The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - The Dodgers are in trouble, big market teams, J.J McCarthy

Episode Date: September 24, 2025

Colin Cowherd dives into the Los Angeles Dodgers' continued struggles, breaking down how they squandered another elite performance from Shohei Ohtani—and what it says about the myth that big spending guarantees championships in pro sports. Colin has more doubts about Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy after hearing he might not play in week 4See 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. 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 CJ 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 hiring. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming to him. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the I Heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This week on Crimless, Rory and I welcome a very special guest. When I would do a podcast, I wear my sleep masks. I like where this is going. So if you guys will indulge me. That's right, the incredibly talented and hilarious Will Ferrell on an episode dedicated to crimes committed by people named Will Ferrell. You're good for 300 crimes? Yeah.

We got two. I'm ready to go right up. to present day. Listen to Crimless on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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 two, is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, and 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 word 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 SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. It is a Wednesday, and we have got a lot to talk about live. It's Chicago, and it is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. You've got a lot of choices out there. Joel Clatt in one hour, huge, huge college football weekend. I like the Buckeyes by 10. Oregon's slight upset.

USC comfortably. J-Mack, I want to start with something today. We don't, until we get to October, we don't leave with a lot of baseball. Baseball regular seasons are long, but last night, my childhood favorite, the Seattle Mariners, clinched the playoff spot, and they've got some interesting components. But Rob Manfred and a lot of people in baseball have been worried about baseball. The payroll gap is scary, and I do believe the payroll gap. Gap matters in the regular season.

But once you get to the playoffs, you don't know what's going to happen. No sport is weirder and quirkier than Major League Baseball. It's been a great year for the sport. The $350 million payroll Mets are battling the $119 million payroll Cincinnati Reds for a playoff spot. The mega money train, the L.A. Dodgers, blew another game last night, yet Otani was great, and then he leaves, and the Dodgers blow another game. It's been that kind of year, and that's what money doesn't buy you health. They've got a bad bullpen. It blew another game last

night. Mookie Betts started the season very poorly. He had a sickness. He's been good in September, but they've dealt with a lot of injuries, mo money, mo problems. They're on track for their worst record in six years. For the record, the small market brewers, I think win the World Series, small market San Diego has an unbelievable bullpen and plenty of big time sticks. The American League division leaders are the Mariners, Cleveland and Toronto. Yet the fearmongering once again prevails, whether it's the NIL for college football, AI in business, or big payrolls in baseball. So many people are neurotic, anxiety-filled fatalists.

Take a deep breath. it's going to be okay. Even my Mariners. They've got Cal Raleigh, so they had a lot of home runs, meaning they don't have to manufacture rallies if they do fall behind. They score quickly, the Mariners do. They've got a great closer if they have a lead late, Andres Munoz, and they had the best rotation ERA in baseball last year, and it's still good this year.

The Seattle Mariners, believe it or not, could win the World Series. Yes, they could. What's true in sports always is that money, never, ever decides everything. For the millionth straight year in a row, the Jets and Giants stink in New York, and the Packers are good. Remember fans freaking out when Luca ended up with the Lakers.

Yeah, they got eliminated in the first round. Small Market OKC beat Small Market, Indiana, in the finals. Put your phones down. It's exhausting. The world's not going to end, except for the Dodgers. Yeah, I can't. I have to be honest about the Dodgers.

Their bullpen stinks. They blew another lead. Otani's amazing. Mookie's hitting. And they can't close out games they should win. And my number one rule in baseball is can't win a World Series with an awful bullpen. Here's Dave Roberts. Yeah, I'm not going to lie.

Dodgers in trouble. These are our guys. I do know that. I just see just careful the getting behind the walking. the walking guys hit batsman, that's just a sign of you're either scared or you're pitching too careful. And that's just the way, that's just the facts. When you pitch behind and afraid to make a mistake, hang a breaking ball, you know, that's when bad things happen. So the division leaders currently have the fifth biggest payroll, the 25th, the 15th, the 23rd, the 4th,

and the Dodgers are number one. But they can't close out games despite having a payroll, which they could face in the first round the Mets with a $340 million payroll. So one of them could potentially get bounced as the small market Padres and Brewers and Mariners and Guardians and Guardians and Canada's best Toronto watch on happily. It's all going to be okay. NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball. said this two months ago, medium and small markets are kicking arse. I believe the World Series will be the Brewers beating the Mariners in six. Go ahead, Jay Mack, roll your eyes. Cal Raleigh's getting there. Muno's closing them out, but they'll meet their match.

Okay. So Kevin O'Connell's a great coach. He said, tap the brakes on a quick return for J.J. McCarthy. So the Vikings face the Steelers. It's in Dublin, Ireland. My belief is basically start the quarterback against the Steelers or any team that helps you win the game Sunday. NFL not for long. Win the game Sunday. Start the quarterback that wins you the game. And as I said last week, before he looked really good, Carson Wentz today is better than J.J. McCarthy. Today, He's been in the NFL 10 years. I think he's been on six teams and six years. He's seen every defense.

He's a big athlete with a big arm. Doesn't move like he used to, but he's a good player. And the Vikings are built to win today. Brian Floresh to me is the best defensive coordinator in football. And he has transformed that defense, and he could get a head coaching job next year or the one after. And Carson Wentz, wasn't that long ago in Indianapolis, 27 touchdown, seven picks, and Chris Ballard loved him. and the owner, the late great Jim Ursay, said, get him out of here.

He lost to the Jags in the final week. But they had Jonathan Taylor, who was a pro bowler, Michael Pittman out of 1,000 yards, and they had a pretty good offensive line. In 2017, and I know that's a while ago, but it's not that long ago. He had 33 touchdowns and seven picks before he got hurt. And again, they had a very good roster. So like it is for most NFL quarterbacks with Carson Wentz,

he's as good as his support staff. He's not Josh Allen. He's not Lamar. He's not Mahomes. He's not Burrough. but he's a big, strong athlete who Philadelphia, Minnesota, when he's got good players around him, you can win a lot of games with Carson Wentz. And J.J. McCarthy at this point, and I think I'm being fair, doesn't really know yet what to do in the NFL.

He looks overwhelmed. He looks overwhelmed. And this is bad luck. He got hurt again. So this is not college football. There's no big donor to guarantee you get snaps. some young quarterbacks fall into Sean Payton, some get Brandon Staley. It's not fair.

What do the Vikings O.J.J. McCarthy? Well, they gave up a fourth round pick and a fifth round pick to move up to get him. I mean, San Francisco would Tray Lance give up three first rounders and went, oops! We're going to go with Brock Purdy. I mean, the best business advice I've ever been given in my life, by far. When I started my company the volume, I called, I emailed like Mark Cuban and Peter churning, really smart guys. And I, they, you know, in their busy life, I sent emails, text to people I knew, and everybody gave me the same advice. I mean, literally the same advice. Whatever works,

immediately double down on it and what doesn't bail on it. Don't try to validate your earlier choices. Amazon doesn't look like the company that was formed. Either does Oracle or Google. don't fall in love with your draft picks. You can tell often in camp, oh, that doesn't look good. He's smaller than I thought. He doesn't have a lot of toughness. Man, he's got a bad temper.

Stuff is unveiled in camp for starts. And again, some guys fall into Sean Payton, some fall into defensive coaches who don't have a feel for offense. So it's nothing against J.J. McCarthy. He may develop into something great. But my take in is Carson, Vince, with Kevin O'Connell's coaching, a great left tackle, solid run game, unbelievable wide receiver talent, good tight end, great home field advantage, excellent defensive

coordinator. I mean, Carson Wentz and Kevin O'Connell can win a lot of games. So let's let it play out. Here's Greg Olson yesterday on what to do with Wentz and Kevin O'Connell. I'm not sure there is a coach in the league. head coach, for sure, or an offensive coordinator, who gets the most out of their quarterback within their system and blends the idea of play caller, quarterback whisperer, confidant, mentor. He has such a unique quality where, yes, he has the X's and O's. Yes, he has the schematic

advantage. But it's all the other stuff. Yeah, I actually, J. Mack and I agree on this. Minnesota is the play. As you knock down at Guinness, if you're over in Dublin, Minnesota is the play this weekend. One of the better plays on the board, in my opinion. Yeah, I totally agree. They'll, they'll, it's going to destroy Aaron Rogers. But a quick point on your Wentz v. McCarthy thing.

A Vikings buddy of mine said, hey, you've got to tell Colin one huge difference that Wentz had that McCarthy didn't, and that's left tackle Christian Darisow. He missed the first two games. I know that. He played against the Bengals, 21 snaps, allowed one pressure. He's borderline elite. I don't know these top three. I am fully aware of that.

I know, I know. But I'll be honest with you. In this league, there is no perfect roster. That's why I said about Brock Purdy. He's not as good without Christian McCaffrey. Well, Christian McCaffrey gets hurt. So you have to be good despite not having a star running back. So, by the way, Naji Harris is out with Justin Herbert.

Rishon Slater's out the Pro Bowl left tackle. Herbert's having his best year. Yeah, I mean. So people can always say, well, the left take, make plays. I don't care about it. Make plays. Herbert is a fifth year superstar in this league, top six quarterback. J.J. McCarthy's got two starts.

We need to give the kid a chance. And I'm just, I know I'm all in and it's maybe a bad move by me. Listen, I've been wrong before. Our show does not cancel culture quarterbacks. I'm not saying, all I'm saying is, I said before the show, I said at Friday, you are here. I said, Carson Wentz today is better than J.J. McCarthy. However, whatever it takes to get J.J. McCarthy to be in the same ballpark as Jared Gough or Jordan Love. Because those are the guys in your division. This team is built to win now.

And it's not fair. But Carson Wentz with this group, I think, could go toe to toe with Jordan Love. And there wouldn't be a massive gap, although Jordan loves better. What I saw seven to the eight quarters with McCarthy, the gap between him and Goff, or him and Jordan Love feels like a sizable, noticeable separation. So you got to, you have to play who wins Sunday. Yeah, you're right. I mean, but to win now, remember McCarthy on the rookie deal only in year two, they still have two more summers where they can load up the roster.

So I don't know that win now, like right this season, I would go back to McCarthy when he's healthy, but, um, yeah, I do feel I'm concerned that I'm so committed to this guy. He's not Mahomes versus Alex Smith. That's not what we're dealing with here. Nobody's going to be successful. I appreciate the revelation that he's not Mahomes. I certainly appreciate that.

Sitting for a year, but are injured, you know. I'm not rooting. I don't root against quarterbacks. Let's be honest. I like CJ Stroud. When he was good two years ago, I liked watching the Texans. They're unwatchable now because they can't pick up first downs. They can't block.

Like, I'm rooting for all young quarterbacks. People think you're rooting to be right. I want Baker Mayfield to succeed. I think I was right early. He's great now. I want them all to succeed. nothing worse than the 1 o'clock window in October with two awful quarterbacks. And I'm forced to watch it because it's my job.

I'm rooting for good quarterback play. Yeah. Period. When I watch college games this weekend, I'll get Ohio State Washington. The quarterback play will be good. Drew Aller against Dante Moore, Penn State and Oregon. Excellent two pro quarterbacks. I like watching really good quarterback play.

It is hard to watch. You know, I thought Michigan, Nebraska this weekend. I don't know. One of them is going to be in the NFL. But when an offense struggles, it's usually a bad quarterback in college or pro. So I root for all of them to eventually succeed. We got Joel Clatt coming up.

I'm so excited for my Mariners. I'm not loyal. I bailed on them for 15 years. I'm not saying I'm loyal, but I'm excited for them. 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, we're Kavino and Rich.

Fox Sports Radio every day, 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern. But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Overpromised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two-hour show. We never get to everything. Honestly, because this guy is over-promising things we never have time for.

Yeah, you blubberlips. Blameen me. Well, you know what? It's called Over-Promise. You should be good at it because you've been Oprah Promising Women for years. Well, it's a Kavino-and-Ritch after show, and we want you to be a part of it. We're going to be talking sports, of course,

but we're also going to talk life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called Overpromised. Well, if you don't get enough, Kavino and Rich, make sure you check out Overpromised, and also uncensored, by the way. So maybe we'll go at it even a little harder.

It's going to be the best after show podcast of all time. There you go. Overpromising. Perfect. And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely join us. Listen to Overpromised with Kavino and Rich on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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 podcast. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should,

call it. And 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 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. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! 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 from a Hippocrat, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike! I'm a comedian. I'm a comedian. I'm a comedian. I'm a hypocrite. qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, 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. 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 MyCultura podcast network available on the I-Hart 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-mastery 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 meet 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.

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 Deanna Maria Riva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that?

I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45. How high can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard, you know? 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. You know, as you go into week four, week five in the NFL, NFL teams go into each season a little bit like a Rubik's Cube. They're a puzzle.

And then they get turned and figured out. And it doesn't take very long. College football, it can take months and months to expose your flaws because the coaching isn't as good. The quarterback play isn't as devastating. But in the NFL, essentially and eventually, the truth's going to come out in the first month. We saw the Ravens defense. It's a problem. Trade deadline.

They may want to do something. And I think Detroit's a great example. PFF has their roster at third best. Once again, their draft picks appear to be really, really good. and even though they were awful in week one and in the preseason, they've just got too good a quarterback, too good a roster, too good a running back room, too good an offensive line, that Detroit's eventually just got too many A-level players,

A-to-A-minus to B-plus players, they're going to win games. Now, I don't think their coordinators are as good as last year. They're not winning 15, but the Lions have too many good players to look like week one for the rest of the season. Dallas is the opposite. They look pretty good in the first season. weeks. And then CD Lamb gets hurt and you're like, they don't have anybody that can separate offensively and we already knew their defense wasn't very good. So the roster is below average.

The staff, I think, is very weak. I was shocked how well they played early. And I think Dallas is in a situation where the truth has come out. It's the opposite. USC right now is what, five and no. They may beat Illinois and go five and zero or six and oh. You won't know how good Oregon is until they go to Notre Dame and to Eugene Oregon. College football, you don't know because there's such a disparity of talent and coaching. The Detroit Lions have too many good players, depth coaching culture, quarterback play, running back room all line, not to win at least 10 games. The Cowboys, the truth has come out.

The CD-LAM injury really highlighted a truth. They have not drafted necessarily well until the Micah trade and next year's draft and free agency that they haven't had a lot of flexibility. And without CD Lamb, man, they don't have an A weapon. So, I mean, patchwork does not work in the NFL. And I think the Cowboys, here we go. You get to about a month through the games, you'll look up, week four, and Brian Schottenheimer, after that Bears loss admits,

we've got to make some changes here. Today is all about us. Let's focus on us. Let's go through these meetings. I talked about the things I messed up in the game. There are certainly things I messed up in the game. And I was open about that. I said, you guys have to do the same thing.

Take accountability for the things you did. The standard is not the standard, and therefore we will make changes. And some will be schemes. Some might even be personnel. We'll see. You know what's remarkable is that Dak Prescott is keeping them semi-viable. He's keeping them afloat. So the first two years, you could argue the third.

Dak Prescott was largely elevated by the Cowboys. The O'Line, Zeke. At this point, he is the buoy from year four on with all their nonsense and misses during the draft. He's the buoy keeping Dallas afloat. He makes them viable. I mean, that Green Bay line is six and a half seven. If that's not there,

I mean, both Jay Mack and I are shocked by the number. The number, the number's there because Dak just wins. He wins 10 games if he's upright. That's what he does. And he throws for over 4,000 yards, about 10 turnovers, about 30 touchdowns. So he's the buoy that keeps him afloat. And he was largely, you know, not carried, but certainly elevated in the first few years in Dallas. J-Mack with the news.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's start with your favorite quarterback Baker Mayfield. Boy, he is off to a great 3-0 start. Some luck involved. Three game-winning drives at the end, very clutch. However, entering week four, he's got his toughest test yet against an Eagles team that is great against the run and is very good against the pass.

Yesterday, D.C. Vic Fongio spoke highly a Baker and called out the teams who moved off of him. The quarterback is playing really good. He's a scrambler. He scrambled, I think, 11 times this year for close to 120 yards already. So that's always an issue. I've always liked Mayfield. I think he's a good quarterback. Why these teams that had them didn't keep him, I don't know.

But GMs make mistakes, you know, just like coach do. Yeah, Baker right now is a top 10 quarterback in the league. That's undeniable. Yeah, let's just, you know, be fully honest here. they've been lucky through three weeks at the end of games, Colin. Listen, when you win on walk-off field goals or the opponent missing a field goal, there is some luck involved. It's a coin flip, right?

So I think seeing Eagles minus three and a half at Tampa is a big tell that the market is saying the Eagles are considerably better than these guys. Oh, I think. Oh, yeah. No Mike Evans, by the way. This is my second favorite bet on the board. Yeah. Is Philadelphia.

Because as we've talked about, when you play football. poorly and win? Sean Pate and Noah says that's the best week of practice. And they had a terrible 26-7 deficit at half at home to the Rams and were getting work. Then they played a good second half in one. But I think the Eagles, you know, it's very rare that you're good enough in this league to play poorly and win.

And I mean, they were awful at home against a very good team. Teams don't come back from 26 to 7 deficits against good defenses, which the Rams have. So I think the Eagles, I think that. kind of wakes them up. Yeah, and I will add that the Jets started Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. He had two fourth quarter touchdown drives that got them back in the game. Okay? Jalen Hertz is like top five in the league.

And then there's Tyrod Taylor. I think Philly should be fine. Next up is the Detroit Lions at Monday Night Games shook us to our core. Man, I did not see that coming. Jared Goff has been really instrumental. Despite losing Ben Johnson, Goff, 761 yards passing. seven touchdowns. PFF has not graded him that highly, but Dan Campbell said nobody's been better under center. Golf had a very efficient game. There's a number of things. People don't eat. I have no idea

that he did in that game that was big time, man. Man, in the moment, crowd noise, everything, critical moments, and just some of the little nuances of the position that he did. Everybody set up, right, make sure we're all on point. It was just, I, I, I'm telling you, the guy is playing at a very high level. And you're talking about running the quarterback position. I mean, nobody's playing it better than him right now. Well, I've seen him in his career as a ram go toe-to-to-to-with-ma-homes and beat him and go toe-to-to-to-with-lemah and beat him.

When he has time to throw, Jared Goff throws one of the two or three prettiest balls in this league. He throws a beautiful ball. I always said he was Matt Ryan with a better arm, is that, I mean, Matt, especially toward the second part of his career, felt like he lost a little arm strain. Matt's not a huge guy. Jared's got a, you know, his dad was like a major league baseball player, I think. Jared's got a big time arm and you have to give him the setup. Like Baker Mayfield, you got to let him plant and throw. I also think if you watch Goff and Amor on St. Brown, dude, that is now become one of the best matches in the league. Those guys are so good. They've been there so on point. And Goff looks for him in big

spots. That is, that is, it may not be Burrow and Chase because it's not as big play, but Goff and Amaran St. Brown are fantastic. So PFF has Goff as the 19th graded quarterback so far when you strip out guys. It's actually 25th, but when you take out guys who had one game, he comes in at 19th. He was terrible against the Packers in the open. He was terrible. And, you know, he carves up Chicago, okay, whatever. And then he was very, very good against Baltimore. We don't know, by the way, if Baltimore's defense is any good. So I think the jury's still out. Now, Colin, what do you make of this Browns game this weekend?

Cleveland, riding high, but with Miles Garrett, is the Detroit offensive line ready? Because they were not against the Packers. I think it's a low-scoring game. I take Detroit to win. I think Cleveland's defense is absolutely for real. It's good. I went and re-watch that game on YouTube.

Cleveland's defense is really good. Now, they're not going to ignite, you know, the scoreboard. They're not going to score a lot. Cleveland has to win a certain way. Detroit can win multiple ways. So Cleveland's not going to win on the road against good teams very often. But what you saw them do is what Cleveland is good enough to do is at home, catch a really good team sleeping, coming in a sandwich spot.

And, you know, Green Bay is looking ahead. Green Bay is, you know, feeling it a little bit of young team. Everybody says best team in the league. And when you play Cleveland, you're not going to have long extended drive. They're really good defensively. J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Heard Lye News. You know, Jay-Mack, I'm going to be busy doing some journalism on Saturday. Well, I have a source who played on my men's basketball team last night, said they expect to see you Saturday on a certain show. I hope I'm not breaking any news here, but he's very excited to have to have to have. He's very excited to have you. I think it's going to be a great game, right? Yeah.

So I read this story this morning. Josh Pate, who's a great college football podcaster. He's a great, Josh Pate. He said, Lincoln Riley, I regret to inform you, he told his audience, has himself a really good quarterback in Jaden Mayava. I think Mayava is a better quarterback for Lincoln than Caleb Williams was. He may not be the most talented, but he plays within a system. And I actually agree with Josh here. Caleb Williams' second year at USC

after the Notre Dame game Lincoln Riley lost trust of the O line at USC and he was protecting Caleb more than he was unleashing him and it did feel like it was Caleb's offense and not Lincoln Riley's for big portions of the second year and Lincoln Riley when you watch USC this is Lincoln Riley's offense

he likes to run the ball more than people give him credit for he has done an amazing job So, Jaden Mayawel last year, I watched USC three times live. This kid was reckless. He was loose. I didn't trust him throwing over the middle. He was mistake prone. He was almost not like emotionally, but as a quarterback, he was kind of an immature, needed more reps quarterback.

This year, disciplined, poise, isn't his frenetic, isn't his flip. Every throw seems to matter. Last year, it felt like sometimes he was playing in the backyard. all of that's gone. So horsepower can be sometimes a detriment. I'll give you a great example. So you know I love Lamar Jackson. I think he's unbelievable.

He's the greatest play extender of all time, but he doesn't throw the ball away enough. And so Lamar always, you saw it on Monday Night against the Lions, he's always trying to make a great play out of a missed block or a play that goes sideways. And that means a lot of negative yardage plays by Lamar Jackson. feels sometimes he's digging out from one of the holes he created and he's unbelievable a caleb williams has much more horsepower than jaden mayava but i actually when i watch usc this year

i can see the creative and the smart and the clever and the unique and more the power running that i think lincoln riley actually likes and i've said this about joe burrow we all love joe burrow but joe burrow holds the ball because he's always looking for that big t higgins player jimar chase and he didn't have much of a run game. So he knows he'd like to get some cheap touchdowns over the top. And once again, Joe Burles hurt again. And I love Joe Burrell. And I love Lamar Jackson.

But, and that's what horsepower gives you. The self-belief, and it's often true, that you can make something out of nothing. And I think Caleb, the second year at USC, was hard to coach for Lincoln Riley. He was trying to protect him. He didn't want to get him hurt because he knew he was going to be the number one pick. And Greg Kossel told us this for years about Aaron Rogers in his prime. He said Aaron's actually so gifted. He's extending completions.

Completions have been schemed up by Mike McCarthy. They've been schemed. He's not going to use them because he wants to make a bigger play. So this USC team, to me, feels like Lincoln's team. And here was Lincoln Roddy this week talking about Jaden Mayava. Jaden deserves a ton of credit. He did a really good job after the end of the season of just really taking an honest look at what he did well and what he's got to do better and then just really put his head down and just own the things that he knew he had to be better out and that we put in front of him. And he's just he's he's he's incredibly coachable.

And that's where, you know, his humility is a strength. Occasionally you have sometimes quarterbacks that are so hardheaded that it can it can go the other way where they almost become. a little less coachable than you want them to be. And I don't think he's throwing shade at anybody. I think it is harder to be coachable when there is gift that is Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. I think it's harder because in high school, in college, you've had so much success, just sort of bulldozing your way to success. And Jaden Mayaba is not Caleb Williams.

He doesn't have that arm strength. But when you watch this team now, you're like, oh, that's, yeah, that's Lincoln's team. is very clever power running now use the tight ends uh sometimes some rPO stuff it's good team how good i'll know when they go to notre dame i'll know when they go to oregon but they're good um you know j mac i can't even tease this i uh do you ever do you ever have a pocket schedule you know we make predictions before the year i make division predictions not necessarily records i think it's impossible injuries so i don't I don't do record predictions.

But I did say the Bears would go 9 and 8, and I thought I was optimistic. I did re-look at the schedule this morning based on what I've seen. They're not going 9 and 8. Well, that's very negative. Do you think they're going 9 and 8? I did the pocket schedule. I did the whole thing. Okay.

It's interesting. Do you think the Bears are going to the playoffs? Come on. I'm not going to give it away before the segment. Also, later today, Joel Klatz coming on, Mark Sanchez, too. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name?

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

We were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say,

Hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

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-mastery 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 meet 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. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help!

Somebody! Please! 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 from 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 of 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 MyCultura podcast network available on the iPhone. Heart 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 Deanna Maria Riva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex?

Dating at 45. How high can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard. 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. Two of the NFC's early season best as Sequin and defending champion Eagles, take on Baker Mayfield and the Bucks, or the Jags battle Christian McCaffrey and the Niners or other regional action. Check local listings for the game in your area only. on Fox. We're going to play a game, patience or panic with some of the NFL's best teams,

should they make a move at the trade deadline, which I think is week nine or ten. You've got some time here. You've got about five, six weeks. But like, you know, one of the teams I've talked about is the Rams, they need to get a corner. Bills got to fix that run defense. So we'll play patience or panic at the top. So I saw three stories this morning. And when I come into work every morning, the staff puts about 15 stories up, and maybe 20.

We pick about five what we want to talk about. And there were three right in a row. Why the Broncos have far bigger concerns than just Bo Nix's overthrows. Michael Pennix, Jr., struggles are worrisome. He started six games. Texan C.J. Stroud, is he playing his way out of an extension? Oh, my God. Outside of four quarterbacks on the planet,

Mahalms, Alan, Lamar, and Burrow, quarterback play is circumstantial. Who's your coach? Who's your coordinator? What's your O-line like? There's four exceptions. I mean, even Matt Stafford, before Sean McVeigh, zero playoff wins.

Even Justin Herbert, who's a leading candidate today for the MVP, 500 record with Brandon Staley. Okay, so it's circumstance. Now, with young quarterbacks, it's almost entirely circumstantial. Do you know, you got to learn the language, you got to learn the locker room, you've got to learn the coordinator's playbook, you've got to learn the tricks, you've got to learn the league. So people tend to forget, and I love Mahomes and we all do. Patrick Mahomes got the perfect situation. He didn't have to play for a year.

He got the best offensive coach or coach in the sports. Fort. Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelsey, when he finally got a start, and a good old line. And, oh, by the way, the Chiefs had made the playoffs for three straight seasons. And Alex Smith, he acknowledges, was an unbelievable mentor. Now, Mahomes took that momentum and became very quickly the best quarterback talent in the league. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve credit. but it should be noted that Bo Nicks, C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Cam Ward, Caleb Williams, and mostly Caleb, Drake May, yeah, you're starting in the first month, and we have no momentum.

We're not very good. O-line, defense, got to win by a shootout. So those guys not only had to play right away, but they didn't have nearly as good of a roster as Lamar had. or Josh Allen had, or certainly what Patrick Mahomes had. So, so much, my take has always been on young quarterbacks. Trust your eyes. Do they look overwhelmed? J.J. McCarthy? Probably are. Do you see a great trait?

Something took me a while to figure out Jalen Hertz, but do you see a great trait? And then, as long as they have reportedly, a very good work ethic, They're committed. It'll be fine. It'll be fine. Baker Mayfield, when he can plant and throw, has a world-class arm. He's accurate when he can step and throw.

Sam Darnold was too damn athletic and talented with a big arm not to eventually work somewhere. He was totally committed. That's why I don't give up on Darnel. He's just too talent. I see traits. With Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trebisky, I never saw the trait. I just never saw the thing that I went, wow, people not Kyler Murray. I've said for years, he's incredibly elusive and throws one of the prettiest balls in the league.

There's just too much talent there for him. His issue has been, is he totally committed? His own owner has questioned that. His own GMs have. So my takeaway on all these quarterbacks, for the record, go look at Bo Nix's schedule the next month. It lightens up considerably. Penix? Little worrisome, but I like him.

I see accuracy arm. I see a trait I love. I do. Okay, I saw this. I saw this. And this is not really fair. This is when the media is unfair. And so there is a us weekly.

It's one of those magazines. I think you look over at the checkout line in a grocery store and they've got like aliens landed on earth and then us weekly. And so there's this picture for our radio audience, I apologize, of Bill Belichick and Jordan Hudson, his beautiful young girlfriend, on the cover. Okay, they didn't pose for this. They did not pose for this. So there's a sense, oh, look at these two. They're really leaning into this. No, they're not.

You took an old picture and made it look like a cover because both would have turned this down. So my take on this is I don't have a problem with this relationship. I have a problem with Bill Belichick's ability to spot personnel. It was my problem. His last six years controlling the Patriot drafts, they were awful, and I don't think North Carolina's got very many good players, and I've watched them play two full games and then highlights of others. I don't think they have really good playmakers.

I think that quarterback they brought in, I think they bailed on him mostly. So my thing, and I've had a lot of people say this to me, a lot. people close to me I don't like this relationship two consenting adults both feel there's a benefit I mean my whole life I have seen smart beautiful women with guys and I'm like

don't get it's none of my business I don't know what I don't know what turns your Craig you know I don't know it's not for me to judge believe me I out kicked my coverage so whatever I mean I am pretty

suave, but I outkick my coverage. So my issue with Belichick is he never had an interest. I said this about Urban Meyer, who I love. Urban never liked pro football. Bill never liked college football. He was an NFL guy.

And once he took over the draft, it was brutal. So do I think it's weird that Jordan Hudson's on the sideline a little? Whatever. I'll be on the sideline of a college football game Saturday. There's a of people on the sidelines of college football games. Friends, family, dog.

You know, Herb Street's got his dog in the booth. Who cares? Makes him happy. I mean, I don't care. So my bigger problem is, I watch Carolina. It feels like I'm watching the Patriots. It's like, stop with a, you're not a good personnel guy. You're a great coach. But you're not very good at that.

And college football, that's where Nick Sabin, Jimmy Johnson, Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll in College. That's where they were unbelievable. Sean Payton, I think, has a real eye for personnel. Not all coaches do. and that Belichick does not that is not his thing Jimmy Johnson's I mean everywhere

Jimmy left they won because you got a great roster right Harbaugh's like that Jimmy Harbaugh knows I mean he took a bunch of fifth round corners and two years later a year and a half later the secondary for the Chargers is the stickiest in the NFL on these

fifth round guys so I mean hey Carol and here's what did if you take Brady out of Belichick's career they're a hundred and thirty-fourth right now in offensive yards for game If you take Belichick, take Brady out of his career. Last four years in New England, unwatchable offense, and look at this thing. So I kind of found the regression of Belichick to be utterly fascinating.

Five years ago, we were all convinced. He was not only the best coach in football, he was a best coach of all time. He was a genius. In the last five years, his offenses as the sport has become more offensive are absolutely awful. So the magazine cover, though, I think it kind of leads you to believe they posed. They did not. That's where the media, I think, does a bad job. Let's not pretend they're aggressively seeking this kind of exposure.

They're not. They're not. And I don't care if, because since she started dating Belichick, her real estate portfolios expanded. Whatevs? You know, people are in relationships for different reasons. All right, J. Mack. Joel Clat started the show. plus we're going to play a game.

There are really good teams in this league that have a massive hole in their operation. Should they, we'll call it patience, it'll work itself out or panic. Do you need to make a move in the next six weeks before the trade deadline? I like that. I feel like that was my idea yesterday and the staff's listening to me. Hey, real quick, do you know fun fact about me? I worked at Us Weekly magazine, maybe 2000. Is it a gossip mag?

It was like an entertainment glossy. They would send me to like red carpets. Hey Jason, we need you to interview Jessica Albuck. And you go, I'm like, of course I can do that. You know, like it was a fun, easy job. Yes, they did not post for that. But Colin, there's a reason they're on the cover because people are fascinated by this relationship.

Longtime successful coach dating beauty pageant 20-something year old. If this sells well at the checkout register and wherever people buy this, it's going to be on all the other magazine covers pretty soon. So we'll know here in a month what the appetite is in America for this relationship. Now, I would like to see Belichick succeed. I don't like watching awful offensive football. And I'm telling you, Carolina is a hard watch. And it's getting worse.

Joel Clatnett. 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... 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 funny. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis coming 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on Crimless, Rory and I welcome a very special guest. When I did podcasts, I wear my sleep masks. I like where this is going. So if you guys will indulge me.

That's right. incredibly talented and hilarious Will Ferrell on an episode dedicated to crimes committed by people named Will Ferrell. You're good for 300 crimes? Yeah. We got two. I'm ready to go right up to present day. Listen to Crimless on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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.