The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - The Most Underrated Team in the NFC, Optimism for Caleb Williams

Episode Date: September 11, 2025

Colin previews the Packers-Commanders game tonight and gives his pick.The 49ers are riddled with injuries and have to start Mac Jones at QB.Colin tries to be optimistic about Caleb Williams and the Bears.Guest: Dianna RussiniSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Your husband is not who you think he is. Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Danny Shapiro, and these are just a few of the stunning stories I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets. He kind of shoved me out of the way and said, move. And he went out the front door, and he jumped in a car and drove off, and that was the last time I saw him. Listen to Season 14 of Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio,

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Akila 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. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, here we go. It is a Thursday. We are live, and it is the herd. Tom Brady will stop by the show in a couple hours from now. One hour exactly from now.

Greg Kosell stops by. And I was thinking this morning as we get ready for Thursday night football, our second Thursday night game, last Thursday, it was the Cowboys, almost beating the Philadelphia Eagles, the Super Bowl champs. If Cidieland catches that perfect deep ball by Dak, they do beat them, in my opinion. So tonight, we don't get a struggling iconic franchise in the Dallas Cowboys.

This Thursday, we get the best franchise in the NFL arguably, and maybe not even arguably, in the last 30 years, the Green Bay Packers. And I want to talk about that. So the Packers are, again, what else is new, at home and favored on a big national TV game. And, you know, I was thinking this morning, I live close to Green Bay now. I'll get up there eventually. But they've dominated the NFL since Brett Farb arrived. Farvin Rogers, 25 years, 15 division titles. Now, suddenly the Lions over the last couple years, new coach, new GM, new culture,

you know, they build that thing up. In the last couple years, back-to-back division titles. There's a new sheriff in town. No, actually, you watched week one. The Lions made a mistake on coordinator hires. They may be third to fourth and Green Bay is back on top. That's the way it always works. Minnesota's had good years.

We always overinflate the Bears' chances. Oh, Detroit's really now going to own the future, and Green Bay is back on top. First of all, they've become the only NFL franchise that has hit home run, home run, home run with quarterback. And not only did they get far, but it was a bit of a reclamation project, Rogers' first round fell to him and Jordan Love, but they didn't have to give up massive draft capital and bought them out to get them. That was kind of like Danny Ains and the Celtics. We're going to rebuild and still be viable. And yet today, and then tonight, as you watch,

as the league has pivoted to offense and franchises like the Bears and the Steelers that are iconic can't figure out offense, no team in the NFL in 2025 has more tight-end, wide receiver talent on rookie contracts that can all play, and you'll see it tonight. Since 1992, added up over 30 years, the Packers are number one in the NFL in winning percentage, points per game, second in playoff wins, division titles, since the Brett Farveira.

Be able to get the job done and go on in the north is, you know, the start we wanted right there. But big picture, I mean, it all starts with NFC North. So to have a North team come in here, A big, big, just picture for us right now is, you know, Super Bowl is down the road, but it all starts with the NSE North. So we got to go out there and, you know, obviously get off to a better start than we did last year. Packers tonight and a close one.

So, you know, we do a lot of predictions on a week-to-week like Blazing Five, and I got Colin right and wrong on Monday. I usually say what I'm about to talk about for Mondays right and wrong. But big picture predictions, the one that got the most pushback this year, as I said, I think San Francisco is going to finish third in their division. That's the one I got all the pushback on. And the reason I gave was not because Kyle Shanahan, he's great. It wasn't because I don't love George Kittle, Trent Williams, and Christian McCaffrey and Fred Warner. Their Hall of Fame talent.

I said this is an organization. Number one, they're brittle. And number two, as much as I like John Lynch, they have missed. on too many top picks. So when the injuries happen, they don't have a reservoir of depth. And this morning, Brock Purdy out three to five weeks. My first NFL macro prediction that looks right. So you generally don't start a season with injuries and get healthier.

And this is where Green Bay has flourished. It's hard to find, especially in offense, a Packer early draft pick that's been a miss. It's hard to find. San Francisco gave up two first for Trey Lance. Miss. Jake Moody, third-round picker, disaster. Javan Kinlaw, first round, miss. Even in free agency, they went for Javon Hardgrove.

That was wasted money. So when you watch the NFC right now, there are three teams that pass the eye test, and they all have something in common. The Packers look fast, young and athletic. The Rams defense does, and the Eagles on both. both sides. And the reason being, they've nailed the draft. And that's what worried me about San

Francisco. Not just that they were brittle and a little old, but that they've missed on so many draft picks when you get banged up. This is what you look like. Going into New Orleans with a chance to lose to arguably the first or second worst team in the league. Yeah. Now, Brock Purdy, who's going to be out, that is a great draft pick. That is as good a draft pick. as you're going to get. But when you look at the NFC, Rams defense, Packers' offense, Eagles both side. It's nailing the draft. So in this league, you get old and brittle very fast when you start giving away picks,

drafting quarterbacks that can't work, draft kickers in the third round. That's why, by the way, the Lions last year, had so many injuries, but yet they finished 15 and 2. Why? Because they had drafted so well. the injuries for the Niners going into week two, it's unbelievable. Brock Purdy, Brandon I.U. George Kettle, and several players that are game time decisions. Mack Jones will be the starter. Yes, that Mac Jones.

Here's Kyle Shanahan. Mack knows how to play the position. He can play well in the pocket, distributes the ball well, sees coverage as well, can play fast in there. It's got a lot of good film from the NFL with experience. And obviously, college. tough guy who'll hang in there and deliver to the ball where he needs to go. So Green Bay tonight favored as they should be.

Greg CoSell will be joining us one hour from now. This is the part of the Greg CoSell appearance for the next 15 to 20 weeks that I absolutely love, where he goes deep into all the game film and tells us what he saw and what he did not. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio. I. Hey, what's up everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LeVar Arrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a podcast called Up On Game. What is Up on Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushman Zada and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right, Plexico Burris. You can

only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game. We're with me, LeVar Arrington, TJ Hushmanzada, and Plexico Burrage on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from. 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 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, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, Jonas, and offered it up as a potential.

title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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 they would. 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 Reed. 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. He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball. 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. 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. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store. I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes. In Rebel Spirit, Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies.

We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Everybody after the Caleb Williams loss on Monday in a pretty bad second half is opining on what's not as bad. as you think, or it's absolutely terrible.

I tried to be optimistic. I thought he outplayed J.J. McCarthy for the first two quarters, absolutely, and maybe the third. He got outplayed in the fourth, the most important quarter, obviously. But the numbers are not playing the Caleb Williams favor. I'll give you an example of a couple of them. So I read this in Yahoo Sports this morning. in the last take last year and week one of this year Caleb Williams leads every NFL quarterback

with 52 incompletions due to overthrows so too much horsepower overthrowing the ball next is Bo Nix Malhombs Darnel Justin Herbert Stanford okay fine there's overthrows when you have a big arm but it's the margin he is so far ahead even second place. He's 48% higher in one year and one game than Bo Nix in second. He's also right now worst in the league in the operational stuff. You got to have a good foundation before you build

a cool kitchen. Pre-snap penalties, they had four, eight offensive penalties. Here's more damning news. A lot of people in Chicago are saying, you know, it might as well just be Justin Fields. No, it's worse. He might as well be Mitch Tribisky. If you go to the first 18 starts of Mitch Trubisky and the first 18 starts of Caleb Williams, it's identical except Caleb gets sacked significantly more. For the radio audience, completion percentage is 62 for both. Passing yards, about 210 for both. Total touchdowns about 22, 23, 24 for both.

Passer rating, mid-80s for both. It's not Justin Fields. It's Mitch Trubisky. So, and here's another number that's not good. Positive Colin, it's not working well for me. He completed just 66% of his throws, 14 of 21, on ball six yards or less. Jaden Daniels was 11 of 12. So he's missing laps.

He leads the league by a long shot in overthrows. He's the worst in the league operationally. And they got him a clever head coach. and they rebuilt the O line. And they drafted a tight end out of Michigan with their top pick. DJ Moore, two other receivers, five of their top six picks the last two years of an offense. The good news, no more Brian Flores for a while. But all the numbers coming out, I'm trying to spin it positively.

It's not great. Here was Nick Wright yesterday. He really struggles with the operation still. and the getting out of the huddle, motioning guys a little too late, like the pre-snap stuff, he still looks like a rookie, and this is year two. I still believe in Caleb Williams long term, but I think it is going to be a much slower process than I had hoped. Yeah, I mean, listen, short passes, overthrows, operation. former Bears comp.

It's not good. And to make it worse, Detroit just got humiliated in week one at Green Bay. And what is our rule on this show? Teams with competent head coaches and quarterbacks that get humiliated almost always have a great week of practice

and button most of their problems up. So it's not like you're facing an overconfident Lions team. You're facing a Lions team that it's like in crisis, mode. So they're going to have an incredible week of practice. And Jared Gough, at least, has the operational stuff down. Here's J-Mac with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Kyle, let's get started with Aaron Rogers, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. Hey, he had a good

game, so we'll continue to talk about him. However, he is playing the Seahawks this week. It's going to be tough. Rogers spoke about that Jets performance and said there was one area he hopes to improve. I don't think I was moving that will. So I think I ran kind of into into at least one or two sacks. So I got to do a better job using my legs. You know, I might be old, but I still feel like I can move around pretty good and I wasn't moving the way I usually like to move. Why do you think you weren't moving around the same? Was it the first game action or making this spot? I was a little tight. I was a little tight. He's honest about it. I appreciate that. A little tight. Come on.

Well, he's all. I mean, I think he's old. He can't move anyway. He's not going to suddenly be spry in the pocket, Colin. Come on. Hey, I'm just telling you, I got into some debates yesterday with people, like the gambling community is torn on this one, Steelers or Seahawks. And I have planted my flag on the Seattle side here. I'm just telling you. I like Seattle. It's not, it's not one of my favorite bets. Yeah, I'm not planning my flag, Pittsburgh at home. I think the one thing that you looked at Pittsburgh is the Arthur Smith-Aren Rogers combo, I think was very, very effective. They didn't run the ball particularly well.

He didn't move. The defense asked questions, but special teams and Aaron's comfort level, I test, that was not, they were getting plays in early. Aaron had enough time. That part was very, very promising. Yeah, we need to see Hawks win. I do not need a 2-0 Aaron Rogers, and then us having to talk about this guy every day.

He's washed, I'm sorry it was one game. Next, moving on, big game on Fox. Oh, boy, this is a big one. Ben Johnson, your guy, heads back to Detroit to take on the Lions. We heard from Dan Campbell yesterday about their friendship. Well, Amon-Ross St. Brown talked about what he expects the Lions fans to do when Ben Johnson walks in the building. As soon as Ben walks in there, we're booing him. I don't give a fucking all booing him.

Yeah, he said it's going to be lit. I'm not going to lie. I'm here for it, for sure. I already know Ben, what he said. I just want to be a fly on the wall in his meeting, bro. Like, how is he as a head coach? Like, Ben, that is not you, dog. Like, I know you.

Like, stop acting like this, man. Bro, I want to be in a fly on the wall for one meeting. Just once. No, bro. You don't have been now, bro. It's our turn, bro. It's your turn. Yep.

Y'all got it, man. I would say this. Yeah, because he turned down a job earlier. I can see Detroit fans saying, dude, it was pretty good here. You bailed. You know, it's funny because Ben had more than one. job opening. The fact that he chose Chicago, he didn't choose it because of great ownership.

He didn't choose it because the roster was perfect. Why did he choose this job? Is it Caleb Williams? That's right. So it's really interesting. When anybody chooses a job, it's usually salary for most people. That wasn't it. He would have been paid big money everywhere. So why did Ben Johnson take it? He didn't take it because he trusted the GM or it was the owners or it was the historic relevance or they had great momentum. or the roster was complete. He chose it for Caleb. So if you chose a job for a reason,

you're like, okay, I chose the job because I love the CEO of a company, and you get there in the CEO leaves, you're like, ugh, so my takeaway is this is unsettling for Ben Johnson because the reason he came, in camp, we're going to resign Tyson Bayjeant to a big contract. It's pretty unsettling. I mean, I think that makes sense to say he picked it for Caleb. but I don't know.

There's such a disconnect now between the two. And I'm sorry, Bears fans. That's true. There is a disconnect. What if there are other reasons we don't know about? His wife maybe loves Chicago or is from there. Or his dad is from Chicago. He may have a connection to the city.

To say he picked it for Caleb and then didn't do his homework? Because Colin, you're that Tyler Dunn's story. Like, if you read that, would you want to go coach Caleb Williams, walking away from coaches? As they F-Bomb him? Are you sure? Well, it's interesting because Ben was the I mean Harbaugh a couple years ago

was the number one candidate. Yeah. I think this year it was Mike Vrable and Ben Johnson were the two great candidates. Brayble was going to go back to New England. Jets looked at him, but it was going to be new. I mean, if I could choose Robert Kraft or the Jets, I'd choose Robert Kraft and Drake May.

So Vrable was going to go to New England pretty early. So, you know, I don't know. I said before, they're very rarely, like Matt LaFleur was lucky. He got a judge. job in Green Bay and had Aaron Rogers later prime. Mike McCarthy got Dak. Those are like way better than that. Nick Seriani got, you know, Howie Roseman. Five out of six head coaching jobs come with a major problem. And Chicago's is upstairs historically. So you didn't think quarterback was the issue.

You thought you could solve him. Most coaches have enough of an ego. They think they can solve the problems. But it's, that's why it's so fascinating. I'll just say this. I'm on the Lions this week. I like him at Four and a half, five, six now. A lot of money coming in on Detroit. If somehow the Lions lose this game and are now 0 and 2, Colin, I think you can officially start like, hey, you know, maybe Dan Campbell wasn't a genius all these years. Maybe it was Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson.

Or hell, even the Jets new OC. I'll butcher his last name, Tanner or something or other. But maybe it was all those guys and not Dan Campbell. I think there's some low-key pressure on Detroit to win this game, and they better look good, Colin. If they don't, I'm just telling you, the Lions could be the show opener on Monday for losing to Caleb. Final story, New York Giants, rough week one.

And there was this encounter on the sideline between Brian Dable and Malik Neighbors. Neighbors iced up there with the necklace popping off to his coach and then refused a high five. Look at the video. Listen, neighbors can say what he wants, and here he is downplaying the interaction. But I don't know. My eyes don't lie. I was trying to get the offense going.

I was trying to get people to let's get rolling. You know, the lights was on, the game was on. You know, it's time to play. I feel like that just got pushed over, you know, and everybody was talking about just how I was, how attitude and stuff like that. It's just, I got an NBA. I got a natural BF.

This is what it is. It's my face. Yeah. I like that. That's funny. But Colin, you can't deny it. He looks at his coach and basically shouts at him. And obviously they were upset.

Russell Wilson was vomiting all over himself. Look at it. Well, Brian's a lot. I think Brian's a really good coach, but he's intense. I mean, he's got more of a coordinator mindset. Like, he's very emotional. You know, a lot of the great coaches, like Andy Reid's not emotional on the sideline. Bill Belichick was never emotional.

I mean, Kyle Shanahan's not overly emotional on the sideline. Most Sean McDermott's not overly emotional. Most head coaches are not. I would say Dayball is on a short list of the most emotional coaches on the sideline, and that doesn't always play in his favor. I mean, he gets worked up. I mean, listen, by the way, we're in a lying era where people just say whatever they want. Like, Sarkeesian took to the podium and was like, yeah, there's nothing to see here with Arch.

Like, come on, don't lie to me. Brian Daibol, Malik neighbors, there was something there. It'd be like Tyree Kill, and I think we may talk about him later. Like, he's on the sideline complaining, and then he's trying to, like, brush it off. like there's nothing. Guys, the video footage doesn't lie. Something is clearly up. Just be honest with us.

No. J-Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. Sometimes, you know, in the NFL, we all know this. It's really a quarterback one, a head coach, too.

It's a quarterback coach league. GM's important. So as a left tackle and an edge rusher, but it's mostly a quarterback in a head coach league. And it probably has been longer than we admit. I mean, if you go back to, you go back to Elway and Shanahan and Aikman and Jimmy Johnson and Bradshaw and Chuck Knoll and Fouts and Eric Correel, you know, basically the great quarterbacks of all time, Breeze and Sean Payton, they've always had a great coach. Mahomes and Andy Reid, Belichick and Brady, Joe Gibbs is an outlier winning with three different quarterbacks. But I'm seeing something that was a New England problem during the dynasty.

What is the one thing during the dynasty? Because New England did a lot right. They had the best coach. They had the best quarterback. They didn't always lead the league in sacks, but they got consistent pressure. They had Dante Scarnicchio on the offensive line. They always had capable run games. What was the one position they were bailing water a lot?

Wide receiver. And the sense was, well, they just can't draft wide receiver. I have a take that Brady was part of the issue because it's not like they didn't have good receivers, but did you notice who worked with Brady? Wes Welker already in the league. Randy Moss already in the league. Julian Edelman, year four, had played quarterback.

Gronk as he aged. Why is that? Because my take was Tom was so precise and so obsessed and so smart that you get wide receivers come in with a little ego, a little distracted. Tom didn't have time for him, and by year two, the organization had moved off people.

Look at what's happening to Kansas City. Are you noticing this? In 2009, look at their first and second round skill picks. 2019, McColl Hardman, and they have a good GM in Brett Veach, way above average, one of the top five GMs in the league. 2020, Clyde Edwards Hilaire, 2022, Sky Moore, 2023, Rishi Rice, 24, Xavier Worthy.

Worthy's more of a gadget player than a volume guy. And not a lot of hits. It's starting to feel like Brady in New England and Steph Curry in Golden State. When you have these high-functioning, super-smart veterans that the offense is built around, I mean, how many young guys did the Warriors draft and they don't work? How many young receivers did the Patriots draft and they didn't work?

Look at Kansas City. Who works in Kansas City? They bring back old Judeo Smith-Schuster. He works every time. And old Travis Kelsey and old Kareem Hunt, the old guys. So my takeaway is between Andy Reid and Mahom. like Steph and the Warriors or Brady and Josh McDaniels, it's not easy for young guys to break in.

They need an obsessiveness, a maturity. I mean, again, go back to Tom Brady. It was Dion Branch, who they brought back again, and then Randy Moss, and then Wes Welker, and then the coach's son who played quarterback in college, Julian Edelman. So that's why I say, when you look at Kansas City right now, obviously, there's going to be potentially

A.J. Brown on the market. Tyreek Hill in the market? Usually I'm not great at predicting acquisitions. But Tyreek Hill, a veteran, A.J. Brown, a veteran? Could I see New England going after him? Now, I think A.J. Brown, to New England, with Vrabel's a better fit. They really need a number one. But if you look at Kansas City's regression, it is starting to feel like Steph and Brady.

struggling to implement young people with a smart coach, Belichick and Steve Kerr and Andy Reid, and a very meticulous veteran quarterback for the record. When LeBron went to Miami, who did he want to play with? Old D. Wade, old Chris Bosch, or older. He went to Cleveland. He didn't want to play with Andrew Wiggins. He wanted to get Kevin Love in the building.

You know, when he went to the Lakers, Anthony Davis had been in the league. He wasn't a fan of Kyle Kuzma. He wasn't a fan of Lonzo ball. These old high-functioning players with incredibly high standards, I mean, LeBron's one of the smartest players, Mahomes, Brady, Steph Curry, they struggle. They often struggle with young teammates.

So it's interesting when I'm sitting there looking for Brett Veach. I'd probably get Tyree killing AJ Brown. I'd probably get their agents on the phone. I know those will work. I know those guys will work. I would keep your eye. keep your eye on A.J. Brown in New England. They need a one.

By the way, they're a very young team. They could use some veteran leadership or veteran presence in the locker room with A.J. Brown. Just a thought. Diana Rusini around the corner. Greg CoSell, top of the hour. Tom Brady stops by as well. We're live. It's The Hurt.

Be sure to catch live editions of The HARD weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, 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. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. guests. What's up fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about

Defying the Odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have rules, 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. He running up the court licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, 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.

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. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store. I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out,

half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that?

They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the I Heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All sorts of things to talk about. Greg Kossel started next hour. Diana Rusini is joining us. The Athletic Senior NFL Insider is joining us, and we are grateful for that on a Thursday. So let's start with the Brock Purdy situation with Mack Jones. Now remember, Shanahan liked Mac Jones at a college, and they went and got him in Jacksonville, so that's not the issue.

He likes this quarterback. But the Brock Purdy stuff, and he's been dinged up, toes, elbow, shoulders. I mean, yesterday it was, oh, no, it's going to be five weeks. Like, what are you hearing in terms of timeline in return? Yeah, it's definitely a form of turf toe. Apparently, there's different definitions of it, but he's expected to miss at least two games. I was not told that it would be up to five. Of course, it could always be. It's all based on that recovery. But it was a bit of a surprise injury on Monday when that popped up. And I can tell you, you know, it's interesting. you talk about insiders and chatter around the league. I talked to the Saints on Monday,

and they already knew about it. They were already prepping for Mack Jones. So we're spreading around the league quickly, and then, of course, Kyle Shanahan came out and spoke to the media publicly, and he's always been very transparent about what's going on with his team in terms of injuries. He's probably the best out of in football. But, you know, he's dealing with the shoulder, but the foot is, excuse me,

the toe is the issue. So we'll see. Colin, we've seen it before. We've seen quarterbacks get shot up before, you know, before games. It's pain, but also you've got to look at the 49er situation right now. George Kittle is on IR. Christian McCaffrey was dealing, obviously, with a little bit of that calf situation last week. The injury bug is swarming them again, and it's only, you know, week two here.

So I think the fact that it's so early in the season is at least keeping them calm there. This isn't ideal. You know, someone in football asked me, you've been around the Niners a lot, you've seen them in training camp, you know, what do they do different? It seems that injuries hit them all the time. And I don't have an answer. Like, I don't know why it's the 49ers. But lately, it just seems like they're the ones dealing with a lot of situations, a quarterback that just got paid a boatload of money. Yeah, well, the Niners and the Ravens have had injuries over the last five years.

And they're two of the most physical run games. So maybe some of it's that. they have harder practices. And I want to pivot to this, though. There is something with the Chargers, excuse me, if the Chiefs lose it home to the Eagles, their own two. It's not desperation time, but the numbers drop down to only 12% of O&2 teams make the playoffs.

Okay, so my take is A.J. Brown won target in week one, Tyreek Hill in Miami, I think is unsolvable, and they have a wide receiver issue. Is, I mean, it seems to me Howie Roseman gets Tank Bigsby, a wide receiver before the season. They went and got Dotson last year when the AJ drama was heating up. I feel like Howie Roseman is creating depth in the offense by last year to today, knowing he may have to move A.J. Brown.

So A.J. Brown, Tyree, Killing the Chiefs. Can I connect the dots at all there? It's a cute idea. I don't necessarily think it's true, though. I know what you're thinking, right? So how he moves with purpose. I think he's proven that, right? Nine trades in 2025, right?

He's done that. And every afternoon, I feel like we're reporting something new. And he's doing it with positions that I didn't even know there was a need for, you know, in the latest trade that he made recently. He's never worried about winning the trade either. I think that's important to state, right? Because I had a lot of conversations of the years with organizations who are obsessed with winning, the headline the next day.

and we both know how that works out. It doesn't matter. Nobody cares. Are you able to get the player immediately step in and make a difference and put your team in a position to win? Now, that being said, I know there were teams calling about AJ Brown during the offseason. Okay? So they, the teams were told they're not moving AJ. Okay?

And it wasn't like a, hey, let's keep talking. It was a no thanks. This is AJ Brown. He's one of the top five wide receivers in football, top three. we're not moving him. I have a hard time imagining Howie Roseman moving him. Tyreeks Hill, different situation. Are they moving Tyree Kill right now? Absolutely not. Tua needs him. Mike McDaniel needs him. This offense needs Tyree Kill.

But depending on what happens come October, right before the trade deadline the first week in November, all right, then we'll talk about that because things will possibly change there. But I think in terms of these ace receivers, both teams, both offenses need them right now. So I know it's early, but outside of Miami, the New York Giants were the toughest watch. And next year's quarterback draft class looks like there's four minimum five to six potential first round quarterbacks. So my opinion would be you better figure out if Jackson Dart can play.

You better figure it out. and I made the argument, I think Monday or Tuesday, if the Giants trail 14 nothing and half and have four, three, and outs, you're going to start losing the locker room. And now, now if they go to Dallas and they play well, all bets are off and Russell buys himself time. But when the Giants say Russell is quarterback one, do you buy it?

What's the runway look like here? Yeah, I did buy it because I was around them. and the offense looked good with Russell in training camp. And the coaching staff felt good. This wasn't a scenario where remember when Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes was there, and remember all the chatter about Patrick at practice? It was like, you got to see this kid. Like, I think he may play, right?

Look, I think Jackson Dart has impressed. There is no doubt. I think his personality, his fiery energy, his understanding of Brian Debel, I think they're a wonderful match. I think they're a perfect match, in fact. I just think for the way training camp went, they are trying to get Jackson Dart as prepared as possible. And Russell Wilson is able to do the job from their perspective right now.

He can run the offense they're looking for. They're, of course, missing their left tackle, right? This is the biggest part of this story. Why are you going to roll out Jackson Dart if you're not going to give him the best protection because he's just going to get hit and it's not going to look good? He's not going to be able to run the offense. just as Daniel Jones, right? Look at him and Indy when he's got some protection.

You know, he lights it up week one. So look, I think we're going to see Jackson Dark Holland. That is no doubt. We're going to see him, especially if Russell Wilson continues to play like whatever that was. And I have to tell you, I was a little surprised. Look, we've had a million conversations on the show together about Russell Wilson, whether it was in Denver and Pittsburgh last year. But there were times where we did see good things. And I understand what New York was seeing out of Russ.

They love that quarterback room. They love putting Jackson Dard around James, around Russell. Apparently, it's a type of quarterback room of let's get the young guy ready, which is a good way to be knowing that he's going to play. It's just going to be a matter of when. And Colin, whenever we talk about this stuff, it's not just in a vacuum of who's going to be the best quarterback out there. You have to count the fact that Brian Dable is on the hot seat.

Joe Shane is on the hot seat. John Merritt came out last year, and it pained him to bring these guys back because he didn't want change. So you have to imagine some of this is a factor in when you pull the trigger and say, because look, Brian Daible calls in Jackson Dart at the second half against the Dallas Cowboys because they need a spark, any bombs or they have to stick with him. Who knows what happens? Right.

So I think all of this you have to take into consideration for a team in the last 10 years, you know, is one of the most losing organizations, you know, outside the Jags. which is hard to think of that right because you think giants and you think that they've had success but it was so long ago at this point you know and that you just take a look at the body work with brian dable there and and outside of just that first season it's just not great yeah diana russini senior nfl insider of the athletic got a podcast too it crushes good senior thanks yeah uh colin check out my column too on the athletic i drop it at 10 a m eastern

on Saturdays. I love it. It's my favorite thing I do. I just write about all the stuff going on in football. I will. We will. Thanks. Love you guys. Yeah, all right. Greg CoSell, top of the hour. You know, J-Mack, I want to throw this up again. So I was saying, you know, I think you and I both would rather be positive than negative, especially with young quarterbacks, because when you watch Cam Ward play against Denver,

it's exciting. I was like, oh, we've got another team. I mean, they've had Marcus Marioti and, you know, the late Steve McNair. I mean, they've had guys that can move the change. Ryan Tannihull had a couple good years. But you watch Cam Ward, and it was like, oh my. I think Tennessee has a chance to upset the Rams this weekend. So people will be watching this game now because, you know, the Rams are, you know, fairly high profile, Stafford McVeigh. But I remember saying this on the air. I didn't think I was not a fan of Mitch Trubisky as a draft pick. I've told the story. Greg Kossel told me to watch Mitch Trubisky his last year at North Carolina. He goes, he's going to get drafted.

He's moving up the board. What do you think? I was in Hawaii with my family. I watched and I texted Greg Kosell. I'm like, I don't get it. Ball dies at 25 yards. He's kind of athletic. I don't see it. Blah, blah, blah. But I always defended Matt Nagy, the head coach. And I said, timeout. Stafford, Kirk Cousins, and Aaron Rogers were in their prime in that division. and Trubisky twice got to the playoffs with Matt Nagy. So I'm like, I don't like Trubisky, but I think Matt Nagy can coach. But when I put those numbers out, we can put them up again. Through the first 18 starts of Caleb Williams and Mitch Trubisky,

they are outside of sacks the same player. Athletic, but you don't trust their accuracy on big throws. I mean, it's in dispute. And by the way, I've only got one game of Ben Johnson. Give me five to six more. But, I mean, when I looked at those numbers this morning, the staff handed me those numbers. I was like, forget Justin Fields' comp.

I mean, listen, some of that, is that cheery picked? Maybe, but you're right. This is alarming. I mean, Maserati Mitch, like I know you said he got to the playoffs twice. Listen, he never really won from the pocket. That's right. He was a runaround guy. That was the era when everybody wanted a running quarterback.

And I think we got to look at like a guy like Cam Ward. Like he is mobile, but man, he can win from the pocket. I like him a lot. And there's another guy starting this week. Mac Jones for the 49ers. Remember him in college? Oh, he's dominant from the pocket. But he's kind of a statue.

He's like slow. So I didn't personally like him. And you see now he's getting a shot with the Niners. So this idea of having a running quarterback is great. But number one, they've got to process and win from the pocket. And I haven't seen that from me. Caleb, yet I'm not saying we won't. Yeah. I just haven't seen it.

Well, it's what Nick Wright and I talked about yesterday. You have to be operationally buttoned up. Like I thought Bo Nex, and Sean Payton took the blame on this, Bo Nex operationally for Denver in week one did not look, it looked like he was rushing everything. And my take Monday was, I think they put way too much on his plate. They have not put that much stuff on the plate of Caleb Williams. I mean, Sean Payton has a legendary reputation of just stacking, I mean, just if he thinks you can learn it,

remember he and Russell Wilson had a problem because Russell didn't want to wear the armband. He didn't want to wear that. And Sean's like, yeah, wear it. And Russell didn't want to like, you know, why didn't Russell want to wear it? Probably because it looks like he doesn't know the play. I don't know. But he pushed back and Sean's like, wear it. So, and I've, Brady wore it.

I don't have a problem with it. But if you can't get the nuts and bolts and the operation down, It doesn't matter, you know, when I watched Caleb in that first drive, it was very much Cam Newton. Cam Newton was jaw-droppingly talented. And I watched that Roma-Dunze throw, and he ran for a touchdown, I said, that's Cam-like. Cam was like the best college quarterback I've seen maybe ever in terms of total dominance. And Caleb had a lot of that. But, man, there's a reason that Cam never had back-to-back winning seasons as mechanics and operations and self-induced.

indulgence and distraction and this position is so hard and there are so many boxes to check. And you know what the lions want to do. They're going to be blitzing Caleb heavily. Get him off his spot. Get him running around like a chicken with his head cut off and let him make mistakes. Greg Kossel, hour two. It's the hurt. 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. First people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL. Michael's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your husband is not who you think he is. Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Danny Shapiro. And these are just a few of the stunning stories

I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets. He kind of shoved me out of the way and said, move. And he went out the front door and he jumped in a car and drove off. And that was the last time I saw him. Listen to Season 14 of Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.