The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Knicks over the Spurs to win the NBA Cup, comparing Caleb Williams & Bo Nix

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

Colin Cowherd breaks down a thrilling NBA Cup Final as Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks brought home the win over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, crediting the NBA for taking a bold swing and creating a must-watch event. Colin explains why the league’s willingness to innovate is paying off—despite criticism from traditionalists—and what the NBA Cup means for the future of the sport He also explains why he thinks Bears QB Caleb Williams and Broncos QB Bo Nix are basically the some playerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. 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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast, point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming to him. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the I Heart

Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Body 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 heart is hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit.

Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for Free. Have a great day. I heart radio. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Kunky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast.

I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I 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.

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

Here we go. It is a Wednesday. We are live in Chicago. It's the herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. You know, it's interesting. There's people out there. One of the things I've learned over the course of my life,

people that complain a lot don't create a lot. So a rule I try to make part of my life is I surround myself with creators and not complainers. It's just a psychological truth. It's a psychological truth. I mean, Harvard's done study. Optimists are more successful in life professionally than pessimists. So when anybody rips on the NBA, taking a stab with the NBA cup, I'm like, you don't even watch the league. You're just a complainer, which means you're not a creator, which means you're a pessimist, not an optimist.

No, thanks, I don't want that life. So last night I'm watching the NBA Cup, and I'm like, the NBA got more Wemby on TV and more New York Knicks on TV. I'm for it. Baseball did this. They'd put baseball games in London, the Yankees, Red Sox, the Mets, Phillies, they'd put him in a cornfield. They'd put him in Bristol Mortar Speedway. Rob Manfred took six or seven swings. I mean, baseball's on a two-to-three-year heater.

The games feel bigger, faster. I like the NBA Cup. I think the other, about two weeks ago, I'm walking through an area and there's six TVs on and one of the courts is bright purple. And I'm like, oh, yeah. Yeah, these games are different. I think it's smart. And I watched the players play last night and they're into it. I mean, they were more into this than they were during COVID playing games in Orlando where everybody missed their family.

I think the players are into it. So all these regular seasons, the NHL, the MLS, baseball, the NBA, baseball strangely has been the most progressive and the most willing to take big swings kind of push that way by Fox Sports are management like create events and they work and they get TV ratings

and they get people talking. But hockey created the Four Nations tournament. I think it was a massive hit. It was a shocking. big hit. So Silicon Valley is the most innovative place, maybe in the world, certainly in America. Their hit rate is probably about 15%. Take a swing. Avoid people who criticize stuff yet don't consume it. Like rural guy in the South ripping California. The weather is perfect and the economy is the fourth biggest in the world. I think California's doing okay rural guy. Maybe go there more than once a life for

Disney. Okay? So I watched the NBA Cup. I don't know how good the Knicks are. They don't have much of a bench. They don't defend the three. I always feel like Carl Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson on the floor against the better coach teams or a bit of a defensive liability.

And Brunson didn't shoot particularly well. OG had a great night. But I feel like the four leading odds to win the NBA championship are all out west. And so I just don't know if the Knicks can match an OKC. Well, they can't OKC or a Denver. I don't know if they can. But it felt like last night, big third quarter run, 13 to one run. They were into it.

The league is trying to create like baseball, some memorable events. The Knicks have a new head coach. This may be the biggest championship they win over the next several years, but it's a swing. It's something. I saw Yannis win this thing. LeBron win it. Now the Knicks win it.

You can't tell me the league's not happy with it. I don't know again how viable the Knicks are. in the playoffs, but optimists are more successful than pessimists. And I think Jalen Brunson and Adam Silver both liked it. Here they are. A game like this and an environment like this, you don't really see around the NBA too often.

And so we got to take advantage of the experience that we got here. I mean, and those guys will. I don't think we're having a parade. One. To the city of New York. I think it's good that we won this. I think it's good that we were able to, the way we won it, I think it's special as well.

Well, what's working is we wanted more games of consequence and the players are responded, the fans are responded, players are definitely responding to the competition, look at the teams that are here, the games that we saw on Saturday night, you know, and across the board, I think it's becoming a new tradition in the league. Yeah, I'm never gonna criticize one of these sports

leagues for taking swings. You know, Rob Manfred, baseball's always been one that, you know, rests on its tradition and lore, and Rob Manfred's taking a lot of heat, and he's like, we're going to speed the game up, bigger bases, regular season, put a guy on second base, no defensive shift, and the traditionalists don't love it. Baseball is so much more consumable today than it was five years ago, not even close. You can turn in for 45 minutes and get three, four innings. and the NBA Cup, the weird floors, I like the swing.

I really do. I appreciate it, and I think the Knicks did too. All right. So I've been saying that you can't love Caleb Williams of the Bears and then not love Bo Nicks of Denver. If you look at their first two years in the NFL, they both have really, really elite demanding offensive coaches. So it's not like one has a great coach and one has a bump.

I'm putting this on the screen for our television viewers. Sorry, Radio. They're the same quarterback through two years. Now, Caleb's got the bigger arm, and Beau's a little bit more accurate on the 12 yards and under stuff, swing passes. But they next gen came out with a stat this morning, which doubles down and validates what I've been saying all year. Caleb and Bo, they're really the same guy.

One with a bigger arm. They're even about the same height. Hyper athletic, very coachable, strangely great in the fourth quarter, a little uneven, demanding head coach. So next gen came out with a stat of the fastest quarterback runs this year. Here they are in order. Caleb one, Bo Nix 2, Caleb 3, Caleb 4, Bo Nix 5, Caleb 6. I was mocked yesterday saying Bo Nix reminds me of a young right-handed Steve Young. Steve Young was the fastest quarterback when he played.

So I saw Bo Nixon College live twice on TV 30 times. And I kept saying, this guy is like super athletic, and now you're seeing it. Lamar, I don't know what's happened to Lamar, but he doesn't feel quite as dynamic. Bo and Caleb, and look at their teams, I'm telling you, you can't love one without the other. We're spending so much time because Chicago's a big market, a very loud media. I kind of feel like I'm getting the same guy. Demanding coach, durable. Don't take sacks.

At least this year, Caleb's not taking sacks. Better in big games. Better in the fourth quarter, which is almost never the case with young quarterbacks. They're usually good on script early, bad, late in crisis. These two are really special. I think everybody knows Caleb is special. People are reluctant with Bo Nick.

Love them both. And here is Caleb on his biggest game, maybe as a problem. against Green Bay this weekend. We've played teams that have a bunch of wins. We play teams that don't. We've played close games. We've played games where we've beaten teams by a lot. We've played teams where we had to win with special teams,

offense, defense, whatever case, running ball, whatever case. And so I feel that we're, you know, we're ready for just about anything, hot weather, cold weather, whatever the case may be. We're going to go out there and go out there and fight. I do know that. And I like our chances, us for. anybody. And I think both Denver and Bo and Chicago and Caleb, if you look at the rosters, the coaching, and what these teams do well, they're built for the playoffs. These aren't

warm weather teams that are finesse and they're throwing the ball over the top. My Super Bowl bubble as of this morning, and I usually have about seven teams in it. My Super Bowl bubble has the Rams, Seattle, and Denver is the teams that should be favored. And my Super Bowl bubble, and then the Bears, Patriots, Texans, and the Bills may have a flaw that I don't love. I have the Chargers, Niners, and Eagles out of the bubble but close based on what I view as an issue that's not correctable. O-line for the Chargers will eventually be their doom.

Defense, Sal is doing an unbelievable job, but it's just not good enough to win multiple playoff games, and I think you have a head coach coordinator issue in Philadelphia. I don't care how good the roster is. They've been broken since week one. This is not like a recent trend. They haven't had back-to-back great offensive games all year. J-Mac thoughts on that Super Bowl bottle that has both Caleb and Bo Nix. And no defending Super Bowl champion Eagles.

At first blush, you know, it's funny. I was talking about this with someone on my podcast last. week. Colin, I don't understand who the clear favorites are right now. The league is so wide open heading into these playoffs that at first blush, I don't totally hate this Super Bowl bubble. I know people are scoffing like, come on, Broncos. If the Broncos made the Super Bowl, I wouldn't be shocked. It's so wide open. The Chiefs have fallen off badly. No Joe Burrow. We don't even know if Lamar Jackson's getting in. I think it's why this is the most wide open. I think it's been in probably a decade, right? Maybe longer?

What happens is the key to winning Super Bowls, you know this, is either having a superstar quarterback who takes a bit of a team-friendly deal this year's Matt Stafford and the Rams. Yeah. Right, right. Or having a really gifted rookie quarterback, a Mahomes for years, on a rookie deal, and you can supplant the roster and load it up. So Chicago's roster, you and I've been on this all year. Chicago's roster is excellent. I mean, receivers. They're O lines, one of the best O lines in football.

Safety, corner. So if you start looking at this, it's Matt Stafford taking a team-friendly deal, Sam Darnold taking a team-friendly deal, and then you have Drake May, Caleb Williams, Bo Nicks on rookie deals. C.J. Stroud as well. C.J. Stroud as well. The only exception I have in there is Josh Allen, and I've got them closer to being out because I'm going to wait until Ed Oliver gets back,

the D-line. There's a lot of talk that that'll help their defensive line. It'll help their run defense. But if you look at the teams in the bubble, Sam Darnold, by the way, very team-friendly deal. So this idea that you can have Mahomes or Josh Allen, but if you're paying $50 million,

that's the cap hit, then the chief's old line stinks and the bill's defense stinks. So I think Caleb, Drake, May, and Bo Nicks, in fact, I honestly, because they pay had spent $300 million in free agency. They don't have a lot of megastars, but New England also doesn't have a lot of holes on this team

because, I mean, let's be honest, they plugged them up in free agency. Yeah. And Josh Allen and the bill, Josh Allen's the only highly paid quarterback in there. I mean, Stafford, you said, is getting paid, but Josh Allen is Superman. He's clearly the best quarterback in the league right now. I won't accept any other answers. Like, I know someone else might win the MVP, but what Josh Allen's doing with the bills, like other than James Cook, who's their next best offensive player?

Is it Dionne Dawkins? Yes. I mean, yeah, well, name their splash players on defense at Oliver. It kind of ends with that. Yeah. 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, is Kavino and Rich from Fox Sports Radio? Now, in addition to hearing us live weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio,

we're excited to announce a brand new YouTube channel for the show. Yep, that's right. watch Covino and Rich live on YouTube every day. All you got to do, search Covino and Rich FSR on YouTube. Again, go to YouTube, search Covino and Rich FSR. Check us out on YouTube, 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 it. We're the first people to do podcasts. pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name,

Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.

I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey Jonas, and then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.

And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us

on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp

with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne.

This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips, wider. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey.

With all the snacks and drinks. Sidebar. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Well, they had a bogo. Well, then you got it. Do you want a white collar or something here? Just take it. Oh, what are y'all doing?

Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, I would. Come on. Could you imagine? I would buy it. Cut through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake. That sounds delicious.

Oh, you're lucky. I'm not a drug addict. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic. You are. I'm lucky I'm not a killer. I love this team and I'm really trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on. Oh. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a paramedipausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with the Anamanea Arriva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most

fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45. How high can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy?

That one's kind of hard, no. Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter, and dive into it, unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of my Cultura Podcast Network

available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us. The United States will not stand by and allow any power, however great, take over another country. From IHeart Podcasts, Saigon. Please allow me to introduce Joseph Sherman. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? I should stop talking so much. I like hearing you talk.

One city, a divided country. the war that tore America apart. This is for Vietnam. I've taken a hit from Japanese ground fire. Do you rate me? They're pouring petrol all over him. He's holding matches. I'm on a landmine.

For free time. Let's get out. Freedom from Vietnam. Run! Saigon, starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict. Sting here's madness. The world should hear about this. There's a fire coming to this country and it's going to burn out everything.

Listen to Saigon. on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. People say certain things, and they're just not true, but they believe them, they double down on them, they triple, they quadruple down. One of those, and a lot of these old defensive coaches, they have not stayed current. They are so burdened, bothered, paralyzed by a quarterback who throws interceptions. This whole Sam Darnold throws too many picks. As long as your production is high, I don't have a problem with picks. I don't have to love them, but I'd rather you have picks and throw the ball down the field.

What do these seven quarterbacks have in common? Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Dak, Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert Bow Nicks. They're all in the top 11 of interceptions this year. The fewest, by the way, is like Jared Goff and Matt Stafford, but they're pocket-based quarterbacks that don't create anything. outside of structure. I prefer playmakers outside of structure.

In fact, Matt Stafford, the year he won the Super Bowl with the Rams, led the NFL in interceptions. And in fact, in the Super Bowl, he threw two of them and still won. From 1998 to 2015, do you know who led the NFL in interceptions? Peyton Manning, and he missed a year.

I'm telling you, folks, for the last six teams that have won a Super Bowl, the winning quarterback threw a pick in the Super Bowl. Bo Nix is a great example of this. Bo Nix has nine picks this year. Whoa! But when trailing, he has 16 touchdowns in one pick. When do you throw them?

You know, don't throw him in the red zone, which takes away guaranteed points. But if you're at midfield, throw it deep down the sideline, then it gets picked at the nine. That's better than the punter could do. it's a change of possession. Brock Purdy, one of the things I'll defend Brock Purdy about. He's super aggressive. He threw a lot of picks in college.

He throws picks in the NFL. Kyle Shanan loves him because he takes a swing. So this Sam Darnold narrative, you can't win big with Sam Darnold. Last two years, he leads the NFL and wins. If you go back to Sam Darnold, the Carolina years, and you pick it up, late in O'W.

Because he sat for the first time in his career. Take the Jets out. He sat in Carolina. When he started playing late November from that day until now, three different teams, he's the winningest quarterback in the league and has a higher 100 plus pass-a-rating percentage than Mahomes. So also, quarterbacks who throw more often throw more picks. The Eagles are literally trying to get Jalen Hertz to throw fewer times because they win more when he throws less. That's what I don't want.

I like Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen, Dak, the coaching staff trust them. Think about Seattle. Seattle is so much better this year than last. And that's letting go of a Pro Bowl receiver, D.K. Metcalfe. What was the only change? Sam Darnold and a new coordinator. You guys watch the Vikings offense this year? doesn't quite feel as consistent or dynamic, does it?

What happened? One major change. Quarterback left. Same coach, same coordinator, same wide receivers, same all line. A lot of the same defensive players. They lost Arnold. So this whole thing, Peyton Manning, in a 17-year period, led the NFL in picks. Andrew Luck, a lot of picks.

For the last six Super Bowl winning teams, the quarterback threw a pick in the game. The world has changed. If you can make plays with your feet and move the chains, you're a playmaker. It's not just now about safe distribution. Here's Sam Darn. We're excited about this challenge. Obviously, it's a divisional game. You know, playing these guys last time.

Obviously, it wasn't my best effort. You know, I feel like as an offense, we just got to continue to do what we've been, we've been practicing. You know, stay on the details. but again this team's a very good defense. It's a very good team. It's interesting. In a game in which he had four picks, go back and look at the end of the game.

The Seahawks were moving for the win because Sam makes so many big plays. I mean, think about Seattle's offense. Got rid of D.K. Metcalfe. Did draft a really good left guard, but it's basically Donald and a new coordinator. J.S.N. was on at the year before. I'm going to take big swings, aggressive quarterbacks who throw occasional picks.

Every day of the week. Over underneath Safe Guy, every day of the week. J. Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, Colin, let's start with a quarterback who throws a lot of interceptions, and he just got benched, and that's Tuatongavala.

The Miami Dolphins announced this morning that Quinn Ewers, the rookie out of Texas, that once, I mean, highly acclaimed high school superstar, he will start this week against the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, listen, I don't want to act like I saw this coming or anything, but I told you before the show. Last night, I bet Cincinnati. It was like minus two because of Mike McDaniels' comments yesterday. He openly said, I got to watch a tape.

He looked ticked off. I thought we'd get Zach Wilson. It might be worse. We get Quinn Ewers against the Bengals. Neither team has anything to play for. This is another, I'm telling you, the Miami Dolphins, This should be the guidebook on how to get rid of a coach potentially. So they fire the GM who gave the extension to Tua, and it had really, frankly, you don't

bring in Tua, spend all your money on wide receivers. The GM needed to be fired. Now they bench the quarterback. If you have to move Tua, you don't want him banged up. You want him healthy. You bring in the less ready backup, Quinn Ewers instead of Zach Willis. And Zach, today would probably be better than Queen Ewers, virtually guaranteeing a loss to Sinci, New England, and the box. So you're going to end up being, what, 6 and 11th.

Your current 11th pick probably ends up like the 7th pick, 8th pick, giving you more draft ammunition to move down or get a better player. This is how you do it. You don't fire a coach. For the record, whoever they get it quarterback, maybe Ewers lights it up. I doubt it, but maybe he does. Whatever you settle on a quarterback, you and I would both agree, you'd want to give him a young, creative, offensive coach, which McDaniels is. So my take on, this is the way to do it.

I agree with every, I would have fired the GM, I would have benchedua, I would have played yours. I'm with you 100%. It's a great take. This is a soft tank. That's let's just call it what it is. An intelligent tank. Yeah, an intelligent tank. And Washington's doing the same, Jaden, Daniels.

He could probably play. Yeah, we're going to sit him down. Okay, the New York Jets, my Jets. Hey, Justin Fields is dinged up, and we're going to go. Tyra Taylor, no, no, we're going to this rookie from Missouri, who nobody's ever heard of. That's right. We're not trying to win games.

But we want to see what we've got, Colin. We've got to see what these young guys have. That's right. I do want to go on to Tuah, just for a second. I don't think Mike McDaniel and him were like a failure in Miami. Remember, he took over for Brian Flores. It was a dumpster fire. Flores wanted nothing to do a tour.

McDaniel makes a lot of him. playoffs twice with Tua. So like that is kind of impressive in Miami. Yeah, I said this yesterday. There's an argument he overachieve with Tua. Okay, Tua at one point led the NFL in completion percentage, passing yards, Tua. And just forget the sport in a conference with Mahomes, Lamar, Josh Allen, Herbert. So you can argue he overachieved. But what happened with Tua is what happened to Russell Wilson and what is happening to Kyler Murray. small quarterbacks fall off a cliff physically. Remember Russell Wilson?

We're like, what the hell happened? Well, he's in his 30s. He's still in his 20s. He's a young guy. He has regressed badly in the last year. When you watch Tua play, little guys, do you think Tua could withstand the Justin Herbert year this season? Oh, come on, no way.

I mean, he looks afraid to run. Oh, he is. And I heard this first year on Kyler Murray at Arizona. I talked to a pro ball pass rusher who played Kyler Murray, his rookie year. And he told me, I bumped into him, actually at a, bumped into a place in L.A. where athletes hang out. And we were talking about Kyler Murray. I said, what do you make of him? He goes, I sacked him.

He winced. He goes, I guarantee you. He does not like, his heart is not into this thing. He goes, I've never heard the sounds he makes when I hit a quarterback. Like big guys shrug it off. Little guys, they're like in pain. These little quarterback, by the way, Jackson Dart, I wish he was a little bigger, spends all his time in the blue tent.

So Tua and Russell Wilson kind of inexplicably fell off a cliff. It sighs. You know, you can look at some of the gambling lines, like Tua for a rushing touchdown. Every game is like plus 6,000. Basically, it's never going to happen. And then you look, and he scrambled, I think, once for like three yards against the Steelers. And it looked like he got dragged down. I was like, oh, damn.

If you get him off his spot, he's kind of useless. Yep. I mean, again, it's going to be an interesting offseason. Colin, I'll just say this. The GM did a horrific job. The last four years, he had one good draft pick in Devon A. Chan. By the way, they took a guy named Kenneth Grant, 13th. Okay?

Tyler Warren went 14. Tyler Warren's killing it with the cold. So the GM botched it. I think McDaniels gets another shot next year. Good luck to Quinn Ewers. Let's move on to the Philadelphia Eagles, Colin. obviously a nice bounce back from Jalen Hurts against the Raiders. I guess that's, you know, an NFL team.

Hirsch has gotten a lot of criticism throughout the season and was asked how he responds to pressure from outside the building. Perception by those who are watching. I'm not watching. I'm living. That's who I am. It's my focus. It's in my first rodeo.

Go ahead. I know you want to make fun of him. I see a little smirk there. A smirk. Mark emerging. Cowherd wants to take a shot at the sound bites from Jalen Hertz. It's like he's reading some scholarly texts, some philosophy. I think he's a good guy.

He can be a little, you know, he can be a little Russell Wilson, a little cliche. But you know what? I'd rather have that than start fires and be cocky. Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. So quick thoughts on the Eagles. They play Washington this week. They should get the win.

They play Washington twice. Exactly. So I haven't bet this, but I'm. curious. If they win, Dallas is eliminated. It's over for the Cowboys. Okay? At that point, you get two weeks before your first game. Eagles will not get a buy. Does Phillies say, let's start resting some guys? Sayquine, you haven't had the legs. You want a week or two off? Take it. Or do you think they need to get like some rhythm going to head into the playoffs? Because it's an interesting discussion for the Eagles. I have a hard time believing that Philadelphia is going

to get their rhythm when they face the best teams in the playoffs. I've watched this offense. It's been broken for 16, 15 weeks. So the idea that you're going to face better defenses, better coordinators, better coaching, better teams, and then you'll find your rhythm. Philly is what they are. Stacked roster, led by their defense, can't run the ball, using excuses. Well, our offensive lines dinged up. Justin Herbert is 10 and what, four, and he's missing both tackles.

And has the worst offensive line PFF in the league. I don't want to hear about the injuries to the O line. How in the hell are the Chargers winning these games? head coach, toughness. I'm tired of the excuses. It's a broken offense between head coach and OC. It's suboptimal. Yeah.

Okay. That's strong. Tough to argue that one. Final story. Let's go to your boy, Aaron Rogers. You know, maybe he's taking cues from Mike Tomlin with sound bites. Colin, this is interesting. So Aaron Rogers was talking about the team and who's contributing.

And he, for some reason, mentioned a bunch of cast-offs that Pittsburgh has brought in this season. Take a listen to this. It's kind of why I said after the game, there's some castoffs if you look at our roster, which it makes it really special. You know, Kenny Gainwell signed a next-to-nothing contract. You know, Connor Hayward and Afterthought, had a touchdown run. You know, Mark Westman on a couple teams. Adam Thielen got cut.

Samuel was on the street for a long time. So it says a lot about the character of the guys we brought in. Do you consider yourself one of those castoffs too? No, I'm not a castoff. So the reporter for those who couldn't hear said, are you a cast off as well? And he goes, no, I'm not a cast off. But, but Colin,

after his darkness retreat, the Packers kicked him to the curb. The Jets kicked him to the curb. And he won at Minnesota. And Minnesota was like, we're good. So what is the definition? Ryan, what's the Google definition of cast off? Because I think, and let's be fair, I think Aaron's been tremendous this year.

This offense has been tone-deaf. for seven years, they still have no run game, and Aaron's going to win the division. I have been 100% in Aaron's corner all year. So here it is. Here's the definition of cast off. No longer wanted, abandoned or discarded. So I don't think it's fair to say, because basically Aaron made the Steelers wait for him. Aaron wasn't waiting for the Steelers, so he does not qualify as a castoff.

Okay, so, I mean, I guess technically you're right. Well, yeah. But the Jets, remember, he flew across the country to meet with the Jets, and they're like, two seconds into the interview, we're good, thanks, man, have a nice life. That's getting cast off by the Jets. I would say he didn't have a huge market. Like Minnesota probably should have gone with him. I would have.

But let me. They don't want this headache, man. He's basically, like, first of all, Kelling, Adam Thielinling a cast off. Thielen asked to be released so he could go to a contender. Like, I mean, come on. I feel like he keeps knocking people. Like, that's just not a nice thing to say. I would say Aaron made the Steelers wait for him,

therefore eliminating the term cast off. A cast off is you're desperate for work and nobody's interested. The Steelers wish he would have two months earlier definitively embrace them. They had to sit and wait for him. That's not a cast off. It's not about your resume. Castoff basically means you're discarded.

Nobody's really interested. You're kind of bottom of the barrel. Aaron has been the only consistent, redeemable part of the Steelers this year. T.J. Watts's been banged up. Defense giving up big plays. Jalen Ramsey's hit and miss. I get the same Aaron virtually every week. Oh, Lions?

Oh, come on, lions. Maybe he got me rooting against Rogers and the Steelers. Steelers fans are getting ornery. By the way, what do you think? They're getting in or no? Well, I think the Ravens schedule. I mean, you know, it's good. What about this?

The Ravens Steelers will come down to the final game at Pittsburgh. Probably. Probably. I would probably take the Ravens in that spot. So anti-stealers people need lions this week. All right, Jared Goff, get it done. I think the lions win this, don't they? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I do too. Ravens got a bit of a break with the Packers getting beat up, but New England getting beat at home, probably plays one of their games of the year. That's an interesting matchup. I don't know what to make of the Ravens defense. Is it real or is it not good? Couldn't stop Rogers, shut out the borough and company?

It's okay. J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. A really interesting thought on the Golden State Warriors and the big picture on Steph Curry. Also, another really,

the really talented college quarterback says, I'm going to stay in college, even though I'd be a first or a second round pick. What does that mean for the NFL going forward? This NIL lucrative, paying college quarterbacks, eight teams need a quarterback, one top quarterback so far has said, I'm going pro. Yikes.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast?

Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it.

Oh, we were thinking, I'm originally. calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing,

a bit for the podcast, 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. What's up fam? It's Isaiah Thomas.

And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have rules,

in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick.

Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcasts presents Soccer Moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school.

Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. Wider. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drinks. Sidebar.

Why? Did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they had a bogo. Well, then you got it. Do you want a white collar something here? Just hit it. What are y'all doing? Microphones?

Are you making a rap album? Oh, I would. Come on. Can you believe? I would buy it. Cuts through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake. That sounds delicious. Oh, you're lucky.

I'm not a drug addict. You are. I'm not an alcoholic. You are. You are. I'm lucky I'm not a killer. I love this team, and I'm really trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on. Oh.

Oh. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a parameda Pazzo chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with Deanna Maria Riva, where I call on my GenX squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic.

Fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45. How can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy?

That one's kind of hard. Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears or tears of laughter, and dive into it unfiltered and unbothered and ask, How Hard Can It Be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva

as part of my Cultura podcast network available on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us. The United States will not stand by and allow any power. However great, take over another country. From My Heart Podcasts, Saigon. Please allow me to introduce Joseph Sherman. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam?

I should stop talking so much. I like hearing you talk. One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. This is for Vietnam. I've taken a hit from Japanese ground fire. Deterate me. They're pouring petrol all over him. He's holding matches.

I'm on a landmine. Or freeze! Let's get out! Freedom, Mom, hit Nile! Saigon, starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict. Sting, here's madness. The world should hear about this. There's a fire coming to this country,

and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This holiday season, Fox Sports, and Purple Heart Homes are teaming up to provide housing solutions for our nation's aging and disabled veterans through the Hearts for Holidays campaign to learn how you can help scan the QR code

or visit go.combe slash purple heart homes. So Joe Lacob has been one of those owners in professional sports. He's about winning. He'll spend whatever it takes for years and years, massive salary tax hit.

Kind of the opposite. of the Lakers. He didn't care. He wanted to win. And you know, in Silicon Valley, he could up the prices and the real estate around him and they're building a new arena. And he's a great owner, really. Recently, one of his private, I guess, emails

was made public by somebody. And in the email, Joe Lekab, you know, he had said to somebody a fan, you can't be as frustrated as I am. I'm working on it. It's complicated. Style of play. Coach's desires regarding players. League

trends. Jimmy is not the problem being Jimmy Butler. So here's what happened. In fact, by the way, and this is like part of the problem, Jonathan Cominga is really talented. Three straight DNPs coach's decision, not playing. Why?

Because the warriors have transitioned from whatever it takes to win to a circumstances franchise. Steph can't be traded and anybody you acquire has to be able to play in Steph's offense. Well, that limits youth. In the very young, deep west, the warriors are old and slow.

Bottom three in fast break points. You know, 13 and 14s are records. It's exactly what they are. And so, and I love Steph. Everybody loves Steph. But remember when Belichick was dominating? It was about do your job, whatever it takes. selfless. Yet ironically,

Belichick got very selfish. I only want to coach certain players, he was quoted as saying. Okay, now it's about circumstances. So you're not looking for the best players in New England. You're looking for the players that you like. Now you're just a circumstantial franchise, of which there's a lot of them. That's sadly what the Warriors have become. If you're not going to trade stuff, and I don't think that's the only answer,

but they run a very, very unique offense. And they won't move Draymond either, though I do think if press, they would. But look how old this team is. I mean, I'm looking this morning at the ages. Steph's 37 going to be 38 soon. Dremont's 35 going to be 36 soon. And Butler is 36. You can't compete in the West with that.

But the reality is Butler and Draymond are really high IQ basketball players, and they can play with Steph. Kaminga's right now longer, more athletic, he's got more juice and energy, not playing, because he doesn't fit into the ecosystem of Steph Curry, who everybody loves myself included. But I see this all the time. Whenever you become a franchise where you have this, we can't do this, we won't do this, you're out of the running for titles. You're out of the running.

You're not a championship team. You have a cool resume. You have great merch. You've got memories. But Belichick moved out of whatever it takes to win to I'm only coaching certain players and certain kinds of personalities. All right. Then you're just a guy. You're a guy.

You're just a coach. Just an average coach. So sports evolves. You better evolve with it. In fact, in the NBA now, the two words they always use, the key to the NBA is versatility and optionality. The warrior's word is singularity. All about Steph. Here is Steve Kerr on the email that was leaked.

Well, we're all frustrated. You know, Joe is frustrated. I'm frustrated. Everybody's frustrated, and this is, you know, kind of how the league works. And, you know, I hate when people, you know, are going to post private emails. Like, I mean, imagine if everyone's emails

were just publicly posted out, how tough that would be to live, We'll live our lives. Okay, I saw this story. Kevin Stefansky, apparently, and the Brown's divorce with Kevin Stefansky, the headline says, is looming. What can we learn from this latest disaster? Okay. For years and years, there has been a belief.

I think it's totally outdated, that the worst NFL job is better than the best college job. I think that's totally outdated. Here's the options Kevin Stefansky could have if he's fired. New York Giants, Tennessee, Arizona potentially, Vegas potentially, and Atlanta potentially. You don't think Ohio State is better than those jobs? Tennessee, a political mess behind the scenes? Arizona players rated it the worst ownership group. The Giants have been in a decade-long funk.

the truth is there are very, very few great job openings. The last three great, and truly great job openings in the NFL. New England, you got Drake May on a rookie contract, and Robert Kraft, the owner, and Josh McDaniels was going to be your coordinator. That's a great job. Harbaugh getting Justin Herbert in his prime. That's a great job. And Matt LaFleur, taking over for Mike McCarthy and,

getting Aaron Rogers at or near his peak. Those are great jobs. Mostly, it's dysfunctional owners, increasingly impulsive. They're all billionaires. But, I mean, I understood years ago, you know, the feeling was just take an NFL job. But if you look at the top of the NFL current draft order, you notice it's the same teams Giants, Raiders, Titans, Browns, Jets, Cardinals, Saints, Bengals.

You notice that? You think these are great jobs? You don't think Ohio State or Texas are better gigs where I can control my personnel, don't have a crazy owner. I mean, the NCAA is toothless. They don't know what's going on. I can pay my players. So even if I have a booster that's out of control, which sometimes was always a problem at big school, some booster with $100 handshakes,

that's not illegal anymore. I mean, I Here's Kevin Stefansky when asked about his job security this week. I don't get into those type of things. Merrick, I would just tell you, my focus, our football team's focus is solely on the Buffalo Bills and obviously watching the tape today. That's our focus, but that's all we really care about. Now, you could argue, Colin, Sean Payton, Denver was a great job.

No, it wasn't. No, it wasn't. Sean Payton made it a great job. He inherited a nightmarish Russell Wilson dead cap situation and draft capital that had been moved. Sean Payton made that a great job. That was not a great job.

90% of the people that could have taken that job would have failed. Sean Payton's one of the smartest coaches in 50 years. Well, what about Ben Johnson? The Bears wasn't a good job. The Bears is still viewed as ownership, front office, a little dysfunctional. Ben Johnson similarly made that, makes that a great job. That's different than a great job.

I mean, the Chargers with Herbert, you were going to win. They had all sorts of defensive talent. They had their draft picks. They had the star quarterback. That's a great job. Vrabel, I get Drake May, Robert Kraft, Josh McDaniels, is coming with me. And, oh, by the way, I can spend $300 million in free agency. That is a really good job.

In a division with a dysfunctional dolphins, dysfunctional jet, and Buffalo average roster. So don't confuse making a job a great job and a great job the minute you walk in the door. Green Bay with Aaron Rogers, I mean, no chaos. I mean, at that time, you know, what were the bears? What were the lions? Vikings good, never special.

J. Mack, here's the schedule this week. I will tell you, the best bet on the board is probably now since. Cincinnati at Miami with Joe Burrow playing and Quinn you are starting in what I would call a very intelligent soft tank by the Miami Dolphins. Anything jump out to you? You like underdogs, right? Can you hold your nose and take the Browns at home against the bills? I think Shador could have a chance to do well.

I mean, I'm just talking about getting 10 points at home. That's a lot. Call me crazy, but I like Tennessee. I do think the Kansas City Chiefs are going to be mailing it in. I don't think we see a max effort from Kelsey or Jones. I mean, Colin, it's been forever since they've not been in the playoffs. Let me give you an upset, potentially. Denver off a wildly important win.

It's had a string of close games. And here comes sleepy Jacksonville into town. Jacksonville is a team that can run the football. Creates turnovers. You know, it's kind of a weird spot. Like, it's hard to get your locker room jazzed up for the jam. Jags off a Packer win. Keep your eye on the Jags, upsetting the Denver Broncos.

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. Tired and sick.

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season.

And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis' keep coming to him. He's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love.

This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn 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 worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. I heart radio. This season on Dear Chelsea, with me, Chelsea Handler,

we have some fantastic guests like Amelia Clark. When like young people come up to me and they want to be an actor or whatever. My first thing is always, can you think of anything else that you can do? Rather be disappointed in. Do that. David O'Yello. I love this podcast, whether it's therapy or relationships or religion. or sex or addiction or you just go straight for the guts.

Dennis Leary, Gaten Moderato from Stranger Things, Tana Monsu, Camilla Morone, Carrie Kenny Silver, and more. Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Portia accusing Kelly of sleeping with a married man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew.

Pinky has financial issues. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the T, everybody's talking about. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.