked this week to come back. Why? They play Utah twice, no physicality in a bunch of days off. So I will say this. J.J. Redick has created, he is a really good offensive coach. This offense, the spacing's fantastic. It never gets jammed up. They really pass well. It's a very giving offense. But LeBron's never been a true Robin. He's always been Batman on almost every night of his career. So he's not settling for seven shots. He's not settling for 13% ball usage.

But that's kind of where I'd like him at. Maybe 18, 20, 21%. That's not a knock on him. Luca is so dominant and LeBron is so old, that's what it should be for the regular season. And I think it's a challenge. That's all I've said. I think it's a challenge.

This is an offensive team. It's not like the Lakers were great defensively last night either. They trailed for, you know, three quarters and gave up a ton. But LeBron, he's intentional. He picked the right team. He picked the right night. Here's J.J. Redick after. Just thought he played with the right spirit.

Very unselfish all night. You know, it was a willing passer, didn't force it. Took his drives and his shots when they were there. you know, there's the defense is going to pay attention to him, particularly when he has the ball in the post, particularly when he's putting pressure on the rim. And I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really good to have him back.

One of the criticisms of LeBron has been, you know, on social media, he's very measured, he's very calculated. I don't see it as a weakness. I think he's smart. I think this country is very polarized. It's very punitive. If you say the wrong thing in a social media outlet, LeBron picked Utah twice, and look at the schedule right now.

A lot of days off, Utah twice. Perfect team, perfect night, Lakers healthy. But that usage rate, all I'm saying is, this team is really running overwhelmingly and should through Luca 1. And on some nights, when Austin Reeves gets hot and feels a jumper, Austin Reeves too. Doesn't mean Austin's better than LeBron. But the way JJ Reddick's offense runs, Austin Reeves needs the ball too.

Good win, though. All right. So the college football bracket came out. Everybody always gets worked up. Got a lot of football to go. The team that's really upset is the Miami Hurricanes. Apparently, their nine fans are furious because they are ranked 11th. Notre Dame is ninth, and they beat Notre Dame.

Kane's fans, all nine of you, college football has changed. Head-to-head matters. It's not everything, it's a thing. And timing matters more, right? So Miami has two losses to unranked teams, bad teams, and ugly losses in the previous format and this format are always the worst thing. And timing matters. When do you lose?

Notre Dame has not lost since September 13th. And when they lost, they lost the good teams, and they were very close, go-either-way games. Okay, so college football now is a little bit like college classes. It's about midterms, but mostly it's about the final. It's not about your first test of the year. So Miami had a great opening line on their date, and then 10 minutes later spilled ravioli all over their white dress shirt. They have not been good in a month, and they've lost a couple of games in a month to unranked teams in that month. So take a deep breath.

The committee is basically just saying, yes, right now, based on the last six or seven weeks, Notre Dame's better than Miami. That's the way the NFL works. And remember, college football, the last two to three years, is more like NFL football than it. it is like college football 20 years ago. NIL. Quarterbacks now in college making three, four, and five. I just heard last night about a tight end that's going to make $2.5 million.

A tight end recruit. The transfer portal. Well, I mean, the transfer portal might as well be free agency. Lane Kiffin was talking about that three years ago. And the college football playoff means you can be Ohio State and lose your last game to Michigan as a 20-point favorite and still win the Natty. So nobody's saying,

head-to-head doesn't matter, it's a thing. But timing matters. What did you do after the head-to-head matters? I mean, the Raiders beat the Patriots in week one. How much does that matter today? In the 14-team playoffs, starting at about a month and a half, two months, how much does that matter? It doesn't really. In the first week of college football, nobody cares about Ohio State and Texas.

Ohio State's number one, not because they beat Texas in week one. They're number one because of what they did after that. And Texas is going to miss the college football playoff. It's not because of that loss. It's the losses after. Mario Cristobal, though, not happy, still thinks we beat Notre Dame, we should be ahead of them. The number one criteria, anything, is always had the biggest.

It's why we play the game, right? So I think that always has been. and always will mean the number one factor in the term of whatever relates to whatever. So let's just extrapolate this and exaggerate this to prove my point. Let's say Miami had beaten Notre Dame and then lost five straight games. And Notre Dame loses close to Miami and then blows out the next five teams. Do you really think a five-loss Miami team should be ranked ahead of one-lost Notre Dame team? Obviously, if anybody has an IQ above motor or?

oil and salad dressing. No. So to prove a point, exaggerate the point. Obviously head-to-head is something, but it's close, it's go either way, it's a one-handed catch, it's something, if not everything,

and if I had to put 12 teams together today, I do think this morning Notre Dame slightly better. So there you go. J. Mack, I know you're feeling it for LeBron. I will say. say this. LeBronzo has been one of the shrewder guys in the league. Last night, he knew.

He watched this team. I mean, he's watching the offense. And he and JJ Redick used to have a podcast. You know they talked about this. You know it was discussed. And I thought LeBron was very smart to just smoothly put himself in. He didn't want to get in the way of what the team was doing offensively. So did you notice last night what LeBron really concentrated on his passing was unbelievable. He looked like magic in the mid-80. I mean, he was no look pastile. LeBron was like, listen, man, it's going to take about six games. And even Austin Reeves said after, we had to tweak a few things here and there, but LeBron was smart enough to realize, I'm going to be the facilitator tonight. I'm going to be a, and he was. He played defense. He was a real

facilitator. He did not do ball usage. That was intentional. Yeah. Even coming up the court, you could see he would just give it to Luca and get out of the way. He would go to the side, wait, see what was going on, move off the ball. Listen, man, I know you were hammering. Well, it's not going to work when he comes back. It is only Utah. But Colin, their offense was unreal last night. I mean, the passing, the cutting off ball movement.

And they get like four days off, as you said, before the jazz again. And if you look at the schedule after that, it's going to be like an 18 and six Lakers team at some point. Okay? They're coming for OKC. I'm not even kidding. OKC is a juggernaut. I get it. They want to win 70 games.

Go for it. Okay. Just keep an eye on the Lakers, my friend. All right. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Hey, we're Kavino and Rich. Fox Sports Radio every day, 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern. But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Overpromised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two-hour show. We never get to everything.

Honestly, because this guy is overpromising things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubberlips. Blame and me. Well, you know what? It's called overpromise. You should be good at it because you've been overpromising women for years. Well, it's a Kavino and Rich after show, and we want you to be a part of it. We're going to be talking sports, of course.

But we're also going to talk life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called overpromised. Well, if you don't get enough, Kavino and Rich, make sure you check out overpromise. And also uncensored, by the way. Maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's going to be the best after-show podcast of all time. There you go. Overpromising.

And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely join us. Listen to Overpromised with Kavino and Rich on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's us to 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 a podcast. A pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. 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. Oh, 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 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 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 podcasts. Keith Giamanka seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad, but secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy. But I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong

and what that might look like? No. I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life. That is not the look of an innocent man.

This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior. and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find

clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social. and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Ardano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet.

Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and 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 and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice. to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice

from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coultera podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We were talking about this yesterday. I had said before the season, um, I picked the Denver Broncos to win the AFC West, and I said the dynasty is over for Kansas City. They'll still win Super Bowls. They'll still be a playoff team. They'll still be good. But the dynasty parts over.

And dynasties don't last. I mean, the Patriots had two dynasties, but in the middle, they had a stretch where they didn't win Super Bowls. Is that the Patriots dynasty, as we talked about yesterday, Mahomes has regressed a little the last year and a half. The Patriots dynasty did not end because Tom Brady got worse. It ended for two reasons. Number one, Belichick took over personnel to too large of a degree. And the Patriots had five or six straight, really, really weak drafts, especially on offense. They became a really slow team at tight end and wide receiver.

That's not going to be a problem with Kansas City. Brett Veach is a great GM. He controls the draft, and Andy Reid didn't want to have any part of it. Secondly, the second reason the New England dynasty died was Belichick again. Tom got tired of dealing with grumpy, rigid bill. He just didn't want to deal with it. So he told friends and teammates and his agent a year out, I'm out of here. That's not going to happen.

Mahomes gets along with Andy Reed. So the two problems that ended it, in the NBA, dynasties usually end because of like ego or resentment. Kobe and Shaq. K.D. got offended by Draymond and the Warriors. Michael Jordan didn't like the front office or the ownership of the bulls, so he went to baseball. It's different. It's different culture. It's more of a me culture in basketball.

It's more of a we culture. And Belichick's grumpiness, rigidity, and taking over personnel, I think, forced Tom out. In the NFL, dynasties usually end because people get old and beat up. Joe Montana got old and Gromkin Edelman got old. Brady got old, but was remarkably fit. So I think Kansas City, what's happened is, and here's a truth about dynasties. You go look at that Seahawk dynasty, almost dynasty. You look at the teams that.

look like right now could win a couple of Super Bowls like Denver and Philly what do they have in common they have six to seven great players all in their prime Kansas City's got one and a half Trent McDuffie and Mahomes Chris Jones and Travis Kelsey are way out of their prime Rams have about six elite players in their prime Stafford's the old guy but still elite Kyron Williams in his prime pooka in his prime Jared verse just entered it Kobe Turner I mean they the tight end they just, the safety, they drafted out of Miami. That kid is good now.

Philadelphia, Denver, Detroit's struggling, but Detroit's got Pnei Sewell and Amaran St. Bamar, Jamar Gibbs, Jamar Gibbs, Branch. Jared Goff's still very much late prime. Kansas City's not. They're getting old. It's got a little, you know, Joe Montana, Edelman Grong, getting old field to it. So if they beat Indianapolis this weekend, it's a go-either-way game. I think I'd probably take the points in Indian Arrowhead,

although Kansas City's been a much better home team than a road team this year. But their biggest problem, it's not ego, it's not resentment, it's not lousy drafts, it's not the coach wanting to be GM, it's not resentment between quarterback and coach. It's not of that New England stuff. They're getting old, and they don't have enough good elite players in their prime. Here's Andy Reid on their struggles. The guys, they get it.

I mean, some of these guys have been through some pretty good seasons, and this one, this isn't like this one's lost. So we got to clean up a few of these things, and the urgency level, obviously, we need to make sure we take care of that now. So if they beat the Colts this weekend, and they've been a better home than road team, chances are I think they'll sneak their way into it. But it's really, if you go look at the history of the NFL, that's why I said about the 49ers.

The Niners had about a three-year run when Bosa was young and healthier, and then Kittle, and here came McCaffrey, and then there was Debo, and then there was Fred Warner, and oh, wow, Hufunga's getting really good, really fast, and then everybody got really old, and guys got injured, and guys got traded, and guys get moved. So that's why I didn't like San Francisco this year. Wasn't a coach. It wasn't McCaffrey. It wasn't even Brock Purdy.

It's they don't have enough elite guys in their prime. And I don't think the Chiefs do either. Jay McLeodneuse. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's start with Thursday night football and Josh Allen. Josh Allen and the Bills visit the Texans and Collins.

Do you know Josh Allen is tied currently with Cam Newton for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback? If he gets one on Thursday against the Texans. Now that defense is tough. We don't know if he'll get it. He will pass Cam Newton and be the leading touchdown rusher among quarterbacks in NFL history. Kind of staggering because Alan's still a young guy. He's got many years ahead of him. How about this?

We got the list, Colin. I bet you can't guess who's third after Josh Allen and Cam Newton who are tied. Steve Young. No. Hold on. Rushing touchdowns? Yep. Lamar?

No. Hold on, hold on, hold on. You want a hint? No, hold on. Not Steve Young, not Michael Vic. No, sir, Reeve-Bob. So not Lamar, not Michael, not Steve Young. I like the guys you're naming.

They're really awesome quarterbacks. Okay, hold on. This guy must be spectacular. Okay, so you have Cam one, Josh Allen, two. Hold on, hold on. Give me a hint. rhymes with Bush Rush

That was bad Jalen Hertz, Colin He's third Jalen hurts already That doesn't shock He's got 61 Well the tush push Yeah

Well it's not only the tush push Basically the overarching theme here is Hey man It's a running quarterback here You need your quarterback right now To be able to have wheels and be mobile That's where we are I know Brady wasn't mobile

You know Steve Young was obviously But now your quarterback has to be dual threat. Josh Allen is elite, reigning MVP, and Jalen Hertz obviously is only come up. You saw it with the Niners this weekend. When Purdy can move, it gives you about 25% more playbook. It just allows you to move the pocket, especially in the red zone where you can, I mean, that's why you and I have said this. Bo Neck should run more. Caleb should probably run less. Bo Neck should run more. Bo Necks doesn't have Josh Allen's frame. Jalen Hertz is stocky. Josh Allen is thick. Bo Nex gets a hit and

he could be down for the count. So, Colin, let me ask. Good question here. Best rushing quarterback of all time. Who you got? For an individual play, Lamar Jackson or Michael Vick, for one play. For one play, okay. Yeah, I mean, if you just said, I got to get 12 yards in a scramble.

I think Lamar's first three years in the league, there was nothing like it. Because he's elusive. Right. And he's so fast. I would say, for one yard, I'd take Jalen Hertz or Tom Brady. Yeah. Brady sneak and the tush push for one. one yard, I would take Brady Hurts.

For one play to get a first down, I would take Lamar Jackson's first three years. For one game, you might take Josh Allen. Because he can take more hits. Unbreakable, yeah. All right, next story, Colin, we've got to go back to the Eagles here. Nick Siriani was forced to address all the reports

about Jalen Hertz, you know, being Carson Wentz 2.0. I think it's nonsense. Some Philadelphia Eagles players on social media historically have gone after the reporter who's claiming this. But anyways, here's Siriani getting asked about the Eagles possibly moving off Jalen Hertz. What are you doing to help your team win football games?

And shoot, we find a way to help us when I love his, you know, attention to detail, and I love his leadership, and I love his, you know, just his mindset of I'm going to do everything I can do to win this game. Sometimes that means handing it off. Sometimes that means me running it, you know, and sometimes that means me throwing it. where I need to throw it. And he does a great job of leading this football team. Yeah, I mean, it's, I always feel like a quarterback, like for instance, if I was paying $60 million a year for Jalen Hertz, I'd be looking to move it.

But what I pay Baker and say, hold on, why? Because he's not Josh Allen and nobody in the world, including Greg Kossel, who watches every piece of film, thinks he's an elite passer. I mean, literally he has Devon. Smith and AJ Brown and nobody's really happy at wide receiver. So I'll pay four or five guys in this league, whatever the market bears. A lot of guys in this, I mean, it's an interesting thing with Joe Burrow now. Joe Burrow is not available about every other year.

What do I pay Joe Burrow? Okay, I mean, seriously, that, no, is Joe Burrow a better throw over the ball than Jalen Hertz? Absolutely. But Hertz is available. Hertz is always there on Sunday. So, I mean, all of this stuff, man, there's about five. five guys that are always available and almost always great and can overcome. But I think Hertz falls into that.

What's the number? What is the number if it's fairly reasonable? Like Brock Purdy, the number's reasonable. If it was $22 million more a year, I'd move Brock Purdy. So everybody's got a number. They always say everybody's got a price. Every quarterback has a number and there's about four guys on the earth. I don't care what they make.

Whatever it takes to get them in the locker room on Sunday, I'm for that number. So again, let's say this report is true. I don't believe it to be true. I don't think there's major problems with Hertz. What if AJ Brown this offseason goes to the Eagles and says, hey, guys, I love you, I can't play with this quarterback. Trade me or trade him?

No, you trade the receiver. Okay, thank you. Now, let me take it a next step. Siriani and Hertz have butted heads reportedly in the past. What if Nick Siriani does that, Colin? Hey, Howie, I need my own quarterback. I'm sorry. No.

I want out if you. don't get me a new quarterback. Then what do you do if you're the Eagles? Well, it's not a good quarterback class. So I'd probably keep the quarterback. I can find Nick Seriani. I can't find another starting quarterback that wins 22 at 25 starts. Right. Out of college, yes. But you could make a play for Mac Jones. You could go Kyler Marie. There's other guys out there. I'm just saying like, yeah, those guys come with limitations and baggage. Jalen Hertz has, Jalen Hertz is not a great pocket passer, but he's a lot of things I like. tough, strong, available, durable, smart, good with a microphone, team guy.

So it's a pretty deep ball. I don't want to pay him Josh money, but he's a really good professional football player. You like him and you like wins. He's 27 and he wins close and he wins on the road and he beats good teams. Philly beats good teams. There's no fraud in Philly. No. They may be flawed.

They're not a fraud. Final story is the Minnesota Vikings. and J.J. McCarthy did not have a great game against the Bears. That was my one of my misses over the weekend. I thought McCarthy would play well here. He did not. Well, Kevin O'Connell was asked about his starting quarterback. And I don't know.

This doesn't sound great if you're J.J. McCarthy. We're all just looking for continued evidence of the growth that he can take some of the things he's working very hard on the practice field to make, you know, as the phrase I've been using with him, we've got to start seeing. this cement dry on some of the things that we've really worked hard to make football habits for him from a fundamentals and technique standpoint. I would equate it to swinging a golf club and

sometimes you swing it with your left foot on the ground. Sometimes you don't. Sometimes you widen your stance really. You're never going to hit that golf ball the same way. And playing quarterback is about the variables that you can control. Listen, this points to how difficult

finding a franchise quarterback is. I mean, privately, everybody I talked to in the NFL like Drake May. I don't think anybody thought early year two, he'd be the most accurate quarterback and a great road quarterback. It's really hard. I mean, this guy played in the NFL. Kevin O'Connell, super smart. A lot of people like J.J. McCarthy out of college. I didn't work for me, but I've been wrong before on guys. So it just points the Vikings Raffwell. They're smart. They've got good offensive people, good eyes in the building. It's hard. It is hard.

I always said if Mahomes ended up in Minnesota and not Kansas City, would that mean, I mean, Kansas City and Minnesota my entire life have been well-run organizations. The difference is Mahomes. That's the difference in organizations. They both had good coaches. They both had stable ownership. They both had good drafting and good front offices.

They both won playoff games. They both get to the playoffs. They're both respectable organizations. the difference is Mahomes. Put it on the Vikings, they would be a notch above historically, Kansas City. So I'm looking at the Viking schedule. I think we would agree.

They're probably cooked this year, especially given the NFC. Green Bay this weekend, then Seattle, they'll beat Washington. Dallas is no layup. You see Detroit and Green Bay there. They're not getting into the playoffs, okay? So what do you do?

Is this like a basically, hey, JJ, we need to see some stuff or we're going to be drafting the kid from Baylor, Sawyer Robertson in the fourth round this year? Like, are we doing that? Are we already there with McCarthy after five games? We need to see a big, big leap? No, I'd let him play the next seven games, sit down as an organization,

and, you know, I think Mac Jones is in play. But I have no interest sitting J.J. McCarthy. I want seven, I want to see the next seven games because he plays Green Bay's defense and the Seahawks defense. We made twice. Yeah, so those are three of the games are against elite defenses. What if he split with Green Bay? What if he played great this weekend at Lambo?

Okay. So I am where Minnesota is. We're probably not a Super Bowl team. Let it play out. Give me every snap. It's not like Chicago last year where it was dysfunctional. This is highly functional, right? The bears today are functional.

Last year, there were dysfunctional that hurt the young quarterback. What's troubling is the Vikings are well coached, well-run, well-coordinated. well-stocked, good tool belt, and it's not working. So you just play it out for seven games, and then everybody can go to a room privately. They don't have to talk to the press and make a decision, raise their hands, thumb up, thumb down. No reason to sit him now, none at all.

Totally. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. So, listen, I don't know about you guys, but I was watching a little Monday Night Raw WWE, not just the Cowboy Raider game,

and did you guys see Cam Scataboo with that thing? Apparently a lot of giant fans didn't like it. So we went and got the videotape. They didn't like him, you know, off a surgery, screwing around horseplay at WWE. So I looked at the footage and two things jumped out to me on the Cam Scataboo footage. Number one is, isn't it odd how one security?

security guard is holding back five large men, and there appear to be 84 punches thrown, and none of them land. It's almost as if this is scripted. So I don't want my players who are young, and Abdul Carter was there, and a couple of giants were there, so it felt like team bonding for me. And I know a lot of you are getting, you're freaked out over this, but basically WWE is dancing with the stars, but more choreographed. Call it dancing with some scars. Is what WWE is. So I don't have a problem with this.

I don't need Scatibu to be home and miserable. That appears to be comedian podcaster Andrew Schultz. So that leads me to believe this is scripted. I don't think he would go and fight large men in tights. That's just how I view the world. So I don't make much of it. I've been to a couple of WWE events. They are fun.

My son's not a wrestling fan. I've never seen him laugh more than when I took them to WWE and had great seats. I was sitting right in front of Bill Simmons. I had better seats than Simmons, of course. But the point is, I think we're all going to be okay with this. I don't want you guys freaking out from the video. It looks, I mean, either that or that one security guard holding back five grown men is, if I ever need one, I'm hiring that guy, because he does yeoman's work here.

Really impressive. 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, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast?

Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. 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 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 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 podcasts. Keith Giamonka seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad. But secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea?

It seemed very crazy. But I felt so desperate that I felt it was. the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like? No. I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue.

Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier.

We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you. To hear more, listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or

wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Orsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They hold Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues.

I like the bougie style of Housewives. show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the team everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game.

As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm watching some Lakers and I'm watching some Bulls and I'm watching some Celtics and a warrior. Steph's great, warriors aren't. Luke had 37 last night for the Lakers and he's just an unbelievable offensive player, best offensive player on the planet. So Adam Silver, and I've defended that.

him silver. When David Stern took over the NBA, the NBA was broken. There was a cocaine rumors, bankrupt teams, awful owners, it was awful. So David Stern wanted to put the name on the back of the jersey, you know, Jordans.

He wanted to put it on the front. He wanted to sell the individual. He wanted the shoe companies involved. It was the right thing to do at the right time. And with that, you had dynasties formed. Big markets did very well. Lakers and Boston and Chicago and Detroit, big markets did very well.

Adam Silver took over for David Stern and it was a different league. There was some resentment that the league was too top heavy. So I will defend Adam Silver on this. He has created the new CBA, all these second and third aprons. Owners are not willing to pay $100 million annually in taxes. And so seven years, seven champions. There's a lot of uncertainty going into the playoffs. Nobody's really sure.

But I thought this morning, as I was watching the Lakers last night, here are the six things that are not debatable. Everything else in the NBA is debatable right now, except these six things. Number one is the best player is still Nicola Yonkins. The Joker for Denver is a scoring, passing, rebounding machine. I've never seen a big guy with this many skills. He's averaging 29, 13, and 11, and the only guy in the league to do it.

He was the only guy last year to go 27, 12, and 9. he is on any given night the best shooter from the perimeter the best shooter midrange the best low post player and when he wants to play defense he's not bad best player in the league is the joker it is not debatable second thing the best pure score skinny luka luka first three years skinny and luka now you can't stop him i mean he's six seven and a half long all knee knee's and elbows. He gets whatever he wants, whenever he wants. He's as good a shooter as Larry Bird, but quicker. There's just no weakness. He's actually when he wants to be a good passer, but he shouldn't pass much because he's that good. He's just, you know, I said he's like

Dirk Novitsky, but stronger and quicker. Larry Bird, but quicker, he is the best offensive, pure player on the planet, Luca. Number three is, let's not even deny it. They're not even healthy now. O KC is the best team. Folks, They're 82 and 15 since the start of last season. Last year they won by an average of 13 points. They're deep, they're big, Hartnstein, Chet Holman. They have physicality. They have an elite score.

They've got a great number two. They're well coached. They have the Howie Roseman of GMs. O'KC is the best team. The play number four, if you asked every GM next 10 years, who's the player you build around? It would be Wembe, not the Joker. Wemby every year, his stats are getting better, scoring, rebounding, shooting efficiency.

He is already the best shot blocker since the NBA started tracking it in the early 70, 73, 74. The best shot blocker ever, better offensively. I mean, there's no doubt, I'm not sure, outside of LeBron, and maybe Michael Jordan in my life, M.J. LeBron and Wembe, if you asked every GM, when all three of those players were like 25, 24, who would you build around? It's unanimous, and I love the Joker. Number five is, and it's not close, the Western Conference is, it's not even the same sport. It's so much better than the Eastern Conference. Six of the last nine champs are from the West. The top three MVP favorites now from the West, seven of the top 10 MVP favorites.

are from the West. Offensively, it's a different conference than the East. Now, again, if Tatum and Halliburton were around, it would be at least not quite as lobsided. But right now, the West feels like the SEC about six years ago. There wasn't even an argument. I mean, now they may be the best. Big Ten's pretty good.

Six years ago, there was no argument. That's the West and the East now. And number six is, Steph Curry remains the best long-distance shooter in the league. Even Luca, as great as he is, can't compare to Steph. Leads the NBA and threes made this season. In fact, old Steph in the last five years has made 1,621 threes. Number two has made 350 fewer.

There is no question. There has never been a shooter this good from this distance. So everything else in the NBA to me is absolutely debatable. Except these six things. Yokic's the best player. Luca the best peer score. Thunder the best team. Wembe's who'd you build around for the next five to ten years.

The West is much better than the East. And when it comes to shooting threes, there's one guy in the league I want to take in that final shot. And that is Steph. I thought this was interesting. I was, J-Mack, do you have any thoughts on that? Well, real quick, Colin,

look on the screen. All I see is Western Conference players indeed. What is the East that bad? I saw the Pacers. I just had to look up the standings. The Pacers are 1 and 13? Yes. For those who question Halliburton's value.

Gosh. I mean, Miles Turner left, but they traded. Yeah, or they lost Turner. So if anybody out there that doesn't get Halliburton, you don't get basketball. And the Knicks just aren't. as interesting yet maybe. I mean, if they trade Carlinthic Towns,

Janus to the Knicks would be great for the league. That's a little sad for the East. Oof. Yeah. So I was watching. Yeah, I don't, I just keep my eye on what people are watching. I've always said, you, the audience, the consumer, sort of drive this show. I pick, you, you largely have a say in what we talk about.

And I watch ratings. Baseball, the last two years, I've spent a ton of time on baseball. Why? The numbers have popped. the National League, the Phillies, the Mets, the Padres, the Dodgers, the Cubs, even the upstart brewers, it's interesting. I went a long time not talking a lot of college football because I thought it got very regional. It became Georgia, Bama, and Clemson. And that's just one tiny subset of the country, right?

But college football now, everybody was terrified, transfer portal, NIL, playoff, going to ruin the college football season. Have you looked at the numbers? both networks, Fox and ESPN, both the pregame shows, up 20-some percent. And I think, well, there's two things I can promise you. AI and college football, they're both going to grow. I know a lot of people don't like changes, but AI will broaden the economy. It won't wreck it.

And college football with the playoff, the NIL, the transfer portal, the ratings are incredible. It's popped. And I find myself, I mean, this weekend's a great example. I get Oregon and USC, so I get some old school Pact 12 football. But I thought it was great watching Iowa USC last weekend and Oregon, Iowa the year before. And so I still get the old school Pact 12 that I love. I can still get Texas playing an old foe.

But I don't know how anybody can argue college football now. there's just more big games. And to me, college football always had one or two primary issues. Number one was a big game shortage. And number two was, if you lost a second game by mid-October, your season was over. You're playing in the Alamo Bowl. Now, Notre Dame's got two losses. I think they're going to make the playoffs.

Miami had big wins early. They may not. USC beats Oregon. They're probably going to. going to make it. And there was this fear that the little guy was just going to get suffocated by all the money of the NIL. Well, it just so happens. Old Miss has a lot of money. And Lane Kiffin's going to make the play out. And Indiana apparently has enough money to pay for a star quarterback and a great head coaching guy. I look at college football right now. I remember when I moved off college football

because I could look at the preseason rankings and it was like, I knew. Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson, if Clemson had an elite quarterback, we're going to be around at the end of the year. I feel like after Ohio State, anybody could be anybody in this college football bracket. I mean, Big Noon Saturday, up 15 percent. More people are interested. More big games. And I'm a West Coast guy. I did not need to see Cal play Oregon State one more time in my life. I just, and I'm, I was a West Coast loyalist. I just didn't need to see it. I've loved it. I think it's been fun. I think the West Coast teams have helped Big Ten recruiting. I think the Pact 12 has made the Big Ten better at quarterback, a little bit smarter offensively, a little more

clever. And I think the tradition of the Big Ten has helped the Pact 12. It's forced USC to get bigger and go after more linemen, which they need to do without the Big Ten. five years ago. So it just, you know, everybody's terrified to AI, college football is not going to be the same. I'm looking at the numbers. I find myself watching and enjoying more big games than my entire life. It's good football. Joel Clats around the corner. And if the playoffs started today, and most of the teams in now are going to remain in, I'm going to go all the way through the playoffs today. And who's going to win the Super Bowl?

Pretty interesting matchups and thoughts next. 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 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 podcasts. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do.

Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or Where whenever you get your podcasts. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man.

They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise. The drama, the alliances,

and the T, everybody's talking about. about to hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This season on Dear Chelsea, with me, Chelsea Handler, we have some fantastic guests like Amelia Clark. When, like, young people come up to me and they want to be an actor or whatever. My first thing is always, can you think of anything else that you can do? You'd rather be disappointed in. Do that. David O'Yello-O.

I love this podcast, whether it's therapy or relationships or religion or sex or addiction or you just go straight for the guts. Dennis Leary, Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things, Tana Monsu, Camilla Morone, Carrie Kenny Silver, and more. Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.