The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Jerry Jones has become Al Davis, Bill Belichick's legacy has taken a hit, thoughts on Charles Barkley's comments

Episode Date: September 3, 2025

Colin believes Jerry Jones has become a modern day Al Davis with the way he has been running the Cowboys and their lack of playoff success over the last 3 decades Bill Belichick’s legacy as a legendary head coach has taken a serious hit following the blowout loss to TCU in his college coaching debut He disagrees with Charles Barkley's opinion on stars teaming up to make winning a championship easierSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart 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. 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. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris.

She can win. She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any service. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcasts on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. and we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife-Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio. or stream us live every day in the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, here we go.

Ready to roll. It is a Wednesday. Joel Klatte, Mark Sanchez. We're live in our snazzy news studio. We're in Los Angeles. It is great to have you in today. We got all sorts of stuff. You know, Jerry Jones is on Good Morning America this morning.

He is defending that trade of Micah Parsons on every network that will have him on Jay Mack. And we've got a lot of stuff to talk about. One of my favorite things came out in the athletic. They've done it two years in a row. I texted the producer this morning at 440. It's called the NFL Hope O meter. So they go and they do a survey, second year for the athletic. They do a survey with fans.

How optimistic. Are you with your team? So this is pre-MICA trade. So Michael was still a cowboy when they did this. So the teams at the top, their love and life in Denver, you know, it's Philadelphia, Ravens, Lions, Bills, Rams, Chiefs. You would understand that. The shocker is look at the bottom, the least optimistic teams.

Colts, Saints, Browns, Cowboys. Again, this is pre-MICA. Parsons trade. Second straight year, Dallas, third from the bottom. They have a franchise quarterback that it's at least B to B plus, no state tax,

free agents, decent weather, great facilities, big time weapons, third from the bottom. That is a 100 percent complete indictment of Jerry Jones. That is an anti-Jerry Jones vote. I started talking about

this three years ago. It may sounds cruel, a little mean, but we got to keep it 100. This has become old Al Davis with the Raiders. Jerry's become Old Al Davis with the Raiders. He keeps trying to sell the fans something and they're not buying. And what's amazing about this Hopometer poll in the athletic, number one, Denver. Isn't that shocking? 2022, they got a new owner?

They were awful. fans, Sean Payton, everybody now. They're number one. They're above the Chiefs, Bill's, Rave, and Rams. Also, let's see where the commanders are. They flushed out awful Dan Snyder. They're a top ten optimism team. If you don't think owners matter, you're not paying attention.

Dallas is in the same group as Cleveland, the Saints, the Jets, the Colts. These are teams that have chaos at quarterback. So, and I'll tell you the one thing, because I watched this documentary on Netflix with Jerry, he had a big ego then, he's got a big ego now. He was a savvy businessman. Then he's a savvy businessman now. The difference is when he took that job, he got the best coach available on the market, Jimmy Johnson.

Over the course of time, as coaching has become more crucial than ever, more important than ever, and there's more great young coaching, Jerry does not respect the profession. This is a quarterback coach league, and he doesn't respect the position. Brian Chottin Armour was on nobody's radar. I think the last time he interviewed for head coaching job was 14 years ago. He was considered an old school offensive guy.

Nobody was lined up for him. Forget head coach at coordinator. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he crushes it. But they could have had Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Pete Carroll. They didn't even interview. not even interested.

So because I think Jerry looks at it and thinks, I want to play with my toy. And there's several things that have happened that the Cowboys love the Cowboys. They, over the last decade, have more starts from the players they've drafted than any other team. They don't want outside influence. They want friends of the family. I mean, you notice it? It's very insular.

This is what happened to the Lakers until they got. the new owner and that will change. And Jerry is going on any network that will listen. And I defended him on the Micah trade, but here he is on Good Morning America defending the Micah deal. We have two kinds of capital or currency in the NFL. One of them is draft picks. The other is the financial because every team is limited to the same amount of resources to spend. And having said that, Micah enabled us to have four, possibly as many as six players for the future. That's a good trade when you need numbers. I'll take the numbers every time. Now, I'll defend him on that. I would have done it a year ago, but not right before the season.

But the cowboy job should be like that line at Chick-fil-A or in-and-out burger. People should be lined up around the block. If Ohio State or Penn State, Georgia have a job opening, here come the resumes. The Yankees of the Dodgers have an opening, here come the resumes. Kansas basketball, Duke, Carolina, Yukon, Dow's Cowboys,

look at who's applying for that thing. I mean, it is that vote, the Cowboys are in the class of the Browns. That is a 100% anti-Jerry vote. So, you know, we were saying this yesterday.

It's not that Bill Belichick lost to TCU. It's how they lost. I turned it off mid-third quarter. They were humiliated. They were bad at everything. After that first opening drive, I think they went the next six drives, didn't complete a pass. It was really bad.

So you think Bill's got his guys. Mike Vrabel's one of his guys, right? Here's Vrable on W-E-E-I radio talking about Bill's opener with the Tar Heels. You know, I mean, you coached in college. It takes a while, don't you think, to get a program going? Come in there like that? I don't know, Urban Meyer won 12 of the first 12 games in Ohio State,

so it didn't take him long. That's my experience in college football. Ouch. For the record, Lincoln Riley first year at Oklahoma, 12 wins. First year at USC, 11 wins. And you guys don't like Lincoln Riley. Urban Meyer. Remember he took over for Ron Zook?

was a mess first year nine wins in the SEC at Ohio State 12 wins Jim Harbaugh Michigan took over Brady Hoke a disaster they didn't have I mean they they weren't getting guys drafted in the first couple of rounds 10 wins I was there for the opener Kurt signetti at Indiana basketball school year one 11 wins sunny Dykes TCU first year 13 wins it's not like Carolina I mean, they went to a bowl game last year. So as I said yesterday, I'm absolutely convinced the number one problem with Belichick, when it's coaching staffs or players, he just is seeking comfort. He just wants to coach and work with people that he's comfortable with.

But the other thing I think is interesting is, like, if you're a great actor, you're Tom Cruise, you're Marlon Brando, you're Samuel. L. Jackson, Anthony Hopkins, whoever you are, if you have two or three duds in your career, I do not hold it against you. You're still a great artist. You're still a great actor. Right. If you're a great athlete, Michael Jordan, and it ends ugly with the wizards, or your shack and you bounce around the league or you're Patrick Ewing, and it ends with a lot of turbulence and a lot of losses, I don't hold it against you. It just disappears into the ether. But I no longer can look at Belichick the same because without Brady in Cleveland, without Brady

in college, without Brady in New England, he won 44% of his games. He averages 19 points a game. It would be as if Phil Jackson left Michael Jordan and could never win again. But Phil proved in Albany of the CEO, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson. If you gave him the pieces, he would dominate the league. Wasn't a great GM? He was older, whatever. So next James Dolan, whatever. But it is different.

Like when I, it does, in my opinion, it does affect how I view Belichick. I can't help it. I watched that. Nothing works. Nothing worked early in New England. Nothing worked late. I'm not saying Belichick didn't help with Dante Scarnicke. It didn't help Brady early.

But by the end, I felt like Belichick was getting in the way of Brady. He got in the way in that Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles. Wouldn't play Darius Butler. Got in the way. Tom won that. Did New England even punt in that game? He got in the way with personnel. He could not draft receivers or tight ends or pro bowlers offensively.

I think he carried Tom in the first couple Super Bowls. last eight, ten years, I'll make the argument just as often felt like he got in the way. And you can be an actor, you can be an athlete, you can be an artist, you can deliver clunkers. But there is something about what I'm watching. It's got a Bobby Knight feel, the late Bobby Knight that so many people told Bill how brilliant he was,

he bought the sauce. And what I watched the other night, Mike Frable, that's an ouch. Yeah, Urban Meyer went 12 and 0 first year, taken over for a 6 and 17. That is a big outch. That's keeping it 100. J-MAC, there are all sorts of funny things in this hopometer poll.

Should I ask where the Jets were or not even worth it? I mean, honestly, my Jets hope right now, like 11%. Like, I don't think there's a big injury this morning. Oh, what was that? Vera Tucker, significant arm injury. He gets hurt a lot. It's hurt all the time. Yeah, he has been a really good interior alignment, but he has struggled with health.

We're not going to be good this year. We, by the way. I don't know. I, um, you know, you've been very critical of Charles Barkley through the years. Yeah. I mean, you, you've been very critical of him. This morning, I'll take a shot because I don't, I don't buy what he's selling me. I don't buy what Charles Barkley on a podcast is something.

I love Charles. You don't. I love him. But I'm not buying what he's selling me, and I'll talk about that next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's Ben, host of The Fifth Hour with Ben Mallor. It would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey.

You're asking what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spinoff of the Ben Mallor show, a cult hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture, if you will, a world when we chat with captains of industry, in media, sports, and more every week, explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben Mather on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what?

We have some big news. What's the news, 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 throughout there.

But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey, 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 a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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.

Jen, she went. I mean, she went down at three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina 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. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met Levan this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihar Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So back when I fell in love with the NBA in the 70s, I collected basketball cards, not baseball cards, like all my other friends.

There were no dominant teams. The Sixers, the Warriors, the Blazers, the Sonics, Washington with Elvin Hayes and Wes Sun. So everybody won like a championship. Nicks were good, early 70s. And that's what we have now in the NBA. Seven years, seven different champions. Now, dynasties tend to ignite ratings and drive. interest, but they also tick off owners, and there's a sense that nobody can compete. So Adam

Silver's NBA is much like the 1970s NBA. David Stern didn't have a problem with dynasties, but he also inherited a league that was in big trouble. The NBA is not in big trouble. They just signed an 11-year, $76 billion deal. But there are those that say, you know, with all these aprons now, it's hard to trade, players can't play together, and Charles Barkley is defending Adams Silver the Commissioner. All these guys want to play together and not compete. How many great players do you need on one team? See, this is what bothers me in my generation.

LeBron got all his guys together. KD. want to go play with the Warriors. Wait, y'all don't want to win the championship and just compete against each other. Don't get mad at Adam Silver because y'all all want to play together and dominate the league because y'all don't want to compete.

A timeout. Sports isn't venture capitalism. You're not seeking dysfunction so you can get a greater return. The best high school basketball players, funny. They don't choose, you know, the Iowa states. They choose like Purdue and Carolina

and Duke and Kansas. The best high school football players. They choose Ohio State in Alabama and Georgia and Texas. Isn't that interesting? and LSU, they don't choose, you know, Purdue. Why is that? Because they want to play with better players.

The number one piece of advice I give all young broadcasters, anytime I speak, is don't chase money. Chase great teammates. Chase great management. Chase great brands. There's a sea of money. There's not a sea of great people to work with or great management. There's not a sea of that.

There's a lot of money. If you're good, you'll get your money in any. profession. So, you know, Leonardo DiCaprio is not choosing the weakest scripts. In fact, the best actors, you can go find your Bradley Cooper's and the Tom Cruise. Go find your top actors. They often find a director and they work with them. They have like a show unit and that's who they want to work with. The very best, the best studios, the best directors, the best writers. Since when LeBron James wanted to play. He left Cleveland the first time because of a dysfunctional organization that after seven years couldn't get him an All-Star. By the way, Shaq also joined D. Wade,

as LeBron did. So I don't buy this, that choosing better teammates, better brands, and better coaches. I mean, Micah Parsons may have preferred to be a cowboy, but Green Bay is a great place to play. It beats Carolina and Jacksonville over the last 30 years. So I don't buy this. I don't buy this. You know, people are changing history. Barclay got traded to the rocket. In 1997, he joined Akeem, Olajuwon, and Drexler.

And when he was quoted here, he said, it was my first priority. We was joining two Hall of Famers. Why in the world, I mean, even at the high school level, these people in Cleveland that were bothered, you know, LeBron left Ohio twice. Well, guess what? believe Delaware and New Jersey and Washington

State and Wyoming to play at Ohio State. Always choose better teammates. Always choose better bosses. Always choose better environments. Even the great ones can't overcome dysfunction and there's as much dysfunction

as great in sports. I don't buy that for a second. Kevin Durant and LeBron have wanted better situations. Exactly. Team LeBron, team KD on that one. It'd be great if everybody got drafted like Derek Jeter to the Yankees and surrounded by great teammates. It would be great if you were Kobe with a late great Dr. Jerry Buss as your owner.

It would be wonderful. That's not the percentages. The percentages is are you got to move. Your first team, your first GM, your first coach, your first teammate, they're not up to your standard if you're a lottery pick. J-Mack with the news No, no, no, no Turn on the news This is the herd line news

Keep moving, brother Love it! Love it that you're coming around On Sir Charles Yeah, you left the big lead Clueless, Sir Charles You kicked digital to the curb Yeah, by the way, you remember He forced his way out of Philly,

forced his way out of Phoenix, LeBron's just smarter I'm just gonna leave as a free agent All right, let's get to NFL Eagles kick off their Super Bowl title defense tomorrow night when they host the Cowboys. Typically, the defending champ raises their banner,

and Philly's no different, but listen to what Nick Siriani said about the banner raising yesterday. How do you feel about the fact that even though it is banner night for you guys, the fans will still have the standard of performing and winning at a high level? Yeah, I didn't know it was banner night. We won't be out for that. Yeah. All business, taking their cues from Jalen Hertz, the professional quarterback.

Yeah. I have a feeling if you had to predict one blowout this weekend. Denver, Tennessee? I think Denver's going to win, but I think there could be a backdoor cover there. Sean Payton hasn't been great in openers in Denver, but nevertheless. But does this not feel like 32, 13? I mean, pre-MICA, the defense was a mess. Trayvon Diggs may not play.

I think Philadelphia is going to completely control the line of scrimmage. I think they're going to do whatever they want. This has blowout written all over it. I mean, maybe there's a world where Dak has some big plays to pickings and lamb, but... That'll be fun to watch. It'll be a fun game to watch. I know you do a lot of fantasy football. Jack Prescott can put up like 4,500 yards this season because they're going to be trailing a lot.

He's going to be throwing a lot. But I like the Eagles as well. All right, let's move on to quarterbacks against the spread. We've got some interesting numbers here. Yahoo Sports put together a list of the top quarterbacks against the spread. Against the spread. And wouldn't you know what Josh Allen comes out as the number one QB ATS? What is he worth about seven and a half points a game?

Yeah, I would say more than that. Followed by Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson. You bet on these guys to cover all the time. So these guys are all, I would imagine all these guys are worth at the top or worth a touchdown again. Or a touchdown. And Jaylon Hertz is a covering machine. Against the spread. Yeah.

Vegas is the most honest place in the country. But they know this. That's why you're paying the Chief's tax. They call it. Justin Herbert, number six. Yeah, who was four? I can't see him. I mean, my glasses.

I will give you credit. There is no Brock. Pretty didn't make the list. Pretty obvious. But Jalen Hertz is four. And I do think in terms of spread, his ability to pick up first downs and keep your offense off the field. I think one of the great virtues of Jalen Hertz, he is the strongest player in the league,

pound for pound, obviously the strongest quarterback in the league. His ability, if he plays. plays Burrough. Mahomes, Alan Lamar, keeps him off the field. He picks up first downs. Listen, I said last week that I think Hertz is the best dual threat quarterback in the league. And all these Josh Allen fans hated me. And I just, my counter is easy, Colin. There's one unstoppable play in this league. And that's the brotherly shove. Josh Allen tried it against the Chiefs. Oh, for three, in a huge spot. No.

Jailen Hertz delivers that all the time. And I will say this is where I have undervalued Jalen Hertz. when you play other great quarterbacks, the key is trying to get them out of rhythm or off the field. Brady was the master at fourth and one. Brady was unbelievable on third down. So when Brady played the occasional Mahomes or Manning, he took away, he won the field position battle. If Peyton or Burrow got the ball or Mahomes, they didn't have great field position. That's Jalen Hurts Strait.

Now the old line's also great. He rarely loses the field position battle in the game. And as the weather gets lousy by late October, that's a big part of football is having the wind at your back, having field position, picking up first downs, keeping their star quarterback off the field. You don't want to do it all the time, but if it's a big game and a big spot, third and four,

Jalen Brotherly shove for two or three, Jalen gets the first down. Like, it's automatic. If they remove that play from the playbook, I'll pull back on my Jail. and hurts love. But as long as it's out there, Colin, I'm sorry. I got to rock with him. Final stories to college football. Obviously, Arch Manning, you know, he took his lumps in the opener. But this is interesting. Do you remember A.J. McCarrant, the Alabama quarterback, I believe he's

a backup in Cincinnati for many years. He is now questioning whether or not Arch Manning can live up to the hype. I feel bad for Arch. The hype is just set at such a high level to where I don't know if the kid can ever live up to it. And with the day and age we live in and social media, they already had the memes coming out at halftime against him and talking about he was adopted and all kind of crazy stuff. I just hate it for the kid because the media has built his hype up so high. I just don't know how you can be successful with it.

Let's be honest here. He was the number one high school quarterback in the country. we also built up Quinn Ewer's hype. We also built up Caleb Williams. We're not building up Arch. Yes, the Manning name is substantial. But if you look at number one quarterback, Caleb Williams

coming into the NFL and this is what we do. Kyler Murray, when he went to Arizona, was called the best high school player in the history of the state of Texas. So it's not, this idea the media was unfair with Arch Manning. All of us said the same thing. Wait, this is a go-either-way

game. But also, by the way, not just the media. Vegas had him as the Heisman favorite. So it's not just the media. And I will say the spin about, hey man, Joe Burroughs struggled in his first year

as a starter at LSU. Then he set the world on fire with, you know, every record imaginable. Maybe that's Arch. We're bending over backwards, trying to make Arches. Well, because the Mannings are so respected

and so decent, you know, I'm thinking as I lead with it Tuesday, I don't want to bury the kid, but it was jarring to look at. It wasn't close. it was layups missed and skipping balls and arm slot mechanics. So, yeah, I mean, I don't buy into this. If you can't handle being under over-criticized or over-hyped,

get out of the quarterback position. Like, I don't want to hear from dads. You guys are rough. Part of the growth of being a star athlete, specifically a quarterback, is media criticism and how you handle it. Baker-Mayfield handles it well now. He did not handle it well for the first two years. three years in Cleveland. He would admit now

Johnny Mansell still gets defensive about it. Cam got defensive. I wish social media were around when Peyton Manning was flopping in every playoff game early in his career. Do you remember how bad it was? He couldn't win a playoff game for like the first five years of his career. We'd be killing

him now. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurdline News. So I got to go back to this Hopometer, the athletic, second. year, they take fans, and they pull fans on how much hope do you have. So I led the show of this. Denver's number one. And, you know, new owners, Sean Payton, Bownecks, I get it. It's interesting. These Steelers are 26 out of 32 teams. Isn't that crazy? So they haven't had a losing season in 22 years.

They get D.K. Metcalfe, Jalen Ramsey, and Aaron Rogers. They're tied with the Patriots for the most Super Bowls ever was six. And the Steeler fans are only slightly more confident than Panthers, Titans, Falcons, and Jets fans. And they are not wrong. And I think the thing that I've always sort of pushed back on

this stuff with Pittsburgh, what you brag about in life says a lot about you. If you're bragging about mediocrity in the NFL, if you're bragging about we don't have losing seasons, basically now you're bragging about nine wins. the standard is low.

And we were talking about this as a staff this morning. I view the Steelers is much closer to the Bengals than the Ravens. I think the Ravens is separated from the Steelers. I think they have better ownership. I think they consistently are more aggressive in their front office in the offseason. I think they evaluate quarterbacks better. I think the Ravens now are what the Steelers were 25 years ago. And the standard for Baltimore is urgency at quarterback, urgency in free agency.

So I, and I think John Harbaugh is a top five coach. I do not think that with Mike Tomlin. So we were talking about this this morning. Pittsburgh's never exactly been hip, but they've become Zubaz pants here pretty quick. They had no urgency the last several years post Big Bennett quarterback. No urgency. Maybe we'll get Aaron. Maybe we won't.

They spend the most money in the league for the fourth or fifth straight year on defense. So it is something else. But I always find this funny. Pittsburgh fans get incredibly defensive when you're critical. But the truth is, if you look at this fan poll, Falcons fans, Panthers fans, Panthers fans, Raiders fans, Giants fans this year, Jaguar fans, are significantly more optimistic than Pittsburgh Steelers fans. I mean, think about that. Those people have nothing to be optimistic about, and they're more optimistic.

So Joel Klaat's going to be joining us at the top of the hour. You know, there was a moment in the Micah Parsons trade. His agent was talking yesterday and talked about how Micah actually wanted to stay in Dallas and play for the Cowboys. And I think there's a life lesson we can learn here, and we'll talk about that next. We're live in LA. It's the herd. 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 it. 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 And 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 For people could call in and say hey Jonas And then I wrote down on my little notepad Hey Jonas and offered it up as a potential title For the podcast But thanks for remembering that Guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. People are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. Jen Chinchin win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakian. but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerabakhina 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you

exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice 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 athletes 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 reel. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, 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 SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Saturday, the SciHawk series takes center stage. It all starts at 10 a.m. Eastern with the best pregame show in college football, live from the campus of Iowa State. Then Rocco Beckett leads the cyclones in a showdown against arch rival Iowa on Big Noon Saturday, only on Fox.

Michigan play in Oklahoma, I think. Is it this weekend? Yes, sir. I like Oklahoma on that one. You are very anti-Michigan. I saw some troubling signs. Like the quarterback a lot. I need to do some more homework on that one. Did you see USC scored 73 points and got fewer votes?

No, but I noticed you love mentioning that situation. Lincoln Riley? I'm going to their game weekend. Who do you have a Kauai Leonard-type deal with Lincoln Riley or something? No, no, no. I'm, uh, ha ha ha. Kind of interesting.

See what I did there? Yeah, yeah. Real journalism. Um, so, you know, you got to be careful about holding those childhood dreams too tightly. Like you grow up, you want to be something as a big world out there. Move out of your area code. So Micah Parsons agent was saying that actually Micah wanted to be a Dallas Cowboy. It's nothing against the Packers.

And here's Micah talking about his new team and Dallas. To Cowboy Nation really just thank you. I don't think people realize, you know, I'm a very simple man. It's all about principle with me, and it's all about, you know, the love and authenticity. You know, I wish, you know, things didn't have to be like this, you know. But, you know, I'm happy for this opportunity. I'm happy to be here and, you know, I'm ready to

win some games. Okay. Green Bay is going to win 11 or 12 games this year. Dallas could win four, and I'm not joking. He got a better GM, a better roster, a better organization, better momentum, better quarterback,

overall a better operation and no vanity-plagged owner. This is a great situation. Is there a lot to do in Green Bay? No, not really. It's chilly in the winter. There's not a ton to do. But this is a great example of don't hold on to your childhood dreams too tightly.

Seek excellence. Okay. At four, we all love chicken nuggets. At 14, you like Chick-fil-A. At 24, 25, try some lobster. This is a great spot for him. And remember, Dallas hasn't bottomed out yet. Dallas has not bottomed out yet.

Now, I don't know how good Jordan Love is. He's super talented, but he's a better thrower. He moves better. He's younger and less expensive than Dak Prescott. So if you put a room of GMs up and you had Dak or Jordan Love, the majority would take Jordan Love. And if it's Matt LaFleurr against Brian Schottnheimer, everybody in this league is taking Matt LaFleur. So this is a great opportunity for him. And you just got to be careful about, you know, this is what I always wanted to be his agents like he was

always a cowboy, always dreamed about being a cowboy, you always wanted to live in Dallas and be a cowboy, this is not the time to be a Dallas cowboy. It is not the time. So when Dion Sanders took the job at Colorado, we were joking this morning that actually, Dion Sanders has been the number one NIL transfer in college football the last three years.

He is the name, image, and like. of Colorado football. A lot of sizzle, not a ton of steak, about 500 since he arrived, can't beat good teams. Lost seven straight to rank teams. But I will say this about Dion Sanders. I thought it was a weird fit.

I remember when it broke like on a Thursday or Friday, I thought that's not going to work. And then I remember coming back on Monday and thinking, you know, Colorado's not Georgia. They just want to be relevant. So this weekend, Dion Sanders this past week, they lost a football game.

Listen, the media, fans crush coaches for clock management. People understand Andy Reid's the best coach in the world coaching football. You ever notice that everybody used to talk about clock management with Andy Reed in Philadelphia and they never do in Kansas City? A lot of that clock management, frankly, is in the quarterback's hands. They're on the field. So I'm going to defend Dion Sanders. I watched the end of this game. I didn't love the clock management, but don't nitpick. I mean, Colorado was the second best team on the field. Here is Dion kind of defending how we used the clock on that final drive.

First down, we throw a lateral pass, right? We lose four or five yards. Do you call time out there? No, you're right there. You don't call time out. So the next play, what, you gain, I guess, 14 yards, whatever. Now you got third and one, right? Do you call time out there?

Third and one. You get the first down. the clock stops. Scramble play. He ran out of bounds the clock stop, right? Now we throw the ball out in zone. Clock stop, right?

So when was the time to call time out? I'm going to defend Dion. I watched it. Andy Reed. I mean, you never heard Belichick get beaten up for clock management. Or Sean Payton,

because they had Brady and they had Breeze. And Andy Reid never gets crushed for it. He's got Mahomes. And Sean McDermott, he doesn't get, he didn't get knocked for it much either he's got josh allen so but i think what's interesting about dion sanders at colorado he got them as much as color colorado will ever attain in 2025 he got eyeballs sold tickets got them on tv brought relevance and they're a 500 team and that's it and

they're not going to beat ranked teams very often and he got him some nil money he sold the stadium them. They're in the green. They're no longer in the, you know, they're not in the red anymore. They're in the black. They're doing fine. They're making money. They're making money. They're selling tickets. They're selling merch. That's the ceiling for Colorado football. This is not Georgia, Alabama. And what he sought is what he got, which is control. He is not Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State. He's not that good of coach. He's not Lance Leopold at Kansas. He's not that good a coach. Kansas was a worst football program. Lance Leopold, first year, second year, beating good teams.

You know, he's not Kyle Whittingham at Utah or Matt Campbell at Iowa State. That's not what he is. He's a former player. He got what he sought, which was control, relevance, juice, and energy. Eyes on his product. And that's as good as Colorado is going to do. Colorado won a nanny years ago, the world's changed. Colorado can't stack a, I don't know what Colorado gets annually for football.

Unless they have a rich booster, I'd be shocked if they have over $7 million. My guess is they're around $5, 6, 7. I mean, good programs like Washington have about $7 to $8 million a year NIL. And the big dogs like Oregon, you know, it's 1520 for the Texas, Ohio states, Notre Dame's or whatever. I don't know if Notre Dame is at that high. USC is now. So I always think Deon was always when he was a player, when he was a commentator and as a coach, he likes attention, he likes control. Right.

Remember when he dumped the water on the late Tim McCarver, the broadcaster, Macarver, he lost control. He wasn't controlling the narrative. He wasn't controlling the commentary. Dion didn't like that. Dion leaves the NFL network when they won't pay him what he wants. He wants control. I'm not against it. He wanted control. They wanted relevance. It's actually become a perfect marriage. But he's 13 and 13 and can't beat ranked teams. And he's not an elite coach. And he is a, he is what he was billed.

You want to be relevant? Hire Dion Sanders. And that's what they are. You know, J. Mack, I want to circle back to something we talked about earlier. in fact I'll get to it next hour so I want to go to the week one schedule and we do this as the football season starts we do this on a fairly regular basis we throw up the week one schedule now we don't need to talk about odds and who is betting but there are some things that are noteworthy

for instance on Friday Andy Reid is the best September coach in the league over the last decade but Jim Harbaugh in the end NFL, I believe, is 5 and 0 in openers. Against the spread. Against the spread. So Harbaugh is getting a field goal.

It's a home road game. It's a Chargers. So-Fi, you know, it's 50-50 split. Just your feeling this... No, no. This game's in Brazil. Oh, it's in Brazil. Yeah. Well, then that's a nightmare for both teams. Yeah. So we both like Philadelphia over Dallas. Yes. Lock that up. Okay. If I just said to you,

Kansas City Chargers, These are two very good season opening offensive coaches. Where would you lean? Listen, that's a game you don't pick. You don't need to pick that game. I mean, listen, I'm rooting chargers. No Rishi Rice for Kansas City. A lot of noise around Kelsey and the engagement.

Well, Kelsey, remember, last year, Travis Kelsey arrived later, but Noah Gray was picking up some slack. So you have no number one receiver in Rishi Rice. You're starting a rookie at left tackle. against, well, actually. It won't be Cleo Matt. No, no Cleo Ma. I think he's on the other side.

Maybe they move him. Starting a left tackle rookie. No Rishi Rice. Travis Kelsey, you and I know. He'll be there in the big games. He could very well going to Brazil, not be at his best. I tend to think Kansas City games are always close. You put in a rival Harbaugh Herbert.

I would take the points. Yeah, I'll take the point. If you're giving me three and a half, definitely charge. Go, go chargers. Okay, so Sunday early window, I think one of the better bets on the board is the Giants getting six to six and a half points. Did you lock that in earlier this week? Because it's coming down. I'm seeing six, it might see five and a half.

Did you lock that in? Because remember last year we let you do the lock in? I have not locked it in. Oh, what a mistake. But there's things here. I think the New York Giants defensive front will keep the Giants offense, albeit that. the limited offense, I think the Giants' defensive front, when it's healthy,

which it is now, will keep them in games. And if you care about against the spread, Dan Quinn, the worst head coach against the spread, 1 and 6 ATS in openers. That goes back to his Atlanta days. Defensive coaches generally aren't as good

in September. Belichick's weakest month was always September. What did Terry McClureen join the Washington commanders? He'll be fine. A week ago? Yeah, I mean, honestly, is he up to speed? I like, I'm with you. I like the Giants there and an upset. Now, I do like the Falcons. I don't think you can rock with me there. You have some funny Falcons takes as always. But I will say, another game, one o'clock window. That's great. Cleveland at home, Joe Burrow and Zach Taylor have been slow starters. So Cleveland at home getting points. Cleveland's not going to be good over the course of a season. But bad teams tend to think they're better than they are in September. I think the Browns at home keep it close. Let's just be, okay. I've been on the show with you for an hour, I think three years.

One of your best things is, hey, just take the better quarterback. You just sold me going against Patrick Mahomes, Jaden Daniels, and now Joe Burr. Colin, what's going on here? Come on. Are you seriously? Okay. What's next? Are you going to go against Josh Allen?

Come on. No, I'm mostly taking the best quarterbacks, but I do think there are things I worry about teams that do not have established. offensive lines. Kansas City's playing a left tackle that's a rookie. Offensive lines over the course of 17 weeks, if you have new starters or young starters, you don't play those guys a lot of

snaps. O-line is the number one unit that is hardest to create cohesion and chemistry. So Kansas City's O-line, Joe Tunney gone, rookie left tackle, I get Khalil Mack. I think Kansas City could be chopped. Also, you're asking them to travel

to Brazil. It's going to be a great game. You should be close. Chargers always seem to play them close. How good. Home? I'm telling you, the NFL, listen to these games, late Sundays. Listen to some of these babies. Detroit at Green Bay.

That's great. Baltimore at Buffalo. Monday night, Minnesota at Chicago. I like Minnesota there. Well, you skipped over San Fran at Seattle. We're on opposing sides in that one. I've already bet the Niners here. Now, I am worried about the depth chart, Ricky Piersall, Jewan Jennings.

Seattle's secondary is incredible. Witherspoon was a great find. It's very good. It's going to be a good game. I just don't know that I like the under. Yeah, that sounds about right. I mean, Seattle is pivoting to a run game first. The Niners are a mass unit on the perimeter, and Seattle's secondary is one of the better secondaries in the league.

So I think that's got 2017 written all over. Plus, Robert Sala doesn't have a ton to work with, not as much when he was there previously. Saul is a great defensive coordinator for the Niners. I ran into a buddy at the gym, and he's a Steelers fan. I went and made a bet with him for fun. I got Jets. He's got Steelers.

Do you have any read on that game whatsoever? Aaron Rogers Revenge Spot. Probably lean Jets. Yeah. Don't feel great about it. Don't feel good about it. Hour two. 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. First people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen.

We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's, Mikey Day and head writer 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. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless, and at the French Open,

only the toughest survive. I'd know I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no nonsense break of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments set to find Roland Garris. She's an outsider to win the French name. 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.

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. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multimillion dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know.

Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.