The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Lakers have issues on defense, LeBron James won't be enough, A.J. Brown and the Eagles offense

Episode Date: November 13, 2025

The Los Angeles Lakers defensive flaws could destroy their NBA championship hopes—and why even a vintage 40-year-old LeBron James can't fix this fatal weakness. Colin dives deep into the Lakers defensive efficiency issues, roster construction, and what it means for their playoff chances in the loaded Western Conference Then, Colin reacts to A.J. Brown's comments calling out the Philadelphia Eagles struggling offense. He explains why this tension isn't new—and why he has been warning you about this broken Brown-Jalen Hurts-Nick Sirianni relationship for almost a year nowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Great to have you in. We are live from Chicago. It's the herd. J-MACS sometimes you look at the Lakers brand and you think like the Showtime Lakers. Oh, it was all about Magic Johnson, who was not a great defense. but you had Kareem protecting the rim. So all five of those title teams, the Showtime Lakers, all five were top ten defenses. People don't think about that because you had the great backstop at the rim and Kareem.

And so I'm watching the Lakers last night getting gouged defensively by OKC, and this is not a criticism, it's instructive. This is why eventually you've got to get rid of the duplication in the Lakers lineup. It's so easy for Oklahoma City to score and they were missing two starters. I mean, SGA had 30 points. Didn't even have to play the fourth quarter. So, J.J. Reddick's an offensive leaning coach. Luca, guys that Luca guarded last night, Thunder players went eight for ten from the floor. Rui, Austin Reeves, much better on offense than defense. DeAndre Aiton, allergic to defense. Gabe Vincent, when he plays, gives you effort,

but he's small. Who can he guard? So the, the, only open lane in all of L.A. is usually at Laker Gags. You can always find an open laid in that traffic. And the reality is, if you go look at the last five NBA champions, only Denver was considered sort of

average defensively, but the truth is they weren't. Gordon, elite defensively, elite athlete length, KCP, Bruce Brown, they were eighth in defense. May not have been as good as the Celtics or O.K.C. last. year but they were a very very good defensive team okay C is missing two starters last night what does it matter I mean SGA can get the 30 with his eyes closed they can score in the paint they had almost 50 points in the paint why because

DeAndre doesn't like defense so this is not a criticism it is a reality it is a lineup a Laker lineup that is heavily offensive leaning massive duplication Austin Reeves when LeBron gets back Luca they all need the ball in their hands hands. None of them elite defenders. LeBron was eight years ago. He's not anymore. And again, Luca, if Lucas guarding you, you're getting a bucket. Eight of ten last night were OKC players when Lucas guarding them. So you have redundancy and duplication. It's like a football team that doesn't play defense, right? You may score a lot of points, but in the end, the other guys will get a lead and ball control you. And the Lakers just can't get stops. And if you look at the West,

Minnesota, the Spurs, OKC, they've all got elite defensive. stoppers or three. And so the Lakers, Luca may win a scoring title. They'll be fun to watch. They've got a bunch of guys on ball skill is exceptional. I mean, track meet, they can run with anybody. They're really good offensively, but it's a lot of the same guys. And LeBron, Syattica James, maybe coming back, he's not a defensive stopper, not at this point. So again, what makes a Super Bowl roster or an NBA championship roster, OKC last year, Prime Examiner, example, you can do both. You can make stops. You can get buckets. You can do mid-range. You can get threes. The Lakers have all sorts of offense. But I've said that. And Austin Reeves, that's Rob Polenka's guy.

They don't want to get rid of him. And LeBron, do you want to offend LeBron and his, you know, and his guys? So it just, I thought last night the Lakers are great in clutch games, but it's not going to be clutch. You're not going to be in close games against teams like OKC and Minnesota. Never forget what Minnesota did to the Lakers last year in the postseason. It wasn't just offense. They got stops. You know, they forced Austin

Reeves, go play defense. He can't. It's not what he does. It's not a player's fault. It's a redundancy of skill set. And JJ Reddick, watch the beat down up close and personal. When you're not playing well offensively, it can affect what you're

trying to do defensively. There was, there seemed to be more confusion, I think, on the court, on that end of the floor, on the defensive end, that I, I think we anticipated. So, you know, I got to make sure that, you know, I've created enough clarity for these guys. Yeah, I don't think it's a clarity issue. I think it's a personnel issue and why they should make a move or consider it at the trade deadline. everybody's finally coming over to my side on the AJ Brown Philadelphia Eagle story. So I never said he was a bad guy and I never said he wasn't a great player.

He's both. He's a bad fit in Philly. And I said last year, after the Super Bowl, trade him. I said at the trade deadline, trade him. They didn't. And now he's got all the leverage. What are they going to do? every time you put a mic in front of him, he's speaking out.

Here's A.J. Brown's latest diatribe on the Philadelphia Eagles offense. At what point are we going to pick up our slack as an offense that we're saying we're so great, you know, and that's what I'm getting there. It's not about we're not winning or I don't care about winning. All I care about it's neck and step. No, it's been week after week sometimes. We're not contributing. We're not doing our job on offense.

So you can't just keep slapping the band-aids. over that and you expect to win late in the year you think he's going to go to it in the year it's not going to happen it's not going to happen you know last year what it was thank you for the ring but it's a new season they adapted we have to adapt so so now you know he knows he's got all the leverage right before the trade deadline you don't want to get shipped off to jacksonville or after the super bowl it's like uh eagles have a lot of time in the front office i better watch out now philly's trapped and there's only two things that take a Super Bowl roster out of Super Bowls. Number one, cluster injuries, your

whole offensive line gets hurt like the Chargers, or drama, and this is drama. And the Eagles now are doing the worst thing you can do. They're forcing the ball to him. They're trying to appease him, like that last throw down the field against the Packers. They're now just trying to appease him. That's the worst thing you can do. So the Eagles are averaging 24 points and a measly 300 yards of offense in the one-game age of. Jay Brown didn't play. They scored 38 points and had 430 yards. So this is not terribly complicated. And over the last five games, yesterday, J. Mack said, well, who do you throw to? Well, over the last five games, the third leading receiver in the NFL is Devante Smith. I'm not saying Devonte's better than

AJ Brown, but he's a better fit. So they have a number one receiver. They have a great back, a good old line, a good quarterback. But it's the old pizza at a Mexican restaurant. I'm not saying the pizza's not great, and it's kind of weird that it's on the menu, but you can be a great player, you can be a great guy, and it can just be a weird fit. And now that you didn't trade him, he has all the leverage. And Philadelphia is probably the best sports talk radio market in the country, in terms of driving narratives, driving fan opinion, getting people fired. So this is just, I mean, this is a peniata for the aggressive Philadelphia.

media to bat around. And I like him a lot. I think A.J. Brown, I don't think he's a problem. I think he's a great player. But I've said if you're a Hall of Fame player and you already got your money and you've already got your ring, A.J. Brown now wants production. He's an all-time talent. He wants all-time production. He's got the money. He's got the ring. He's got the legacy. He wants production.

And this is just not a good fit. It's also a reminder, and we've said this for years in the NBA, if a player wants to be traded, get him out of the door. The longer you wait, the media talks about it, you lose your leverage, other GMs know. Okay, well, they've got to trade him. So, Howie Roseman has always been ahead of the curve and a step ahead, and he sees around corners. But now, AJ Brown's got the leverage. and, you know, yesterday, Nick Seriani said, you know, I'm about done talking about it. Well, it's not fabricated.

It's not that the Philadelphia media is making stuff off. Every time you put a mic in front of A.J. Brown, he's talking. So it's just, it's just out of control train here that's kind of, you know, gone off the tracks. And there's only a couple of things that can blow up a Super Bowl locker room and it's cluster injuries and it's drama. And this is the latter, clearly. You know, Jay Mack, I know that that Laker rant, it's not criticism because it's a very good team. But it is a reality on what they are and what they're not. And when it's that easy missing two starters, it is a reminder, guys, we have an uneven lobsided roster.

Is that fair? Yeah, that's fair. I mean, this is the third road game for them on a long road trip. I know O'CC. was on a back-to-back. They're a young squad. This is a Laker team, Colin, three of their top eight guys last night were brand new to the team. They've been with them for like, you know, a month. Okay.

So I'm not overreacting. I will say DeAndre Aiton, who's looked good this season, looked terrible. Last time he's an awful matchup for OKC. He's robotic when he catches the ball. On the pick and roll, he just doesn't flow well. Yeah. But Jackson Hayes ain't the answer. So listen, OKC is going to be a massive problem for the Lakers in the postseason.

You just hope, hey, you bet on Luca. who took him out two years ago when they were really good when he was at Dallas. And you bet on the king, the goat, LeBron. Okay. We've got a lot of stuff that's really interesting. Rick New Heisels bashing Notre Dame. What are the Giants going to do at a head coaching spot? Are they going to make the same mistake they've made multiple times?

And why is Aaron Rogers getting bashed for the Steelers? Doesn't feel like it's an Aaron Rogers issue. All those next. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeard Radio app. Fox Sports Radio is taking over YouTube, and you can be a part of it. Pay attention! Just go to YouTube and search Fox Sports Radio.

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on YouTube. Subscribe. Hit that thumbs up icon and comment away. 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 should be. we should call it. And, 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 run up the court licking his fingers while he got the bar 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 balls.

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. 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? 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. Can you believe?

I would buy it. Go. Go. Go. 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. You are. You are. 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 parameda menopausal 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 Gen XVI 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 can it be getting naked at 50 with a 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?

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Or wherever you get your podcasts You're now entering The Noah Bull Zone Sponsored by credible great rates None of the Bull So Mike Kafka has taken over for the New York Giants. He's the interim coach.

You know I don't love interim coaches. I would keep coaches to the end of his season. It becomes the substitute teacher. Everybody loves the substitute teacher, but she's not as good as the teacher. She just gives out less homework and laughs at your jokes. So Mike Kafka is now taking control. And I'm going to tell you what's going to happen.

Players are going to like him because he's not as bombastic as Brian Dable. Jackson Dart should play well with him. He's a former NFL quarterback. He's young and smart, so the media will like him. Andy Reed will call on his behalf at the end of the season. That'll have influence. And if you look at the New York Giants schedule,

oh, oh, looks like those last four games are all winnable. Washington, Minnesota, Las Vegas, Dallas. What if they go three and one down the stretch? Well, that's when Mike Kafka will be named the new head coach of the New York Giants. but what's wrong with the New York Giants isn't schemes. Their culture is broken. So, by the way, the Jets, their culture is broken.

So they don't need a scheme guy. Ben McAdoo, Pat Schumer, scheme guys, Mike Kafka, scheme guy. They don't need that. They need a Mike Frable. They need a Jim Harbaugh, a John Harbaugh. They need a Sean McVeigh, although there's not one of those on the market. They need a culture. creator a Dan Campbell. They don't need a Mike McDaniel, which is a smart guy who's good with schemes.

Their cultures all messed up. So every time they've gone with scheme guy, smart scheme guy, it doesn't work. Who works in New York? Joe Torrey, Bill Parcells, Tom Coughlin, right? Culture guys. That's what work. Rick Patino, St. John's. You know, just, hey, I'm smart. I can call plays. That may work in Jacksonville. In New York is big and dynamic and loud and restless. And so Kafka's going to win games. The schedules week. Jackson Dart will play pretty well.

The players will like him. The media will. But the giant stars, Abdul Carter, Scadaboo, Jackson Dart, neighbors, their stars are young. They're learning on the job. I don't want to coach learning on the job with them. If I've got a young team, you know, like Green Bay's young. Well, Matt LaFleur has been around a while.

I think it's harder when you have a young team and a really young coach. I remember when Sean McBay took over the Rams, that Aaron Donald. And they went and got Andrew Whitworth. They had a young quarterback, but he wanted to bring him some veterans. He wanted to have leaders and presence on that team. So, and I think Mike Kavka is a nice guy. He's a smart guy. the players will like him.

But he's interviewed six times. No head coaching job. I made two calls a couple days ago. Everybody said, smart guy, nice guy, knows quarterbacks, not sure if he has a presence. And that's what I'm saying. Parcells, Joe Torrey, Pat Riley with a Knicks. You know, Tibbs, presence, like an identity,

been around the block. Here's the interim coach. This is the league of incredibly difficult situations, decisions, and I just had the utmost respect for Dave's and what he's done for me, not only as a friend, but as a coach, you know, give me an opportunity here to be an offensive coordinator. In terms of where we're at right now, I'm excited to leave this group, you know, focusing each day, taking kind of this one step in a time with the players and the coaches and getting organized. But, you know, I'm excited and looking forward to the challenge. He's going to win some games. Look at that schedule. The players are going to like him.

The media's going to like him. I just don't think that's what the Giants and their broken culture, big picture need. Say it again. Lane Kiffin, he knows schemes. It's kind of a culture guy. Kind of changes the attitude of a team. Mike McCarthy.

He knows schemes. But he's built good offensive cultures. J. Mack with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's start the hour with the Kansas City Chiefs. Everybody's Super Bowl team, Colin, they are only five and four, currently out of the playoff picture.

But they're still really in the mix, as everybody knows. Casey has won nine straight division titles. Can they make it a tenth? Patrick Mahomes says, yes, there's a pathway. That's always our first goal. It's like the first goal we have that Coachree puts up is win the division, and we understand and it's always a challenge. And you have to go up against some really good football teams that are scouting you all year long.

And so we've been really good at that over these last, what's it, seven, eight, nine years, whatever it is. And so we've got to continue to get better and better. And we have a lot of division of games in front of us. And so if we can go out there and handle business and do what I think we can do, we can find a way to win this division. And so everything is kind of out in front of us. We have to go out there with the right mindset. So a lot of the Chiefs critics have said, who have they beaten?

So here's my question. If they beat Denver in Denver, is that enough to appeal to the critics? That's a great, great question. I don't have an answer because, you know, sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Colin. What if this is a 17-16 slug fest in case he wins on a last second field goal? Is that a great win? Not covering the spread on the road? I don't know.

I mean, we're talking about a Denver team. they don't have a lot of great wins. You know, I know the Philly win. They kind of lucked into that one, down 17, 3 and the 4th. I look at the schedule, Colin, there's two games this weekend that are enormous swing games for playoff potential in divisions. This one and Chargers Jags.

I saw some stats that if the Chargers win that, they're 90% to make the playoffs. If they don't, it's like a coin flip. So this Chief's team, if they lose to Denver, they ain't one in the division. We would agree on that. They're not doing. Oh, the urgency is absolutely.

Absolutely with Kansas City. It is a must win for Kansas City because Denver keeps winning ugly games. No question. The problem is Andy Reid off a buy, Chiefs off a loss. You talk to a lot of people. I don't know one person betting on the Denver Broncos at home here. Nobody. And if you look at some of the ticket counts, you can find them online.

It's like 88% on the Chiefs. So are you willing to hold your nose? If it was three, I would take. Kansas City at three and a half. Remember last year, Bo Nix played well twice against Kansas City and Spag. Yes, hold on. But one of those was week 18, the Chiefs Benchelder guys

and he was great. The other one, he was good, though. The other one, he was good against Spags. Can you put in a text to Peyton and ask him if he has a good place lined up? Like, I want to see the good plays. Not this, you know, a P-shooter offense for three quarters. And then, oh, we'll just come back in the fourth.

Because, I don't know. I think we'll make this game a headlines game tomorrow. But let's go to the Green Bay Packers. They're struggling Green Bay Packers, Colin. Two brutal losses, I mean, couldn't do anything against the Eagles. And they scored 13 points against the Carolina Panthers and a bad loss. So yeah, if you're keeping track at home, that's 20 total points at home in the last two weeks. Here's Jordan Love talking about the offensive woes. We're right there as offense, and it just comes down to those small details that are, I think, holding us back. But, you know, we have everything we need on offense. We got the right players.

Obviously, we've got some injuries, but we still got the right mindset. We've got to find ways to focus more, hone in on those little details and execute. Yeah, I just think they can't run the ball. I don't think it's that, you know, it seems to me they want to run the ball and they can't, and that's the beginning of the end to all their offensive issues. So you know, in the NFL basketball, every sport, we love to do the blame game, right? Let me see your pie chart of the blame game for the Green Bay Packers. You know, I know Micah Parsons is angry at you, so choose your word.

words carefully. But like, what's the problem here? This was a team two weeks in that everybody thought they're going to the show. They're not. They can't run the ball. And so it's become a very Jordan-love driven offense without Tucker Kraft, without Reed, with multiple injuries. So why can't they run the ball? Well, I think they, I think their offensive line has been disappointing. I think that interior line play has been bad. Banks, who they paid a fortune for from the Niners, has not been good at all. So they had a kind of a wonky, overpaid for an interior line position.

It is not developed. You know, the Bears went and bought Joe Tuny and Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson. Their interior O-line's been excellent. The Packers can't get the O-line right. So, I mean, when's the last time? The Bears had the quarterback, the O-line, the pass pro, the run game, better

than Green Bay. So I think a lot of it is just O-line, lack of a run game, and injuries to, like, craft and read and it's a BB gut offense. Well, it's a good point on the Bears buying those offensive linemen. Why could they do that? Because Caleb Williams is on his rookie contract.

And Jordan Love got paid in the escalade, as they like to say. And once you pay the quarterback, it becomes a little difficult to spread the money around. I'm going to go ahead and say there's a bit of an overreaction to this Packers. This was an island game and it didn't look pretty. You know, listen, man, when the Jets get smashed tonight, 383 and you're going to come on here tomorrow ripping the Jets, I get it. It's an island game. There's nothing else going on. I think the Packers are going to be okay.

Yeah. This is going to sound crazy. I still think they can get to the Super Bowl out of the NFC. So I think there's some Super Bowl value on the Packers. You agree or no? Do not agree. That was quick. Do not.

Final story is the Seahawks and your boy, Sam Darnold. I'm surprised he hasn't come on the show. You guys are so close. I mean, he's having a great year. This is a perfect time for him to do a victory lap. PFF grades Darnold as the highest rated quarterback, this season. Somebody at the NFL network said he's a top five quarterback through the

first 10 weeks. I think that's undeniable. Donald has won 21 of his last 27 games going back to Minnesota last year. He's got a tall order against the Rams defense that I'm seeing some people start to poke some holes in. Daniel Jones, remember, carved these guys up and down the field at SOFI with the Colts.

And if Adam and I Mitchell doesn't drop a ball, you and I are on opposite sides here. I like Seattle and the points. I think Seattle, I don't like the Rams corners, and I think Seattle puts pressure on your corners. And if you can get good pass pro, Darnold's a good deep ball thrower. I also think Darnold moves. Stafford doesn't so you can play around with a pocket. I think Seattle's a tough matchup for the Rams.

I don't disagree. The big question mark is, why is this not a field goal? Why are we, the Rams are supposedly one of the best teams in the league, and they're not even favored by a field goal at home? Something feels a little fishy to me. So you're probably on the right side. And I would guess on Sunday when the game day money comes in, you know, the big $250,000 bets, they're probably on Seattle. But I'm going to rock with Stafford.

And I need to check Devante Adams. Is he okay? Is he going to go with the back? He talked to Lesney. Yeah, he got hurt without getting hit. So that's a little bit of a problem. You know, if Pooka's available, they're using now two and three tight endsets. Terrence Ferguson, Davis Allen, Colby Parkinson, Higbee.

They have four tight ends they like. So that's not a big deal for them. And they've drafted receiver pretty well. They got lower round guys they like. So I don't think they can score and move the ball. Kiron Williams. They've got a lot of offensive outlets. So the Seattle defense is nasty.

But Colin, DeVonte is going to play it says here. Yes. Yep. They're saying this Rams three tight end attack, they're so versatile now. I mean, listen, they could go three tight ends, and then the next play, hey, we got Puka and Devante.

You know, the Seattle defense has a, this is going to be a very difficult task. I like this to be a high scoring game. I don't see either defense getting stops. I think it's the best game of the weekend and maybe the best game of the year. I think it's going to be so good. And it's on Fox.

We're lucky there. J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd, I like when analysts come out and have strong opinions. Rick Newheisel, who works at CBS, I watch every weekend. Watching that, you know, some SEC stuff and all of, you know, their coverage at CBS,

whatever they have, Big Ten, whatever they have at CBS, I'm watching them. Rick New Heissel said this. He said he questioned why Notre Dame sits at number nine despite losing to Miami and Texas A&M this season. and what he called sort of a half-ACC schedule, which is what it is. And he explained that Miami's position behind Notre Dame is evidence of the bias. He says, but, you know, that's the power of Notre Dame. It's a monster brand that it resonates, and he's not wrong. When I look at Notre Dame, this is why I have said Notre Dame wants to play USC so desperately.

because when they lose an early season game, they have to pray they're getting Notre Dame at, they're getting USC, or they have no quality wins. Go look at Notre Dame schedule right now and take USC out of it. You have losses to Miami and A&M. Your quality win, I took USC out of it, your quality win will be at Pittsburgh this weekend, and you're favored by double digits.

When you're in the ACC and playing a half-AC schedule and then you lose to Miami, you desperately need USC. Now look at USC's schedule and take out Notre Dame. And this is USC that hasn't played Ohio State or Penn State or Indiana. You take out the Notre Dame's camp. Well, they still play Iowa and Oregon. All right?

And at one point, Illinois was right. So USC doesn't need Notre Dame. And all these traditionalists get mad at me when I say this. I'm Jen Cohen. I call Notre Dame and I say, this is not equitable. We don't need another late October 41-degree game. We don't need that. We will now play every other year.

And by the way, if we're going to go to South Bend, every third year, you're going to move that game up. We don't care about your schedule. We're not even playing Indiana and Ohio State. We've just had to play Iowa and Oregon and Michigan. USC schedule, Big Ten schedule this year, isn't even a tough Big Ten schedule. At Nebraska, Nebraska never beats ranked team, and a little overstated win there. But this goes back to what he is saying, basically, is that,

When Notre Dame USC comes up, anybody here that's ever been even a small business owner, when you have leverage and it's unequitable, you need to get on the phone. And I said this a month ago. I said, I would play every other year if I was USC, or if not, then two out of three games are in L.A. And we're going to play them early. They're going to be in September. So we'll go two in L.A. one in Notre Dame. to an LA, one in Notre Dame.

Because USC doesn't need it. They don't need it. They don't need another cold weather game late October. Notre Dame needs it. Go look at that schedule, take USC out of it. They don't have a quality win. Don't have one.

Here was Texas Tech head coach, Joey McGuire, without naming them, taking a shot at Notre Dame. I have so much respect for, for BYU. I do, man. I was really excited whenever they joined the Big 12 because I think that they carry a lot of weight and a lot of respect. I think that I have a lot of respect for them

entering a conference and not playing an independent schedule like other people. Y'all already know who that is. Yeah, and I like Notre Dame. I am a huge Marcus Freeman fan. I've worked with Notre Dame. Notre Dameers. It's a great school. But they're not wrong.

I keep saying this. Notre Dame needs to go to the Big Ten. They've got to go to the Big Ten. They academically fit. They geographically fit. There's a reason Notre Dame inked a long-term deal with Clemson. They need somebody on the schedule that can validate them if they have losses. Because nobody's going to go undefeated. I mean, this point forward, I mean, Ohio State lost two games last year,

blasted and I mean I lost one as a 20-point favorite against Michigan and won the Natty. So going undefeated doesn't, it's just not going to happen. The Georgia's and the Alabama's in the NIL world don't have the depth. I'm not anti-Nodername at all, but I'm anti-Nodername USC as it currently stands. And I think they want both worlds. You know, they want to play the big dog to elevate their schedule, but they don't want to join a conference full time. Not a fan of that.

What to go, Rick Neuheisle, taking shots. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember.

I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential. title for the podcast.

But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. 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 game. in the back of my Honda Odyssey with all the snacks and drink.

Sidebar. Why did you get hard salsa 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. What are y'all doing? Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, come on. Could 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're lucky. I'm not an alcoholic. You are. You are. You're 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. 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 out of the last. 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 would get that thing That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers Why he got the ball, like,

you go through a training camp with that, I said, 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. 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 perimenopausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with the Adamani Arriba, 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 hard 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 kids. Japanese ground fire. Do you rate me?

They're pouring petrol all over him. He's holding matches. I'm on a landmine. For freedom. Let's get out. Freedom bomb it. Cigone. 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. Sunday on Fox, Caleb Williams and the Bears battle Justin Jefferson and the Vikings, or Sam Darnold and the Seahawks take on Matthew Stafford and the Rams for control of the NFC West or other regional action. Check local listings for the game in your area only on Fox.

So Greg CoSell, top of next hour, we got big games. This is a really good, really, really good college and NFL weekend. really good. Greg CoSell, top of the next hour. So Kyle Shanahan, I've said this before, you don't want to justify things in pro sports. You don't want to justify draft picks or justify decisions. Just who's hot and who's healthy. For the Niners, the hot quarterback is Mack Jones. The healthy quarterback is Mack Jones. I would be in no rush to bring back Brock Purdy. Here's Kyle Shanahan on the Mac Purdy situation. It's not a hard decision. It's just more about Brock's health. It's been awesome how Max played. He's been great. But we got a lot of confidence in Brock.

And we know Brock will play at a high level too as long as he's healthy. He has to the world. I mean, anytime a backup quarterback comes in and plays good. I mean, that's all anyone talks about, you know. I don't think anyone talks about what people have done in the past, whether it's Brock or whether it's anybody. And that's just how the world works with media or anybody. Okay, so here's how good Mac Jones has been. Without his number one receiver, Brandon Ayyuk, without his number two receiver, Ricky Pearsall, hasn't had them. So let's do a little blind resume. I'll put up Mac Jones's numbers.

And three categories, four categories, I think are pretty important. He's completing 70% of his throws. He's averaging 270 yards passing second in the league without Ricky Pearsall, without Brandon Ayyuk. He's got three 300-yard games tied for first in the league, and his passer rating pretty. good. 97.5. That's good. That's a starter in the NFL. That's a BB plus quarterback. So let's put those numbers up. Those are real numbers. Multiple 300 games. 270 a game. 70% completion

percentage. High 90s. Okay. So let's look at this first for our radio audience. This first quarterback is close, but it's just a tick in all the categories. It's just a tick less of a quarterback than Mac Jones. Who would this be? Justin Herbert. Now, Herbert is missing both his tackles, and he doesn't have Christian McCaffrey. Mac Jones is slightly better than Justin Herbert. All right, let's do it again. Let's go another one. I mean, Justin is missing both tackles. This quarterback, I mean,

this is unbelievable. They're almost duplicates. And again, no Ricky Piersol, no Brandon I, these guys are duplicate. So who is the doppelganger? Who is the duplicate of Mac Jones. No, Dak Prescott. Two weeks ago, you had him as MVP. He's got C.D. Lamb. You got George Pickens.

Max's doing it without a number one or a number two receiver. All right, let's do the next one. Well, this one is unbelievable. I mean, Mac is clearly better than this guy. Max got more first downs, more 300-yard games, more yards per attempt, more yards per game, much more accurate. Who is this stiff?

Oh, is Baker Mayfield? Who's having a great year? Okay, Baker's having a very good year. All right. Let me do a couple more to prove my point. Let's just throw another one up there. Here's another quarterback who, I mean, might as well be the exact same numbers. Max's a little bit more accurate than this quarterback who has one more start.

Who's this guy? Oh, Patrick Mahomes. Okay. Who's got, by the way, an array of wide receiver and tight end talent that I'm not sure anybody else in the league has. And Andy Reid. Okay. But hey, let's rush back old sore toe Brock Purdy.

Let's go one more. There's one more quarterback. Again, the numbers are almost precisely the same. The difference is Mac wins. This guy is two and six. Who's this guy? Oh, that's Brock Purdy's last eight starts and Max last eight starts. Very interesting numbers.

Okay. Jay Mack, you can go ahead and respond if you'd like with that one. I muted myself because I had some choice expletives that I was muttering. Those Brock Purdy's stats are a joke. Colin, listen, nothing makes my blood boil more than a blind quarterback test. So what are you saying? Let's just put it all the cards on the table. So you compared it to Mahomes this season, Herbert this season.

What are you, what's your overarching thesis? Mack Jones is a starting quarterback. Mac Jones should get a max money deal. What are we saying here? Mac Jones is a starting quarterback in this league. If you look at him with Josh McDaniels, he was a pro bowler. If you look at him in San Francisco, we've seen Baker reborn. We've seen Darnold Reborn.

We're watching the next rebirth, and it's Mac Jones, who is clearly a franchise quarterback. So the Niners should keep him and trade Purdy, trade him for a lot since he's got a ton of value and start Purdy. What do you think is a move of you? what would I do? Yeah. I'd move Brock Purdy. I mean, I'm watching Mac Jones. I'm just so floored.

I don't even have a rejoinder at this point. I mean, I, okay. By the way, Brock Purdy has value. But I got, not with that new contract. He just signed it last offseason. I mean, he's probably got more contract or more appeal to teens than Kyler Murray.

But I don't see a big market for Purdy at this number. Let me ask you this. Arizona. Arizona. They want to start over. They want to move off Kyler Murray. Brock Purdy's the opposite of Kyler Murray. He's totally dedicated, doesn't care about baseball. I'm going to sit in the pocket. But Colin, look at the division leaders. Bo Nix, rookie contract. Daniel Jones, cheap contract. You look around the league. The best teams, by and large, not all of them, are with quarterbacks on a cheap contract. It's not a super max deal to steal a phrase from the NBA. Like, I don't think anybody's going to want Purdy, and I love Brock Purdy.

You know, he's my guy. Shantahan loves him. But I don't see, like, all of a sudden... Don't tell me the Jets are going to, like, bite on Brock Purdy. No, I'm saying, no, no. This is not an anti-Brock Purdy. It's, oh, I can get Mac Jones for half the price. That's what it is.

Why do you think Baker and Sam Darnold come at such value? Because when you're reborn, you don't take the big contract. Right? Like, Sam and Baker want an opportunity to flourish and build up their legacy. That's what makes. Mac wants. Mack doesn't want to be known as a bust. Mac Jones doesn't want to be known as New England Mac with Belichick or Jacksonville, Matt. He wants to be, so you're going to get a discount on the deal with

Mac Jones. So, okay, so could they flip Mac Jones to the Raiders? I don't think Mac Jones would that. Oh, wait a minute. You don't think Mac Jones would fit in that system? You mean away from Kyle Jennings? No, I'm saying when Mac Jones is proven when you give him an elite offensive coordinator or coach, he's really good. He's really good.

And we've seen this over and over in the NFL in recent years. When guys get the right fit, they're really good. I mean, he's their first round pick for a reason. This is not anti-Brock Purdy. But my take is, let me just throw this. Let me just throw this. You know I love Joe Burrell, right? Yeah.

I have said one more injury to Joe Burrow, and you have to go find another quarterback. And I love Burrow. Okay. Let me ask you, what if you brought Purdy back in two weeks? And he had another injury, Week 16, would you then acknowledge, knowledge, we have a problem. I would just say he had a rough season at that point. I would hope, I mean, it's not like he's brittle. Okay. So the Saints, Browns, Jets, and Raiders, all projected top tentating to quarterback. If Dante Moore doesn't come out, Mendoza's first quarterback off the board,

no dispute. You're going to reach for all these guys? I don't think it does. Let me flip it on you. Instead of forget Purdy, I don't think the Niners are trading him. Shanahan loves him. The GM Lynch loves him. The Pittsburgh Steelers have an aging. Aaron Rogers. He's going to be done after this season. They have no path at quarterback after Rogers. Would you take a chance on Mac Jones as the next

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback? If I was Mac Jones, I wouldn't want Pittsburgh. If I was Brock Purdy, I wouldn't want it. I would go to an offensive leaning organization. That's what I would do. I look at all these organizations. I'd go to Cleveland. Like if I was, you know, Cleveland.

Yeah, I mean, if I'm Kevin Stefansky and I don't get Mendoza. Dante Moore stays in college. I'm not reaching. I'm going to go get Mack Jones for a nickel. Kevin Stefansky, so you have two first round picks. And my take is with Cleveland is you could draft the quarterback with your second pick. But if you don't get Mendoza and Dante stays in college, none of these guys feel like

Mendoza can play immediately. Dante, I think, could play very quickly. But Dirk went 25th and you seem to love him. so there could be value at the end of the first round. Yeah, could be. I would take Mack Jones. If I was Kevin Stefansky's got to start winning games. Either give me Mendoza or Mac Jones.

I think Mac Jones is better than anybody in this draft except Mendoza or if Dante Moore came out. What's so complicated about Jones is this is just eight games, Colin. I mean, Jacoby Brissette's looked pretty damn good here for what, five games. Eight games is a tiny sample size with McCaffrey, right, and Shanahan. I mean, if he goes to Cleveland, what kind of contract do you give him? Do you give him a Baker-Mafield deal? 30 million? You give him a reasonable contract. Again, these guys that, these guys that fail and get beaten up, Darnold Baker,

they usually give you a much more favorable deal. Half of what it would be for somebody else. Since, you know, Shanahan's tight with Kevin O'Connell, is there any interest in J.J. McCarthy continues to struggle. Let's bring on Mac Jones? That is interesting. I'm just telling you, what I've watched with Mac Jones, we've got to be fair here. He's not a bridge quarterback. He's a franchise quarterback. 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 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 part of you.

You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come up to you. 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. It's your responsibility to not just seek help, but to identify that you need help. This is Mental Health Awareness Month. Tune in to the podcast, Just Healed with Dr. Jay, and take real steps toward healing, growth, and becoming your best self. From understanding your mental health to doing the work, we break down practical tools, real conversations, and the mindset shifts you need to move forward and thrive.

It's time to stop putting your healing on hold and start doing something about it. Listen to Just Hill with Dr. Jay on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Your husband is not who you think he is. Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Danny Shapiro. And these are just a few of the stunning stories I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets. He kind of shoved me out of the way and said, move.

And he went out the front door and he jumped in a car and drove off. And that was the last time I saw him. Listen to season 14 of family secrets on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation.

I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to deep cover the family. man on the iHeart radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.