The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 3 - Tomorrow's headlines today, Jovan Buha

Episode Date: February 20, 2026

Another edition of Tomorrow's headlines today with Jason McIntyre  Plus Jason talks to NBA reporter Jovan Buha about the best players in the NBA, how Adam Silver is handling tanking, and moreSee 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. 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. 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 Alliance,

Mrs. M&T, everybody's talking about. 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 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

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. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or Fxport's radio. Fassar. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Yovan Buha, NBA reporter. It's got the podcast, Booha's Block, Yovan. Glad to have you in the studio. Love you here. Obviously, you'll be at Crypto tonight for Lakers Clippers. Before we get to Lakers Clippers, I just want to start with the tanking thing. Do you think it's a major issue you were around All-Star weekend? Did you get the vibe that it's a major problem?

It's a major issue. That's the hot button topic right now with everybody. That's all everyone's talking about. So, yeah, I think it's a big issue. I don't know how they're going to solve it because you talk to five different people. You're going to get five different answers in terms of a potential solution here. You also have to remember that you're going to need at least half the owners to sign off on any change here. So I think the small market teams like tanking and like the draft and like the system of they feel like they're out of disadvantage in free agency and trades and acquiring these superstars.

So I get it to a degree. but this clearly is a big issue. When you have teams pulling guys out in the fourth quarter when they're leading. And sometimes they still end up winning the game like we saw with Utah against Miami. But it's a tough spot right now. And you look at the schedule tonight across the league. There's a lot of teams trying to lose because this draft is so stacked. So I'm not asking you to instantly solve it.

But do you agree with some of these things that Silver mentioned to the GMs around the league? Yeah. I think it's probably realistically going to have to be a, a bunch of small changes adding up to a bigger change. I don't think they're going to abolish the draft like some people want. And like, I mean, it's interesting in theory, right, if you had some sort of system where maybe you do have like a salary slot for an incoming rookie. And you do do that by record.

And let's just say the worst team can offer like $15 million. And then you go to like the second worst team, 13 million. And on then the player gets to pick which do you want to go to you reference Utah? Do you want to go to Utah for $15 million or do you want to go to L.A. for $4 million? That's a pretty big gap there. But then you get to kind of dictate your career. I think that's pretty drastic, though, and I don't see the owners signing off on that. You know, the Lakers actually, they didn't tank just in the post-Cobie years.

They had a bunch of top five picks. It was Brandon Ingram, DeAngelo Russell, who was another guy, Alonzo Ball. All of them, they couldn't win anything. So they decided, let's go veteran. Let's bring in LeBron. LeBron brings Anthony Davis, and they win the championship. You know, even some of the big market teams can struggle. My Knicks, man, they were down bad for like 20 years after going to the finals.

Like, I don't think it's just a small market issue. Like sometimes the big market teams, they can't get out of their own way. Well, that's the issue here is that you have teams who are continually in the top five, top 10. And if you can't draft and then you can't retain the talent, you can't develop the talent. Like, I think there's a reason why we see some of the same teams in the bottom five to 10 year after year. It's one thing if it's like a few years, but when you have like 10, 15-year runs of the same teams, it's like nothing's going to save them.

Yeah, yeah, Washington, Sacramento, it's rough. All right, let's get to a good team, the Lakers. The big three are good, good to go tonight. Austin Reeves, Luca LeBron. According to Rachel, only the 11th time this season. That's insane. You know, JJ Redick, I think we agree, has done a damn good job.

With the big three, what's a reasonable expectation? Can they get to the third seed and avoid OKC in round two? I know I don't look to round two yet. They might lose to Minnesota. But can they get to three if everybody's healthy? Yeah, I believe so. This is only the third game this season that they've had their entire rotation, just period, right?

So 11 games with a big three going to be the third time. You got to go back, I think it was sometime in December and then another time in November. So it's been a while since they've had everybody. And despite that, they've managed to be the five seed and right there behind three and four. So they do have the eighth toughest remaining schedule. So that is something to factor in. But you look at the other top West teams. They're all in that top 10.

They're all playing each other. So I think it's going to come down to can they stay healthy, right? Because they've not been able to stay healthy. I recently did a breakdown of looking at the top six teams in the West, how many games they've missed due to injury. And the Lakers are third behind OKC and Denver in terms of games missed due to injury with their top 10 rotation guys. So they've been one of the least healthy teams this season.

They've been one of the least healthy teams going back several seasons now. So it would have to buck that trend of that. them actually getting healthy and staying healthy, but entering, you know, coming out of the All-Star break, they're healthy. Wow, I thought Dallas would be number one. Oh, just looking at the top six. Oh, just the top six. Okay, yeah.

Because I was going to say, I know OKC has missed a lot with SGA, J-dub, and they're back healthy. And I say third because in the 10 games with the big three, the Lakers are seven and three. So you extrapolate that, and they, I like the rotation. I think Luke Kennard's been a plus. I just, if you tried out Luke Kennard, Austin, Reeves, Luca, LeBron, Rui, DeAndre Aiden. Yeah, who are they stopping? That's the thing.

And actually, so it's interesting that there's seven and three in the 10 games that the big three have played together. But they have a minus 9.8 net rating with those three on the floor. So they've won in spite of the struggles with those guys. And I even went back to last season and just looked at the full sample size, regular season playoffs and then regular season again this season. They have a minus 3.5 net rating with the big three on the floor. 700 minutes. JJ Reddick said earlier in the season. They like to look at things in like a 250-minute sample size or more.

So we have 700 minutes here of minus 3.5. They've been losing the minutes with the big three. They've got to figure that out. I think that's the big question down the stretch of the season. It's like if those three can't play together, I think that limits the ceiling for the Lakers, obviously. That dovetails perfectly. So if they can't play together, what the heck happens in the offseason?

What's your best guess? I mean, again, we're February 20th. Nobody's putting you on the spot. They're not going to call you out. What's your best guess as to the top four guys on the Lakers next year? The top three or four guys. If you break it down, Luca and Austin Reeves have been the two-man pairing that has actually worked over this sample size. Depending on if you're looking at last season or this season, they've been killing teams, you know, plus double-digit net rating.

So I think that foundation is what the Lakers want to build around moving forward. It's just a matter of is LeBron there for one more years? Is he there for maybe two more years? I think that's a little like I'm. doubtful that he plays a couple more seasons, but maybe he plays one more year in LA on a discount and they run this back for a final season. He gets his retirement tour. But I think Luca and Austin are the two that I'm going to be monitoring over the stretch run here of just what's that pairing like? Because we have seen Luca thrive, Jalen Brunson several years ago before he popped in New York,

Kyrie Irving en route to the 2024 finals. I think he likes having that high-scoring, playmaking, sidekick guard. Austin has, you could argue, has been the best of those three just based on how he's played this season. So I think that's the partnership long term. They want to keep Austin this summer. But with LeBron, I mean, there's so many unknowns, right?

Does he even want to play? Does he retire after the season? Then what type of contract is he looking for? What type of contract are the Lakers willing to give him? So that is the one I have less certainty on. He seems like the kind of guy who would stay on a bit of a hometown discount. He seems to love L.A. but what the big question is everybody wants to know how can we get yannis without losing austin reves

and you have broken this down it is possible i don't want to say there's hiccups or it's a bad look for the bucks but let's take the bucks angle first the bucks are in salary cap hell right they they don't have any picks right um the miles turner thing is not great the damien lillard wave and stretch like they're in cap hell and no path to getting out of them this is where the trade to the Lakers comes into play? The Lakers offer them an exit plan where they don't have to take on any money. So right now the Lakers are projected to have around $51 million in cap space. If they rescind the rights to all of their free agents and then also trade that 2026 first round pick.

And maybe they could get a little, you know, create more space, get closer to like 60 million. If they can maybe attach like a small asset to get off of a contract, maybe they could trade like a Dalton Connect or something like that. stretch it out to like 55, 56 or even closer to 60. So if they can create that space, and even in the offseason, we talked about it on your show, like the rules in terms of taking on salary, there's a little bit more flexibility. You just have to get under certain thresholds going into the season. So that's like a later offseason thing. But they could acquire Janus and send out the three picks.

It would be 2031 and 233 plus 2026, which they would have drafted on behalf of the bucks. And send them the three picks. take back Janus and create a giant trade exception for the bucks. They could also do a different version where it's a three-team trade, and let's just say there's a team with a big contract that wants to get off of it, they could attach a pick to that, send that to Milwaukee. So it's a three-team trade. They get like an extra couple years of a bad contract,

but they get maybe a pick or a couple picks, plus the Lakers three picks. Now you're getting like four to five picks. You're already not going anywhere. Right. I think the one variable here is like, does Janice force his way to L.A.? Does he say, I want to go to the Lakers or like the Lakers are my top two or three teams I really want to go to? And then does one of these, this Houston flame out in round one? And all of a sudden, Amman Thompson or Alper and Schengu is on the table.

And that's like a better asset than anything the Lakers can offer. So that's the thing. Like the idea of the Bucks telling their fans, we traded Yonnas to the Lakers for three picks and $55 million in cap space. Like, that's a tough sell. Who do we get back for one of the best players in franchise history? It's either him or Jabbar or Lou Alcindor. That's a tough sell. Yeah.

Like, do you... I mean, that's why I don't think the Lakers are the favorites by any means. I think it would have to almost be like, I'm going L.A., New York, Miami, like, if I'm honest. But Miami doesn't have anybody good. They have four picks. But that's also, I think that's what's in the Lakers' favorite. Like, he would have to basically put the Lakers on the short list, and then the Lakers would have to be the best package compared to New York. Because if it's like New York,

do you want to take back cat and how, like, you're not going anywhere, right? Like, you're already rebuilding. And if it's Miami, it's like, are you really that high on Tyler Hero and Kelle Ware and Jaime Hakez? So I think compared to like maybe some of the bigger market teams, I think the Lakers have a better shot than they're given credit to. But again, if San Antonio or Houston flames out and all of a sudden they want to make a bigger move, they have the blue chip talent that they could put the blue chip talent on the table

and the picks, which the Lakers can't match. Like it's Deft Castle. I don't anticipate them putting him on the moon. market. I don't either, but interesting. Houston, I think, is the one that's potentially interesting because I think they're a candidate to, like, be a disappointment. Does Katie's burner have anything to do with that?

The alleged burner? Yeah. I mean, he didn't deny it. And Shengoon and Smith and like, yeah, something like that. That is good, but if you're the bucks, do you want those guys, where are you going with them? Yeah, I mean, ideally, you want to have a shorter rebuild, right? Like, no one wants to be in

purgatory forever. But, yeah, it would have to be something they think about. Or can the Rockets be like, hey, we didn't have Fred Van Fleet and Stephen Adams. We're going to run this back next year. They could. KD. at 38, a full off season of burner activity. I don't, I just, I don't know if any of that stuff makes sense. Let's go back to the Lakers.

Does Luca and Janus together work? We've seen Luca work with, like you said, Brunson is a wingman, Kyrie is a wingman, Derek lively, PJ Gafford in the middle. Janus is a bit of a different animal. I think it would work, but I think both guys would have to make sacrifices and probably the biggest sacrifices they've each made up to this point in their respective careers. Like, Yonis didn't love running a bunch of pick and roll with Dame, right? Like, it started to kind of click right before Dame got injured and they had some flashes. But this would be a heavy dose of Yonis, Luca, pick and roll, Yonis having to be the screener, the roller, rim runner, lob threat, which he can do.

He can just obviously do much more than that. Maybe you see some inverted pick and rolls where Luca's screening for Janus, but like, Luca's not been a big screener in his career. No. So it would require, I think, both guys making some sacrifices that they've been reluctant to make up to this point. But I think they're both talented and skilled enough. You don't overthink it. Two top five guys.

Like, history suggests that's a title contender. Do we know if they're friends? And I know, oh, the European international guys, they're all friends. Do we know if Janus and Luke are friends or friendly? I don't, I don't know. I don't think they're close. but I don't know. Yeah, and I ask that because, you know,

Luca is ball dominant, extremely. But Janus has also had a bunch of injuries, Jovan, in the last couple years. I think it's two or three calf injuries? Yeah. I mean, you could argue his last relevant playoff moment was in 2022 against the Celtics. Holy hell, what is that?

Four years ago? Yeah, second round, game seven. So at that stage, if you're the Houston Rockets or the Spurs, I'm not giving up all that. I mean, that's why they did not make those offers. at the deadline, right? But I think if you're Houston and you're sort, I mean, Houston's kind of on two timelines here where you got KD

at the end of his career and then you have Schengun entering his prime, Amman Thompson ascending. They kind of have to figure that out of, are we kind of in win now mode or are we taking the long view here? All right, we'll wrap up. So I had a list, our staff. Cade Cunningham made some comments to GQ

about I'm the best American player. It's become a fun narrative. It's a good TV radio topic. So we had the list of the 10 best American players to around. Rachel laughed. A lot of people did. I had Cooper Flag as number one.

You've seen Cooper Flag up close. I mean, I'm blown away by the guy's talent. He's 19 years old, arguably the best teenager in NBA history. But like, what do you hate about this list? And you can be blunt, because I'm going to here now for a year, go off. Yeah, no. I think it's a pretty good list. Oh, hey, I'll take it.

I would probably have Jalen Brown a little lower. And I would also consider Jason Tatum, though he is coming off. He's injured, so I left him now. Okay, that's fair. I love me some too. And Halliburton, right? Some of the injured guys, it's fair to question how they're going to return. But some of the staffers were like...

I would probably have Ant first. That would be my only... He's established. He's been to the conference finals. Right. I think he's in that top five mix. He's been to a couple conference finals. Does Durant belong on here above Kauai or in that vicinity, 230-somethings together?

Maybe. I think this is pretty sure. Like, top 10, especially if you're taking out Halliburton Tatum, I think it's a pretty strong list. Yeah, I mean, Cooper Flagg, I think, has that upside. You look at his rookie numbers. He's right there with LeBron and Luca and several stats. So, yeah, I think that's like projecting out, obviously.

Yeah. I mean, like Cooper Flagg, if he gets a wingman in the draft, DeBanza, the point car Fleming's, like, there's a lot of guys. They're going to be good quick. And I think they move off Kyrie. By the way, last note, so they're shutting down Kyrie, Dallas. Do you see him on the Mavs next year? Are they going to move him?

I think they eventually move him. I don't know if they're going to move him this offseason. Because that's another guy who LeBron has a friendship. I mean, they should be in tear-down mode. They should be in like now we're on the Cooper Flag timeline. What fits around Cooper Flagg? Kyrie obviously does not. But coming off of a major injury, I don't know what his trade value is currently.

All right, Yovan, Buha. Check out his podcast. Booha's block. Great stuff. Thanks for coming up next year. Thank you for coming up next year. Yeah, the set's beautiful. Coming up next year.

the most important player on the hottest team in the league? Who might we be talking about? That's next year on The Hurt. 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. Fox Sports Radio is taking over YouTube, and you can be a part of it.

Just go to YouTube and search Fox Sports Radio. Hit that subscribe button and smash that notification bell, and catch all the videos from your favorite shows. Two pros and a cup of jump. and Patrick, Colin Cowherd, Stu Gads and Company, live, Kavino and Rich, the odd couple with Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington,

the Jason Smith show with Mike Harmon, and the Ben Mallor show, Fox Sports Radio, on YouTube, subscribe, hit that thumbs up icon, and comment away. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what, we have some big news. What's the news, 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 us. We're the first people to do podcasts. A 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. Oh, 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, 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. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL'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. 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 happens.

happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back.

Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levin this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life.

Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Heads exploding all over Los Angeles. The Lakers can get Janus without giving up Austin Reeves. It's a real thing. We'll see if it happens. Let's go to Rachel Nichols with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the Heard Line News.

All right, Jason, yesterday you predicted a Nick Spurs finals. Yes. Some people on the internet may have thought that was a hot take. But guess who agrees with you? Victor Webinyama says that he doesn't think that the Spurs are ahead of schedule. He thinks they're exactly where they should be. He thinks they've been putting in the work. They have the personnel and they deserve to be where they are as a contender.

So you know I'm super high on Wemby. I know you're high in the Spurs. But I do want to add, Jason, the last time San Antonio won a playoff series was 2017. So you know the old NBA wisdom adage, right? You got to get beat up in the playoffs a little bit. You got to get that experience before you can actually get to a final or win a title. Do you think that's true for this Wembey-led Spurs team? Or do you think they can just skip steps?

Well, my problem is I just said the Pistons. Yes, you did. I don't want to playoff series since 2008. I don't see them happening. Yet here I am saying the Spurs are going to the finals. A little twisted logic. Sorry, it's Friday. But Rachel, I'm going to be honest.

It's like I watched the Spurs kick the Thunders butt four times this season. And three of them were in, I think, the span of two weeks or something like that. I'm a huge Kay Cunningham fan. He's not wendy. He's not wemmy. I'm sorry. That means they beat the Knicks. I think a lot of that's revenge.

I just, I believe in the Spurs team. So you go to a lot of Lakers games. And there was a Deeran Fox highlight there where he goes reverse. I think you could see me in the background. We had good seats that night. Yeah, this highlight right here. I'm like right behind the hoop there. I watch Castle, like closely.

He is the most confident player in the NBA. You just watch him walking around. He's low-key, no rah-rah energy. And then you watch him on the court, and he moves so smoothly. I think he's one of the best defenders. Yeah. Like, I'm an NBA jersey guy. I'll wear jerseys to, like, the grocery store because I'm a nerd.

I kind of want a castle jersey. I think he's that good. You watch him lock up SGA. Yeah. I'm like, we got Wemby on the back line. Well, look, the spurs are top seven in both offense, and defense. Wow.

And usually the idea is if you're top 10 in both of those things, you have a chance to win a title. So that's kind of the wisdom around. I think I saw Nuggets are 24th in defense? Yeah. Lakers are 23rd maybe. Now, Nuggets have had injuries. Yeah. But the Spurs are so hard to gauge because of all the injury issues they've had.

But Spurs also 17th hardest strength of schedule, which matters because that means their seating is going to be propped up a little bit even more. And they'll have more of that chance. You said they might get a number one seed. They could, depending on. They're two and a half out maybe right now. I am just curious. I can't think of a parallel of a young team like this, not making the playoffs to go to the finals.

I know you're an NBA historian. Even those Orlando teams with Shaq and Nick Anderson. What did that Oklahoma City team with Durant, Hardin, Russ? What did they do the year before? I don't remember. I want to say they smoked the Lakers and it was like a 4-0. I think. The year before?

I think. Before they went to the finals against the heat. I'm not 100% sure on that. They're all bluds together. Yeah. Don't call me out on that. Go ahead. There you go.

But again, no one's had Wemby. Nobody's had Wemby. You love Wembe. I do. Is you your favorite player in the league right now? I mean, favorite? No, but is he the one I think with the brightest future I've seen in a very, very long time since LeBron was drafted? Yes, absolutely.

I think he is going to be a top 10 player of all time. Who's getting booted from the top 10, Rachel? Who's getting out? Larry Bird going to kick it to the curb? I mean, you know. Kobe? I'm just saying. Okay. I like it. All right. Let's talk a little football again. New Falcons team president of football.

Matt Ryan asked about his quarterback, Michael Pennix. Michael's future with the team, take a listen here. I have had the opportunity to sit with Michael. And, you know, number one, how do we bring them along? Hey, man, you get healthy first, right? And Rich, you know this. Bruce, you know this. Like, the first thing you got to do is get yourself in a play. where we can practice and do that.

So job number one for Michael is to keep doing exactly what he's doing. He's been in our building, you know, doing his rehab. He's in a good place right now. All right. So Pennix, third year of his rookie deal that puts him in line with Caleb Williams, Jane Daniels, Drake May. Those guys have had success, right? So are we at put up or shut up time for Pennix at this point?

I liked him a lot coming out of Washington. He had an injury history. Yeah. Can you pencil him in as a starter? Was it an ACL that he suffered? I don't even know if he's going to be ready for week one. Well, okay, so that's the question, by the way. You earlier in the show put up this list of available quarterbacks.

If he is the starter, if he's ready to go, what do you then do with Kirk Cousins who says he only wants to be a starter? And by the way, the whole Shanahan McVeigh-Tree loves Kirk Cousins. So people will want him. So there's a lot riding on Penn &, his health here, right? It's not just... Those numbers they put on the screen, not great.

Now, it's only 12 games. You can't really say he's a... Like, J.J. McCarthy is literally a young quarterback. I think he was the... I don't know if he was the youngest starter in the league last year because so many guys filled in. Yeah, yeah. But he's, you know, very young.

Pennix? He's like mid-20s already. Falcons have missed the playoffs eight street seasons. They haven't won the division in nine street seasons. And Stifanski, by the way, kind of walked out of Cleveland with everyone saying, it's them, it's not you. Right? But now he's walking into a situation where, again, there's a question around the quarterback.

And this is a team that hasn't had success in a while. So I'm just- They got players. London's great. Oh, absolutely. John's awesome. We'll see if Kyle Pitts gets the tag. I like that team. Yeah. I don't know. All right. Let's talk a little college ball. Kurt Signetti. He has taken the college football world by Storm Jason, including, of course, winning the national championship against Miami. This is crazy. I knew this, like, in general, but the actual number is 27 and two since. taking the job. And now he's going to be rewarded with a salary that is jumping from 11.6 million

to 13.2 million. And that is because his original contract, he didn't have to renegotiate this. This was in the original contract. It's called a good market faith review. So if he made even the semis of the playoffs this year, he would have gotten that bump and he did more than make the semis. By the way, the 13.2 million ties him for the highest paid coach in college football. And you can see the list right there. So what do you think? Deserved? Do you have that in your contract?

A good market faith review? Can I get one of those? I got to talk to my agent. Three years ago, nobody knew who Kurt Signetti was. Except for me because he coached JMU where I graduated. Holy cow, that's amazing. All right. So do you like that?

I mean, to me. 27 and 2. They won the first national title in school history, right? First outright Big 10 title since 1945. You were worth a guy. I mean, look at the other people on that list. Giving the money. I like Kirby Smart, but, I mean,

And he's had a rough couple years since those back-to-back titles in 21, 22 seasons. He has. Yeah, right? Mark Cuban's writing checks. They're fine. Yeah. Rachel Nichols with the News. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Herdline News. Coming up next, it's Friday. Tomorrow's headlines today. Stick and stay. Jason and Rachel here on 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 IHard Radio app.

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 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 people could call in and say hey Jonas and then I wrote down on my little note pad hey Jonas and offered it up as a potential title oh but thanks for remembering that guys 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, S&L'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. 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. Genshin win. I mean, she went down at three to Roebuckina, but I'm delighted. Yeah, 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. call it grotesque, others say it's unleashing human potential. Either

way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard 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 athletes 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 action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. All right. It's Friday, baby. It is Friday. It's a power hour. I mean, we're just...

We're getting through it, folks. You guys know tomorrow's headlines today. You know the drill. Rachel is going to tee me up, and I'm going to read these. We're having fun here. I'm not going to lie. Cowherds doing whatever he's doing on a, he's having boat drinks somewhere. He won't, it's parts unknown.

So let's go. Tomorrow's headlines today. Here we go. All right. L.A. Little weather forecast drama. But we have you, Jason McIntyre. You to give us the sports forecast.

I feel like I'm on an infomerosure hail. NBA, NFL. You might not know what's going to be. on, but I have the answer for you. It's Jason McIntyre with tomorrow's headlines today. Done, done, done, done, done. How's that? That was good, right?

I'm nervous now because you're crushing. It dices, it slices, it slices. It predicts the headlines. All right, what is the headline, Jason, for Tyreek Hill next season? So I thought I had a great read on this. James Palmer comes on. It's like, I don't know, he might just wait till mid-season. The headline for Tyreek Hill next season will be.

Viva Velocity. Cheetah bets it all on Silver. and black. I think there's a good opportunity that he goes to Vegas, partners up with Fernando Mendoza, indoor facility in Vegas, and is able to cook on turf. I mean, they're going to need receivers, Rachel, they got nobody. It's Brock Bowers, Ashton Genti, they'll probably draft a receiver, Tyreek to stretch the field. I don't think it's the worst fit in the world. And a bonus for Tyreek, he gets revenge on the Chiefs. Right. And he gets revenge on Mike McDaniel. I thought they had a friendship, but apparently it was not good behind the scenes if you talk to people. He gets

revenge on Mike McDaniel and the Chargers, and maybe the Raiders play spoiler with Tyree Kill on the outside. I've heard a little buffalo rumblings. Oh. Right? Because obviously they need wide receiver help. There is recently a story that a sneaky destination might be the ramps. I'm not sure if I see that, but that's out there with some of the reporting.

I don't know. So your headline is the Raiders. All right. Let's keep going with tomorrow's headlines. Today, Jason, boom. What will the headline be for Derek Carr next? season. So I wanted to slander this guy because he's like, I'm not coming back for the Jets, which is disrespectful. We didn't want you for us. The headline for Derek Carr, next season

will be used car sale, Vikes Ditch Lemon for all reliable. I do think there's a world where they go outside the box and say, yeah, Carr, you haven't played in a couple years? Come on down. We need you to push our guy, J.J. McCarthy. And by all accounts, the GM was McCarthy's guy. He's now been moved out. Kevin O'Connell, we'll see if he's lukewarm on McCarthy. I think Derek Carr could go to Minnesota and he might have a chance. And listen, that's a big upgrade. You go there throwing a Justin Jefferson, that backfield, that offensive line and that play caller?

I think it could work. You like Carr better than Kyler Murray if he's available? I'm really low on Kyler Murray. Okay. Yeah. All right. We'll see what else your tomorrow's headlines today bring us. Come on.

Give me the... There we go. My infomercial is looking good right now. I want to know what the headline will be. Let's go down to my ad. Ami, Tua, you know. Yeah. Tua, hey, you had a good run in Miami, but it feels like it's over.

The contract is just huge. Yeah, it's an albatross. They're entering the Quinn Uer's era or some other guy. The headline for Tua Tunga by Lowa will be. Tua fast. Tua furious. Finn Diesel finds his new full amy. How about that?

Do you like that? Tua to the Colts? Can I interest you in? Hey, Daniel Jones is coming off a major injury. He's going to miss half the season. We need somebody, Anthony Richardson ain't that dude. We need somebody to come in and kind of steer the ship. We need somebody else who has a lot of injury issues.

Yes, that is certainly one way to look at it. You know, I think the offense can work with two. He's going to, they got guys. I'm like Michael Pittman. They got good tight ends. They got good wide receivers. I like this team. Colts should have made the playoffs last season.

Yeah, I mean, obviously injuries got in the way. All right. Now for the next tomorrow's headlines today. Dun, done, done. I'm going to ask you the question. You've been asking me and Johan and everyone else around here. What do you think the headline for LeBron is going to be next season? Okay.

You know he's my guy. This headline is not exactly positive, but the headline for LeBron James. Next season will be Le Blue Light Special. Crown comes at royal discount. Oh, no. They did it to LeBron. But listen, Rachel, we know. this. He ain't doing 50 million. Nobody's paying him on the cheap. I think there's value. He's

averaging 22, 7 and 5-ish. Those are great numbers. Go back to the Lakers on the cheap. Try to win a title. This might have been your easiest prognostication. I just don't like Blue Light Special attribute to LeBron. I mean, you like the Crown Royal reference, though. I do like the Crown Royal. Yes, yes. There you go. All right. Let's check on on our last tomorrow's headlines today. Done, done, done. Give me the slicer and dice. on where Janus will be next season, my friends. You know, I try to only sing in the shower. But the headline for Janus will be Bear Lakered ladies.

It's been one Greek since you looked at me. How about it, Rachel? Come on. I tried my best, Janus to the Lakers. I know you guys love the Bear Naked Ladies. Obviously, a great group. But I think this is just too perfect. This just became the most troubling part of my week with you singing that line.

Singing, yes. Yeah, I try not to sing in public. In the car with the windows down, I'm fine. Look, Janice has to want it, right? Because Yovan just said it. They're not going to have necessarily the best trade package. But look, Janus is a very, very smart and savvy agent. And he is aware that where you are going to and what they have left is a big deal.

And so therefore, Janus, if he doesn't accept an extension with the books, he is going to have to put his foot down and dictate where he wants to go. And look, this guy has made $338 million in his career. He's made more than $100 million off the court. And by the way, I think that's a low number because he's also got investment money where he's made some really smart things. He has everything. He has a title. He has MVP's. He wants to go do this one thing. He wants to go play in a competitive situation again, possibly win another title. And he is going to be able to dictate out now that we're waiting until this summer, the best place to do that. So if he thinks that's the Lakers, then look, he can steer them into not only going there, but not having to give up as much for him. Because if he says, look, that's the only place I'm going to sign an extension. Nobody's going to give the bucks very much for him. So remember Carmelo Anthony was in Denver? I do remember Carmelo Anthony.

I want to go to New York. Yeah. If he had just waited until the off season, New York would have had more resources once he got there. Yes. And they didn't, I don't, I think they got to one second round, maybe conference finals? Yeah. It just never happened because you didn't have the dudes. Hopefully, Janus learned the lesson by watching Mello.

Do you think the Lakers would be hated if they got Yannis and Luca? I mean, I think people who hate the Lakers will always hate the Lakers, no? It's fair. Boston Fian. I'm just talking like casual. who were like, this is not fair. They got Luca. That was just a dumb trade by Nico Harrison. I mean, look, here's

what's amazing is that I think Dave McBanman reported that if they don't get Janus, their next target would be Peyton Watson. So come on. Payton has had a great season, but I mean, that's quite a difference. I mean, I thought you're going to say Walker Kessler. We need a rim protect. I said we. I know people hate that.

Because I don't know if DeAndre Aten's that guy. Peyton Watson? I'm just... Contract theory is cooking from three? I like the guy a lot. You know, like UCLA. You should talk to the coach, find out what he was like there. No. Not amazing.

He's playing good this year. Yeah, yeah. Janice would be better. Yeah. I'm just saying, that's my expert decades of NBA analysis for you. Understatement of the year. All right. That's it for us.

Cowherd, back Monday. Thanks to everyone who watched and enjoyed Rachel and I having fun. Enjoy the weekend. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick.

And guess what? 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, unhumored me with Robert Smigel and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL'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. The story I told myself can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to. who sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown

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. This season on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler,

we have some fantastic guests like Amelia Clark. When like young people come up to me and they want to be an actor or whatever, and my first thing is always, can you think of anything else that you can do? You'd rather be disappointed in. Do that. David O'Yello. I love this podcast, whether it's therapy or relationships or religion or sex or addiction or you just go straight for the guts.

Dennis Leary, Gaten Moderato from Stranger Things. Manjou, Camilla Marone, Carrie Kenny Silver, and more. Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.