The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Jalen Hurts is mostly to blame, Caleb Williams and the Bears should be fine, Dodgers still spending

Episode Date: December 10, 2025

Colin Cowherd talks about the struggling Eagles offense and why most of the blame is landing at QB Jalen Hurts’ feet. He discusses Bears QB Caleb Williams' low completion percentage and explains why this is not a long-term concern for Chicago as they prepare for a push to the playoffs Colin gives his thoughts on the Dodgers still spending big money during the offseason and why this is good for MLBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's the hurt. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening, whatever platform, thanks for making us part of your day. There are some things that are absolutely true. It just takes a while to prove them, and people will push back. but some things definitively, they're obvious, but we're not comfortable just saying something that is definitively proof over time absolutely factual. The NFL is a big man's game. So Nick Seriani is the coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

They're in a losing streak, and Jalen Hertz is struggling. and Nick Sariani on WIP Radio and Philadelphia was asked about replacing him. Is there a possibility later this season if he continues to struggle that you can make a change at the quarterback spot? No, I think that's ridiculous. You know, I think, you know, Jalen Hertz, I know every time I go out in that field

with Jalen Hertz as our quarterback, we have a chance to win the game. And that's, you know, that's something that's been proven. Every time I walk out on that field and Jalen Hertz is a starting quarterback, I have so much confidence that we can win every game and any game that we play and that we're in. Yeah, except for the last three or four, which you keep losing. The truth is the more Jalen Hertz throws, the worst Philadelphia is. Those are the facts.

If he throws over 30 times, they're not very good. So I'm going to give you a list of current quarterbacks in the NFL that lead their division or are leading in the MVP race or their name is Joe Burrow. Here's their heights. You can put up the graphic for our TV audience. 6-6-6-6-5, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. I'm 6-2. I can't be taller than your franchise quarterback. These are the first place quarterbacks or Joe Burrow,

and Josh Allen probably wins MVP, certainly deserves it. In the last 20 years, there have been two Super Bowl champion quarterbacks that we've all sort of gone, whoa, that's surprising. Nick Foles, 6.5. And Joe Flacco, 6.6. Have you noticed how quickly the smaller quarterbacks age, Tua, beat up. Kiler Murray, hurt a. a lot. Brock Purdy, banged up a lot. Jalen Hertz on a losing streak. Dylan Gabriel, benched.

Bryce Young, been banged up. And it's not just the size. As we show you a picture of Jalen Hertz from the camera. Look how small he looks. He's smart. He's athletic. He's tough. He's tiny. It's not just the size and the length of the quarterback. It's the length of the the season. It's now 17 games. NFL defensive players are bigger, stronger, faster. The hits hurt more. They're more punitive.

17 regular season games, four playoff games. I'll give you an example. Justin Herbert this year, Justin Herbert went to dinner last night with the GM of the Chargers. Justin Herbert is, they say, closer to

6'7 than 6'6. He's a large man. he's been hit 1006 times. He currently has a broken hand and no run game. And yet his team is 9 and 4. Meanwhile, Tua, when he's hit just seven times in a game, they came out of the same draft class. When Tua is just hit seven times a game, he's one and six. Jalen hurts is small.

People have tried to convince me height doesn't matter. Go look at our graphic again of first place quarterback. in the NFL. Josh Allen's going to win MVP and a guy named Joe Burrell, who there's an argument is the best pure thrower in the sport, and he's 6'4. Yeah, part of the Jalen Hertz thing, I love how we showed you that video. We showed you that video of Jalen Hertz throwing the ball behind the massive Eagles O-line. The problem is all O-lines are massive.

Average size, 6-5-5 to 6-6-5. Look for yourself. It's cluttered. to see. Well, what about Baker Mayfield? Smaller than I'd like? Throws a lot of picks. Some of them, in my opinion, overcompensation emotionally, over compensation physically. Trying to make plays, his body, his arm, and his vision can't. So I was talking to that GM last night about Caleb Williams. Not going to get into details, but we got into this discussion last night. What in the world do you do with a quarterback that is completing 58% of his throws.

Will he ever get better? Well, here's what's interesting. If you look at the Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' second year stats, this year stats, they're identical to Josh Allen's second year stats in Buffalo, identical, both completing 58% of their throws with about 20 touchdowns, not that many picks, and they're winning a lot. But Josh Allen has moved to 70% this year in completion percentage. One of my beliefs, because he's throwing to the tight ends more, easier throws. Their receiving group in Buffalo stinks.

So he's not throwing the ball down the field as much. His completion percentage hasn't risen dramatically just because he's more accurate. No, Josh throws to the tight ends more. Those are shorter, easier throws. The truth is, I don't think completion percentage matters as much. A, if you're wildly athletic, like Caleb, Bo Nix is really athletic, Josh Allen, or you're on your rookie contract. Well, why would that matter? Because Denver and Chicago, Bo Nix and Caleb have great rosters.

Everybody's talking about Ben Johnson. Everybody's talking about Caleb Williams. What's not being discussed is how stacked the Bears roster is because they're not paying Caleb anything. They have the number three offensive line of 32 teams the Bears do. And two of their guys, Drew Dalman and Joe Tuny, are top 10. They're number one in takeaways with two pro bowlers. Kevin Bayard and Jalen Johnson. Montez Sweat, eight and a half sacks, top 12 in the NFL. They're number two in rushing, two excellent backs and a multitude of really good receivers and tight ends. Lost in the conversation with Bo Nix and Caleb, the Broncos and the Bears

rosters with two brilliant offensive coaches are loaded. So generally in life, the more money you make, the more mistakes you can make with money. In the NFL, the less money you make as a quarterback, the less perfect you have to be. Now, Caleb's great on third down. Bo Knicks is great in the fourth quarter, but they're wildly and uneven. You're allowed to be, when you're on your rookie contract, have an offensive coach, and a really, really above average in athleticism. So Caleb Williams on third down is outstanding, and he's obviously coachable, durable, and athletic.

I'm good with that now. He's going to win a lot of games, and so is Bo Nix, until perhaps they get the big contract. But everybody looks at Josh Allen and goes, well, hey, so accurate now. Do you think it's a coincidence he has his worst receiving core? He's throwing more underneath and more often the tight ends. Josh Allen is still all about power, horsepower, running, leaping over people. We don't think Josh Allen hyper accurate. We think of the dynamic athleticism.

So I think Caleb, Bo Nicks, athleticism, to some degree on your rookie contract trumps all the accuracy. I mean, ask yourself what Bo and Caleb have done this year. Look at their records. What are they 20 and 6? And neither one's terribly accurate. It tells you how good the coaches and the rosters are. What you get away with when you're not paying the quarterback anything.

This is what RG3 about a week ago said about Caleb Williams' completion percentage. Accuracy is a myth. All right. Accuracy to me is always dependent upon where the defense is and what you're trying to get the receiver to do. So where I think his 61% completion percentage comes from is more so the fact that he is willing to take more chances to have big plays occur, which drives down his completion percentage. Do you want a guy that's going to be a checkdown, Charlie? Do you want a guy that is not going to take those risks deep down the field because he's afraid to make mistakes? I don't think that's who Caleb Williams is. We also have a topic today, and I have said this,

that I believe the Los Angeles Dodgers are not only the best-run sports operation in North America, Canada, us, all sports. And when you're really smart and well-run, you are planning years ahead. So there's a lot of fear in baseball right now. that the Dodgers are pulling away back-to-back champs, just signed Edwin Diaz, the best closer in baseball, arguably, and they may sign over the next two days, the two-time-sign Young winner out of Detroit.

Why the Dodgers understand what is happening in the world and why the NBA is missing out on this, that's coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHard Radio app. Fox Sports Radio is taking over YouTube, and you can be a part of it. Pay attention! Just go to YouTube and search Fox Sports Radio. Hit that subscribe button and smash that notification bell,

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Subscribe. Hit that thumbs up icon and comment away. 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... 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, 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 Podcast. 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. Michael 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 themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

SportsClyce brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsClyce on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo SlicLife 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing, and we're still chasing

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Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free Our Heart Radio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. The French Open is, one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian win.

I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any. surface because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. So this freaks everybody out, but I think, and I'll back this, and I've said it as J-Mac is my witness, the Dodgers are the best run organization I've ever seen in any sport, certainly now and maybe ever. Research and development. They don't miss on free agents. They get the right guys. The way they stagger their pitchers, ready for the postseason, how they solve problems. It's not just money. They do not spend the highest percentage of their revenue on their payroll. Mets actually do, and they stink. So there's a story today,

after signing Edwin Diaz from the Mets, a great closer. They may go after and they may announce They've signed the Tigers left-handed ace, Tarek Scouble, two-time Scy Young winner, great, great pitcher to go with Yoshi, who looked like last year the best pitcher in baseball. So what the Dodgers understand is what the NBA doesn't. Sports leagues now are competing against succession and Instagram and stranger things and TikTok and Game of Thrones. It's broader and wider than ever for the audience, the options, the options are. are everywhere. Parody doesn't cut through. You see the ratings last year for the World Series?

Even with a Canadian team, the best in a decade. The Dodgers understand, in a highly distracted market, Los Angeles, and a very distracted, frenetic, caffeinated world, you got to go Mission Impossible. You got to go Avengers. They've learned from Hollywood. They really have. They've tapped into what Hollywood figured out.

independent films isn't the answer. Now, some dynasties are boring. Bama football where the coach was more interesting than the players and Tim Duncan Spurs. But George Steinbrenner, Jeter's, Yankees were not boring. Shaq and Kobe, not boring. And the Dodgers aren't boring. What's boring is Oklahoma City, a personalityless team in a parody-driven, new champ every year sport. Nobody's watching.

By the way, the year. UFC, who I've supported for years. They need another Connor McGregor. It's a lot of really good guys. They need a superstar. There's too many options. There's too many platforms. There's too many great shows.

Big wins. Mission Impossible. Otani to the Dodgers. The NBA has caught up on this. Let's be fair. Go look at Wall Street. Seven companies run the Dow. Used to be Google and Microsoft.

Now it's Navidia. It's all the AI companies, trillion-dollar companies. It's happening. It is a wider, wider world. Go look at college football. We blew up the Pac-12, but we took their two most interesting programs, USC and Oregon, and put them in a massively popular Big Ten. We took the SEC in a very uninterested.

interesting conference to Big 12, but we took the two most interesting teams, Texas and Oklahoma, and put them into the great SEC. And college football increasingly is a two mega power conference sport, Big 10 SEC. And the ratings are through the roof. Oh, the PAC 12 is going to, what, disband go away and the sports ratings increase. So college football, Fox and ESPN said, we're not going to let you guys run the sport anymore. We're going to initiate a lot of these moves. USC Oregon, join the Big Ten. Texas, Oklahoma, get into the SEC.

Now it feels like the NFL, run by two major conferences. So the thing about the Dodgers is you can pick aside. You can root for them, you can root against them. Outside Oklahoma City, nobody has a strong opinion on OKC. So this is why I like the Dodgers. It's not just they're good at drafting. scouting, free agency. Yes, they've got money. So do the Mets. Yes, they've got money. So to the nationals. Go look at their owner. They understand on a marketing level, they're doing

a mission impossible. They get it. Not just in distracted L.A., but in a distracted platform-heavy planet. So go for it. I'm in. I'm watching. And the ratings tell us you are too. You pick aside with the Dodgers, love them or hate them, but you're forced to take one. You're never indifferent. J-Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. That was your best take of the week. Now for my best take of the year, the Kansas City Chiefs who are on the fringe of missing the playoffs, Colin. It's close. It's very close. They can be mathematically eliminated this weekend with a loss to the Chargers and if the Bills, Jags, and Texans win.

Bills have a tough one against the Patriots, so I don't know if they'll be eliminated. Travis Kelsey continues to look. Listen, we said maybe he's washed. That was an awful game, an awful ending, and Taylor Swift was there to see it. You know, it's interesting, Jason. There are a lot of defenders saying,

well, look at his numbers. They're actually kind of good. But remember this. Who wasn't available for the first six weeks? Was she Rice? Xavier Worthy in and out of the lineup. They have no run game. So early in the season,

was like he was the guy to throw to. Right. So on any normal, if you would have put him with Pooka Nakua and Devonthe Adams and Kairn and Matt Stafford, the numbers wouldn't be what they are. People are looking at his overall numbers that are not contextualizing is he was for the first six weeks dire for their offense. By the way, six weeks coming off and off season where he was rested. Now we're 14 weeks in.

He's looking slow. I mean, he's lumbering around. I don't want to bash the guy. But anyways, here he is talking. about his frustration in the NFL? I don't know. Discipline. I feel like I've always had the answers in years past.

And this year, I just can't find him. And I keep thinking if I show up to work and I put in the work and I fix the issues through my practice habits and through perfecting the game plan and my fundamentals and what I'm being taught and go out there and try and play my ass off for my guys next to me, it's all going to come together like an hour. as in years past. And this year, it's just not, man. It's okay to say it.

He's old and not as effective as he was. But it's not just Travis Kelsey. He's not even like a top three problem on the team. Well, and I think you nail it. I think older players can be very effective early. But this sport wears you down. I mean, first of all, we all feel a little worse when it's cold. Right?

You're getting hit. It's multiple games, eight surgeries. So he's had an unbelievable career. He's first, second or third best tied end I've ever watched. Easy got a root for. Love the Chiefs. Love everything they're about. But when people throw out the numbers and the production,

first six weeks, no Rishi Rice, worthy's in and out of the lineup. They can't run the ball. A lot of that stuff has not been contextual. We thought Rice would be a number one. He's not a number one, come. He's not. He's a good receiver.

I'm seeing reports, hey, they need to go get a boundary receiver. They really, now we're starting to miss Tyreek Hill. Can they go get Brandon Ayyuk? Do they go get, hey, let's get pickings if the cowboys don't want to keep them? I don't know, man. I saw a number. They are 42 million over the cap next year. This team is going to look so different, Colin.

They're going to have to move off guys. They have no offensive linemen that are good on the tackles. I don't know, man. Your thoughts on Chargers chiefs are four and a half point favorite somehow? I like the Chargers. I mean, to me, the Chargers right now are doing it with a little, grit and guile, but they do have playmakers. Tray Harris.

By the way, if McDuffie's out, that is devastating for the second deal. Clinton, Johnson, Ladd, McConkey, Hampton, Herbert. I just feel like they've got more juice offensively. When you watch the Chiefs play, that O line has unraveled everything on offense. Yeah, it's bad. All right, let's move to a nicer story. That's a Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin. Big win last week over the Ravens, thanks to the refs.

But it's funny. Tomlin, you know, he's a quote machine. And you got Big Ben and company taking some jabs at Tomlin. Well, Mike Tomlin was asked about how he feels regarding job security. Here's what the quote machine had to say. Man, I've been in the hot seat for 19 years. I always feel like I got something to prove. Not necessarily anyone in particular, but that's just the spirit in which I go about what I do professionally. Man, I expect him to show up.

Man, it's Monday night football in Akershure. It's going to be a big game. I'll tell you, he's got a little smile, though. Well, they got a win. Huge. I mean, that's a major exhale. We're not talking about Tomlin going to the TV booths, or if he's going to coach Penn State.

None of that stuff's all done. They're locked in. Tomlin gets offended when you suggest television or the college game. He'd be unbelievable on TV. He'd be a total rock star on TV. He's unbelievable in the NFL. He's the greatest quote ever for head coach. Yeah.

I mean, he literally talks in TV soundbipes. nine seconds. It's like you could write his stuff, put an exclamation point. He's the best sound light ever. Let's be real. If the Steelers decided we're moving off him, the Jets probably would fire their coach to go after him.

You know the Titans would just be, please, come here. Any opening, he's the number one candidate. Right? Overdable? Yeah, it has to be. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't think it's a criticism of Tomlin to say, I think he needs,

I think Mike Tomlin's value in, like, stabilizing Miami. Yeah. It's unbelievable. By the way, they play Miami. Interesting game. Dolphins are sneaky in the playoff hunt, like barely. That's crazy.

I don't. They have the same record as the Chiefs. The primetime games this week are not great. Tampa Falcons. But the games, Fox has a couple of beauties. During the core window on Sunday, yes. I don't know. Steelers, Dolphins, I don't have a side here.

You got anything or no? No. I think there, I think this is a good, I had a winning week. Do you have a winning week? Yeah. I think it's a good week for numbers. This is a good betting week. There are a couple games that stand out.

For sure. Final story. We haven't said that in about five or six weeks. It is a good betting week. Well, this final story, I love this game. The Packers Broncos, Colin, Green Bay is back. They had some, you know, they lost to the Panthers. It was brutal.

But they've won four straight, including that win over your bears, first in the NFC North. Interestingly, Jordan Love said one of the keys to their success has been finding explosive plays. enter Christian Watson. How good does he look? Christian Watson on a heater. Last four games, five touchdowns, 17 catches. Jordan Love loves the deep ball. You can't guard Watson one-on-one.

I'm sorry. He's faster and bigger than everyone. Colin, interesting. They're favored in this game. Denver's won 10 in a row. Denver's at home and Green Bay's favored. We're seeing that in two. The Patriots have also won 10 in a row.

And Buffalo's favorite. They're at home and Buffalo's favorite. So that should tell you guys something. I love this game. I don't want to give away all my picks. Jordan Love is on fire with the deep ball. Now, are the Broncos going to blitz him and leave Patrick Tertan and company on islands?

Listen, what, you know, we thought Tucker Kraft getting hurt for the year. You're like, oh, bummer. Once Watson comes back, once all the way. And Jaden Reed's back, by the way. He played last week sparingly. Last week, Bo Milton had a touchdown. Yeah, he played a little more than Golden did.

Golden, the young kid from Texas. Do you have anything on your Broncos and Bo Nix? No, every week there's a game I just want to watch. This is a great game. Interesting. Bo Nix could be in some trouble here. It could be. Micah Parsons.

It could be. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping back. The heard-line news. As much as I've been critical of Notre Dame over the last couple of days, I do think there's an argument that the greatest young coach, pro or college, is Marcus Freeman.

And so Marcus Freeman is getting a lot of interest in professional football. Brian Kelly was a good coach. He had his agent call NFL teams years ago. They weren't interested. And Marcus Freeman is facing a dilemma a lot of really super talented people do. Do you stay at your really, really, really good job, or do you take a big swing at the highest level of your profession? You're a wildly popular stockbroker in Minneapolis,

or do you move to New York? Here's the thing. He can stay at Notre Dame forever and be successful. because he has great energy. He's a great recruiter. In the last four seasons, they've got the six most wins, the fourth most points, and he's a defensive guy.

So he can stay there forever. And in the NFL, so there's guarantees for him in college. There's no guarantees in the NFL. You know, there's three reasons why I believe Marcus Freeman, and he's going to get, you know, the Giants job, there's a lot of Marcus Freeman talk. Here's the three reasons. I would stay in college.

Number one is, college jobs now pay about 80 to 90% of NFL jobs. Okay, and I like that because you get to control the personnel and you're making the same money. For years and years, it was like, yeah, I control personnel, but I make half a Bella check. So the money now is close. Number two is NFL owners have all become multi-billionaires. They become crazier and more impulsive. I mean, Tennessee actually fired Mike Furrow. Frable. And I'm not saying donors aren't a little bit of a pain in the butt, but they're not,

they don't have control if you're winning. Owners have control when you're winning. The other thing that needs to be talked about is that start looking, and I know this is a bit about vanity, but start looking at old NFL coaches. They look beat up, weathered and tired. Mario Cristobal, 55 years old on my show last week, gun show in a t-shirt. I mean, Dabo Sweeney's, 56, doesn't look 56. Nick Saban, 74, youthful, looks 56. Look around. Sark, 51, Kiffin, 50. They don't look their age because you're around young people and you're improving lives.

It's not just W's and L's. You're on a college campus around young people. You're coaching young people. You're affecting their lives. You're elevating them from places they need help to get out of. The NFL is more cutthroat, and certainly college has never been more like the NFL. College football coaches are happier. They age better.

You ever see somebody? It's 70 years old and they look great. They're fit. They're trim. You know what they never are? Angry. College coaches don't age as well. crazy owners, cutthroat sport, make often less than your stars.

I'm Marcus Freeman. I mean, increasingly in the NFL, there's about seven great jobs. There's dozens, dozens of great college basketball and football jobs. Here was Notre Dame's AD this week on Marcus Freeman's future. Everybody has eyes on Marcus. College has eyes on Marcus. This NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus, right?

I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the next, you know, Leo DiCaprio movies with Marcus. I view his contract, although a multi-year contract is a living, breathing document, that we will revise every year as need be to make sure he's where he deserves to be. He knows he has that commitment from me and more importantly from the university. Yeah, listen, it is a dilemma, if you want to call it that, for a lot of really super, mostly middle-aged to young, talented people. Do you stay in your great job or do you challenge yourself at the next level?

And I would say right now, college football has never been more like the NFL, but you don't have the crazy billionaires at the top. You control your own personnel. And Notre Dame's guaranteed to win 10 games with that ACC schedule. You just don't lose a lot. It makes for happier people that they have. Age better. 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?

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. 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, 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 Acapella 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. 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, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 and the TikTok podcast.

network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway 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. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch.

Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hard Way and listen now. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast,

I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jenchian win. I mean, she went down at three to Rovachina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French, me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lennar Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface.

Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Saturday, Fox Prime Time Hoops returns with a bang as Yaxel Lenderborg leads second. ranked Michigan against Maryland in a big 10 showdown. Saturday, 8 p.m. Eastern on Fox. So, yeah, there's been a lot made of Chador Sanders. He deserves a fair chance. And so

yesterday I thought it was pretty straightforward and pretty obvious that Dylan Gabriel started before Chador Sanders because Dylan Gabriel had so many more college starts and was more prepared initially to start and grasp the offense. And Chadur eventually his talent is better would rise. I don't think it's a conspiracy theory. I think that's obvious. Do a little homework. Dylan Gabriel broke a college record for most college starts or something.

Like it's just an insane number compared to Shadur. So Shadur eventually is more talented. But the other reason Shadur is going to get a chance in Cleveland, make it or break it, all you have to do is look at the current 2026 NFL

draft order. For the radio audience, I've put in the top 12 teams. Outside of the Giants, Tennessee, Washington, and probably Cincinnati, although I would draft a quarterback if I was Cincinnati, third, fourth, fifth round, Burroughs injuries adding up, eight of 12, arguably need a quarterback. Supply can't keep up with demand. The Rams are going to draft a quarterback first or second pick.

They don't need them now, but they want it in-house. I mean, all you need to know is the Colts are asking 44-year-old Philip Rivers to come out of retirement. Dude, he's like four years away from getting that AARP card in the mail. This year earlier, the Bengals, Joe Burrow got hurt. Who did they immediately call Cleveland, Joe Flacco, 40? That's why I've said Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback for Indiana, if Dante Moore doesn't come out, there's going to be a bidding war to get this kid. He's 6-5, big arm, wholesome.

He's leading Indiana to the Big Ten championship. So Shadour's going to get a run because Mac Jones, Kyler Murray, Kyler Murray's going to get paid by somebody. Daniel Jones getting paid by the Colts. So, you know, this whole thing about Shador Sanders, I would take Shadur Sanders because he's a fifth round pick and he's basically free for the next three years, I would start him this year and next year

overpaying Kyler Murray's contract. I wouldn't want to be burdened by it. Plus, I think Shitterer's likable. He's selling merch. He's selling tickets. It's fascinating. It's talked about. There's no other reason to talk about the Browns.

But if you go look at the draft order, supply cannot keep up with demand. And the NIL now, these kids like Dante Moore and Ty Simpson can make $4 million winning 11, 12 games in college. Why come out and get a nosebleed and get your brains beaten in? So the Giants will not draft a quarterback.

And I think they're too talented not to win another game. I think the Titans don't need a quarterback. You can argue everybody else. Commanders won't take one, maybe in the fourth, fifth, sixth round with Jaden Daniels injuries adding up again. But here, Urban Meyer, I mean, Fernando Mendoza is the only. only can't miss half the draft. He's the number one pick.

I believe there'll be a bidding war. Here's Urban Meyer, who is at that Big Ten championship game on Mendoza. Here's what I think about him as an NFL prospect. I've changed. I made a comment before this game he should come back. I don't think so now. I saw against a team that had better talent than Indiana, and he won that freaking game.

He got hit right square in the face of the first play of the game and toughed his way through. it. So I think he's NFL ready. I didn't say that before this game. So one of the things that is happening, it happened in my business it's settled down now in

the radio TV podcasting space over the last 12 months it settled down. But we went through about a five year period where you woke up in the morning and you just didn't know what was going on with our business and it's happening all over the world right now with AI. Like how's it going to turn out? The smartest

people in the world. You can listen to Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg or Mark Cuban. You can take people with incredibly willful, aspirational companies and smart people and science experts and tech experts. They don't know what's happening with AI. Nobody knows. Nobody has any idea how it's going to work out. Some people are calling it.

There'll be 40% unemployment. I don't think so. One of the things in sports that has massively changed, And I mean, it's huge. It's college football. NIL transfer portal. And there was a group of you out there. I had friends who said this.

I'm never watching college football again. I mean, I'll just watch the NFL. I'm looking at the ratings. Fox aired the three most watched college football games this season. Ohio State, Michigan, 18 and a half million. Big Ten championship, 18 and a half million. Texas, Ohio State, 16 and a half million. for all you the world is ending the nil and transfer portal i'd argue saved college football you don't

almost killed it an eight year period with georgia bama clemson and lSU one of those four within a seven hundred and seventy mile radius winning it college football got insanely regional and the sCC always paid everybody under the table now backdoor money It's become front door money. Everybody gets paid. And schools like Michigan and Notre Dame have top ten endowments. USC and Oregon just finished with the best recruiting classes. West Coast schools with a lot of money.

For the top seven teams today, left in college football, four of those teams have the biggest NILs. I prefer the transparency. All those people, it's going to kill college football. The Big Ten is 129 years old. For 128 of those years, Indiana could not compete for the Big Ten championship. But their NILs very strong, led by Mark Cuban. And now they're better than Ohio State, at least for a night. So politics, media, sports, we're seeing massive change,

and people are totally uncomfortable with it. But do you realize, since college football went to a 12-team playoff, Listen to this. We've had 20 different teams. NIL saved college football. It allowed Vandy, Mark Cuban, and Indiana to compete with Ohio State. I love college football, and I went a decade where I almost stopped talking about it until Harbaugh came back to Michigan. It was completely regional. Indiana, a powerhouse now, not going anywhere. Vanderbilt, five-star quarterbacks, can beat anybody on any day. including Alabama.

What we fear is going to kill us. A.I. Job displacement actually saves us. The medical advancements, the space advancements, maybe find those UAPs and those aliens after all. But everybody thought this was going to crush the sport.

I think it saved it. I think the expansion of the Big Ten, the expansion of the SEC, the numbers prove it. People say a lot of things, they do fewer things. People say they're going to work out this year. By February, they have the gym membership and don't go.

People say they're going to eat better. They're never going to watch college football again. The numbers prove otherwise. The sport needed more flexibility. The players needed to be paid. The players needed to transfer out of stockpiling dominant teams like Georgia. That doesn't quite look as fast. That Indiana looks almost as fast.

Why? Because if you don't start at Georgia after a year, you can transfer to another fine program. So here's Ed Orgeron on a great podcast, Bussing with a Boy's podcast this week. He talked about the NIL and Pan players. I said, hey, coach, you know, you've been out of coaching for a while. And how are you going to adjust that NIL? I said, well, it's a minor adjustment. And I said, what do you mean?

I said, back then, we used to walk through the back door to cash. Now we just got to walk through the front door to can. I prefer the... I love Ed. I prefer the transparency. I mean, everybody knew in the South, through the churches. Guys were getting payments. Old Miss got caught.

There's more than Ole Miss. Now it's transparency. There's bidding wars for players. They always deserve to be paid. And now it's up front. It used to be that paying a high school player was a death penalty. Now it's marketed, promoted, and bragged about. I'm okay with it.

All this change. we all freak out. 40% of Americans never leave the area code in which they're born. That's fine, too. Tradition, there's plenty of it. Ohio State, Michigan, must watch. Texas, Oklahoma, still rocks. Bama, Georgia, watch it every time they play.

There's still all sorts of tradition. USC, UCLA. I was watching. Oregon, Washington. Yep, they'll still battle. But I'll argue, NIL transfer portal have positively, and it's a bit wild, wild west, we're still trying to figure it all out.

I think they saved the sport. I really do. J-Mack, we have Mark Slare with Josh Pate, Danny Parkins all stopping by today. Can I go to your trade-up for Mendoza thing from a few minutes ago? Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. So I ask your best friend, Chat, GPT,

hey, so can you just quickly list all the teams that trade it up for a quarterback in the first round? Some real winners on this list. If you want to hear him. Not all of them went to number one, some went to two, three, four. But obviously, Bryce Young was the most recent. That has clearly not worked out.

Well, are he still vying for the playoffs? Yeah, but now you've got to pay him. And, like, basically, it hasn't been like a home run. Fair. So the Bears traded up for a guy in Mitchell Trubisky. The 49ers traded up for Tray Lance. New York Giants traded up for Sam Darnold. Eagles traded up for Carson Wentz.

Colin, are you getting the picture? The one winner was Jared Gough, The Rams traded up for him. But like you go down on this list and you're like, there's just not a lot of, you're giving up too much draft capital. I love Mendoza. I love him on the Jets. I don't want to give up all those picks. We got a war chest now.

Can I remind you that the Ravens traded up for Lamar Jackson and the chiefs traded up for Mahomes? Mahomes at 10, I believe Lamar is like 31, 32. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. There are some that work. Those two major moments. You'll notice when does it work? Not in the top five.

No, no. When does it work? Think about it. Of smart teams. Sean McVeigh, John Harbaugh, Andy Reid. If you have a really smart coach that can get the most out of a young player, trading up works. Now, in this instance, it could be the Raiders. Okay, right.

So a lot of it, I am for, it's just like it could be real estate. You know, trading up homes, if you know, real estate is a smart thing to do. If you don't, so, I mean, you look at the teams that have been trading up, When you have the Mahomes situation, well, it was Brett Veach and Andy Reid and the Hunt family. That's why it worked. 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. Nice. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it.

We get to ask other 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 wherever you get your podcasts. Someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio. Non-stop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Don't quit. by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. I heart radio. 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.