The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 3 - Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh stops by The Herd

Episode Date: December 2, 2025

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh joins the show for an in-depth interview on the toughness and leadership of Justin Herbert, how the Chargers are building around their franchise QB, and what to expect in a crowded AFC playoff raceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. 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. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva. And on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs. tears or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Gianna Maria Riva

on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season, and I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments.

If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis'i coming to him, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sometimes a suspect is found guilty before a verdict is ever read in court.

On the Wicked Words podcast, I talk with the writers who dig deep into the cases that changed history, including Marsha Clark, who went from prosecuting one of the most famous murder cases to writing crime fiction. It doesn't matter that you didn't take part in the murder. If you were at the scene at all. You're guilty of murder. Every week, the real story is revealed. Join us every Monday for new episodes of Wicked Words. Listen to Wicked Words on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Therapy is fantastic, but once again, it does not have a monopoly on healing.

That's why I create the resources and that's why I create the community because I really just want you to have more access. On the podcast, cultivating her space, Dr. Dom and Terry Lomax create a space where black women can show up fully and be heard. It's tough because we're suppressing our emotions and so many of us are like high achieving individuals. Listen to cultivating her space on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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 Sports Radio or FSR.

We're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Well, I said yesterday on the show, I don't know how the Niners are doing it with all their injuries. And I also said yesterday on the show, you know, Mike Brable may win coach of the year, right, number one seed. I said, what Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman are doing with that offense, when you lose your two offensive tackles, usually it's over. But the Chargers now, Justin Herbert had surgery, not going to miss time.

Here comes Amari and Hampton back. They have the number two past defense in the NFL, number three total defense. The good news is Herbert Hampton, Philadelphia is wobbly a little bit. Jim Harbaugh is now joining us live. You know, it is interesting, Jim, because you are one of these coaches that you create a toughness and a resilience. I don't care if it's Stanford. I don't care with San Diego, San Francisco, Michigan, Chargers. First week of practice, it feels different.

I thought when you lost both tackles, I said, it's over. You can't win. And you're still running the football. What is it? Give me the secrets. How do you run the football when your offensive linemen, your offensive line's missing two pro bowlers? How do you do it?

Well, good players. Good players up front. You know, and I thought our offensive line really, You know, had one of its best games this past week. Yeah. Jemarie Saw you really did a heck of a job at left tackle. Zion Johnson played one of his best games. Brad Bozeman had one of his best games.

Kai Bechtin graded out over, all of our linemen graded out over 90%. Trey Pipkins had a bunch of key blocks. Our running backs really, you know, did a phenomenal job. Kamani Badell, Jared Patterson. and really, you know, played some of our best football. I just, and it's those guys. They're the tough men plus faith. And number 10, let's never forget Justin Herbert.

He is, he's a lead, he's a beast. He's one of the best, in my opinion. He's playing in the game now and ever. Yeah, Max Crosby and him. Max Crosby, you know, pushes him over, shoved him. I love Max. I love him. Okay.

And Justin probably did a little trash talk. I'm okay with that. Oh, yeah. I mean, did you trash talk a little in your day, a little? I, you know, I was, I was probably, I'm a lot like Justin. I'm more of a counterpuncher. You know what I mean? I wasn't going to get the first one in.

I can promise you that Max was, Max was, Max gets, he's quite good at trash talking himself. And Justin was kind of counterpunching like a Floyd Mayweather, like a Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard. And yeah, that, uh, he, those two, they have, they have nothing but respect for each other. And, uh, yeah, I like you. I, I, uh, I really like, I really like Max Crosby. I love Justin.

And I like, they're two greats. They're two of the greats and two of the best in the game. When you did have losses to injuries, do you have to coach differently, psychologically? Do you have to be more upbeat? I mean, you're very, very optimistic guy. You love football like nobody I've ever seen. But when you have all these injuries, gym players can have self-doubt. Players are all, it's cold.

It's the weather changes. Do you have to coach differently, almost psychologically, the speeches, the motivation, the tactics when you are injury depleted, which you really have been this year? It's a, you know, next man up mentality. You know, it's emotional, it hurts. You know, Rashon Slater, for example. I mean, that, like, it's just gut-wrenching. You know how much he poured into. this entire offseason.

I mean, him and Joe Ald, I mean, they're elite guys when it comes to training and their preparation. And then, you know, when that unfortunate long-term, you know, six-month type injury, you know, hits, you just, I mean, you feel sick. I mean, physically, physically sick. But then, you know, then, you know, I mean, but then there's a, you know, there's a, you know,

There's, yeah, what's next? Who's the next man up? And you got a guy, you know, sitting there on a spring who's also been training and preparing and, you know, how much they poured into it, that, you know, that's their opportunity. So I guess, yeah, there's two ways you feel about it. And, you know, when you kind of get your breath back, you've got to get your footing back, you know, here we go. Let's attack it.

And next man up mentality. You know, it's this, a couple weeks ago, Green Bay's offense was broken, and they solved it. Right now, Philadelphia's offense, a little, they can't quite figure it out. It happens. It's a long, long season, Jim. When you look at a team like Philadelphia, you're pouring over the film, and they just can't quite get the running game right. Have you ever been in those situations? I mean, if you ever had even this year, you have a two-game stretch, and it's just not working.

How do you get, because Matt Lafleur had that about three weeks ago, and then I watched them last week, and I'm like, okay, they solved their problem. When you do have these two-game skids, when you're not quite right, how do you get out of it? What do you do? Is it usually schematics, players' health? How do you get out of it? Because Philly's in one right now?

Well, it's, yeah, you want to get better at something. You know, you just work a little bit harder at it. So it's really, it's really that, that's the formula. You know, improvement, better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today. That theory that improvement will lead to success is how I see everybody, you know, everybody attacking whatever issue that they have. And I see that with the Eagles. And let's remember, they're leading their division. They're nine and three.

They're the world champions. And, you know, it's, you know, big champions. challenge, big challenge for us. And so we're working, we're working hard, you know, trying to improve our strengths, trying to improve our weaknesses, you know, a lot of, a lot of things that it's a, that there's emphasis on. And I know the Eagles are doing the exact same thing. You know, Jim, when you came out of Michigan, you had a little bit of an advantage because you had recruited so many of the players you were going to draft. You, I mean, a lot of those guys. So you guys have hit on a lot of your draft picks. And I

I said this. There is an advantage. The one advantage for a college coach to go pro is, you know, the players. You're a recruit in high school. You know their odometer. You know their strengths and weaknesses. Nobody's going to fool you. You have had some of your young players.

I mean, Ladd-McConkie, some of your young players have been, I mean, really hit early. Did you think during your first couple drafts here, did you kind of sense, you know what? I know these guys better than these other teams know these guys because it looks like you. you did. It been looked that way, but no, that's not the case.

That's Joe Hortiz. That's our personnel staff. I mean, and that's what they do every day. You know, it's, they, you know,

I try to, I chip in there, you know, where I can. But, no, I mean, we all see the good players.

I mean, you're really, you can, you watch the tape, and everybody can see the good players. And then you realize, you know, what, they're going to be playing for somebody else.

Because we only get one pick, you know, every 32 picks. But, yeah, you do the best you can when it's your time to pick. You know, you pick the best player available. That's the, that's Joe Hortiz and, you know, his strategy. And it's, you know, I have learned so much just being in those meetings and listening to our scouts, our personnel, Chad, Alex. Alexander's phenomenal. He'll be a general manager, you know, soon for a, for a smart team that's looking for, you know, a guy that's great. And, and Lou Clark, all the guys, you know, in our

personnel room to go through that board, to watch Joe Ortiz, you know, lead that process that's, you know, years in the making and then, you know, culminates at the, at the NFL draft You know, it's inspiring. I've learned a ton. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from The Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. And in addition to hearing us live weekn nights from 7 to 10 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports Radio, we are excited to announce brand new YouTube channel for the show.

That's right. You can now watch The Odd Couple live on YouTube every day. All you got to do, search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube. Again, YouTube, just search Odd Couple FSR. Check us out on YouTube and subscribe. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new?

Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts around there. But this one's extra special.

So how do we actually... 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, Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. but thanks for remembering that guys listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast

Just listen we don't care where you hear it What's up fam? It's Isaiah Thomas And I'm CJ Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed And finding ways to win no matter what He's the smartest player to ever play the game His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves

I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nasree. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense.

And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball like, after you go through a training camp with that Isaiah, you figure it out real quick.

Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Keith Gianmanca seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad, but secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea?

It seemed very crazy, but I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like? No, I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? that is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue.

Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier. than it is. Getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store. I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway.

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

They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 social. 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. Last night, I saw Jackson Dart was scrambling around. He got a little cute in the sidelines, and he just got smoked. It was bad. He got smoked. And I said, if it was a Super Bowl, you're going for the winning drive. Okay. You know, Justin takes a lot of hits. I think his first year, sometimes he tried to stand up a linebacker and that, I didn't like that at all.

Have you ever said, because he's taking some hits, do you ever have to say to Justin, listen, I love that you're a tough guy because you'd be a little less tough, could just slide. Do you ever have to just sit him down as a former quarterback? Say, Justin, I know you're 6'5 and 250. these guys want to hurt you. Do you ever have those conversations with him? You know, not too many.

You know, not really. Justin is just, he's at a level that I just let Justin be Justin. And he knows exactly what he's doing. He's doing it at the highest level a person possibly can. But I would tell all quarterbacks, because I remember those days of trying to be cute on the sideline too. You know, you just, you kind of get to the sideline, you slow up a little bit, you know, you look like you're stepping out of bounds,

and you're trying to get them to hit you so you can kind of, you know, get the penalty. But, you know, those, that's it. That's an emphasis right now in the NFL that, and they even send it up for review. Like if both those feet aren't out of bounds, you know, you can be hit. So, yeah, you know, piece of advice to all NFL quarterbacks is clearly get out of bounds. You know, you can't play that, you can't play for that penalty anymore because, you know, that's going to be, that's going to be reviewed, right? So, yeah, I think all quarterbacks need to need to know that.

Okay, now, Justin. I used to try to get a couple of those penalties. Well, yeah. But it's different now. I mean, they're reviewing that. both those feet aren't in the white you can be hit the uh now justin had surgery on his hand he's the kind of kid he'll fight through it i know you'd have to he is he gonna play monday against philly do we know that today right now oh if there's any possible way uh yeah justin will uh

will do anything and everything in his power to uh to play in the game okay what if he's the kind of he's the kind of he's the kind of guy you have to pull back you can never you can never uh you could never, you never have to talk him into playing football. That's for sure. You saw that in our game against the Raiders. You know, one minute, he just went in. He just went in. Yeah.

I mean, Justin's the kind of guy. It all comes down to the doctors. I mean, I got a lot of things hanging on the wall here, but a medical degree is not one of them. That is funny. Hey, you get Amari and Hampton back. That's got to feel great. Does it not?

Yeah, he's been trending great. He's another guy that's just done everything and anything to get back. And, you know, it's the same, same course action. The doctors, you know, cleared him to have limited participation last week and we'll see where the week takes us this week. But, you know, he says he's, you know, says he's looking good, feeling good. So he's looking good. He says he's feeling good. And we'll see where the week takes us.

You know, finally, I spent a lot of time in Chicago. I saw 24 degrees the other day. Do you have any hints? I mean, you know the Midwest. Well, any secrets to staying warm out here? It's my first winter out here, Jim. Oh, yeah. Just enjoy it, Colin. You know, the changing of the seasons. Only piece of advice is enjoy the snow, you know,

crutching under your feet. Just make sure you had the proper footwear. Okay. All right. I'll wear a boot. Nice winter jacket. Yeah, I'm not sure I was built for it. But we'll see.

Spending too much time in Manhattan Beach. I got a little soft, Jim. I'm going to be honest with you. I got a little soft. I'm not buying it. I'm not buying that. You're tough as they come. Tough as a $2 steak.

All right. Here we go. Monday night football Eagles. Good luck, Jim Harbaugh. Appreciate it, Kyle. Thanks for having me on. You bet. Yeah, Thursday with a high of 19 degrees.

That's what's going to be this Thursday. Listen, they get Hampton back. Herbert's going to play Monday. The Eagles are wobbling. The problem with the Chargers now, here's their schedule coming up, all above 500. Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans, Broncos, and three of those teams, I mean, Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans, Broncos, and Kansas City's desperate, Dallas is desperate. Texan, I mean, in most of these situations, Philly doesn't have to win.

Everybody else on that list, I mean, Denver's got to win because Denver wants that number one seat. a buy for Sean Payton. So their schedule is brutal, but they've quietly, they've quietly become eight and four. And now they get their start running back back. So we'll take a break. J-Mack around the corner, it's the herd.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news.

we created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say,

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

It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about, about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game.

His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

Then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store, I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes. in Rebel Spirit, Season 2 goes deep on both of those things.

The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean.

Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Keith Gianmanca seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad, but secretly he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy, but I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out.

Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like? No. I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man.

This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man. the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself.

We explore higher consciousness, emotional well. 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 video app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. It's a great time to be a soccer fan.

On Friday, it all kicks off with the FIFA World Cup final draw at 1130 a.m. Eastern on Fox. Then on Saturday, Messi and Inter-M Miami, square off against Vancouver for the MLS Cup at 2.30 p.m. Eastern also on Fox. Think about this. We were talking about Mike Tomlin. People are criticizing, and I'm criticizing his offense and his inability to fix the offense. We just looked this up. The last time Mike Tomlin won a playoff game and his team scored an offensive touchdown was January 8th of 2017. We're at December 2nd of 2025. That's almost nine years.

They have not, so for people protecting Tomlin, almost nine years where they've won a playoff, game and actually scored a single offensive touchdown. Well, about 10 years ago, the NFL pivoted to an offensive league. So I can like lots of factors, but feel Tomlin Pittsburgh is run its course. J. Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Kyle, let's start with the Minnesota Vikings and J.J. McCarthy.

that he is expected to clear concussion protocol this week and start on Sunday against the Washington commanders. Kevin O'Connell said yesterday McCarthy is symptom-free. He just needs to have a full practice to clear concussion protocol, and that is expected to happen. Maniana, Colin, J.J. McCarthy against Washington. Now, if you see that on the screen, Washington minus one and a half, that will not be the case if McCarthy's the starter.

He is definitely better than Max Brasmer, who was awful. Well, I mean, Washington just played a Sunday night game that went to overtime, a lot of snaps. So I would say if you're a Viking fan, you could be a little optimistic. Also, they got shut out last week. So they're not going to get shut out. And it's at home. If you're giving me Minnesota and two or three points, I would take Minnesota.

Well, Minnesota will probably be favored tomorrow this time. So interesting, I just bet this game today. Here are the last seven opponents Minnesota's face, okay? Eagles, Chargers, lions, ravens, bears, Packers, Seahawks. They have one thing in common.

They're all playoff teams. Seven in a row. That is a gauntlet, Colin. Obviously, they're not beating any of those teams. But Washington, they're not a playoff team. And I'm totally with you. The overtime game, max effort, empty the tank, and lose.

And now you've got to go to Minnesota. We know what Flores is going to do, dial up blitz-heavy packages. I think Minnesota's a side here for sure. I don't know. Are you buying this Kevin O'Connell's job is on the line? Is he in trouble? I'm not believing that.

Don't buy it at me. He's a very, it's like Kevin Stefansky. The people in the league know Stafansky and Kevin O'Connell are very good coaches. That stuff's ridiculous. Totally agree. All right, let's move on to the Penn State coaching search, which is not gone great. Now, listen, a mess is a bit strong, but interestingly, Penn State is focusing on BYU coach, and apologies for butchering his name,

Kalani Satake. The sides have been in discussions. No deal signed yet. Here's the thing. BYU is playing in a conference championship game this weekend against Texas Tech. Now, I'm holding a Red Raiders playoff ticket from August. I need the Red Raiders to deliver here. They're already huge favorites.

I'm a little suspicious of this. I mean, has he done that good of a job that he's going to grab the Penn State job? Nobody on the East Coast, really? Well, there are discussions that James Franklin's powerful agent did not like the way it was handled at Penn State, and Penn State is being shut out of the top candidates. Now, that is spicy. I have not heard that anywhere. Yeah, so the agent for James Franklin is sending his clients to other jobs.

And you know only a handful of agents called the shots in college football. Oh, there's like two. Again, I'm not denying this BYU coach as a good coach. But again, a lot of times you know the regionally coaches stay where they fit. Like Brian Kelly, as you said, didn't fit in the deep south. Lane Kiffin's going to work fine. I just don't know if this BYU coach will fit in Penn State. Personally, I would make a run of Brian Dable.

I know he wants to go back to the NFL. But they missed on Clark Lee, the Vanderbilt coach. He's staying. man this I wasn't a fan of firing James Franklin it creates chaos and again

the minute Franklin got fired Signetti got an extension and Lane Kiffin was never interested and I think Penn State's a really good job I think that there may be not quite as good a job as they think if you considered everything

everything like geography, the state, the recruiting. The best job in the Big Ten is Ohio State. The second best job, a lot of people think it's USC, but let's just say Michigan. Third best job in the NIL era, it's either USC or Oregon. They're both great, right? So that's your top four. Your fifth best job is what?

Probably Penn State? I would say Penn State. But it's funny. Listen, they have. so much talent there and kids and I would spend a lot of time in Pennsylvania living with my family my brother lives out there. We know a lot of people

there. Penn State is the jam in and around Pennsylvania. People aren't clamoring to get to Pittsburgh or Temple. Penn State's the place to be. It is a great college vibe and atmosphere. They're going to be fine, Colin. Regardless of who the coach is, I think they're going to be fine, right?

I'm just saying they may have not considered that by firing James Franklin and sent a very toxic message that angered elite agents were one in particular. I'm telling same. Yeah. Final story, Colin, listen, Lakers lost last night. They got housed.

Lost. Now, this is not great. Okay, so if you look at this video, LeBron's talking to somebody on the Sun's bench, it might have been Godwin. While he's doing that, play is happening, and J.J. Reddick is trying to call a play for LeBron. He's like, in this play and LeBron's talking to the

sons so he can't hear him. J.J. Reddick has to burn a time out and you see him kind of shake his head like what are we doing, LeBron? Now he doesn't say that in the video and the Lakers were down 20 in the third quarter but you can see Reddick is not thrilled with this. Now people are

coming after LeBron right now for last night's game. He didn't play well. He was hurt. He said he woke up and felt stuff. When you get old stuff breaks. He also has like the NBA record for longest streak of double-digit scoring, and he was down bad in like the third quarter with four points and starts chucking and whatever. I don't care about that.

This, though, I don't think that's a good look. Talking to the other bench while your team's calling a place for you. I was thinking about this this morning, because I saw that, is that it's very interesting. So LeBron has never clearly been the second best player on a team. Okay, so we said this in the offseason. Last year, because of Lucas' weight and injuries, it depended on the night who was better. I said coming into this season, I think you agreed. This will be the first time.

LeBron was not only the second best player in a team, but it's not close. Skinny Luca is the best offensive player in the world. So this is the first time in LeBron's career. He's not only the number one player. He is not close to the number one player in a team. That psychology is going to be interesting. That move he's doing is what you do when you're the man. Bit of a power, yeah.

He's not the man. And there are nights, because Austin Reeves is younger and athletically in his prime, that he's going to come into a game, have the hot hand, and be healthier. So this is a very interesting. JJ Reddick's a really smart guy. There's a little bit of psychology here. I said, LeBron came back. The first game he came back.

Passing, passing, only seven shots. And everybody's like, oh, he's such a team player. He is. But what's it going to be like when Austin and Luca, on any given, night are better and he settles for five shots. Is he going to be okay with that? So I went to that Clippers-Lakers game and I watched LeBron closely. I'm just telling you for the first seven minutes, he barely touched the ball. I know. He's basically going, you know, and it's like, wait, and now he ended up with good stats, but he's still finding his way. I will say this small thing.

Luca and Austin Reeves have developed some kind of bromance. I don't know if you've seen the post-game interviews. They're joking. I've got more dunks than you. Yep. And Austin. And I don't want to say LeBron's on the outs because he loves Austin Reeves and obviously him and Luke are fine. But there is a but here. Okay the butt is there's a new ownership group. They're already firing bus members. Jeannie bust and I love her.

She's great at what she did. But there was a little fear dealing with LeBron. It was still LeBron had sold a lot of tickets. There was loyalty. These guys don't care. This ownership group, the Dodgers, they got rid of Cody Bellinger, Tray Turner, who just

won the batting crown. A Scott Seeger, Mani Machado. They know the future of this franchise is Luca 1, JJ Reddick 2, and probably Austin Reeves 3, because he's Rob Polinkas guy. LeBron's four in the room now. He is four, and I think he knows it, and I think, and I'm being fair here, I think, it's hard for him. I don't think it's easy when you've been a 20-year alpha.

Yeah. Now, Colin, elsewhere in the league, Janice and the Bucks lost. last night. There's some social media activity around Janus. I'm just saying, Lakers are 15 and 5. Let's not overreact. But let's just keep an eye on the Lakers and the Bucks. Just putting that out there. Agreed. Jay Mack with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. LeBron's a team player is great. I'm just saying if you, you're an attorney to law firm, and you're the number one earner, the number one lawyer for 27 years, suddenly you're number four really quickly. It's hard.

You can say it's not. Number one salesperson forever. Then you're four. Because these new owners, Luke is the future. Reddick's number two. Austin's probably three. And LeBron, smart guy,

Rich Paul, agent, he's four. And this ownership group, they have raised the bar in the room. The athletic did a poll. I know if it was last year where they had a poll all the GMs, anonymous poll, who were the best front offices? Lakers didn't get any first place votes. The Dodgers, where there's no salary cap,

so there's real animosity for the Dodgers in baseball, they had double the first place votes in that same poll in the athletic, anonymous GMs and execs. And people, there's people that resent the Dodgers having all that money. Nobody resents because the cap's different in the NBA. So, I just, I've said, and my prediction was coming into this year, this will be the first time LeBron is a mile from the best player on a team. Like last year, there were nights Luka was better, but Luka wasn't in great shape. He was coming off an injury. There were halves and quarters that LeBron was better. That ain't the case.

Lucas a mile better now. And Luca's the best offensive player in the league. And also, it's very human nature. Luke is no dummy. Luca knows he and JJ Reddick are the future. Right? Like, he knows. He's an alpha.

And I think everybody in the room knows. Austin Reeves can give you 23 on any given night. He's in his prime, and he's not going to be that expensive. They're going to get Austin Reeves on a team-friendly deal. So it's just a different psychology with the Lakers right now. That doesn't mean LeBron's a bad guy. I just think it's hard. You know, and the Luca now can beat people off the dribble, can finish at the rim.

He didn't do that last couple years. I mean, it was his first year in the league. I think he had 25 dunks, and I think last year he, like, won. So he just, it just, it wasn't, it just, and he was emotionally. He got traded. That was rough for him. International players, they just want to come over, play for one team star, ball, head home in the summer. you know, that's what that's what they want to do.

So it's going to be, it's going to be a very interesting. I am fascinated with ownership groups and front offices in sports because, you know, you don't talk about them. It's the guy, rich guy wearing sunglasses on a Sunday, you know, upstairs in the suite. You know, we know Robert Kraft and Jerry Jones, but these owners for the Dodgers are fairly low profile considering how powerful they are. And they've let all sorts of really good players go. trade turner is one of the best pure hitters in baseball and they had a tough decision let them go and and when they by the way when they go big yoshi o'tani freddie freeman bets when they go big they don't miss so there there is something brewing i i'm a believer in this that you know

yonis yonis could very much be in play i really believe that very much in play and listen We all know this. LeBron's, it's a me league, not a we league. He bailed on D. A lot of people think he bailed on AD and knew the trade was coming. I don't know that. I kind of think that. We'll see you tomorrow.

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