The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 2 - Last Herd Hierarchy before the playoffs, NFL predictions, Nick Wright
Episode Date: January 6, 2026He reveals his Herd Hierarchy ranking the top 10 teams in the NFL before the playoffs begin. Colin talks to First Things First host Nick Wright about his top 10 teams and what to expect in the playoff...sSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Here we go, hour two and a Tuesday.
our final regular season herd hierarchy.
Eighteen weeks, 17 games.
It all comes down to this.
Nick Wright, around the corner.
You know, I talk about this.
I think Kevin Stefansky, to me, I would hire tomorrow if I was Las Vegas,
if I was the New York Giants, I was the Titans.
Think about this.
The last two first round quarterbacks drafted,
Cam Ward last year number one in Jackson Dart later first round.
they'll both be on their third head coach at the start of their second year.
I mean, it's just you've got to get the coach right.
And in Todd McShay reporting, like if you're, if you're Dante Moore and Mendoza goes number one and your number two, stay in college.
Oregon's better than the Jets.
Not in terms of the on-field quality of product.
I mean, the Jets would beat Oregon, obviously, if they played.
But the coaching, kind of the simmel.
between the coach and the players
and the organization Oregon football is like a top five
job it's a great job
enriched capitalized
unbelievable facilities
I mean they're sold out every game they treat
their players they were way ahead of the curve they treat
their players 15 years ago than
anybody else was treating their players
all right here we go herd hierarchy
our final hierarchy of this
regular season
third hierarchy
time is now let's go
the top 10 NFL teams according to
Number 10.
I would put Chicago, they won the NFC North for the first time since 2018.
When they win the turnover battle, they win.
But they're very reliant on it.
They're 10 and 1 when they win the turnover battle.
So if you play clean, you can beat them.
Most offensive touchdowns in Bears franchise history with Caleb,
led the NFL with 11 touchdown passes, 20 plus yards down the field,
but they disappear offensively for entire first halves.
This Packer game's a rough one.
it's going to be windy, which plays into the run game of Chicago.
Great year for the Bears, I put him at 10.
Number nine.
The Niners.
Listen, Brock Purdy in the last month, 107 passer rating.
They're not as good as Seattle.
Don't punish them too much for losing to Seattle.
They didn't have Trent Williams and Ricky Pearsall.
If they have them back, they're a live underdog against Philadelphia.
They have lost nine of their last 10 games when trailing at halftime.
Some of that is on Kyle Shanahan.
who to me has always been very tied to his script.
He's not been a great second half or come from behind coach.
But if Pierceaw and Trent and Kittle are available,
that game with Philadelphia gets interesting.
Niners at nine.
Number eight.
Listen, the bills are good.
I don't think they're Super Bowl good.
They are 12 and 0 when scoring 21 plus points.
There's a way they win.
They lead the NFL in big plays in rushing.
But that defense, 28th against the run,
They've lost eight straight road playoff games.
How do you win on the road against the Jacksonville?
Shut them down and take the crowd out.
I also worry about this team because they're slow starting.
When you go on the road and face a high-powered offense like Jacksonville,
you do not want to play from behind.
And the bills make a habit of playing from behind.
That's why I have them at eight.
Number seven.
The Texans.
They're on a nine-game winning streak.
Best defense probably easily.
give credit to Nick Casario. He's drafted the hell out of this defense the last three years.
But in the red zone, they're not good. They settled for field goals. And I think that will be their undoing.
You got to get sevens, not threes in the red zone. They are 24th in yards per play. There's so much I like about him.
I've always been a huge C.J. Stroud fan. That red zone offense, they'll settle for threes, not seven will cost them. I put him at seven.
Number six.
The weird Philadelphia Eagles who are three and four over their last seven games,
and since week 10, have a bottom six offense.
I mean, they're 10 and O when Jalen Hertz is held under 200 yards passing.
They're the opposite of what wins in the NFL.
But their roster is so complete, their defense is so good.
But even, I mean, even this, they're five and three at home.
I don't even know what to make of Philadelphia.
That's why I have them at six.
Number five.
Denver's a great home team, so at least I know what they are.
They're good in the fourth quarter.
They're good at home.
They're 13 and 1 since week four.
Do they have a ceiling with Bow Nicks?
Maybe.
But he is the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era
to lead in pass attempts in his first two seasons.
That tells you that Sean Payton trusts him.
It's a little like Andrew Luck.
We're going to give you the whole playbook.
They're also four and two against playoff teams.
So they've beaten good teams.
I put them at five.
Number four.
The Rams aren't playing great right now.
Three and three over their last six weeks.
But I love the fact they've got three different guys with seven sacks.
I love the fact they're playing a Carolina team they lost two as a favorite.
Devonte Adams comes back.
Now, you can beat them downfield.
I mean, Carolina's got two big receivers.
You can beat them downfield.
You can beat them with big perimeter weapons.
That's why Philadelphia is a tough matchup for them.
But Stafford, the O-line, the coach, the weapons, I have the Rams at four.
Number three.
We've got to pay attention to Jacksonville.
Okay, they're 8 and 0 since week 11, beating teams by 19 a game.
They're like a dominant college team.
And three of their four losses have come to teams.
Like, you can lose to the Seahawks or the Texans ones or the Rams.
They lose to the right teams.
I mean, they're just, they have had really good draft picks for a long time.
They've missed on the coach.
But Trevor Lawrence has his kingmaker.
I have them at three.
Number two.
I'm going to put New England at two because I love Vrable.
They've won 13 of 14 games.
And they are a great road team.
That matters.
Mike Frable, third coach to win 14 plus games in his first season.
I don't love their O line.
Their run game is inconsistent.
That's why I have them at number two.
Number one.
I mean, you watch the San Francisco game.
Seattle wasted offensive opportunities and totally shut down Christian McCaffrey,
which I said, that's like shutting down Barry Sanders or Walter Payton.
How do you do that?
I like everything.
I think their GM's the best personnel guy in the league.
Go look at their last nine picks in the first and second round.
Nine for nine.
They have a rare combination of a quarterback who's highly productive on a team-friendly deal,
and they don't miss on draft picks.
Translation, stacked roster.
It's better than Philadelphia.
Now, their O-line, like New England, is okay.
My top two teams' O-lines, by the way, New England and Seattle in the draft, both will address their O-lines.
Both address the O-lines last year in the first round.
So that's where we are. Nick Wright, first things first, is joining us live.
Okay, that's my final herd hierarchy of the regular season.
Anything you like or dislike.
Took 18 weeks. You finally got it right.
Perfect. Perfect hierarchy.
No, I appreciate the fact that you are giving the Jaguars their respect.
You mentioned the winning streak over the last eight games.
last six, Trevor Lawrence has 19 touchdowns, one turnover, 290 yards per game. They went to Denver
and bludgeoned them. They have beaten the Texans. As you mentioned, three of their losses or two,
three of the best teams in the league, teams in your top 10. And the other one was week two to the
Bengals with a healthy Joe Burrow, at least for the beginning of that game. He actually got hurt
in the game. They have been a machine the second half of the year. And Trevor,
has cut out the dumb stuff.
He always had the highlight stuff,
but he also had these red zone turnovers
and the inexplicable fumbles,
and he's cut that out.
So they are legitimately dangerous.
I, because I respect what the Pats have done,
and I think Drake May is a future,
if not already, superstar,
but where I do think the strength of schedule stuff will show
is in the postseason when they play the three hardest games
they have played all year in a row if they get to three of them, which leads me to this,
Colin, I think my pick, this is kind of a cowardly pick, but my pick for the AFC is the winner of
Jags Bills. I think if the bills can go to Jacksonville and win, get their first road
playoff win, beat a team that hot, then really, and the advantage of having Josh Allen
versus this quarterback field. And if the Jags beat Buffalo to win,
their ninth straight, I really like their chances. I think that with no disrespect to the
Pats or Broncos, that's my AFC pick as we sit here today. But here's the thing about Buffalo.
First of all, they're all for their last eight on the road, not all McDermott. I think there's
certain sports that you and I know this is true, like golf and baseball. You have a lot of downtime.
So we've seen golfers on Sunday collapse. We've seen great baseball players. A Rod admits it.
in a series against Detroit, like couldn't hit.
Generally in basketball, hockey, football, you just go.
There's just too many players.
You're not, you know.
But I will tell you this.
When I've watched Buffalo play Kansas City,
it's maybe not as,
it's not as projected as maybe Baltimore.
I think they get tight.
And so here's my two worries about Buffalo.
They're a slow starting team.
That is not,
that does not win road games against good team.
The second thing is,
If this is tight late, huge edge to me, Jags, huge edge.
They've got to win convincingly, don't they?
So I'm not, as much as I like the Jags, I'm not sure I agree with that just because I don't think
Josh Allen gets tight late.
I think Josh Allen's last drive against Kansas City last year, he wasn't great.
But aside from that, he's performed in these big moments for the most part.
I think McDermott's gotten a little tight, but I wonder how much of that.
is just because of the boogeyman across the field in Mahomes,
where I would be, I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing for the bills
that the Patrick, Lamar, and Joe are all, Borough are all out of it.
It's obviously a good thing in that the field seems so much clearer.
If you're worried about them getting tight, that's where it could be a bad thing.
There has never been, I say this confidently, having done no research on it,
but I know it's true.
There has never been a sixth seed in the history of the NFL playoffs with more pressure on
them to make the Super Bowl than the Buffalo Bill.
That's how I feel that the Mahalmsboro Lamar does not play to their favor.
Everybody in the room knows you're the one team that can't lose this weekend.
Well, so that's the, it is so odd that you have a six seed on the road against a red hot 13 win team.
and if the sixth seed loses, people will say they choked.
And when we say people, I could be one of them.
I got to see how the game plays out.
But I do think that there is more pressure on that player and that team than anyone else in the field by far.
I just think that maybe you could say your guy, Darnold, is a distant second place.
But it's so interesting to me,
there is way more pressure on six-seat Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills
than potential league MVP winner of the same division as Josh Allen, two-seated Patriots.
If the Patriots get clipped by your beloved chargers,
people will be disappointed, but say it was a great year,
and they will make it about Herbert finally breaking through
winning his first big game since I think Mason Vista High School or wherever he went.
I'm not sure. I'm sure you know.
If the bills lose, I think in part because people don't respect the Jags as much as they
shouldn't because the other Hall of Fame Superstar quarterback's out of the field, I wonder if it could
cost McDermott's job.
I don't know if that's fair, but I just, I wonder what a loss would mean for that team.
Yeah, especially moving into a new stadium.
You could argue, let's bring in, you know, let's bring in everybody new.
So I don't know if I've ever asked you this.
You know my affection for Sam Darnold, but it is interesting.
The year that Stafford won the Super Bowl,
with the Rams. He led the NFL
and interceptions. Through a
seven-year period of Peyton
Manning being the second best quarterback to Brady,
he led the NFL in interceptions.
Brett Farve until
recently, an American icon, absolutely
beloved, is one of the all-time leaders,
if not the all-time leader in interceptions.
But they cling
to Donald. They cling
to them. In fact, I was texting
a couple members of the Seattle
organization. They're like,
why don't people like him? And I said,
it's a Tony Romo thing.
In big games, he's had costly turnovers and they stick to him.
I always felt this was Andrew Luck, who was the best young quarterback I ever saw.
But all anybody talked about, well, he's reckless.
Well, so is Stafford.
So was Favre.
So was Elway.
So was Peyton.
How do you land on the reckless nature of Darnold having one back-to-back?
He's now in a class of Brady, Fav, Manning, like back-to-back 13-plus season.
Where do you land on the picks and Sam?
All right, well, listen, I think they were probably, the picks were a little easier to get over with Farvin Payton and the eight MVPs between them.
I think that probably helped, you know what I mean, numb the loss a bit by the fact that when these guys weren't throwing picks, they were throwing 40 touchdowns and winning league MVP's.
I do think for your right in this regard, it is the fact that prior to Sunday, or Sunday,
Saturday night, if you said Sam Darnold big game, only a couple games came to mind and they were all
losses. And they were losses where he played really poorly. But now, and I guess you know what,
let me amend that. If you said that a month ago. Now, in the last month, he has the really unique
3837 win against the Rams, which Colin, for the first three quarters of looked like it was another
Sam Darnold meltdown game.
He was awful. And then in the fourth quarter, he got better.
And an overtime was excellent.
They steal the win.
Saturday night was weird because he wasn't great, and the Niners defense is really banged up.
But he didn't, he had, it was the exact spot he was in last year.
Week 18, one seed or five seed win the game.
And they won.
And his defense helped him out.
And so I do think that Sam right now does not yet.
get the benefit of the doubt. One thing that I like about him is he, the only person who has more
Sam, confidence in Sam Darnold than Colin Cowherd is Sam Darnold. Like the internet, he doesn't get
scared. He's going, he's not going to turtle. He's going to keep firing. And I think that could
be good for Seattle. I think Seattle is the best team. I say that feeling knowing that if we get
Seahawks Rams part three, I'll be picking the Rams.
But all things considered, I do think Seattle's the best team.
And I think that Darnold certainly has more to gain than anybody on his side of the bracket.
It would be the revisionist and maybe accurate history of if the Seahawks go on this run,
it will just be, my God, the Jets almost ruined an otherwise excellent player.
And look at what he's been since he left there.
if they get clipped in their first home playoff game,
people are going to feel like you just can't trust Sam Darnold in big spots.
It might not be fair, but it's pro football.
The sample sizes are this big, and that's how we evaluate you when you don't have a long resume.
So if Drake May lost to Justin Herbert and Harbaugh, I agree with you, people would say it's his first playoff game.
He's going to, I think if Bo Nicks even lost in the playoffs somewhere in the AFC, people would say,
oh, he lost a Buffalo or he lost to Jackson,
Bill. They're better teams. Jags beat him twice.
But it feels like
Caleb's at home. No
Micah Parsons. He has the better
O-line statistically.
The better consistent run game,
excellent weapons, and a brilliant coach.
It does feel like
if Caleb and the Bears' offense can't
generate points to beat them,
he probably deserves
a little heat, despite the
history of this franchise, right?
So I think the
qualifier you put on at the end is the most
important one. If they lose a game similarly to how they lost week 18 to Detroit, because the
offense doesn't perform, then absolutely. If they lose a game like how they lost to the Niners
where the defense just can't get a stop, then I won't feel that's fair. But the Bears' offense
against this banged up Packers defense should win. Absolutely should win. They're at home.
They are healthier. They knew that this was the matchup they were going to
get if they got the two seed because the packers have been locked into the seven.
So if the Bears lose because the offense doesn't perform, then Caleb goes back to being behind
schedule.
It's very like he was, at various points this year, he's been behind schedule, ahead of schedule,
on schedule.
If he's awesome in this playoff game and they win, he's back to being ahead of schedule.
If he's bad and they lose, he's probably a little behind schedule.
And can I say one quick thing about the opponent about the Packers?
Yeah.
Because it's very interesting.
Everybody knows Matt LaFleur is a really good coach.
I feel like everybody knows that.
We watch Malik Willis and all of a sudden we're like, man, he just built a, but, you know,
a quarterback out of clay.
But for a guy who is just universally respected is this really good coach, it is interesting
to me that his final year with Rogers, they were playing in week 18.
that if they won, they would be the seventh seed.
Then his first year with love, they were the seventh seed.
And then last year, his second year with love, they were the seventh seed.
And this year, the Packers find themselves as the seven seed.
Nobody has benefited more from NFL playoff expansion than the Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers.
And so we feel like they're really, really close and really good and got unlucky.
And I feel like that.
But they have won eight games, nine games, 11 games, nine games over the last four years.
They have won one playoff game, that game against Dallas.
I also feel like there is a little pressure on LaFleur, maybe not this game because they're so banged up.
But at some point, you would like to see this Packers team be the three-seed and division champion, something like that.
We haven't seen anything like that since Aaron Rogers winning MVP's.
Yeah.
It's funny.
When he got the job in Green Bay, remember he, McVeigh and Shanahan were all together in D.C.
Yes.
And I called somebody in the league, been a good source for years, and I said, what do you make of it?
And he said, the reputation is McVeigh of the three is the culture guy.
Like he just burst the door down.
He's the most impressive at the podium.
He's the most impressive culture builder.
Shanahan is the best scheme guy.
He's on that play sheet.
And LaFleur is neither, but he's solid at both.
That he can build the culture.
He can do the schemes.
I actually think your Malik Willis point has been so beneficial to LaFleur that you're like,
got Tennessee just got him out of the building and the kid's going to eat.
I would absolutely give him a two, three year deal.
So I think you're right.
The Micah injury gives him a pass.
but today, if I said to you name the top six or seven coaches, and he's won a lot,
I don't think he'd make most people's list.
It's just interesting because it feels like the Packers have been really close, post-Rogers,
and they're the seventh seed every year.
There literally have been the seven-seat every single year,
and up until the pandemic, you know what the seventh seed was out of the playoffs.
Like, seven-seed was not a thing.
And so that part's just interesting to me for a Packers team that opened as a favorite in Chicago,
and it's now flipped to Chicago being the slight favorite.
Great seeing you, buddy. First things first.
Oh, great seeing you, and happy birthday.
He thought he was going to get away with that happy birthday.
You guys better have a great compilation of the best coward moments.
It is a big one, too.
Happy birthday, buddy. I'll see you.
Yeah, it's about a 13-second clip of my greatest moments in the history of FS1.
Nick Wright's awesome
Greg Olson last hour
Yeah and I remember having this conversation
They're like I like Matt Lafleur
He doesn't own the room like McVeigh
He's not I mean maybe nobody in the league's the scheme guy
Of like an Andy Reid or a Peyton or a Shanahan
But he's solid at both
And we talked about this yesterday
We were doing our morning prep meeting
And I'm like I can't believe this guy gets this much heat
But when you put it in those terms
Seven Seed Seven Seed Seven Seed
And you're like
I don't think it's bad being a seven seed this year
because Jordan loves injury and Micah's injury
and the NFC's better.
But the previous years, there's an argument.
In L.A., it's the Hurt.
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This is how you guys remember it going down?
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So much good going on.
Greg Olson's joining us last hour.
Always love to have Greg on the show.
Kevin Stefansky, apparently,
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Atlanta's interested, Tennessee's interested,
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J. Mack with the news.
This is the Hurdline News.
All right, let's start with the Eagles.
They are hosting the Niners this weekend, Colin.
Sunday 4.30 on Fox. Good game.
Nick Siriani rested his guys in Week 18.
Yeah.
Ahead of this Niners matchup,
Siriani's confident.
Jalen Hertz, his experience.
We'll carry them.
Obviously, Jalen's a great player and has had a lot of big game experience.
You know, the amount of big games we play on a yearly basis in our regular seasons are huge.
You know, every time he steps out in the field, I feel like Jalen does a great job of, you know,
continuing to raise his level of play.
And so, yeah, he has a ton of experience.
And the quarterback we're playing has a lot of experience too.
Yeah.
You know that my theory on four, if the line is four, four and a half or five, take the favor.
Yeah.
Vegas is telling you one team is better.
Vegas would rather the number be three.
Four and a half, they're telling you, Philadelphia is going to win this game.
The numbers leading me to this.
Yeah, the numbers for Hertz say that in the last three years, look at those playoff numbers, Colin.
Very impressive. Six and two.
Now, just for fun, I went and compiled all the NFC quarterbacks and their playoff wins.
What does that matter?
Clutch, important, January football.
Caleb and Bryce Young are rookie, so they have zero.
Sam Donald Owen won in the playoffs.
Jordan Love 1 and 2.
Rock Purdy, 4 and 2.
Matt Stafford 5 and 5.
Jalen Hertz, the much malign Jalen Hertz.
6 and 3 is career in the playoffs.
The most experienced.
quarterback with the wins.
Stafford obviously has played longer.
But Colin, I think that's interesting that everybody's selling the Eagles short.
And as you opened the show with today, only two quarterbacks in the entire playoffs were not first round picks.
And they're meeting Sunday on Fox.
Brock Purdy and Jalen Hertz.
Everyone else was a first round pick.
Somehow, Hertz was overlooked.
I like him a lot.
I like him in the spot.
Well, you say overlooked.
He was drafted in the second round.
So was Drew Brees.
Well, remember, they had Carson Wentz as their guy.
And they were like, that's a smart organization.
You say this all the time about, um, you have to see problems.
Howie Roseman before they appear.
Yeah.
And the really smart teams in this league are draft day.
They're often drafting positions that they don't have an immediate need.
And it tells you they're probably moving off a player who's not good in the room.
They don't love his agent.
Negotiations have started.
So yeah, I mean, Philadelphia does a really good job of moving off potential.
problems a year early.
Really smart. A.J. Brown in the
offseason? I think he's gone. I think they
my mock draft, I think they'll get a wide receiver
in the first round. Would not be surprised at all.
Eagles have a great roster. Like they're almost set.
Maybe you get another offensive line, but.
All right, let's move to the Rams, Colin.
They were missing Devante Adams
for the final three games with that hamstring.
Reportedly he could have played in week 18.
They decided to sit him.
All appearances are, Devante
will be good to go Saturday against
the Panthers on Fox.
McVeigh saying all the right things.
I'm surprised this is still
10. I can't make a case at all for Carolina.
Their best bet is, hey, we just got to run the ball,
keep Stafford and Puka and Devante off the field.
Otherwise, this to me is an easy revenge hammer for the Rams.
Do you think the Panthers have any shot here?
Not much of one.
I think it's a benefit that Devonte's back
and they lost previously here.
It's a wake-up call.
I told you this yesterday.
If I have a blazing five this week,
Rams at tens in it,
If 10 and a half, I'd stay away.
It's, it's, the Rams have everything.
They're healthy.
They haven't played great.
So there's certainly urgency in the building.
I do think Carolina, you said something yesterday.
If you go back to that win over them, they really didn't, they had a couple of big plays and Stafford was reckless.
He had a pick six that was a killer.
The one thing I will say about them between Dowell Bryce Young's mobility and their size on the perimeter,
they can hit for big plays against the Rams.
You can't be super aggressive against them
because both their receivers can beat you down the field
and the Rams corners.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Rams used two picks early on corners.
So there is a vulnerability.
And you don't want it closed
because the Rams special teams are a liability.
So you pointed that out.
So two fourth downs, Bryce Young beat him on deep bombs for touchdowns.
I looked it up.
You know who didn't play in that game?
Quentin Lake.
You know who's back this week?
The great safety, Quentin Lake.
He's expected to play for the Rams.
Huge get back.
Oh, final story.
Let's go to the NBA.
Warriors were in action last night at the Intuit Dome.
And Steve Kerr, in a rare moment of just, I don't know, losing his mind.
Yeah.
Really lost it and was ejected.
And also, the staff here really liked that Snoop Dog.
Yes, the awesome rapper was NBC's play-by-play guy
and had a great time calling a highlight here.
Oh, look at Steve Kerr.
He's all the way out here.
Uh-oh, Steve, don't get thrown out.
Get him out of there.
Get him out of there.
Back him up.
Back him up, GP.
Back him up.
Steve ready to fire on him.
He's already gone.
Steve banging Englewood right now.
Englewood.
Get him, Steve.
You're in Englewood, Steve.
The Arizona Wildcat came out and looking at him.
Steve Kerr's going through it right now, man.
Curry, you know, they're saying all the wrong things.
Your guy, Draymond, is he, can I still call him your guy or no more?
He's everybody's guy.
He's really on the struggle bus.
He keeps getting objective.
arguing, Colin, they're not a good team right now.
Clippers are surging with Kauai.
I know nobody cares.
But I just wonder what becomes of Curry in Golden State.
Because, Colin, we talked about this for like a year.
At some point, do you just say, hey, we can't build around you?
Do you want to get traded?
I don't know what you do because they're like a fringe playing team right now.
That's not what we want from Curry.
Sentimentality is a powerful thing.
They should have blown this team up after they beat the Celtics.
They should have moved players.
and they couldn't they couldn't break them up why not fans get over it really fast
this idea oh they should have moved clay they they you know I also think
they didn't do well in the draft the Cummingo Weissman they really didn't hit on anything
they don't they don't work with staff so I wouldn't want to trade staff he's still the
best shooter in the world but there's you know it's hard to have sympathy when we all saw
this three years ago I mean they've been old for three years
It's like Milwaukee.
Make a move or not.
Well, just in the NFL playoffs, we don't have Mahomes, we don't have Burrough, we don't have Lamar.
It's okay, it's a bit of a reset.
It's interesting and wide open.
But in the NBA, we need Curry in the playoffs.
Come on.
He's one of the three most exciting players in the league, you know, along with Wembe and Luca.
I mean, they have the third fewest fast break points,
fewest points in the pain.
Like, they just score on threes.
They're not fast enough to beat you down the floor.
They don't have size.
Like, it's over.
Like, take a big swing.
You've got so much equity with the fans.
because you've won so many titles.
It's like after Jordan.
They were still selling out games for years in Chicago
who had so many bull season ticket holders
that had so many quality memories
that just loved going back to the center
and watching games and feeling the love.
Your people in Chicago, remember the Eddie Curry-Tyson Chandler days?
Those guys were big-time recruits.
It didn't quite pan out.
But, uh, yeah, Mac with the news.
Well, that's the news.
And thanks for stopping by.
The Herd Lye News.
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, 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 the name Hey Jonas, guys?
I honestly don't remember
I think it was on a call about what we should call it
And we were thinking
I'm originally calling it
One of the early names of our band
Before Jonas Brothers
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
For people could call in and say hey Jonas
And then I wrote down on my little notepad
Hey Jonas
And offered it up as a potential title
For the podcast
But thanks for remembering that
Guys, listen to Hey Jonas on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.
Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet.
Help! Somebody! Please!
But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently,
I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives.
helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions.
Sike, I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice.
Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man.
If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice.
One ring is too scary.
Oh, cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream.
Cream a chicken suit.
This is Help from a Hypocrite.
The worst advice from the dumbest people you know.
Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura Podcast Network
available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta,
you already know there's a lot to break down.
Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man.
They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew.
Pinky has financial issues.
I like the bougie style of Housewives show.
I think it looks like it's going to be interesting.
On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King,
recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows,
including the Real House Wise franchise,
the drama, the alliances, and the team everybody's talking about.
As an executive producer in reality television,
I'm not just watching it.
I understand the game.
As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this.
At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment.
To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior,
and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown
and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself.
We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming.
The world is becoming lonelier.
We're not becoming more social and connected.
We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection.
If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more.
Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown.
from the Black Effect Podcast Network
on the Iheart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Wild Card Weekend has two huge games on Fox.
Saturday, MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford
leads the Rams against Bryce Young and the Panthers.
Sunday, Jalen Hertz and the defending champion Eagles
take on Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers.
It's Wild Card Weekend, powered by Verizon,
Saturday and Sunday on Fox.
If the Niners start strong, if they have a good first couple of drives on script, that game gets really interesting.
But to me, it's just remarkable the Niners are here.
Seriously.
What a coaching job.
I mean, I look at the Chargers.
How do they win 11 games with that offensive line?
It's a credit to Herbert.
How did the Niners win 12 games with that defense?
It's a credit to Robert Sala.
It's not just about hoisting trophies.
So there's a story.
Todd McShay came out.
And I totally agree with him.
He said, hey, Dante Moore, stay at Oregon, don't go to the Jets.
And this is one of those things.
I've always felt bad for professional athletes.
The harder you work and the better you are, you go to the worst company.
Like if you're a top law student from Virginia, Yale, Cal Berkeley, you pick your law firm.
You get choices in any other business, except in sports.
The better you are, the crappier franchise you go to.
everybody understands that. But there are moments like the New York Jets current situation where you have a coach that is so far over his skis, they did not have an interception this year in the league in the league in interceptions, you played them twice.
That I think if I was Dante Moore and kind of wanted to come out, I would stay in college so that I don't play with the New York Jets. I don't think I've ever said that before.
I just, you got to give me something.
You have to give me a name.
That doesn't mean like Las Vegas is different for Fernando Mendoza.
They have a pro bowl tied end, a really good young running back.
They're going to have a ton of cap space.
Tom Brady's involved.
And I'm like, all right, like I could talk myself into that, even if I don't think Mark Davis is an elite owner.
You've got to give these young people something.
I've said before, the Giants and the Falcons.
I mean, you start looking at the Giants, for instance.
They're drafting five.
If I was a quarterback coming out, and Jackson Dart wasn't there.
Well, I've got a left tackle Andrew Thomas, number one receiver neighbors.
I got Scataboo and a defense that has a pass rush in a division where only absolutely
Philadelphia's got better players.
I would have no problem coming out if Jackson Dart wasn't there.
I think Jackson Dart today believes he's in a pretty good situation.
if Scataboo and Andrew Thomas and neighbors can stay healthy
and feel pretty good about it.
But you can't ask a guy in the NIL era to come out of Oregon,
which was 15 years ahead of everybody else in terms of facilities
and treating players like, I mean, they didn't have to pay them.
They treated them so well at Oregon, their training tables, their facilities,
the game day environment.
It's a great city. Eugene's a wonderful place to go to college.
It's like, I'm not leaving.
And now I get paid?
I'm not leaving.
So I do think you occasionally have really bad situations.
Now, there's an argument.
Houston was one of those.
And then C.J. Stroud got D'Amico Ryans.
So if the Jets had Domingo Ryans, okay, you're giving me something to grab onto.
There's nothing for Dante Moore to grab onto.
It's hard enough.
I mean, Jackson Dart and Cam Ward, who were the first round quarterbacks last year,
they're going to be on their third coach this year.
It's just chaos.
So here was Joel Klat on quarterbacks like Dante Moore,
just stay in college another year.
Mahomes had a ton of starts.
Matthew Stafford had a ton of starts.
Look at what he's doing.
It's a good chance he's going to win the MVP.
So this has borne out, this is not a one or two year sample size.
In the National Football League,
this has been a 25-year deal where we can look
and see who's succeeding in the postseason in particular.
and that's why it's easy to, you know, say to a guy like Dante Moore or a lot of these
quarterbacks stay in school, stay in school, and now they're getting paid to do so.
Now, I was saying, you know, I think Dante Moore is going to be a good pro.
What happens now is everybody gets picked apart.
Listening to people criticize Fernando Mendoza, I've seen like multiple people come out.
I don't know, he's 6'5 with a good arm, moves well enough, and Indiana runs a lot of pro-style stuff.
Mendoza is going to succeed unless he gets bad coaches.
Dante Moore similarly, great kid, legendary reputation, hard worker, throws a gorgeous ball,
got a little bit of mobility to, those are both really good potential pro prospects.
But Dante Moore's 20.
Mendoza's already been to Cal for two years where he had to carry him.
And then in Indiana, so he's got like a real college experience.
He doesn't need another year, even if he wanted to come back or he could come back.
Mendoza Jr. or a senior. I didn't watch him a lot at Cal for two years. Highlights. I see him
at Indiana. He's ready for the pros. Mendoza's ready for the pros. Dante Moore's 20. Needs another
15 starts. I don't think he's quite ready to overcome a little bit of chaos, which even Mendoza
will have to overcome. And he's probably a higher end prospect. That's where I feel. By the way,
the Miami Dolphins are not a guiding light or a North Star.
over the last 30 years, right?
Yeah, the Don Shula days are long gone.
But it is interesting that they are considering bringing back Tua and Mike McDaniel.
And I actually agree with them.
So you owe Tua, I think the number is like 50 million, and then he's off the books.
Well, he doesn't have much of a market.
And the truth is he's comfortable in this system.
I think Miami's problem, the root problem was roster construction.
So if you, their GM, think about this.
So they draft Tua, and then the next year they draft Jalen Waddle.
So they've got plenty of speed at receiver and they double down and go, let's give up draft capital and pay a fortune for Tirek Hill.
Well, Tua does not have a big arm.
It's not a great deep ball thrower.
And that's what Tirec Hill does.
and you already had Jalen Waddle's speed.
They're not building a track team.
So if you have Tua as a quarterback, you need a good old line and a consistent backup.
They had neither.
So my take is Tua's comfortable with McDaniel.
McDaniel's comfortable with Tua.
They made a Pro Bowl together.
The problem in Miami was roster construction.
I mean, there are certain quarterbacks in this league that smaller quarterbacks or like Jared Gough,
Jared Gough needs protection.
Matt Stafford.
needs protection.
Tuah needs protection.
Lamar Jackson in his prime, Mahomes,
Darnold can run around.
Some guys can live, like right now,
Sam Darnold is a Super Bowl favorite,
and there's an argument the second
worst offensive line in the playoffs is Seattle.
Gray's able as hell, but it's not a good old line.
Donald can make stuff up,
right? He can move the pocket,
run on his own. So
here is Mike McDaniel
on potentially, they haven't hired a
GM yet running it back with Tua.
First things first, you know, I don't think anybody quite understands what what it would be
like to be through the ringer of a year that he's had.
So to remove emotions to, you know, have a conversation will be very healthy.
So you probably want to hire an offensive coach.
and if you go look at the first two seasons with Mike McDaniel
until the roster construction was just too difficult to overcome,
they were making Pro Bowls. They got to the playoffs.
So I look at McDaniel and Tua and my take is,
why not bring it back one more year?
Again, if it was a great year for candidates,
then a top three offense in the first two seasons.
And then Tua, not surprisingly, got hurt.
So I kind of look at Miami and my take is
the first couple years,
this thing totally worked.
But Tua got hurt.
They didn't address the offensive line.
It's been the weakness of the team for years.
That's on the GM and he's gone.
So again, it's easy to just say clean house,
but the coach is capable if you give him something.
Tua made a pro bowl when he was upright
and you'd want to hire an offensive coach anyway
and it's a weak job market.
And Stofansky doesn't appear to be in line for it.
So I don't always trust all the things the dolphins
do, but I don't think it's the craziest thing when you owe them 50 large anyway to bring
two and McDaniel back for one more year.
Don't think it's the craziest thing.
Greg Olson around the corner.
Hey guys, it's us.
The Jonas Brothers.
I'm Joe.
I'm Kevin.
And I'm Nick.
And guess what?
We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.
We invented a podcast?
Well, we didn't invent it.
We just contributed to it.
We're the first people to do podcasts.
We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions.
Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick.
Tired and sick.
Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.
Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio.
Nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7.
Hey, head over to iHeart.com.
Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now.
Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Remember, stick to the fight.
When your hardest hit, it's what things.
seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit.
Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum.
Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day.
I heart radio.
Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double
life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are?
I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I was. What I was.
had to do.
Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man 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 Akela Hughes, and Rebel Spirit season two 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.
or homages to enslavers than there were to enslave people.
Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This is an IHeart podcast.
Guaranteed human.
