The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Yankees have a star in the making, 49ers upset the Rams, Mac Jones looked great last night

Episode Date: October 3, 2025

Colin Cowherd breaks down the New York Yankees advancing to the ALDS after a dominant, historic outing by rookie pitching sensation Cam Schlittler. He discusses what this performance means for the Yankees World Series hopes and how it compares to past October debuts He discusses the 49ers shocking upset over the Rams last night on Thursday Night Football and what it means for both teams Colin talks more about the Niners winning last night and how Mac Jones has done since leaving the PatriotsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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 iHeartRadio app by searching Fox SportsPathes. Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, it is a Friday, and there is so much to talk about. We are live.

We're in Chicago. It's the herd wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day on any platform. There's a lot of them one hour from now off a winning week. The Blazing Five. ready to roll, a couple of dogs barking. Last week, the big favorites, not a lot of them covered, a couple of them lost. We'll get to the Rams last night, almost inexplicable when you consider how healthy they were

and how beat up the Niners were. But J-Mack, Cam Flitler, are we looking at the next great arm in baseball? 6-6. You know there's a lot of talent in America in baseball. you know, whatever league. You know there's a lot of talent. Cam is a seventh round pick from Northeastern, which I thought was a hockey school.

So let's talk about it. This was not like Justin Verlander or Adam Wainwright in his prime or Oral Hersheiser. No, no. This is a guy that made his first major league start in July, and he was unbelievable. total composure, 100 miles an hour, getting ahead of the hitters, dominated Boston. I mean, he had such control.

Now, he was relying mostly on heat, but even in the 6th, 7th, and 8, the Red Sox batters were behind the fastball. 20 years from now, if you read, well, it was a great pitching performance in the wildcard round, that won't sound historic. But when you consider age, opponent, circumstances, it felt all the way. timing. He didn't walk a single batter. And again, this is a young kid, seventh rounder. You know, I'm watching it, and I'm thinking to myself, you know, sometimes a field goal kicker will kick like a 55-yard field goal, and you'll say, man, that thing could have gone

65 yards. I'm watching that kid in the eighth, and I'm like, he can go 11. He's throwing 98 and a half, seventh, eighth inning, blowing the ball by the Red Sox. By the way, we beat up on managers all the time. But what's Alex Corr is supposed to do? They didn't get a runner to second base until the fifth inning. And Boston, it looks like after three games came down to this. If the Red Sox Ace, Garrett Crochet was not pitching, the Yankees were the better team. So Boston made mistakes. The Yankees took advantage. And so much of, we talk about this all week, so much of baseball is just these high leverage at bats. And last night, both. teams had a couple, but the Yankees delivered on their high leverage at bats. Also, some, you know,

errors by the Red Sox did not help. We talk a lot about managers, but this felt like, listen, the second game in order for the Red Sox, players got to make plays. I don't care if it's hockey, MLS, or baseball. Players got to make plays. So I just thought it was one of those sports moments. Maybe it was like Tiger Woods at that one U.S. Open, or it was Michael Jordan against the Blazers hitting all those threes when he gives you the shoulder shrug. But it felt like you were watching history. Young kid called up in July, grows up in the Northeast, rival Red Sox. He's throwing absolute gas, doesn't walk a single batter.

Just moved it around the plate. 98, 100. It was just, to me, it was just, it was a masterpiece. piece. You know, it won't be talked about in 20 years because it's the wild card round, but man, that it feel bigger than that. For the Yankees, we're still

waiting for that next world series. It felt huge, and here's Aaron Boone after. Stars born tonight. He's a special kid, man. I'm telling you, it's obviously amazing stuff, but he's shown us this from the jump. Like, he is not afraid.

He expects this. And, uh, I'm not going to say what he told me last night, but I'm not surprised at all by what he did. Yeah, we said yesterday it's two young guys. We don't know what we're going to get. Well, we know what we saw. That is an all-time performance by a kid who just got called up midsummer. All right.

I mean, just think about what we've seen in the last week. The Packers, huge favorite, tie the Cowboys. The bills struggle at home against the Saints. The Chargers lose to the New York Giants. and I'm going to throw this one in there. The injury ravaged 49ers, who didn't even run the ball particularly well,

go to SOFI and beat a mostly healthy Rams team, and Matt Stafford right now is playing better than any quarterback in the league. I mean, it was jaw-dropping to watch. I mean, my number one takeaway, if Kendrick Bourne, I know he went to my alma mater, if he is eating your secondary alive, we've said this now five times.

Time at the trading deadline for the Rams to go get a corner. there was not a single receiver or tight end for the Niners that entered last night's game who had a catch for the team last year. And think about this. This is not a great old line. Mack Jones was gimpy, got hurt again. Christian McCaffrey didn't have a big rush night, so you didn't have play action to fend off.

In the last three weeks, Daniel Jones, Jalen Hertz, and Mack Jones, 100 passer ratings. They're doing whatever they want to do. And to make it worse, the ramps have a good pass rush. This is not like you're sitting in the pocket all day. So the Rams, you can have flaws in the NFL. The Rams corners feel A.J. Brown has eaten once this year. It was against the Rams. He had more yards in the second half than he's had the rest of the games combined, I believe.

And Kenrick Bourne, he's a good solid three or four. He's a nine-year vet. He's a total pro. But for him to kind of do whatever he wanted to, that is a major problem. Also, my second takeaway is the Rams are wasting an unbelievable year by Matt Stafford. This is his best year as a pro. You got two running backs, Kyron Williams and Blake Corum, Corum may be a bust. They have ball security issues.

You got drop passes. I mean, the Niners special teams have been a liability for three years. It was the Rams special teams last night that were an absolute mess. So we entered the season. Remember, we entered the season. worrying about Matt Stafford's back. Yeah, you want to know why it hurts? He's carrying the franchise.

Two fumbles, three drop passes, a block PAT, a missed field goal, and then stopped on fourth and one in overtime. He is 37 years old. He has a career high passer rating. The Rams are wasting this year. They are wasting it with Matt Stafford. And these running backs are a problem. And they drafted this kicker.

And he'd been pretty good. but when the Niners special teams are fantastic and yours are struggling, you're in big trouble. So, I mean, they're running backs. And Sean McVeigh, this is driving him crazy. He got rid of Cam Acres because he kept fumbling. Kyrin Williams now, major issue. Blake Corum can't play.

Another Michigan player behind that great O line with the Wolverines and Harbaugh gets to the pros. doesn't look the part. But I mean, to go into that game, Mac Jones, O-Ly's been struggling, special teams have been a mess. Kendrick Bourne, who you have to rely on him. And Mac Jones is throwing darts. First drive on, throwing darts. He got hurt late in the game, got back up, did it again. Here's Sean McVeigh after. We had a chance to close the game out, and ultimately it didn't go down for us.

there was a significant amount of things. You know, for us to even be in it, you know, is a real credit to the resilience of the group, Jordan. You know, but that's not winning football tonight. It is crazy in the last week what you see in this league. Everybody thought like Packers, oh, they're just going to mow the Dallas Cowboys defense, and it is overtime, 40-40 tie.

And Chargers lose to the Giants. that game is and McVeigh's a great coach and Stafford is unbelievable and Puka Nakua is he the best receiver in the NFL right now he may be but it just goes to show you in this sport you have got to have it buttoned up if your running backs are fumbling in bad spots one at the one and then deep in your own territory and your special teams are faltering I mean the special teams in San Francisco have been a mess for four or five years like they drafted a kicker in the third round they booted him this year. Eddie Pinniero is apparently Jan Stennerud. That kid hit a 59-yard or that thing went 70. So, you know, some nights, some Sundays in this league, you just scratch your head and you can't figure it out.

J. Mack, the blazing five in one hour almost me second-guess my picks last night as I'm going through them. But that was one of those. It's one thing when the Chargers lose because they're all line. They have no tackles. And you're on the road. It is another when the bills are playing the Saints and they're a huge favorite and they just play with their food and they look like they're bored out of their mind. But to watch that game that San Francisco controlled, and they were down to third and four string guys, and the Rams have an elite front seven defensively. And they just picked apart

the secondary. It felt like that was probably the worst coach game of McVeigh's last five years. I mean, Colin, they came out with listless, no pressure on Matt Jones, who was like a wounded animal back there and they were barely getting to him and then the cushion they were giving Kendrick Bourne? He's not beating you deep. I was just so puzzled by everything from the Rams and yet if he had just had Matt Stafford pass on fourth and one with the game on the line, they'd probably get it

instead of, I don't know, running into Fred Warner? What are you doing? All night long my takeaway was they'll come back and win it. They'll come back and win it. I felt all night I'm like, listen, Stafford's on fire. Pook is getting whatever he wants. McVeigh's a great coach. They'll figure it out and they just kept

stepping in it. So Shanahan has now beaten Seattle, Arizona, and the Rams in the division. Three and O. I said early, remember it's in the preseason? I was saying this team could be in the mix for the number one seed. Colin, that win last night was massive. Massive. San Fran. I think the NFC is going to go through San Francisco. All right. Blazing five in 45 minutes from now. 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, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.

This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio 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, 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. We're starting a trend.

But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, 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, 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. 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's

telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody

gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis.

And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian went. I mean, she went down at three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay.

Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, Good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. So I was looking at a number this morning.

If you go to the first three starts of Brock Purdy when he was 23 years old, or in 2020, excuse me, Brought Purdy in 2023. And that was the Niners team that got to the Super Bowl was stacked. You had Kittle, Debo, CMC, IUC. I mean, you had a stacked roster. His first three starts of that year, Brock Purdy, with a stacked roster, four touchdowns, no picks, 245 yards a game. That's when he emerged.

Mack Jones this year, and I'm talking dealing with second and third stringers, everybody's hurt, has better numbers. So maybe I should stop bearing guys named Jones, Daniel and Mack, He clearly wasn't washed. Maybe he just had to wash the Patriot stink off him because he was great last night. He did not have much of a run game. I mean, the front for the Rams is outstanding. In passing yards per game, San Francisco now between Purdy and Mack Jones has two of the top three in the league.

And it just shows you the power of these great offensive coaches. I mean, they took a couple of shots on McVeigh on the sideline. He looks stunned. I mean, can you imagine if Kyle Shanahan ever got somebody with a side? dies and strength of a Josh Allen or a Mahomes or a Justin Herbert. I mean, he took kind of thin bordering on skinny, immobile Matt Ryan and made him MVP of the league and they almost won a Super Bowl. But what he is doing with Mack Jones, and that's what I've always said, Mac Jones and Brock

Purdy. I think Brock Purdy is better by that much. Brock Purdy moves better. I think Mac arguably has more velocity on his ball. But, I mean, they had no run game. to have a shakio line, and Mac Jones ate it up. And by the way, Kyle Shanahan, Mac Jones isn't being the substitute teacher.

It's not a lightweight workload. They're asking, he leads the NFL in pass attempts with backups and getting banged around. So this isn't the substitute teacher that comes in, and you know, you watch a movie in class in the fifth grade. Like, this is a real assignment. He is forcing Mac Jones to lead the offense. My job was on the floor with this thing.

I mean, in a league where upsets happen all the time, this won't qualify as a big upset. Okay, because they're rivals and their indivision, the Niners are a great franchise. But this line was creeping up to eight, eight and a half points. This line was bigger than the Cowboys Packers line. So this won't qualify as an upset. But what Mack was doing often deep in his territory with no big risk. run game. McCaffrey was good in the past game, but they averaged about two and a half yards a run. That was a big boy assignment. Big lift. Here's Kyle after. I was real pressed.

He played his ass off, man. It was unbelievable in the first half. Got banged up a little bit there in the second half and battled through it and protected the ball, going against that defense, and throwing the ball that many times and not having a turnover and protecting like he did. I can't say enough good things about Mac. I mean, we're seeing this over and over in the NFL. Mack Jones, Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield. To some degree, a couple years ago, Gino Smith, is that you didn't get second and third chances in this league.

But the football gods have granted us so many smart, young, offensive coaches that Baker Mayfield just had to find the right coordinators and the right fit. And Sam Donald had to find the right. the right, Shanahan, O'Connell. This didn't used to happen. I mean, Drew Brees, moving to another organization, right, and being replaced, okay, we'll take Philip Rivers, you move on. That was an outlier, but it just like it happens regularly here.

I mean, Daniel Jones two years ago, I'm like, this is not a franchise quarterback, and I'm watching him now, and he's eating up the league. And Matt Jones looked unathletic, kind of pouty, people didn't like his temperament. that's the best he's ever been as a pro. That is the best Mac Jones has ever been as a pro. That was not an easy lift. They're asking him to throw 35, 40 times against that pass rush. J. Mack with the news.

No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. I was waiting for you to pick a place where Mac Jones is going to start next year, like Daniel Jones, like Baker Mayfield, like Sam Darry, where's he starting? New Orleans? I mean, he looks like a starter. His velocity, his accuracy? Stunt. I mean, again, when you're practicing with certain players and then they're not available,

Ricky Parasol, George Kittle, Jennings, and then you're going to backups. Like guys that you, it's kind of a jaw dropper for me. I was like, this needs to be called an upset. That performance, missing eight guys. But you don't think Rams, Niners, well, the coaches, no, that was an upset. That was a masterpiece. We saw a masterclass in pitching and coaching last night. Yeah, certainly.

All right, let's get started with A.J. Brown, Colin. We know he's been a bit petulant on the sidelines, on social media. Well, you know, the media asked Jalen Hertz about his relationship with the incorrigible wide receiver, and here's what Hertz had to say. How is your relationship with agent? It's good. Could you expand on, like, you know, where it is at this stage in your lives? having played together now for four years.

Yeah, man, we share a great passion for this game, and we focus on this week. So, of course, you know, not really diving deep. Somebody asked me about my relationship with you. I could say, oh, yeah, blah, blah, blah. Jalen Hertz, very stone-faced. Now, let's not go overboard and freak out about the reaction. When Jalen Hertz looks at the reporter, Colin,

you can tell he's like, oh, you're fishing for something. I'm not going to give it to you. But maybe he gave it to him by not giving him anything, if that makes sense. I can tell you this from a very, very reliable source, is that Jalen Hertz, and I will defend him to the end. He's not the most popular Philadelphia Eagle. He's mature. He doesn't have a lot of time for nonsense. He doesn't want to deal with drama.

Jalen Hertz, not every great player. Troy Aikman, when he was with the Cowboys, was barking at coaches and players. To be a great leader is not easy. And great leaders are usually not the most popular people. You've got to choose some arse. And Jalen Hertz, I've been told this by a source in the building. He's not the most popular Eagle player. He is not going to deal with drama.

He's an adult. I mean, I've said this before. He's, what is he, 26 years old going on 46. And that's what it did. Dak Prescott didn't get along with Des Bryant because Dak Prescott is an adult. Des Bryant couldn't grow up. And so I respect these quarterbacks. who don't need to hang out with all the players.

He doesn't want to deal with any of that drama. And I credit him. And by the way, A.J. Brown's not a bad guy. I've defended him all week. But I love Jalen Hertz and Dak. And for the same reason, if you want to be the most popular guy in a football team, then don't play quarterback. I mean, Peyton Manning, he's close with Jeff Saturday. He and Jeff Saturday would bark at each other.

It's intense. That's what leadership is. Yeah. Listen, I'm just going to ask you this, Colin. The Eagles are 4-0, right? The media is making this AJ Brown thing a story. Meanwhile, they've beaten the Chiefs. They beat the Cowboys.

They beat the Rams. They beat the undefeated bucks. Buffalo is undefeated also. Do you think there's any question? Oh, Josh Allen, what's going on internally? The defense can't stop a nose league. We're not getting that. What did Josh Allen want?

Remember? He didn't want Stefan Diggs' drama. There's a reason Stefan Diggs is no longer in Buffalo. Who do you think made the call on that? I know. I guess my point is like Buffalo has issues. They can't stop anybody. I don't see the media being,

Josh, are you worried about the defense? They're giving up 30, 40 points every week. They can't tackle anybody. No, you're missing it. This is a star receiver, not the defense. Nobody thinks Josh should be responsible for defense. But a quarterback is responsible for the relationship with a wide receiver. That's totally different.

That's totally different. So nobody's asking Jalen Hertz why they're, Eagles are 26 in sacks, that's not his responsibility. But if you're a quarterback and your star receiver's not eating, then they're going to ask questions. Josh Allen has nothing to do with the defense. By the way, Belichick was not controlling the offense, and he was the head coach. So that's different.

Do you think there's something here? Oh, there's, AJ Brown's unhappy. And Jalen Hertz wants to win games, and he's not going to hold your hand in babysitting. All right. Let's move on to Jared Goff and the Lions, Colin. interesting stat found by our staff. Jared Goff played his 69th game with Detroit since getting traded. He's now played 69 games with the Rams and the Lions.

He talked about it, and we got the stats at a moment for you. I heard that when I did my radio thing earlier this week. I was like, oh, wow, that's cool. I know that was coming up. But, yeah, I think it's, I've certainly become a lion now in my career. You know, when I look back on it, it's going to be majority lions. and hopefully a lot more majority as we go on. But yeah, it's been a fun journey here.

It's been fun to grow into and to be a part of this city and to now, I guess, flip the scale in that way. It's cool. Hopefully a long time. I don't know. Yeah, hard to answer, but I think a long time. You know, the good thing for Jared Goff, he's not an overly mobile guy,

but in Los Angeles, he had Andrew Whitworth in a good run game and McVeigh, and then he goes to Detroit. They have a great offensive line. An unbelievable run game. he's a guy that needs protection. He needs a run game, and then he's excellent when he has both.

So if Jared Goff would have gone to Houston and dealing with their old line and their lack of run game, Jaron Goff would not look like this. And that's not a knock on him. I've been a huge fan, but sometimes you do get breaks in life in the fact that he got mostly in L.A.,

good old lines and a great coach, and in Detroit, really good coordinators, unbelievable running back room and a good old line. There's a way Jared Goff needs to play. And there's, you know, Mahomes can win with battle lines and no receivers. That's not Goff. Goff has had the great fortune of getting a perfect support system twice.

It's amazing that he won 42 games with the Rams and 42 with the Lions. Touchdowns are similar. Passing yards about a thousand apart. That just speaks to his consistency. Yeah. The guy's really good. He's a really, really good quarterback. He throws one of the prettiest deep balls in the league.

you know his dad was a major league baseball player so he's got some athleticism and you know the other thing that's undervalued with him is toughness he played at cal and got the you know what beat out of him he was never hurt he's gotten he's taken some shots through the years dude just gets back guy elin manning took shots eli was always available some guys i mean i know we love brock pretty but he gets stinged up joe burrow gets stinged up golf now he's had good old lines but he's taken some shots through the years he's always available on sunday final story just in jefferson he's on the the eighth quarterback of his young career, second of the season. Obviously, Carson went starting again for the injured J.J. McCarthy.

Jefferson is seventh in the NFL in receiving yards this season. He talked about whether or not it matters who his quarterback is. To be honest, that's kind of been my whole entire career since I've been here. So, you know, it's just not really flinching on that type of deal. And that's something that I can't really control. So it really doesn't matter who's out there throwing the ball. and I'm always, I always have confidence in myself and the person throwing the ball that, you know, we're going to make something shake. Yeah, watching Seattle and Darnold probably stings a little bit.

But, you know, they drafted J.J. McCarthy. And I'm serious. J.J. McCarthy had that great O line in Harbaught, Michigan. Blake Corum had the great O line in Harbaught, Michigan. Both are struggling. Blake Corum right now, J.Mack, we like Blake Corum out of college. It's not working at all. So technically that fumble, they called it on.

Stafford, he got credited with it. I mean, I didn't think the pitch was great, but Coram, that's basic stuff, right? They do a ball to him out in the flat, easy stuff. Yeah, you got to, come on, dude. You got it. Two, two hands. Quick note on this Vikings game, three offensive linemen have been ruled out for the Vikings. I think Cleveland wins. I think that's a good call. You look on PFF. I know whatever you think about PFF, but they have a nasty defensive line. Miles Garrett said he will play. Malik Collins playing well, your guy, Mason Graham. This could be a tough one for, Wentz and Company.

Jemak with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Line News. Blazing 5.30 minutes from now off a winning week. We've had a couple of winning weeks this year. So the playoff now, the next round is set. Tigers,

Mariners, I'll take the Mariners. Yankees, Blue Jays, I'll take New York. Dodgers, Phillies, Ilean, Philadelphia, and that one due to the Dodgers bullpen. Brewer's Cubs, I probably take Milwaukee. Once again, I'd like to say the sky is not falling due to the salary gaps in Major League Baseball.

These are perfect matchups. You have iconic franchises, dark horse stories, big markets, small markets. I mean, Seattle, Detroit, and Milwaukee, all bottom half payrolls. And I'll take Milwaukee to win the whole thing. So, yes, the Yankees absolutely and clearly had more talent than the Red Sox. but for the Yankees last night, it was a $300,000, seventh round, 24-year-old kid that dominated the night.

Aaron Judge last night, hitless. John Carlos Stanton and Aaron Judge had a total of one RBI in the entire series. And for the record, Seattle's Cal Raleigh, who made $2.5 million this year. He'll make more money going forward. he's probably going to be or certainly an argument to be the MVP. And the other thing for teams like the Mariners and the Brewers, there is far less pressure.

I mean, Seattle has an excellent starting staff, an elite closer, an MVP candidate, plenty of power in the lineup, 15th biggest payroll. And I mean, Milwaukee, they do everything well. Great bullpen, excellent starting staff, hit for average, singles, power. Milwaukee and Seattle do almost everything well, and they're middle-of-the-packed payrolls. So it's just like the NFL. Upstairs, scouting, development, the executive suite. Remember the athletic article that we talked about last week, where they listed the 10 best executive suites in the NFL,

and it looked like the herd hierarchy? So again, everybody laments the gap in wages, the gap in revenue and the gap in salaries. Milwaukee's a complete team. Seattle is not a star-studded team after Cal Raleigh, but a complete team. Starting pitching, Munoz the Great Closer, power hitters,

it's scouting, it's drafting, it's developing. Yes, yes, the Yankees, they've got more money. $300,000 pitcher dominated the night. Look at the Dodgers. They have the worst bullpen left in the playoffs. The Dodgers. So here's Aaron Boone on facing, Toronto.

We're going to enjoy this for about 45 minutes, and then when we get on the bird, headed north in a couple hours, we'll start shifting our attention. Obviously, a great team in our division that we're familiar with, and looking forward to the challenge of it. Yeah, and they're different teams. The Yankees rely heavily on power. I think the Blue Jays were first or second, you know, in singles. And that's the thing.

There's so much diversity in these baseball matchups. I mean, the Dodgers are all about power. Pretty good fielding team, but the Dodgers can grind out at bats or they can just overwhelm you. They have very good starting pitching, but they're going to have to push their starting pitching into later innings because we've ad nauseum talked about the liability of the bullpen. The Yankees, I mean, here, I looked at the Yankees last night after watching this kid, and I'm like, God, if Garrett Cole wouldn't have been hurt before the season, I think I'd make the Yankees the favorite to win it. I mean, the last year's World Series, when Garrett Cole pitched, they were the Dodgers equal. When he didn't, they weren't. So you start looking at this young kid, and I'm like, boy, if I get a couple more starts like that against Toronto,

I don't know what is a Z start probably game three against Toronto. That was something else last night. That was, and I know everybody, everybody talks about this. Baseball purists do not like the wild card round because they say it invalidates the regular season. Like why have the Yankees play three games all at home against the Red Sox? I mean, what's the point of the regular season? My take is, I've said this many times, life changes, and there will be cultural changes four or five times in your life.

You can either ride the cultural changes like a wave, or you can fight them. I like to write them. And so my take is there's been a cultural change, and baseball Rob Manfred figured it out. We are all distracted. We're on our phones. you know, we're frenetic, we're caffeinated, where you can't keep anybody's attention even on a date.

So the bottom line is make events, make baseball. That's why, let's have them play in London. Let's have them playing a cornfield. The home run derby, the All-Star game. These games felt like an event. They felt big. And let's be honest about it. I'm like the rest of you.

I'm golfing in the summer. I'm hanging out with friends. Sometimes I'm on a, you know, A boat. I'm having a Fourth of July weekend. I'm not breaking down regular season baseball. Then, like March Madness, I move into it in September and October, and I'm totally engaged. I'm buying merch on eBay. Why? Because it feels like an event. So the culture has changed in America. We used to watch regular season stuff, college basketball. I remember as a kid growing up in the Northwest, I'd never even been to the East Coast. I watched Big East Basketball regular season games.

Couldn't get enough. Couldn't wait for the games. now I start watching college basketball in late February as too many things everything's on TV there's a million platforms a million sporting events I mean English Premier League soccer now you can watch it here or on a multitude of platforms so events that's what you got to do that's why football is pulled away from everybody remember when Rick Bettina was on our show he would admit to go football and baseball and basketball used to be close all these platforms everything's on TV the one thing that feels like an event is football college or pro one year

game a week. So these wild card to the traditionalist, he's fighting the current, he's fighting the wave. This felt big. Yankees Red Sox, I mean, it felt, could have been the divisional series. I mean, it just felt gigantic. And I thought it was a win for baseball.

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

We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how did we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band.

Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down 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, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, 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.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the actors. with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife-Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jenchian went. I mean, she went down to three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted.

She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I. Heart Women's Sports.

Tomorrow, the ALDS begins with two huge game ones. First at 3.30 Eastern on Fox, Aaron Judge and the Yankees battle. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays. Then at 8 on FS1, the Tigers take on this year's home run King Cal Raleigh and the Mariners. Game one of the ALDS tomorrow on Fox and FS1. I mean, listen, you got, in these games, you get the Cubs, small market, Milwaukee, hockey, a team in the Pacific Northwest, Yankees and Dodgers, a Canadian team. I mean, this is, if you're Rob Manfred, you could not have asked for a better postseason.

I mean, Rob Manfred for all you guys, you guys, nobody likes any president, prime minister, nobody likes anybody in power anymore. Rob Manfred's been on a three-year heater. I mean, he's been on a three-year hitter. The pitch clock, expand the bases, get rid of the defensive shift, universal D.H. and you say what you want about all these if you were to pick if I was a network and said

what do you want I'd be like hey give me the Yankees and the Dodgers can you throw in the Cubs by the way I want to give me another team out west San Francisco or the Mariners just don't give me the A's and by the way hey can I get Philadelphia or Boston

oh Philadelphia is in all right I want Otani Aaron Judge Bryce Harper Harper we get the Cubs right I mean you get everything you get Dark Horse stories. I mean, maybe you didn't want the Blue Jays in it, but you know what? New York, if anybody had to play a Canadian team, it's New York because they'll drive the rating.

You could not get, I know you don't like any of these commissioners, I'm telling you, this is the second year in a row. Last year of the National League playoffs were insanely good. You know, you probably want the Mets in if you, but you got a New York team. But I get the Dodgers and the Phillies, massive brands, the Cubs, and then I got to, a small market team that may be better than everybody in Milwaukee. So it's fantastic. So an interesting game, and we don't think these teams are good, but the Cowboys going to the Jets is interesting.

So right now Dallas is one, two, and one. And if you look at their schedule, yeah, it gets tough in November. But if they beat the Jets, then it's Carolina, home at Washington, Arizona, Las Vegas, it sets the course. if they win this weekend against the Jets, they're 2, 2, and 1. Or they lose and they're 1, 3, and 1, and here comes Jaden Daniels. Eagles are pulling away.

Here's Denver's defense. So there's a big difference in the NFL from 2, 2 and 1, and 1, 3, and 1. 2, and 1 is, hey, we are in the mix. 1, 3, and 1 is, should we start selling parts, the trading deadlines coming up? And what's interesting about this game is the Jets have their issues, but when Justin Fields has been on the field, they score about 27 points.

So, and the Cowboys have the worst defense probably in the league. It's in a short list. So Dallas is a completely lobsided team, but the fact they don't have C.D. Lamb and are moving the chains is once again, you have got to tip your cap to Dak Prescott. Second lower body injury, he's been absolutely fantastic. Dallas has only one way to win. everybody in the league knows it.

The run game's been better than we thought, but they've got one way to win. I like the Jets. Listen, Dallas is on the road. They're 0 and 2 on the road. Dallas is all banged up. But you've got to tip your cap. Dak, I mean, I know the league's pivoted to offense.

Dak's been sensational. Their old lines still a little bit in a rebuild. It's good. It's not great. But here's Dak on playing the Jets. It's important for me to relate these guys is how important it is for us to go get this game and how important it is not to look at the records and to understand that every other team wants to beat us and every other team is going to find a way to hype themselves up a little bit more because it's the Cowboys and that we've got

to make sure we go out there with the right energy and start fast. Also interesting so it's really early for this I don't want to spend a lot of time on it but one of the reasons I defended the Cowboys moving off Micah Parsons and getting two first-round picks. So they'll now have four first-round picks next two years. I said they're not a Super Bowl team. This is not a Super Bowl team.

And if you look at Philadelphia's roster and the Dallas roster, they're not close. So Dallas needs draft picks. I looked at a mock draft this morning. Right now, Dallas would draft ninth. And they would draft Keldrick-Folk, Edge Auburn, replacing Micah Parsons for four years at a very low cost. Now, is he going to be as good as Micah?

I don't know. But generally, your top 10 to 12 picks are guys that start and perform very early. And Dallas has done a good job with our first round picks. So I went to a mock draft this morning. This is not a Super Bowl team. If you're not a Super Bowl team, that's the time you have opportunities to move great players. Like right night, I would never move Max Crosby if I was the Raiders,

but if you ever were going to, now is the time. So just as the mock drafts are coming out, they've got the Cowboys taking an edge rusher to replace Micah at the number nine pick. And if the Cowboys lose and go sideways, they can have a top six picks. And you know if they have two first round picks, somebody's going to move up and want one of these quarterbacks,

whether it's Dante Moore, Carr at Notre Dame, Drew Aller, whoever it is. So Sean McVeigh is a really good coach But the other thing about Sean McVeigh Is And it's like He's done Tony Robbins classes

It's very hard to criticize somebody When they own it When somebody is defensive The wolves come out The knives get sharpened But last night Sean McVan a fourth and one you know, overtime chance to win, went really vanilla and ran a ball straight into the line.

And I love Sean McVeigh, but I'm like, Stafford's on fire. I don't know if I trust those running backs. In fact, I don't. But here's the thing with Sean McVeigh. He was asked about it after. Listen to his response. It's a bad call. It's a bad call by me.

It was a poor decision by me right there. In hindsight, I wish I would have. But no, we came in here to try to win the football game. It didn't go down for us, Gary. That wasn't even a thought, but the play selection was very poor. I'm sick right now because I put our players in a shton spot. Where do I go with that? He feels sick to his stomach.

I mean, you could watch him on the sidelines after those fumbles. When somebody beats themselves up, what am I supposed to say? I now this morning, after that play call, I'm like pulling my hair out going, Sean! He probably one of the smartest coaches in league history. And then he just says, I was terrible. Where will I go? What am I supposed to say?

I felt terrible for him. I will say this. I would have, you know, I don't like second-guess in play calling. It's just not my thing. I think we in our industry, and I had this conversation with a very, very, very good, smart, Super Bowl-winning NFL person years ago, is that we don't know.

We haven't looked at film. We don't know the injuries. You don't know what works. This felt incredibly vanilla to me, but it wasn't offense that hurt them last night. It was fumbles and special teams. It wasn't the ability to pick up yards. So, you know,

I have a problem when Matt Eberflus loses, you know, and a Hail Mary and one of his players in the back end is selling popcorn, you know, with fans, and he's like, ah, I have a problem with it. Hey, no big deal. I wouldn't do anything differently. That drives me crazy.

When McVeigh owns it, where do I go with that? I feel terrible for him. I mean, you can tell he just, and McVeigh is not a good sleeper anyway. He may not sleep for a week. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin.

And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.

We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. 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 Bip.

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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know.

Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12

in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.