The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Seahawks vs Rams tonight, building the right roster, Allen vs Mahomes, Joel Klatt

Episode Date: December 18, 2025

Colin Cowherd breaks down Thursday Night Football with a deep dive into the Seahawks vs. Rams matchup, analyzing what’s at stake and why the roster-building philosophies of both franchises offer a blueprint that other NFL teams should be copying Josh Allen has been a better QB than Patrick Mahomes these last 2 seasons...and it's not even close   Guest: Joel KlattSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey, Jonas, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 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 hardest 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. 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 I Heart Radio,

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. I'm Akela Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city in which there were more homages to enslavers than there were to enslave people.

Listen to Rebel Spirit season two on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. We're listening to Fox Sports Radio. One of the games of the year tonight. Rams at the Seahawks. We're live on a Thursday.

Greg Co. Sell an hour from now. It's the herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. College football playoffs starts Friday. Joel Clatt today. Todd McShay on the very real, very real reality for the New York Giants. They'll have the number one pick and may have to decide

between Jackson Dart and Fernando Mendoza. You know what side I'm on. I want to start the show with this. Is J. Mack and I front and center every day? We put our face on our opinions, and the Internet is mostly about Captain Hindsites, AFGs, after the fact geniuses. Everybody's so smart after the fact. But I want to talk about Rams Seahawks.

I want you to think about this. because it feels so obvious. What I'm going to say right now feels so obvious. I mean, you guys knew it would work. Rams had a pro-bowl quarterback in Jared Goff, who'd been to a Super Bowl. Just entering his prime. And Sean McVeigh said, you know,

I'm going to give up two first-round picks. I'm going to pay Jared Goff's salary and the new guy's salary. And I want Matt Stafford with a little bit of, losing record in Detroit, who in 12 years had never won a playoff game, had only made it three times and was 0 and 3. And I'm going to let you look at the numbers of Matt Stafford. They're totally unremarkable, and that's with the second greatest receiving talent I've ever seen behind Randy Moss in Calvin Johnson. So he had the ultimate number one receiver. He was 74 and 90, completed 62% of his throws, his passer rating in the 80s,

and did not have a two to one touchdown interception ratio with Calvin Johnson. And Sean McVeigh's like, yeah, I'm going to pay his salary. I'm going to pay Jared Goff's salary. Stafford's had the you know what beat out of him for 12 years, never won a playoff game. Goff just made the Super Bowl. Yeah, let's pull the trigger on that. that is a big front and center swing by Les Need and Sean McVeigh. And it's the kind of move first year in.

I mean, Stafford still led the NFL interceptions. He and McVe were trying to figure it out as the season was going on. So it's easy now to go, I knew this thing would be money. Dudeed never won a playoff game. Average quarterbacks in average franchises. In 12 years, I won a playoff game. And it's the same with John Snyder, the Seattle GM. Pete Carroll, very popular in Seattle.

Two Super Bowls had a trophy, beloved, had just had another winning season. And John Snyder fired him. Of a winning season, the most popular coach or manager in Seattle maybe ever fired him. And John Snyder also, with Sam Darnold, erupting in those games, remember against the Rams and against the Lions, everybody was like, that's who Darnold is. Oh, that's who Sammy is. Stay away.

And Snyder goes, no, I'm going to pay him pretty good money. We're going to go with Sam Darnold. So the Stafford move looks brilliant today. you thought he was going to at this age what is he 37 this is what it was going to look like after getting the you know what kicked out of him in Detroit 74 and 90 12 years no play I'm going to pay for golf and stafford and two first picks golf was really good I saw golf go toe to toe in LA and beat my homes remember that game coliseum so that's a lot more courage front and center no troll not anonymous, right out in front.

And John Snyder, Pete Carroll, was beloved in Seattle. People moved on from Russell Wilson and moved on from Pete, fired him. Seattle gets better. And not only does he fire Pete Carroll off the winning season, he hires another defensive coordinator, Mike McDonald. You would think you'd be like, okay, the old defensive guy, leagues pivoting to offense. John, you've got to get an offensive guy.

He's like, no, I'm going to go defense again. and I think tonight Sean McVey is arguably the best coach in the league and I think Mike McDonald is the defensive Sean McVeigh but this game tonight is about big swings doing unpopular things things people scratch their head on

acquiring turnover prone Sam Donald hiring another defensive coach firing Pete of a winning season you're going to pay for Stafford endoff 12 years, no playoff wins, O and three, fortune favors the bold. I don't know who wins tonight,

but I know Matt Stafford, at his age, these Thursday night games are tough. Physically, I mean, I think that's the most difficult part, especially this late in the season. You know, going into our, what is it, our 15th game we'll be playing. And you've got 14 under the belt

and then trying to turn around and play in a couple days is tough, especially for somebody as old as I am, So that's the biggest thing. Obviously, got a great opponent that we're playing in a tough environment as well, not to be discounted. But for personally, for me, it's physically, it's probably the toughest part. Two great rosters, great coaches, and great GMs too. So Patrick Mahomes, they are estimating now, in quotations, ballpark.

Rehab is going to take nine months. He'll be back sometime in September to play again. The league is better with Mahomes. He's one of the all-time talents. But I was thinking about this this morning. Taking the train into work. That's who I am, a rugged sportscaster. So when Tom Brady was in his prime, it always ticked me off.

That the minute another quarterback, who was elite, had a great year or year and a half run, they were better than Brady. Remember when Aaron Rogers wins the Super Bowl in 2010, 2011 he's the MVP? And suddenly there was a chorus of fans. and media saying, Aaron's better. And I'm like, Brady's got three Super Bowls and counting and two MVP. What are you talking about? Now, Aaron, Aaron is the man.

Okay, I don't agree with that. And then when Peyton Manning, when he won the Super Bowl in Denver and was named the MVP, remember that year, he beat Brady in the playoffs 2015. And I love Peyton Manning, top five quarterback ever. Everybody was like, he's got Tommy's number. He is, you know what, let's be honest about it. he changed the league not Brady and I'm like Brady's got four Super Bowls and counting

because Tom stylistically was harder to fall in love with even Belichick had a crush on second round pick Jimmy Garoppolo for about two three years I remember reading an article by or a book by Seth Wickersham great writer and there were anonymous sources in the building saying well it's a lot of system

it's the system you know a lot of guys could win here in Foxborough. It wasn't until Brady went to Tampa with the 500 Buccaneers won a title with Ariens that everybody finally acknowledged that day as he's drinking margaritas and almost through the trophy into the pond. Everybody went, yeah, it was Tommy, not Belichick. And so, I do think style drives the NBA discussion, but it matters in the NFL too. Aaron looks cooler. Elway was always better than Marino, but Marino looked cool. And Patrick Mahomes, he's got it cool. And that's why we have so much reluctance to acknowledge the clear and absolute truth.

The last two years, Mahomes is not even in Josh Allen's league. It ain't close. Josh is bigger and stronger. I'll throw the numbers on the screen. If you go to passer rating in the second half and overtime in the last two years, Allen's number two, Mahomes is 24th. And by the way, Mahomes has better receiving targets. The bill's receiver stink.

They play in worse weather, believe it or not than Kansas City. They have a defensive coach, not Andy Reed. The last two years, one guy is significantly bigger, stronger, more productive than the other. But we like Mahomes, and we like Aaron, and we love Marino. It looks cool, and cool matters a lot in basketball's culture, not nearly as much in the football culture. But Josh Allen's pretty cool, too. And Brady stacking trophies, that's pretty cool, too. I just appreciate that Sean McDermott, a defensive guy with a smile on his face, realizes what he has.

I want to pull up the family scrapbook, and we can just sit down and kind of kumbaya and just page through every one of Josh's days and the journey here. Some of the things he's done are unprecedented in terms of what a call. quarterback has been able to accomplish over the years and the ways he's done it and the way he and most importantly right now is leading our football team and i know some of you will say colin the reason we're reluctant is all those trophies exactly the reason that it used to drive me nuts that people wouldn't give bradius flowers because he had all the trophies too and you were more than willing to say errand's it Peyton's the guy so don't Don't give me the trophy argument.

You never use that with Brady because Brady didn't play cool football. But he's the best pre-snap quarterback arguably ever, the best post-snap quarterback ever, the best cold weather thrower ever, the smartest quarterback ever, the best clutch quarterback ever. Right now, the best football player in the world is in Buffalo. And it's not particularly close. A lot of stuff today. Greg Kosell, Joel Klatte, I think I've switched my pick. I think I like Oklahoma over Alabama.

I know. I've gone back and forth on that puppy. Can't wait for Friday. 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 Covino 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.

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to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But, This one's extra special.

So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. 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, 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.

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 Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. man, he running up the court, licking his fingers

why 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. Keith Gianmanca seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad,

but secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy. But I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like? No. I didn't want to manifest that.

I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has... has been living a double life. That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue.

Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! But there's so much more to me than that.

I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope I'm a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice.

One ring is too scary. Oh, cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite as part of the Mike Pulturra podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships, can they? shape my behavior and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and

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Gotta give Jerry Jones the Cowboys owner credit. He's brutally honest. The Dallas Cowboys, and this is not easy to do, are 32nd in the NFL, dead last and past defense, 31st overall in defense, and they have some talent. They weren't good with Micah. They're not good without it. Again, this is not just a Micah thing.

They're better defending the run now with Quinn and Williams and Kenny Clark. That's about all they do pretty well. and so he called out Matt Eberfluse, his defensive coordinator, with that Texas straw. It was just perfect. Seems like we're always saying that about these quarterbacks, some of them that haven't played as well. But when they play us, they played better.

I think that's telling too. So, candidly to just be very upfront about it, I think if we could have gotten this defense in better shape earlier, that we could be sitting here with the kind of wins that would have not had us in this tight spot. I mean, Dallas does need to address the secondary, but the defense should not be 30-second against the pass. This is, and it's a reminder,

this is the biggest off-season for Dallas probably in a decade. Number one, they've got a really good quarterback, and he's going to be 33 next season, so he's at the very end of his prime. and he's had a couple surgeries. So you've got the elite quarterback, but he's getting old quick. Number two is Dallas has a pair of first-round picks. Go look at what Seattle did the last time they had him.

J.S.N. Witherspoon, nailed both. Change the secondary, change the receiving core. Dallas hasn't had two first-round picks since 2008. Number three, if you name the top 10 to 12 coaches in the NFL, yours, Brian Schottenheimer, not close. And you look at the teams in the NFC that you feel better than today. Like Washington, oh, they get Jaden Daniels back. And like Minnesota, oh, wait, J.J. McCarthy just ate you alive. Oh, the Giants could land number one pick Fernando Mendoza.

Best number one prospect quarterback, you know, certainly in a short list last 10 years, are one of the better ones. So let me ask you, Dallas, when Kevin Stefansky, probably when not if, I wouldn't do it, but they will. The Browns fire Kevin Stefansky. Are you ready, Jerry, to outbid three teams for him? Because he's going to be the best coach on the market. You passed on Ben Johnson.

He's doing well up north. Check the standings. Also, if you fire Matt Eberfluse, and from what you just said, sounds like you're headed in that direction, you will be on your fourth defensive coordinator in four years. So, add this. next season, the Cowboys face the NFC West, McVey and the Rams, McDonald and the Seahawks,

and a healthier 49ers, and Kyle Shanahan. This is a huge offseason for Dallas. They got to get the coach right. They got to nail those first two picks. They got to make sure that offensive line can protect 33-year-old back Prescott. Because that schedule is going to be. unrelenting. Jaden Daniels is back. The Giants could have the best quarterback under 23 in the league. It's all coming. A lot of things worked in your favor this year. Not next year. Jay Mack with the

news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's bust right into it. Jalen Hertz and the Eagles coming off a big win over the Raiders. Jalen Hertz is running a little bit more. We touched on this, Colin, it seems like they're getting more quarterback design runs. And if you remember, the Buffalo Bills have done this with Allen and saved them for the high leverage games late in the season. Well, Greg Olson was on the call for Raiders Eagles last week and he was getting a bird's eye view of Hertz's game and he thinks there's going to be a lot more hurts running in the near future. Outside of last week's game, they've been saving it. They haven't really done it at all. I mean, going into last week's game, there was not

real heavy volume at in any way. Critical moments of the game, fresh get fresh set of downs, convert in the red zone, got to have it moments. Jalen Hertz in the gun as a designed runner is a huge weapon for the Eagles. Yeah, sometimes it's hard.

Sean Payton's been better when Bo Nix is allowed to run. Like sometimes the running quarterback frees up everything. Yeah, I totally miss this in the handicap because we've called this on Allen in the last couple years. It's very clear.

His trend is, don't run a lot early in the same. season unless you play the Chiefs and you got to have it or the Ravens save it for the end you don't want your body to break down and i just wonder hearing Olson is the same thing going to be true with Hertz um this is kind of a this is kind of a big game for them against Washington I see some people out there advocating for the commanders I don't get it if the Eagles win this Colin Dallas is done season over you've got two weeks to like rest up every lane Johnson we don't need to rush you back like I think this is a big game for Philly I think they show well here

Yeah, and I do think there's some analytic proof that the smart way to do it in this league is distribute early, but for the big active quarterbacks move late. I've noticed this with Justin Herbert against the Eagles and against the Chiefs. Like, Justin, we know you're banged up. We need first downs. We have to beat these teams, and you put it out there. I mean, that's the advantage to having a durable quarterback is, we're going to ask more of you when the weather gets bad.

We can't throw down the field as accurately. And the old lines are all beat up. up in November and December. That's why the quarterbacks, the superstars get paid. The Herberts and the Allen's and Jalen Hurts get paid. And if you want to see just how bad the numbers have been, Hertz has career lows, Colin, in rushes per game, rushing yards per game, and rushing touchdowns since he became a star.

That's glaring. So you want to know what's wrong with the offense? They're saving Jalen Hertz. Damn it, I can't believe we missed this earlier in the year. All right, let's move on to the Chicago Bears against the Packers. It's a humongous rematch from two weeks ago. impressive win for the Packers, but they are up against it this week. Look at the line, Colin. Beers favored by one and a half. Here's LaFleur talking about Ben Johnson and how he's turned

things around in Chicago. I think he's done a great job of putting the quarterback in a lot of great positions. And then the quarterback's gone out there and executed. So I think their run game's been definitely a catalyst for the offense in terms of what they've been able to do. They do a great job with both those backs. I think the offensive line. They come off the ball. They're physical. They've upgraded, obviously, the talent there. And then they got weapons on the

perimeter. Yeah, I mean, don't forget the first thing Ben Johnson did. This was the first thing McBae did with L.A. got Andrew Whitworth left tackle from Cincinnati. Cheap Cincinnati. What is what's the first thing Ben Johnson did? Drew Dolman, Joe Tunney,

Jonah Jackson, didn't want people at Caleb Williams' feet. All the Meanwhile, Pete Carroll, once again, Raiders, lowest-rated offensive line. These defensive coaches can struggle with that stuff. The offensive guys, you know, Sean Payton and Denver, completely recalibrated the Denver line in one-off season. Ben did it. I think the real secret sauce to the Bears is Jonah, Dalman, and Tooney.

When you watch the highlights of the Bears, there are holes. These aren't crevices. There are major openings guard, center guard for this offense. I'm looking at the Packers injury report, Colin. It ain't good. I mean, Josh Jacobs still banged up. They lost their right tackle, Evan, Zach Tom. Their safety who leads the team in picks, Evan Williams, he's hurt.

Listen, I don't, I think I've been good calling bear. I'm with you, but I don't want to go overboard. This could be like a 30 to 10 type beat down where the crowd's going wild and everybody's like, we can go to the NFC championship. Is this the biggest game? Is this the biggest NFL game in Chicago in a decade? Well, there's probably been a playoff game in the last five, six years. Cutler playoff game.

That was the last Bears playoff. No, they had one more recently with Trubisky and they had the double doink. Remember that one? Oh, yeah. Forget who it was against. This is the biggest regular season game in a long time in Chicago. For sure. What's the weather going to be like there?

I have a time. Beautiful. Sunny, 75. 75. Ooh. Okay. Don't don't go to weather maps. the radar. When you live here, today it's balmy. Ball me. Okay. Sure. Final story, Colin. Oh,

let's go to the 49ers. Things are looking good for Brock Purdy. Man, we used to call him Brocktober. I mean, remember, because October was his month. Now, I mean, we can't play with December, but Brock Purdy's on fire. 49ers have won four straight since he returned from that bad, gruesome toe injury. Remember all the Mack Jones nonsense? That's put to bed. Here's Joanne Jennings talking about how much the team missed Purdy when he was out. It means a lot, man. To have them back 100% healthy, obviously just a game breaker. That's where Brock is at is best.

It's under the lights and, you know, whatever brought brain from the table, we try to, you know, match it. Yeah, no, he gives them a component. I mean, he moves. And in fairness, I said, remember when he had the three-pick game against Carolina on Monday night? They said, timeout. He's not healthy. The ball just floated. When I watched them this week, ball had zip. He moved well. I think that's fair to say this is the first, last week was the first

time all year. I'm like, okay, that's, he's 100% healthy now. He looked, he looked great last weekend. He looked absolutely fantastic. So remember last week I had mentioned to you, if you think the bills are going to beat the Patriots, bet the bills to go to the Super Bowl, win the AFC. So my call this week, if you think tonight Seattle beats the Rams, you need to bet the 49ers to win the NFC. Colin, if Seattle wins this game tonight, knocks the Rams out of the number one, San Fran can move up with that week 18 game against Seattle at home, by the way.

They already beat Seattle. San Fran would win the division and the number one seed. Now, I know that's a lot to wrap your head around, but if Seattle wins tonight, keep an eye on San Fran to get the number one. one seed in the NFC. I know that sounds comical. They have no defensive players.

They can't stop the run against the freaking Titans, but I'm just, this team is dangerous offensively. Joanne Jennings healthy, Kittle healthy, McCaffrey healthy. Can I say you on the Niners? Are you sure the Niners with no pass rush can go to Indy and slow down the Philip Rivers train? Yes, I'm certain of that. Okay.

High scoring game. I think the Colts move the ball. Colts defense is a joke right now. They got all their quarterbacks are hurt. I mean, I don't care about what they did against Donald in Seattle. I think Sanfran wins that. Keep an eye on the Niners in the Super Bowl. Niners Buffalo.

Can I sell you on that, Brock Purdy versus Josh Allen? No, you can't. Okay. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News. Like, there are certain organizations in sports.

If they're given an opportunity to do something smart, you trust they will. you know the spurs Oklahoma City and the NBA and then there are organizations where they have an opportunity to show a little courage and to be really smart you really think it's a coin flip if they can figure out the obvious stuff

so Fernando Mendoza is going to be the number one pick in the draft especially now that the NIL is keeping college kids in school there's a scarcity of quarterbacks and minimum five probably seven teams in the first 12 picks need a

quarterback. And the quarterbacks outside of Mendoza, they're all staying in college because they can make four or five million in college. So the NIL is a pain in the butt, at least short term in the NFL. So what happens if the Giants get the number one pick? The smart thing to do, but it would take some courage, is you draft Mendoza and you absolutely move Jackson Dart. Yeah, because of NIL, quarterbacks in college securing the bag, it makes Jackson Dart way, way, way more valuable than he would be otherwise. If Dante Moore is coming out, Jaden Mahavah's coming out, if all these guys are coming out, okay, what's the market for Jackson Dart? Now, I will say, and I think credit goes to Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weiss, who both work with Jackson Dart, he's had a very,

very good, mature rookie year. Go look at his numbers. without a number one receiver, number one running back, or a great tight end. They're very solid. 62 and a half percent completion percentage. That's not bad. Passer rating, almost 93. Touchdown to total touchdown interception ratio, 20 to 4. That's got a Caleb Williams field to it.

So he has been better than I thought. I thought he was a mid-second round guy. Charlie Weiss text me and said, Colin, he's better than you think. He's right. He's been very compelling. but Mendoza is a much bigger, better prospect. And you could now, because of NIL, get a hole for Jackson Dart. You don't think Arizona's going to go with Jackson Dart?

Don't have to pay them for years. You don't think the Raiders would be interested? There's only one Mendoza. And if the Giants are the worst team, it's going to take courage. New York media is loud. Now, people could say it's an easy decision because Jackson is, Jackson Dart, Colin, he is always in the blue tent. Let me defend Jackson Dart on that a little.

They don't have a great O line. He's a very confident kid, and he moves, maybe not as well as Bo Nix, but the kid's an athlete. Drake May, also a big athlete. He got caught a couple of times in the blue tent his first year. And then Vrable became his coach and said, stop that. So I'm going to give him a little pass on the aggressive. in the blue tent. But if you don't think the Raiders,

dolphins, Cleveland, Jets, Colts, Atlanta, Arizona would not be interested in Jackson Dart, you're nuts. He's done a very good job. I mean, he's a good-looking kid. He's confident. Face of the franchise. West Coast kid.

Go to Vegas. Go to Arizona. So I'm going to defend him a little on the blue tent stuff. He's a rookie. The game is real fast. He's gotten whacked a couple of times. Justin Herbert, I love him. Justin Herbert's first two years in the league.

Justin Herbert was a 4-2 college graduate, smart kid, would put a shoulder down and try to run over linebackers. Harbaugh became his coach. He doesn't do that anymore. So I'm going to defend Jackson Dart a little aggressive, but the kid's really talented. And so, but my question is, you know certain organizations and certain GMs would make that move.

Do you think the Giants would? I don't know. Sequin Barclay move? you think they would? Here's Tom Brady on Fernando Mendoza Sunday. I love everything about his game. Certainly his leadership is what

stands out to me. It's his relatability to his teammates and he's overcome a lot of things in his career. He's a Miami kid went to Cal to Indiana and then you go to a program that hasn't won anything in forever. And what he's done this season was so impressive. Yeah, I think he's a really, really, kind of a

Trevor Lawrence feel like I mean, Trevor Lawrence had Clemson players. Both have good coaches, Davosweeney, and Kurt Signetti, but it's a good prospect. The kid is grateful, humble, large, great arm, and on the road at Penn State and against Ohio State, those final drives. I mean, that's, and I told you this, I have talked to an NFL head coach, an offensive guy who all of you respect, who told me he's an easy guy to scout because Indiana runs so many pro sets. It's a very pro-style offense with a lot of the offense it is, so he's an easy guy to evaluate. You know, when Mal Holmes came out of Texas Tech, the take was, God, the kid's incredibly talented, but that's not an NFL offense. Now, the smart people knew he was really, really good, Brett Veach and all those guys.

But this kid's an easier kid to scout. Plays in the Big Ten, pro-style offense, and just good arm, big kid, smart kid, kid, great story. If the Giants get the number one pick, the easy thing to do is just say, hey, we're keeping our guy, we love our guy. Just, you better hope you don't have to play Fernando Mendoza twice a year or even once a year. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. 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, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how did 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 was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast,

where people could call in and say, hey Jonas, and then I wrote down in 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 why he got the ball, like, after 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. Keith Gianmanca seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad, but secretly, he became a. someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy, but I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong on what that might look like? No, I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has

its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jordan O'Donnell. You might know me as that last. guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please!

But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hippocrat, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Syke! I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man.

If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the My Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself.

We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-masters. in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually need people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Well, we've said the NILs become a pain in the butt for NFL teams that need a quarterback. Jaden Mayava, 64230 USC, he's staying at college. Dante Moore May, Arch Manning, who I don't think is ready for the NFL, but he's staying in college. Ty Simpson may stay at Alabama. And whether or not they'd succeed in the NFL, it's an option. You can sell hope to your fans. If you draft one of them, you can load up your roster because you're not paying him anything for four or five years.

so it makes Fernando Mendoza even that much more valuable and he was valuable if they all came out. Joel Clatt, the voice of college football at Fox, is joining us live. You know, it is interesting. The NIL is fascinating. There's so many things, so many tentacles of it.

One of the things I like is that it pays kids before they go pro, so they get a sense of kind of responsibility with money. I don't like going from borrowing money for pizza in college to a millionaire. So I like that. I think it protects the kids. that gets him ready for the NFL.

The other thing is, Jaden Miava for another year in college, I'm like, wow, he's going to be a heck of a prospect. Let's just take this. Let's talk about all these guys, Ty Simpson, Jaden Miava. If I recall, you all,

you like them all staying. You think they all need even Dante Moore another year, right? Yeah, I do. Like, listen, you make a financial argument, and I think that that argument is very sound. You know, they can make, you know, over $3 million to stay in college. And Colin, I don't think that any of these guys are guaranteed to be a top 15 pick,

you know, based on the evaluation. You never know how the process is going to go. And if you're in the back end of the first round or even the, let's say even the early half of the second round, yes, it's a lot of money. But the organization is not going to be as completely invested in you as you would be in the top end of the first round. And so my argument would be that like the contract that you, sign if you weren't a top-end first-round draft pick is great. There's no doubt. But in terms of

next year, you can probably make a similar amount in college and then increase your draft stock to get up there into the top end of the first round. And experience plays a part of that. I've talked that length on this program countless times about how I think one of the biggest prerequisites to NFL success is college experience. And the amount of reference. that you need. The guys that win Super Bowls get to their second contracts generally have started over 30 times. Well, Dante Moore and Ty Simpson and these guys like Archmanning, they haven't done that yet. And so not only do they need more time to develop on the field, but now financially, it's not as prohibitive for them to stay and not go to the NFL and not get that contract.

So I think even despite beating Ohio State, and maybe I'm guilty of this, everybody's like, well, Ohio State will win a rematch. George is better. And it's like if coaching and quarterback matters, Indiana's got easily the best quarterback and arguably the best coach. There are not a lot of guys above Signetti what he's doing at Indiana. Not to say they don't have a good roster, but they don't have a Georgia roster yet or an Ohio State roster.

Would you be shocked? Are we undervaluing Indiana because it's like, well, that was their Super Bowl. You watch the game. I mean, how do you view them going forward? clearly one of the two or three best teams in the nation. And I'll be very surprised if they're not in the semifinals. And I'll be pretty surprised if they're not playing for a national championship. And a lot of that has to do with their quarterback.

Yes, and their coach, obviously. But it's also their defense. You know, in this day and age in college football, think about what's happened in the last four years. So in the last four national champions, three of them have had the number one defense in the country. And Georgia's second national championship, they had the fourth ranked defense in the country.

So every one of these defenses, Georgia, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, they've had a top five defense. That's what I think makes Indiana so good. You saw it in the last 40 minutes of the Big Ten championship game when they prevented Ohio State from scoring. That is an excellent defense led by one of the best coordinators in the entire country and Brian Haynes. And when you couple that with a quarterback that plays best when his best is needed

late in games, with wide receivers that can win in contested areas like Elijah Surat, like you got a team that can win the national championship. So I'll be very surprised if Indiana is not there in the end. I think that Ohio State and Georgia are going to play in the semifinal, and the winner of that game is going to face Indiana and the national championship. So I've watched Oklahoma beat Alabama the last two years. Why am I supposed to believe Alabama with no run games going to go to Norman and win the third time? I think I like Oklahoma close.

I love Alabama's coach and wide receiver talent. They can't run the ball. you can move the ball on them. Where do you stand on that game? Well, everything that you just said is right. And the location does not favor Alabama, in particular when Oklahoma's got one of the best pass rushes in the entire sport.

You know, Oklahoma has 41 sacks. That's tied for the most in college football with Texas A&M. Now they're going to be at home against a team that, let's face it, has not protected their quarterback all that great in big situations. Florida State got after them. Georgia just got after them. speaking of Ty Simpson. So you would assume, at least, that Oklahoma is going to be able to present a rush on Ty Simpson.

Here's the thing that I think finally stalls out the idea that Oklahoma has a big advantage is that Oklahoma offensively has just done nothing in the back half of the year. They are very, do you remember a few years ago when you had the whole like Iowa is the fake idea of college football? I do remember that, yes, yes. Okay. And I defended Iowa. So this is going to, this is going to sound like a knock.

I don't mean it to be a knock. I think that Oklahoma is elite in two of three areas of their team. And offensively, they struggle. And they struggle mightily, driving the football down the field. They struggle trying to score points. So in that sense, they're very similar to Iowa, Colin. Like this is an Iowa team. They have to build into field position.

They've got to win the special teams. Brent Venables has got to have a great defensive game plan. And I think that's what gives people pause in terms of like, well, Oklahoma should win this game. Listen, I'm going to go with environment. I'm going to go with defense. And because of that, I think Oklahoma wins. I do think it's going to be a close game.

And I would also say this, you know, uniquely, because you've been a Lincoln Riley supporter and defender, and obviously you loved his move to USC. Well, you know exactly, and I think uniquely, how burned those fans at Oklahoma felt and the vitriol that they gave towards the situation. Well, think about it now. They have been waiting as a fan base for this moment ever since that Sunday morning when Lincoln Riley walked himself to L.A.

And because of that, I think that the Palace on the Prairie is going to be one of the great environments that we've ever seen. I think that they've been waiting for this. They brought one of their own home in Brent Venables, and they're back on a stage in which they feel like they are born to be at, rightfully at, which is the playoff. This is Oklahoma, one of the great story. programs in the history of our sport, I'm getting goosebumps thinking about the environment that that place is going to be. I think Norman is going to be on fire, and because of that,

it's going to be tough for Alabama to win. About a minute and a half left. Michigan, great job, blue blood, top five ever. Penn State stumbled into Matt Campbell, which would have a great hire, if they had hired him an hour after James Franklin was let go. They kind of locked into a great coach. Where are we at on Michigan right now? So I think two things, really. Well, quickly, I think that the internal query or investigation into the athletic department, its practices, and its culture are going to hold things up from a coaching search standpoint, because no coach is going to want to be hired by a guy that's not going to be there. So they want to make sure that Ward Manual and the administration is still there.

That being said, I think a lot of it depends on Friday night. I think that if Alabama loses, there's a pathway to Kail and DeBore going to Michigan. I think the other name that I would be looking out for is Jeff Brom, who's at Louisville, which is his alma mater, but Jeff Brom is a winner, and he's done a nice job, and Michigan is Michigan. I know he's at his alma mater, but Michigan is one of the premier jobs in the country. Oh, it's a great job. It's just an unbelievable job.

And they've got a lot of support. They've got a lot of money behind that. They've got a really young and talented roster. That's a top 10 team next year. Just remember that. That's a preseason top 10 team. team if they can retain all that talent. I walk in with Bryce Underwood.

Give me a break. And Andrew Marsh and Jordan Marshall and three red shirt freshmen starting on the offensive line and all those young guys in the secondary. I mean, like, they're going to be very good next year. All right. Joel, I'm going to pick Miami to upset A&M. Give me one, 30 seconds. Give me an upset.

I'm going to take Miami, Carson Beck, upset, close. I can't give you an upset. I can't give you an upset. that the home teams last year all won these first round playoff games all by double digits. I don't trust Carson Beck and Mario Cristobal on the road in a huge game in a big environment. I just don't. That game's going to come down to turnovers. Whatever quarterback plays clean, Beck and Miami can't run the football.

Cassius Howell, the great pass rusher for A&M is going to play well. I don't think that there's an upset this weekend. At first, OU was getting a point in a half, but now I think it actually swung to OU favored. So because of that, I'm taking OU, I'm taking A&M, Ole Miss and Oregon this weekend. All right. Good to see you, buddy. You as well, man. Hey, it's great to see you.

And if I don't talk to you before next week, Merry Christmas. And I hope you have a great holiday. Same to you and your beautiful family. Joel Klatte. Thank you very much. Appreciate it, bud. See you. Greg Kosell joins us next hour.

Todd McShay, love having him on. He's going to be joining us in the last hour. That Fernando Mendoza, it's, I'll tell you, I said this yesterday, J. Mack. Drop a Hyundai on. Texas Tech winning the whole thing. Nobody's talking about them. Is it plus 880 or plus 800? I don't know if they're going to win the whole thing.

I watched them twice, both against BYU. Maybe it was a favorable matchup, but they went and bought a bunch of NFL guys. And nobody is talking about the number four seat in the tournament. Throw it out there. Tomorrow's blazing five-day. Picks were locked in by Wednesday. I already bought three jet skis. how I feel.

Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions.

Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. 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 hungry. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place.

I'm Akela Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city in which there were more homages to enslavers than there were to enslave people. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio. Nonstop 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. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free.

Have a great day. 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 iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast Guaranteed human