November 29, 2018 • 42 mins
Colin thinks the worst case scenario for the Cowboys could be beating the Saints and explains why. He discusses why he is now not the only one being critical of Aaron Rodgers in the media. Plus, Greg Cosell of NFL Films talks about why the Saints offense is so good and why he thinks Baker Mayfield will be a long term success in the NFL. Presented by Perky Jerky
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of Herd podcast. Be
sure to catch us live every weekday from twelve to
three eastern, nine to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and FS one. Find your local station for The Herd
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. This
is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowhern on
Fox Sports Radio. Ah, this is the Herd Cowboys Saints Tonight.
(00:26):
Wherever you may be, and however you're maybe listening live
in Los Angeles iHeartRadio, Fox Sports Radio and f s one.
Joy Taylor is joining me, Cowboys, host of Saints Tonight.
Good morning, the biggest night of his life. I'll explain
this in a second. Yeah, I'm curious. Yes, I want
to talk about today, Joy and Greg Kosell One Hour
(00:47):
from Now, which is the most objective, film driven fifteen
minutes of football on TVA radio anywhere in America. You
just get smarter, whether you play fantasy at Bettett or
just love football. In one hour, Greg Cell, the power
of one. I want to talk about this for a minute.
The power of one. You can live a life, be
a solid citizen, but one moment, one play, one line
(01:11):
can change everything. Al Michaels was a very good sportscaster.
Do you believe in miracles? Yes? Changed everything. Dwight Clark,
the late Great Dwight Clark, was an excellent receiver. The
catch changed everything. Sylvester Stallone had three hundred dollars in
his pocket, but he had the script Rocky for twenty years,
(01:34):
one of the richest guys in Hollywood. One moment, one
play can change everything from at the time good to
ordinary people. Dak Prescott wins tonight, He's going to get
twenty eight to thirty million dollars from the Dallas Cowboys.
That's not good. The six highest paid quarterbacks in the
(01:55):
NFL right now do not lead their division. They don't
can't win that way. Breeze Brady Ben taking pay cuts.
The other five division leaders are teams with quarterbacks on
rookie deals. But he's gonna get twenty eight to thirty
if he wins tonight. Because let's pretend I'm Dak Prescott's agent.
(02:20):
I've already got this in my favor. Thirteen and three
is a rookie. Tony Romo got hurt. We saved the franchise. Jerry,
that's worth something. I already got that franchise was dead.
My guy saved a franchise. That's got to be worth
one hundred million dollars. Jerry. I already got that, and
Jerry knows it's true. Jerry can't argue that franchise Dak
(02:43):
saved it. I can also say this, my quarterback never
had a losing season. Drew Breese can't say that. My
guys never had a losing season. It's the truth. The
agent can also say, if Dak wins tonight, another division
title within our sights. Jerry's like three years, two division titles.
(03:08):
Here's the other if he beats the MVP to night,
Drew Brees. Do you realize if Dak wins tonight over
the last three seasons, he will be the third winningest
quarterback in the league Brady Ben and Dak. He will
break the tie with Drew Brees tonight. This is not
(03:29):
only a big night for the Dallas Cowboys, it's a
big night for Dak and his agent. Okay, we know
he's the future of the Cowboys, right We know that.
Everybody knows that. We know he's Jerry keeps saying he's
our guy. If he wins tonight, he's gonna be our
guy making twenty eight million a year. And you do
not want Dak, who by most accounts statistically is about
(03:53):
somewhere between the eighteenth and twenty second best quarterback in
the NFL. You don't want him making Kirk Cousins money,
but he's gonna have the leverage the power of one.
Joe Flacco won a super Bowl. They were trapped. They
had to overpay him. Now that's a super Bowl. But
let me remind you of two quarterbacks who are not
as talented as Dak. Ryan Fitzpatrick had a three hundred
(04:18):
and seventy yard passing game to beat New England, and
they gave him fifty nine million dollars in Buffalo. They
felt trapped. Ryan Fitzpatrick is not as good, in my opinion,
as Dak. Prescott Matt Flynn had a six touchdown game
a career backup, and the Seattle Seahawks twenty million bucks.
(04:39):
They're not as talented as Dack. They're not winning division
titles like Dak. They're not guys who are thirteen and
three as rookies. Dak beats Breeze tonight. The power of
one one catch, one call, one moment, one game, one win.
I've seen lesser quarterbacks get it. The leverage is gonna
(05:00):
be if, if if Dak wins Tonight over Drew Brees,
then next week when Dak Prescott plays for our TV audience,
he should switch helmets and he should go out and
just have that in his helmet a dollar sign, because
he's gonna get whatever he wants. He's gonna have all
these arguments and the final one's gonna be kidding me.
(05:21):
My client went toe to toe with Drew Brees. Jared
Goff couldn't beat him. Sorry, Joe Flacco couldn't beat him.
I know what, the my guy beat him. Huge. The
power of one huge night for Dak the Cowboys their
future tonight. Let me shift to this. Speaking of quarterbacks,
(05:46):
there are three quarterbacks in this league NFL, very talented,
varying levels of talent, but they're all either gonna be
Hall of Famers or gonna get in the discussion. Cam Newton,
Big Ben and Aaron Rodgers. They're dramatic, and the people
who love Big Ben, Cam and Aaron Rodgers always defend them. Well,
it's a coach's fault. It's a running back's fault, his
(06:07):
organization's fault. It's a GAM's fault. And by the way,
they're all very, very good, but they're all really, really,
really dramatic, and stories tend to linger with them. You know,
you have a little story. Eight days later, I'm forced
to keep talking about the story. Quarterbacks should be fire extinguishers,
(06:29):
not gasoline. So Big Ben through a pick Sunday. It's Thursday,
and he's still talking about it, forcing me to talk
about it. Here he was yesterday about the criticism of
teammates on the interception. I think that I've earned the
right to be able to do that with as long
(06:50):
as I've been here, and you know it's and I'll
be just a scriticle myself as well in front of
you guys as well, being around for a long time,
dealing with a lot of different players, you know, I've
you have to know how to motivate different guys in
different ways, and I think that's part of being a leader,
of being a captain, just understanding players and so sometimes
(07:10):
you just grab them off to the side, and sometimes
you have to be honest with them. Why are we
still talking about this interception? It's Thursday? Can we stop
talking about this interception. Ben You're too dramatic. Cam You're
too dramatic. Aaron Rogers, You're too dramatic. Stuff Lingers. Now
(07:31):
you know how I feel about quarterbacks. I have my
four favorite in the NFL. I call him the bore four.
Nothing Lingers, Stories die, Luck, Brady Breeze, Russell Wilson. They
take a bullet. It's on me. Potential stories end. Football
is really hard. Football so hard that even football practice
is hard. Baseball practice isn't hard. Basketball practice isn't hard.
(07:54):
Soccer practice isn't hard. Football practice is hard. So I
like my quarter backs to be fire extinguishers, not gasoline
extinguish things. That's why my favorite four guys in the league,
I call them the bore four, are Brady Breeze, Russell Wilson,
and Luck. But just think about if you don't think
noise is a big deal. Football is hard enough. Distractions
(08:18):
make it harder. So I like quarterbacks who are quiet
and end stories. Let me give you, in my opinion,
the six noisiest teams in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers
are the noisiest team in the NFL. Would it be
fair to say Joyer from Pittsburgh. They have underachieved over
the last five years as they've got noisier, only because
(08:38):
the expectations in Pittsburgh art championship, because they have Pro Bowls. Yeah,
they go Hall of Famers, everyone in the roster. Yes,
So they've underachieved that. That's the noisiest team in the league.
Here's the second noisiest team, although they are getting quieter
this year, the Seattle Seahawks Politics, ESPN, the magazine articles
ripping Russell Wilson, kombay Yah Star, Seattle Seahawks Dynasty Blue.
(09:00):
By the way, they're getting very quiet this year. They're
playing well. Third noisiest team, Philadelphia dog Masks, Politics, Big Talkers,
having the worst year ever for a Super Bowl champ. Jacksonville.
Oh my bad, Saxonville. I mean, didn't we think this
window is gonna be like eight, nine, ten years. It's over.
(09:22):
They're an absolute disaster. The fifth noisiest team and further record,
when they were winning Super Bowls, they had stars, not
a peep the New York Giants. New York Giants had
become incredibly noisy. Controversies receivers and wedding kicking nets, wedding proposals, controversies.
(09:48):
New York Giants used to be quiet and win. Now
they're noisy and lose. And the sixth noisiest team in
the league, in my opinion, is Green Bay. I mean,
good God, there's another story out today about Aaron Rodgers.
There's a story after story after story. Six noisiest teams
in the league. For the record, some of the most
talented Pittsburgh, Seattle, Philadelphia, Jacksonville Giants, Packers all are underachieving.
(10:13):
Seattle just got quiet in the last few months, having
a good gear. Let me tell you who's quiet in
the NFL. These teams have stars. They're never in the news.
The La Rams, the Kansas City Chiefs, the New Orleans Saints,
the Indianapolis Colts, and now that football started, the New
(10:34):
England Patriots. Football's hard. Football practice is hard. Noise makes
it harder. And for the record, as much as I
like Big Ben, he is part of this. Lavan Bell
was a big component to the noise. Lavian Bell left
(10:55):
and they're still noisy. They're still noisy. That's on Ben.
Think about the six noisiest teams in this league. They
got some of the best players, and then think about
the six quietest teams, good quiet teams. I never hear
Saint stories. I don't hear chief stories. I don't hear
rams stories like my quarterbacks take a bullet on me,
(11:22):
bring it down. Jason whitlock On speak for yourself this
week said he's just ripping his teammates on the interception
it made him sick. I've earned the right after I
throw the interception that costs us the game, I've earned
the right to call out my teammates. This is the
head coach's job. He just threw an interception too, a
(11:44):
defensive tackle on the goal line when the wide receivers covered,
and afterwards it was flucis play luckiest thing that ever happened.
He didn't take any ownership or accountability for that. I've
defended Big Ben, but I'm gonna be critical at Aaron
Rodgers for the drama, and I'm gonna be critical at
Cam Newton for the drama. I gotta be fair and
(12:06):
critical a Big Ben. It's Thursday, and this story, this
pick is lingering for a fourth day. Labian Bell's gone, Dude,
that's on. You be sure to catch live editions of
The Herd weekdays and noon Easter ninety em Pacific. Okay,
here's a story that came out. Oh. In fact, it's
(12:26):
interesting two big stars in the NBA. Same story came
out Scout report that Lebron has been ignoring Loot Walton's
play calls. Oh. Also, this morning, this story breaks. Russell
Westbrook has no interest in Billy Donovan's play calls. I
swear to god, they both broke this morning. Now, Lebron,
I trust him. He has a history of elevating teammates Westbrook.
(12:49):
I don't trust players get better when they leave him.
But I don't want to talk about Westbrook. I want
to talk about Lebron, not a gains Westbrook. He's great,
But I want to talk about Lebron. Here there are
three separate times. Now I've seen this with Lebron. You
didn't see it initially in Cleveland, that he would ignore
the coach, But I saw it in Miami. For the
(13:13):
first year and a half, he did not listen to Spoelstra,
a young, inexperienced coach. Then he won the title in
Miami and he was easier to coach. Then he went
to Cleveland. David Blatt, inexperienced NBA coach. He didn't listen
to David Platt. Then he won a title in Cleveland,
(13:36):
and then he became easier to coach. And now he's
with the Lakers, third inexperienced and young coach and he's
not listening to Luke Walton now. In the first two instances,
he becomes very difficult to coach when he moves to
a new city and he knows the spotlight in sports
(13:59):
is on him. In Miami, pressure gotta Winde, Wade, Bosh, Lebron.
He was really tough to coach those first couple of years.
Then he won the title and we never heard about
his difficult to coach. He left Miami, but it was
more about pat Riley than Spoelstra. Then he goes to
Cleveland and he's very difficult on David Black to coach,
(14:21):
wins a title. He and Tyler were boys. He didn't
leave Cleveland because of tylu He left because of Dan Gilbert.
And here we go for the third time in Los Angeles.
A lot of pressure, but the question remains if he
doesn't win a title in Los Angeles and they are
not going to win with this roster and the people
(14:45):
they want. Kevin Durant Anthony Davis, Clay Thompson. They're not
available for a minimum of one year. Right, who loses here,
Luke Walton, Remember, Lebron's gonna get a pass this year
because he's the new guy. And Magic's gonna get a
pass this year because he got Lebron here. Luke Walton
(15:08):
gets no pass. So I have seen this Lebron for
the third time. Didn't see it initially in Cleveland, but
once he went to Miami and knew the world was
watching increased pressure under a microscope. Brutal to coach won
a title. He's the easier to coach. Lebron left because O'Riley,
(15:32):
that's Bolster goes to Cleveland, brutal to coach that a
winning record. David Black get him out of here. Tye
comes in, wins, leaves town, but not because the Tie
still loves Tie, leaves because of Gilbert. Now he moved
to Los Angeles. And according to this quote, when James
is running the point, he doesn't look toward the bench
to take calls from Luke even when he's seen them,
(15:52):
ignores him, runs the players he wants. Luke has adjusted,
and now James is running the show. Walton will typically
just let Lebron call the game. It's Lebron James being
Lebron James, and to that I would say yes, But
it is heightened when he moves to a new city
and he's under the microscope. Now, if he wins a
title in Los Angeles, I'm arguing here, he lightens up
(16:18):
third place, won a title, legacy set, they'll be increased
conversation of greatest ever. But until that time, the guy
in the crosshairs, Luke Walton Spolstra would have been fired,
but he won a title. David Blatt was fired, Tyron
Luke came in. This is problematic for Luke Walton because
(16:42):
they're not close to winning a title. I don't think
they're bad. I think they're kind of good. I think
they'll get the fifty wins, but they need another piece,
and those pieces are all year out, except of course,
the one piece. I like Bradley Beale, but nobody wants
that move one more Herd. The Herd streams twenty four
hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app.
Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaking of drama, we're talking about Baker and Big band,
(17:05):
and you know, let's talk about Aaron Rodgers here, so yesterday,
people are starting to now now, for years and years
Joys knew on the show, right, but for years and
years at the old place and at FS one in
Fox Sports, I've been the one national voice that has
been critical of Aaron Rodgers. He didn't like me. He's
(17:25):
told people he didn't like me. That's okay, nice, still great, Right,
But I'm driving into work now. I've been driving into
work for the last four days, and for the first
time in a decade, I'm hearing this you know, by
radio host by TV hosts, first time in a decade.
(17:47):
I've been on this for five years. Got a lot
of heat for first time in a decade this week,
four days, heard at the game this morning. Isn't some
of this Aaron Rodgers fault? You know? Well, well, why
is everybody else get blamed? It's turning The narrative is,
by the way, this is what you did with Westbrook forever,
I get no pushback on Westbrook anymore. People have come
(18:08):
to realize Westbrook's hard to play with. Coaches, stars, teammates,
Victor oladiebo got better, Durank got better, Harden got better. People.
I don't get any pushback on Westbrook anymore. People have said,
by the way, I don't get a lot of pushback
on Aaron Rodgers in the last two weeks. I don't
get a lot of pushback. People are like he's difficult.
(18:29):
So yesterday there was an article written about him, and
the article says the Packers quarterbacks completed only sixty two
percent of his passes, would rank as the second lowest
of his career. He's missed his target on twenty one
percent of his attempts, which is above the NFL average.
He is missing throws he usually makes. Now people are
saying his mechanics are bad. Here's what Aaron Rodgers said
(18:52):
to that. I don't think I need to respond about fundamentals.
I mean I enjoy the fundamentals. That's what I's throw
I've played. I'm not playing any different this year. Just
we're not completing as many fast as percentage was. I
listened to my quarterback coach and my offensive quarter in
my head coach, and I study myself. You know, I'm
(19:13):
very critical of my own film, and I'm not playing
in differently fundamental wise, So you can't have it both ways.
He can't love it when it's a certain way, and
then critique of when it's the other way, Well, we can, actually,
But here's the thing. What is Aaron Rodgers right now?
Tom Brady's the goat, Drew Brees gummy the MVP, Patrick
(19:36):
Mahomes is the next big thing, and Andrew Loucks absolutely
the comeback player of the year. Last eight stories on
Aaron Rodgers negative coach Aaron Aaron coach GM time Montgomery.
What is he? He's not the next big thing, He's
no longer the goat, he's not the MVP. He's not
(19:59):
the comeback player of the year. He's not Big Ben
leading a unbelievably gifted offense to potentially a number one seat.
What is he? What he is now is expensive, difficult
with a great arm. Do you realize since that dazzling
throw to Jared Cook to beat the Dallas Cowboys, remember
that play? Amazing? It was all Hail Caesar. Since this
(20:23):
remarkable play that resulted in a win, Green Bay's eleven
sixteen and one, that's it. They're eleven sixteen and one
and three and twelve on the road with the mind
is ninety point differential now I want you to think
(20:44):
about this. If I said to you, great arm but
doesn't win enough questionable mechanics, that's Matt Stafford today, this morning,
this year, Aaron Rodgers is closer to Matt's Stafford than
Drew Brees. And forget Tom Brady. The trophy case is
too large. He's eleven sixteen and one. Since that, the
(21:07):
Packers are They're three and twelve in the road and
a minus ninety point differential. And for the first time,
and I've been doing this for thirty years, the last ten,
for the first time this week I turn on the
radio and the Golden Boy, the Gifted one. The narrative
is changing. Goat no MVP, no next great thing, no difficult,
(21:34):
expensive with a really great arm. That's what it's becoming.
Some of it's on him Westbrook. A lot of it's
on him. Doesn't happen to all NBA players. Keeps happening
to Westbrook. People get better when they leave him. Keeps
(21:54):
happening to Aaron Rodgers. Brothers calling him out, teammates calling
him out, McCarthy telling people close to him calling him out.
Eleven sixteen and one's what Green Bay is. Since that
dazzling play. That's it. Be sure to catch live editions
of The Herd weekdays in noon Easter nine am Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeart Radio
(22:16):
A Greg Cosell thirty plus years NFL films. Lets let's
talk about the other Texas team for a second. They
just played on Monday night at the Houston Texans. Deshaun
Watson a little bit. I'm an enigma Greg. Coming out
of college, I liked him, but you know, he made
Clemson a good program better. He's now in an eight
(22:36):
game winning streak, and this has been a good roster
for years. He's clearly taken the roster to a different spot.
What does the films say on de Shaun Watson? What's
he doing better this year? Well, I think first of all,
you have to look at the way they've chosen to
play over the last six games. He has not had
more than twenty five pass attempts collin in any of
the last six games. They've dialed back his dropbacks, which
(23:00):
is smart. First of all, their offensive line is below average. Yeah,
that's clear on tape. Secondly, Watson is still developing as
are a fine pocket quarterback. He's not at the point
in his career where he can help camouflage and compensate
for O line issues. So you need to dial back
his dropbacks. And that's what they've done, and they've run
the ball more and well, and they're playing to their
(23:22):
defense now. Watson still has the ability, obviously to make
improvisational second reaction plays, and I think he's a good
thrower of the football, but I think they understand that,
given where their O line is, and given where he
is in his development, that they needed to cut down
the number of times he dropped back. Yeah. I find
him really interesting to watch. I think he's fun. I
(23:44):
think he's kg and to your point, he's a good
thrower of the football. When he's got guys open, he
hits him. But he is a developing quarterback. And to
your point, the Texans see him as a developing quarterback.
Now here's a guy who's more developed. Andrew Luck was
great and then gets beat up and we don't know
what we're getting this year. I love the Colts. They're
(24:05):
very tight end centric. I think it's just what my
eyes tell me. He maybe not the most accurate thrower
of the football. He'll lead guys too much. He'll overthrow guys.
He's not the most accurate guy like Drew Brees, but
I got to tell you he's a tour divorce of everything.
The pre snap. I just watched this guy, Greg and
I think he's incredible. And I've been saying this for
(24:26):
eight years. Anything on tape jump this year, Oh well,
I've always thought Andrew luck was a really good player,
and beginning with when he came out. But I think
you just have to look really at the time touchdown
he threw this past week, call it. I mean, that
was a big time throw and it seeks to one
thing that I've always believed in when you evaluate quarterbacks.
(24:48):
I think at the NFL level, you need to be
aggressive as a passer. Now, there's always a balance. Obviously,
game situations dictate nature of throws, but I think if
you're going to reach the highest level, and that's what
we're talking about, then I think there are just times
when you need to really turn it loose and be aggressive.
And I think that touchdown he threw to Ebron for
(25:09):
twelve yards that tied it up late in that game
is a great example of that. That was a really
difficult zone throw and you've got to make those kinds
of throws in the NFL, and I think he's always
had that in his DNA. It's the reason every once
in a while he'll throw some picks. But I think
that as you gain more experience, I think you work
(25:29):
through that. I think that's really an in a quarterbacks DNA.
It's sort of inherent. It's very difficult to say to guys, hey,
you've got to turn it loose. And I think that's
one trait that he's always had. Lamar Jackson's better than
I thought. The question with running quarterbacks is sustainability. There's
a lot of things in this country. We fall for
(25:51):
RG three. I had pushback his rookie year. I said, okay,
he won Rookie of the Year, but I'm not sure
this style with his body type is sustainable. Tim Tebow
had a winning streak and I said, yeah, Matt Prader's
a great kicker. In their defense is keeping him in games?
I don't think Tebow's winning streak is sustainable. What do
you see on film from Lamorrow? There's a macro element
(26:11):
to this. There's a larger element. You have to decide
how you feel about the quarterback position in the NFL.
Can you be a high level quarterback? And don't forget
they traded up to get him in the first round.
Can you be a high level quarterback if you're not
a consistent throw over the football from the pocket? Now?
I think, and again, he's only started two games, so
this is not We're not discussing his career as a
(26:33):
whole here, but the question is can you be And
I'm sure there are people who now believe that, hey,
you don't have to be that with the influence of
the college game in the NFL. But if you believe,
as I do, that you still have to be able
to make throws from the pocket in the NFL to
be a really high level quarterback, then I'm not sure
(26:54):
that the nature of that offense right now is sustainable
unless he continues to significantly improve. And that's where the
ball placement issue comes into play. He's going to have
to get better at that. I let's shift to Baker Mayfield.
I said he's too accurate a thrower to be a bust.
I never said he'd be a bust. I said he'll
be a way better version of Case Keenan. But that's
(27:14):
what he is. I don't think he's breezes. I don't
think he's Russell Wilson. Now he's had it like a
three week stretch. How much of that stretch is Atlanta, Cincinnati,
Kansas City defense, which are dreadful. By the way, he
seems better now that Hugh Jackson and Todd Hailey are gone.
What's happened in the last month to elevate his play? Well,
we can agree to disagree on that, Colin, because I
(27:35):
think that actually that Maker Mayfield is going to be
a very very good quarterback. First of all, he has
a really good field vision, and that's something that's very
rare for a young player. He sees things extremely well,
and there's something he does that very few young quarterbacks do.
He has a great natural feel for two things, for
moving and manipulating the defense and zone coverage, and number
(27:59):
two for eliminating what's not there very quickly within the
timing of the play and then getting to what is there.
And those are two things that you rarely ever see
from young quarterbacks. And he's very very refined at that
for a first year player. In the last three weeks,
why has he jumped up? Because it since Haley left
(28:20):
and since you left, his numbers are better. Well, I
think they they've to me just watching the tape. I
think what they've done is they've done a lot more
of rhythm stuff, which is essentially what he is. Yes,
does he have the ability to move, He's sure he does.
But at his core he's a twitchy kid who with
a very quick drop and set, quick compact delivery, and
(28:41):
you want him to play in rhythm and he's very,
very accurate with the football. So I think they've done
a lot more of that and he's been very effective.
Tom Brady's numbers are not spectacular. They year in a
world where everything's a firework show. His numbers have been
very mundane, very average. Now they do have with Sony
(29:01):
Michelle and James White, a really nice tandem at running back,
maybe one of the better running back tandems. You know,
Is that why the numbers are down? Are they becoming
more run reliant? What do you see? Well? I think
they are more run reliant, particularly with Michelle when he's healthy.
He's carried the ball over twenty times in three games,
(29:21):
I think eighteen times in another game last week they
rushed for over two hundred yards for the first time
since twenty fourteen, and it'll be very interesting this week
in that game against Minnesota, where Minnesota has a very
good run defense, among the top five in the league.
But this is an offense that I think has sort
of transitioned a little bit. You never know with Bill Belichick,
(29:41):
but I don't think that Brady is at the stage
or their offense is at the stage where they're going
to come out, spread it out and have Brady dropped
back forty five times against that defense. I think they're
past that point. I don't think they can be that
effective as effective as they used to be doing that.
I think they're going to continue to stay with the
run game. Yeah. And by the way, I like Michelle
and I like James White, so it's a good time
(30:03):
to do it. They have good personnel back and Brex Burkhead,
so they got guys. Yeah. I would agree with you.
Dak Prescott the Amari Cooper trade, his numbers have gone up.
Is it mostly Amari? Well, you know, I think that
Cooper helps because Cooper can win one on one and
it certainly helps when you throw ten yard passes and
he takes it to the house. But at their core,
(30:25):
the Cowboys are an old school offense. And again, now
tonight's game is going to be the poster child for
people's worldview of the NFL, and it's going to be
one sample, not large enough to make any definitive opinion,
but people will because what you're going to do is
you have an old school offense. They're a run game
foundation with a high level back. We know that they're
an execution run game. So it's not a lot of
(30:46):
misdirection deception. You know, it's not yet sweep. It's basically,
let's line up and run the ball with a really
good back. And it's a very basic task game that
by NFL standards is somewhat remedial in elementary and when
you have really good players, that can work to some degree.
But that's what their offense is. And they played to
their defense and they played to their run game, and
(31:07):
that's so the question is can their defense be good
enough to hold the highest scoring team in the league,
let's say under thirty, which the Cowboys have not given
up in any game, And can their offense put up
enough points if they don't get you twenty yard passes
that become ninety yard touchdowns. Yeah? Yeah, I like New
Orleans by about ten before I get to the play
of the night. I thought one of the really interesting
(31:28):
games last week that was under the radar, and I
thought it was a really impressive win, Seattle coming back
to beat Carolina, Russell Wilson a couple of dimes late
in the game. You know, I like Russell more than
most people, and I don't like Cam as much as
most people. What did you think about the quarterback matchup
Cam and Russell last weekend? I thought, actually, they both
played really well. I thought Cam Newton played very well.
(31:49):
It might have been his best game of the season.
But that's lost because they lost. But I think Russell Wilson,
who was a continuation of the way he's playing this year.
Not a lot of running. He's playing more from the pocket,
and I think he's been far more efficient. They still
want to run the ball. I guess he can run
at times when he feels the need to, but he's
not doing that anywhere near as much, and therefore their
(32:11):
offense is playing far more within rhythm. It's more consistent
that way, it's more stable that way. And you know,
as we've probably discussed before, I think Mike Solari, their
on line coach, is as he's assistant coach of the Year.
I mean, he's doing an unbelievable job. It's the exact
for the most part, a lot of the same group
that they had in previous years, and they're playing very
(32:32):
very well. Yeah, they really are. Carson's been a really
good running back too. He's a Yeah, he's a grinder.
He fits what Pete Carroll wants. Yeah. Not spectacular, you know,
there's nothing special about him, but he is a grinder.
And if it's blocked for three, he gets six. And
that's the way you want your running game to be
as a sustaining run game. Greg Kosell plus thirty years
in the NFL film's business. Thanks man, appreciate it. Colin,
(32:54):
thank you. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Herd weekdays and Nooneaster, not a Empacific. Baker Mayfield one
offensive Player, Rookie offensive player, not offensive player, Rookie Offensive
Player of the Month. It's whatever. I don't blame Cleveland fans.
I mean Cleveland outside of Lebron's a hole. I mean,
Browns have been embarrassing. Indians have never won a title.
(33:15):
I mean it's you know, the Cavaliers are a joke
without Lebron, I don't. I don't blame Cleveland for going
Gaga over Baker Mayfield. I get it. Like they've whipped
in the last twenty quarterbacks. I totally get it. Right.
Their weather, it's not good. They're not glamorous. Rockefeller laugh
Steinreunner laughed, Lebron leaves twice. I get it. They're a
low self esteem sports city. I get it. And they're
(33:37):
just loving this whole Baker thing. I get it. I
totally get it. And he's been Colin he's better than
you thought. Well, I mean right now, he didn't start
the year and they haven't played their last five games,
which are a lot of road games against better defenses.
If he scales back, he is two years older than
all the other rookie quarterbacks, but twice as many college starts.
(33:57):
My feeling was always he's gonna be better sooner than
everybody else. But I don't think over twelve years he's
got the personality I want running my franchise. But he
is two years older double the college starts. There's no
question right now, he's more refined, He's played more of
this game called football. He stayed in college all five
years if he count the transfers. Here's what I don't
like though, He's a rookie NFL quarterback, not through his
(34:20):
first year, and he continues he's got three different coaches
he's already called out. So he called out Todd Hailey
this week, his first coordinator. Here we go, and when
it comes down to is we still have the same players.
That's what I said when everything was happening. We just
had to play better, you know what. You can put
your own spin on it. But we have the same players. Yeah,
(34:42):
we have people. We have people that we believe in
calling the place. Now, didn't have to really go there.
So he called out his first NFL coordinator, and three
times this week he's called out his first NFL head coach.
Here's one of the quotes. I didn't lose thirty plus games.
I wasn't fake. I wasn't going to have a scholarship
in college. Don't compare the good too good try though,
(35:05):
So now he's called out his first NFL coach. Didn't
have to go there. He's called out his first NFL
coordinator and oh, by the way, his first college coach,
Cliff Kingsbury, he called him out too. Once he came
to the program, got hurt. He felt he was ignored
by Kingsbury. I went from being the guy for coach Ingsbury,
(35:28):
and then when I got hurt, it just changed a
little bit, and not a little bit, a lot. All
of a sudden, it was as if I hadn't played
for him, hadn't done anything for him. It was just different.
That's where I got hurt. I've invested a lot into this,
and now you're telling me that you don't have a
scholarship for a guy that won you five games after
choosing to come here. That was the final straw for me. Again,
(35:51):
there's no reason to go here. Three times all I'm
saying now this stuff's all in his resume. And one
of the reasons I said, I am all about when
you draft a quarterback number one. I loved Carson Wentz,
I liked to Shaun Watson. You know, I loved Andrew Luck.
You know I'm pretty good on the quarterback thing. One
of the things I said is, you know he's older,
(36:13):
He's not going to fail completely. He's too accurate. But
is this twelve years of this stuff, because even people
who are more talented, Cam Rogers and Big Ben are
so dramatic. Those are the three most dramatic quarterbacks in
the league. Baker, who's not nearly as talented as Cam
big Ben or runchers noise overtime, wears people out. This
(36:35):
dude's not through his rookie year. He's called out his
first college coach. He's called out his first NFL coach,
He's called out his first NFL coordinator. It's all on
his resume now, I mean, this is his brand, like
he rips coaches. Well, in fairness, aren't all three of
them fired? By the way, there's a you could go
as a lot of coach has been fired that Brady's
(36:56):
worked for. McDaniels was a disaster. Bill O'Brien has not
been a home. Charlie Weiss wasn't at that. I'm not
saying that. Like, all I'm saying is it's you know,
Baker had an issue with them and they have all
been fired. I'm not saying that there's a collation to two.
But it's not like he's calling out Bill Belichick or
Nick Saban. But he's a rookie quarterback halfway through his starts.
(37:19):
Do you really gotta put this on your resume? I mean,
I for one. By the way, Andrew Luck his coach
got fired, You'll never know, but Angela doesn't say anything.
He's got a flip phone, wears velcro shoes. You know what,
simplify every I may buy velcro shoes. I'm actually for
that Steve Drop style. Yeah, I'm shocked that there's just
(37:39):
want your quarterback taking shots constantly at coaches. Oh, I
don't think it's necessary to take shots constantly at coaches.
But I think Hugh Jackson and Todd Haley just got fired.
That clings clings Kingsbury thing is old. It's just being
brought up now because you're using example. He rips people
all the time. Happened, But it's still if you rip people,
it goes on your resume. If I was ripping all
(38:00):
my bosses, then people could go back and say, oh,
it's not the first time colin seven years. But he
clearly does this. Whenever he is cross, he's going to
talk about what happened. But so did Hugh Jackson. Hugh
Jackson's not my franchise quarterback. I just don't want my
franchise quarterback being dramatic. Cam Is he's underachieved. Aaron Rodgers eleven,
(38:20):
sixteen and one Ben they've underachieved. I think, I think
football's hard. I think when you add but did you
think that Baker was going to come into the league
and be different than Baker is? I didn't think it'd
be this bad. I mean, by the way Hugh came
on the set, he wouldn't say a bad word about him,
wouldn't say a bad word about And when Hugh was
on the set, Baker hadn't been great when above didn't
rip him trying to be a nice guy. I'm not
(38:42):
into this stuff. One more Herd. The Herd streams twenty
four hours a day, seven days a week within the
iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand
whenever you'd like. After almost three hours, Colin apparently hasn't
gotten to the point yet quit holding out on us Cowherd.
It's the best for last. So Aaron Rodgers replaced Brett Farve.
(39:04):
You know, Brett Farve was so iconic and so beloved.
Aaron Rodgers came in and we didn't really know what
to expect. First year wasn't great. He was talented, but
not great. And then you know, for the rest of it,
he's been amazing, right, and he's been kind of the
Golden Boy, the talented arm a lot of national endorsements,
all earned by the way he's terrific. But I noticed,
and I said this earlier today driving into work the
(39:25):
last five or six days, especially since that lost in Minnesota,
you can tell that that branding is changing. People are
now not just me, I've been doing this for years,
but a lot of people, a lot of hosts radio
and TV, are like, you know what, some of this
is on Aaron. He's prickly, he can be condescending, he's difficult,
he's forcing the coach out, he's passive aggressive. So for
(39:46):
the first time, Aaron's the Golden Boys getting tarnished, the
Golden Boys being criticized, and his reputation has gone from talented, smart,
the great ad liber goat conversation to he's eleven sixteen
and one over his last two years, and he's difficult
(40:08):
and he can't get along with the coach and they're
not that fun to watch. And you know so, but
I thought to myself, you know, Joey, his new brand
is kind of prickly and kind of difficult and kind
of passive aggressive. But that doesn't mean if I was
his agent, he's still He's got a new brand, So
let's create commercials for the new Aaron Rodgers. It's not
(40:28):
the worst thing to have his brand. You way into
this agent role today. Yeah, so, I mean I'm than myself,
all right. I can create products that fit Aaron Rodgers
new personality that's been unveiled here for the holiday season.
Here's what I thought about just in time for the holidays,
Aaron Rodgers brand Rubik's cubes. You'll think they're really cool
(40:50):
at first, but then yell immediately grow tired of playing
with them. Now in stores, that is kind of a
good description of a Rubik's cube and Aaron. You kind
of get tired a plan with him. It's not terrible.
I think i'd buy that thing. Here's another one that
is totally on brand for Aaron just in time for
(41:11):
the holidays. Aaron Rodgers Grant mops. They'll clean up all
your messes unless you've fumbled in the fourth quarter like
some idiot. Now in stores. It's kind of a shot
of time. Montgomery, I don't know how about this one.
This one's on brand for Aaron and the packers. Okay,
(41:35):
just in time for the holidays. Aaron Rodgers brand desktop computers.
They're great when you're at home, but completely useless when
you're everywhere else, especially Minnesota. Now in stores, I mean,
that is incredibly accurate. If only all ads were as
accurate as that, No kidding, like that, you could name
that the Aaron Rodgers desktop computer. You could just forget Microsoft.
(41:57):
I mean, really, like desktops are so reliable at home,
they're not great in Minnesota. Yeah, yeah, and yeah, So
I think he's got a he's got a new brand, difficult,
little prickly. Uh. This one, I think for the holidays
is the best match. Just in time for the holidays.
Aaron Rodgers brand snuggies. Perfect for when you're curling up
(42:18):
on your couch in January, just like Aaron will be
doing now in store. That that was kind of a
cheap shot.
Thanks for listening to the Best of Herd podcast. Be
sure to catch us live every weekday from twelve to
three eastern, nine to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and FS one. Find your local station for The Herd
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. This
is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowhern on
Fox Sports Radio. Ah, this is the Herd Cowboys Saints Tonight.
(00:26):
Wherever you may be, and however you're maybe listening live
in Los Angeles iHeartRadio, Fox Sports Radio and f s one.
Joy Taylor is joining me, Cowboys, host of Saints Tonight.
Good morning, the biggest night of his life. I'll explain
this in a second. Yeah, I'm curious. Yes, I want
to talk about today, Joy and Greg Kosell One Hour
(00:47):
from Now, which is the most objective, film driven fifteen
minutes of football on TVA radio anywhere in America. You
just get smarter, whether you play fantasy at Bettett or
just love football. In one hour, Greg Cell, the power
of one. I want to talk about this for a minute.
The power of one. You can live a life, be
a solid citizen, but one moment, one play, one line
(01:11):
can change everything. Al Michaels was a very good sportscaster.
Do you believe in miracles? Yes? Changed everything. Dwight Clark,
the late Great Dwight Clark, was an excellent receiver. The
catch changed everything. Sylvester Stallone had three hundred dollars in
his pocket, but he had the script Rocky for twenty years,
(01:34):
one of the richest guys in Hollywood. One moment, one
play can change everything from at the time good to
ordinary people. Dak Prescott wins tonight, He's going to get
twenty eight to thirty million dollars from the Dallas Cowboys.
That's not good. The six highest paid quarterbacks in the
(01:55):
NFL right now do not lead their division. They don't
can't win that way. Breeze Brady Ben taking pay cuts.
The other five division leaders are teams with quarterbacks on
rookie deals. But he's gonna get twenty eight to thirty
if he wins tonight. Because let's pretend I'm Dak Prescott's agent.
(02:20):
I've already got this in my favor. Thirteen and three
is a rookie. Tony Romo got hurt. We saved the franchise. Jerry,
that's worth something. I already got that franchise was dead.
My guy saved a franchise. That's got to be worth
one hundred million dollars. Jerry. I already got that, and
Jerry knows it's true. Jerry can't argue that franchise Dak
(02:43):
saved it. I can also say this, my quarterback never
had a losing season. Drew Breese can't say that. My
guys never had a losing season. It's the truth. The
agent can also say, if Dak wins tonight, another division
title within our sights. Jerry's like three years, two division titles.
(03:08):
Here's the other if he beats the MVP to night,
Drew Brees. Do you realize if Dak wins tonight over
the last three seasons, he will be the third winningest
quarterback in the league Brady Ben and Dak. He will
break the tie with Drew Brees tonight. This is not
(03:29):
only a big night for the Dallas Cowboys, it's a
big night for Dak and his agent. Okay, we know
he's the future of the Cowboys, right We know that.
Everybody knows that. We know he's Jerry keeps saying he's
our guy. If he wins tonight, he's gonna be our
guy making twenty eight million a year. And you do
not want Dak, who by most accounts statistically is about
(03:53):
somewhere between the eighteenth and twenty second best quarterback in
the NFL. You don't want him making Kirk Cousins money,
but he's gonna have the leverage the power of one.
Joe Flacco won a super Bowl. They were trapped. They
had to overpay him. Now that's a super Bowl. But
let me remind you of two quarterbacks who are not
as talented as Dak. Ryan Fitzpatrick had a three hundred
(04:18):
and seventy yard passing game to beat New England, and
they gave him fifty nine million dollars in Buffalo. They
felt trapped. Ryan Fitzpatrick is not as good, in my opinion,
as Dak. Prescott Matt Flynn had a six touchdown game
a career backup, and the Seattle Seahawks twenty million bucks.
(04:39):
They're not as talented as Dack. They're not winning division
titles like Dak. They're not guys who are thirteen and
three as rookies. Dak beats Breeze tonight. The power of
one one catch, one call, one moment, one game, one win.
I've seen lesser quarterbacks get it. The leverage is gonna
(05:00):
be if, if if Dak wins Tonight over Drew Brees,
then next week when Dak Prescott plays for our TV audience,
he should switch helmets and he should go out and
just have that in his helmet a dollar sign, because
he's gonna get whatever he wants. He's gonna have all
these arguments and the final one's gonna be kidding me.
(05:21):
My client went toe to toe with Drew Brees. Jared
Goff couldn't beat him. Sorry, Joe Flacco couldn't beat him.
I know what, the my guy beat him. Huge. The
power of one huge night for Dak the Cowboys their
future tonight. Let me shift to this. Speaking of quarterbacks,
(05:46):
there are three quarterbacks in this league NFL, very talented,
varying levels of talent, but they're all either gonna be
Hall of Famers or gonna get in the discussion. Cam Newton,
Big Ben and Aaron Rodgers. They're dramatic, and the people
who love Big Ben, Cam and Aaron Rodgers always defend them. Well,
it's a coach's fault. It's a running back's fault, his
(06:07):
organization's fault. It's a GAM's fault. And by the way,
they're all very, very good, but they're all really, really,
really dramatic, and stories tend to linger with them. You know,
you have a little story. Eight days later, I'm forced
to keep talking about the story. Quarterbacks should be fire extinguishers,
(06:29):
not gasoline. So Big Ben through a pick Sunday. It's Thursday,
and he's still talking about it, forcing me to talk
about it. Here he was yesterday about the criticism of
teammates on the interception. I think that I've earned the
right to be able to do that with as long
(06:50):
as I've been here, and you know it's and I'll
be just a scriticle myself as well in front of
you guys as well, being around for a long time,
dealing with a lot of different players, you know, I've
you have to know how to motivate different guys in
different ways, and I think that's part of being a leader,
of being a captain, just understanding players and so sometimes
(07:10):
you just grab them off to the side, and sometimes
you have to be honest with them. Why are we
still talking about this interception? It's Thursday? Can we stop
talking about this interception. Ben You're too dramatic. Cam You're
too dramatic. Aaron Rogers, You're too dramatic. Stuff Lingers. Now
(07:31):
you know how I feel about quarterbacks. I have my
four favorite in the NFL. I call him the bore four.
Nothing Lingers, Stories die, Luck, Brady Breeze, Russell Wilson. They
take a bullet. It's on me. Potential stories end. Football
is really hard. Football so hard that even football practice
is hard. Baseball practice isn't hard. Basketball practice isn't hard.
(07:54):
Soccer practice isn't hard. Football practice is hard. So I
like my quarter backs to be fire extinguishers, not gasoline
extinguish things. That's why my favorite four guys in the league,
I call them the bore four, are Brady Breeze, Russell Wilson,
and Luck. But just think about if you don't think
noise is a big deal. Football is hard enough. Distractions
(08:18):
make it harder. So I like quarterbacks who are quiet
and end stories. Let me give you, in my opinion,
the six noisiest teams in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers
are the noisiest team in the NFL. Would it be
fair to say Joyer from Pittsburgh. They have underachieved over
the last five years as they've got noisier, only because
(08:38):
the expectations in Pittsburgh art championship, because they have Pro Bowls. Yeah,
they go Hall of Famers, everyone in the roster. Yes,
So they've underachieved that. That's the noisiest team in the league.
Here's the second noisiest team, although they are getting quieter
this year, the Seattle Seahawks Politics, ESPN, the magazine articles
ripping Russell Wilson, kombay Yah Star, Seattle Seahawks Dynasty Blue.
(09:00):
By the way, they're getting very quiet this year. They're
playing well. Third noisiest team, Philadelphia dog Masks, Politics, Big Talkers,
having the worst year ever for a Super Bowl champ. Jacksonville.
Oh my bad, Saxonville. I mean, didn't we think this
window is gonna be like eight, nine, ten years. It's over.
(09:22):
They're an absolute disaster. The fifth noisiest team and further record,
when they were winning Super Bowls, they had stars, not
a peep the New York Giants. New York Giants had
become incredibly noisy. Controversies receivers and wedding kicking nets, wedding proposals, controversies.
(09:48):
New York Giants used to be quiet and win. Now
they're noisy and lose. And the sixth noisiest team in
the league, in my opinion, is Green Bay. I mean,
good God, there's another story out today about Aaron Rodgers.
There's a story after story after story. Six noisiest teams
in the league. For the record, some of the most
talented Pittsburgh, Seattle, Philadelphia, Jacksonville Giants, Packers all are underachieving.
(10:13):
Seattle just got quiet in the last few months, having
a good gear. Let me tell you who's quiet in
the NFL. These teams have stars. They're never in the news.
The La Rams, the Kansas City Chiefs, the New Orleans Saints,
the Indianapolis Colts, and now that football started, the New
(10:34):
England Patriots. Football's hard. Football practice is hard. Noise makes
it harder. And for the record, as much as I
like Big Ben, he is part of this. Lavan Bell
was a big component to the noise. Lavian Bell left
(10:55):
and they're still noisy. They're still noisy. That's on Ben.
Think about the six noisiest teams in this league. They
got some of the best players, and then think about
the six quietest teams, good quiet teams. I never hear
Saint stories. I don't hear chief stories. I don't hear
rams stories like my quarterbacks take a bullet on me,
(11:22):
bring it down. Jason whitlock On speak for yourself this
week said he's just ripping his teammates on the interception
it made him sick. I've earned the right after I
throw the interception that costs us the game, I've earned
the right to call out my teammates. This is the
head coach's job. He just threw an interception too, a
(11:44):
defensive tackle on the goal line when the wide receivers covered,
and afterwards it was flucis play luckiest thing that ever happened.
He didn't take any ownership or accountability for that. I've
defended Big Ben, but I'm gonna be critical at Aaron
Rodgers for the drama, and I'm gonna be critical at
Cam Newton for the drama. I gotta be fair and
(12:06):
critical a Big Ben. It's Thursday, and this story, this
pick is lingering for a fourth day. Labian Bell's gone, Dude,
that's on. You be sure to catch live editions of
The Herd weekdays and noon Easter ninety em Pacific. Okay,
here's a story that came out. Oh. In fact, it's
(12:26):
interesting two big stars in the NBA. Same story came
out Scout report that Lebron has been ignoring Loot Walton's
play calls. Oh. Also, this morning, this story breaks. Russell
Westbrook has no interest in Billy Donovan's play calls. I
swear to god, they both broke this morning. Now, Lebron,
I trust him. He has a history of elevating teammates Westbrook.
(12:49):
I don't trust players get better when they leave him.
But I don't want to talk about Westbrook. I want
to talk about Lebron, not a gains Westbrook. He's great,
But I want to talk about Lebron. Here there are
three separate times. Now I've seen this with Lebron. You
didn't see it initially in Cleveland, that he would ignore
the coach, But I saw it in Miami. For the
(13:13):
first year and a half, he did not listen to Spoelstra,
a young, inexperienced coach. Then he won the title in
Miami and he was easier to coach. Then he went
to Cleveland. David Blatt, inexperienced NBA coach. He didn't listen
to David Platt. Then he won a title in Cleveland,
(13:36):
and then he became easier to coach. And now he's
with the Lakers, third inexperienced and young coach and he's
not listening to Luke Walton now. In the first two instances,
he becomes very difficult to coach when he moves to
a new city and he knows the spotlight in sports
(13:59):
is on him. In Miami, pressure gotta Winde, Wade, Bosh, Lebron.
He was really tough to coach those first couple of years.
Then he won the title and we never heard about
his difficult to coach. He left Miami, but it was
more about pat Riley than Spoelstra. Then he goes to
Cleveland and he's very difficult on David Black to coach,
(14:21):
wins a title. He and Tyler were boys. He didn't
leave Cleveland because of tylu He left because of Dan Gilbert.
And here we go for the third time in Los Angeles.
A lot of pressure, but the question remains if he
doesn't win a title in Los Angeles and they are
not going to win with this roster and the people
(14:45):
they want. Kevin Durant Anthony Davis, Clay Thompson. They're not
available for a minimum of one year. Right, who loses here,
Luke Walton, Remember, Lebron's gonna get a pass this year
because he's the new guy. And Magic's gonna get a
pass this year because he got Lebron here. Luke Walton
(15:08):
gets no pass. So I have seen this Lebron for
the third time. Didn't see it initially in Cleveland, but
once he went to Miami and knew the world was
watching increased pressure under a microscope. Brutal to coach won
a title. He's the easier to coach. Lebron left because O'Riley,
(15:32):
that's Bolster goes to Cleveland, brutal to coach that a
winning record. David Black get him out of here. Tye
comes in, wins, leaves town, but not because the Tie
still loves Tie, leaves because of Gilbert. Now he moved
to Los Angeles. And according to this quote, when James
is running the point, he doesn't look toward the bench
to take calls from Luke even when he's seen them,
(15:52):
ignores him, runs the players he wants. Luke has adjusted,
and now James is running the show. Walton will typically
just let Lebron call the game. It's Lebron James being
Lebron James, and to that I would say yes, But
it is heightened when he moves to a new city
and he's under the microscope. Now, if he wins a
title in Los Angeles, I'm arguing here, he lightens up
(16:18):
third place, won a title, legacy set, they'll be increased
conversation of greatest ever. But until that time, the guy
in the crosshairs, Luke Walton Spolstra would have been fired,
but he won a title. David Blatt was fired, Tyron
Luke came in. This is problematic for Luke Walton because
(16:42):
they're not close to winning a title. I don't think
they're bad. I think they're kind of good. I think
they'll get the fifty wins, but they need another piece,
and those pieces are all year out, except of course,
the one piece. I like Bradley Beale, but nobody wants
that move one more Herd. The Herd streams twenty four
hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app.
Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaking of drama, we're talking about Baker and Big band,
(17:05):
and you know, let's talk about Aaron Rodgers here, so yesterday,
people are starting to now now, for years and years
Joys knew on the show, right, but for years and
years at the old place and at FS one in
Fox Sports, I've been the one national voice that has
been critical of Aaron Rodgers. He didn't like me. He's
(17:25):
told people he didn't like me. That's okay, nice, still great, Right,
But I'm driving into work now. I've been driving into
work for the last four days, and for the first
time in a decade, I'm hearing this you know, by
radio host by TV hosts, first time in a decade.
(17:47):
I've been on this for five years. Got a lot
of heat for first time in a decade this week,
four days, heard at the game this morning. Isn't some
of this Aaron Rodgers fault? You know? Well, well, why
is everybody else get blamed? It's turning The narrative is,
by the way, this is what you did with Westbrook forever,
I get no pushback on Westbrook anymore. People have come
(18:08):
to realize Westbrook's hard to play with. Coaches, stars, teammates,
Victor oladiebo got better, Durank got better, Harden got better. People.
I don't get any pushback on Westbrook anymore. People have said,
by the way, I don't get a lot of pushback
on Aaron Rodgers in the last two weeks. I don't
get a lot of pushback. People are like he's difficult.
(18:29):
So yesterday there was an article written about him, and
the article says the Packers quarterbacks completed only sixty two
percent of his passes, would rank as the second lowest
of his career. He's missed his target on twenty one
percent of his attempts, which is above the NFL average.
He is missing throws he usually makes. Now people are
saying his mechanics are bad. Here's what Aaron Rodgers said
(18:52):
to that. I don't think I need to respond about fundamentals.
I mean I enjoy the fundamentals. That's what I's throw
I've played. I'm not playing any different this year. Just
we're not completing as many fast as percentage was. I
listened to my quarterback coach and my offensive quarter in
my head coach, and I study myself. You know, I'm
(19:13):
very critical of my own film, and I'm not playing
in differently fundamental wise, So you can't have it both ways.
He can't love it when it's a certain way, and
then critique of when it's the other way, Well, we can, actually,
But here's the thing. What is Aaron Rodgers right now?
Tom Brady's the goat, Drew Brees gummy the MVP, Patrick
(19:36):
Mahomes is the next big thing, and Andrew Loucks absolutely
the comeback player of the year. Last eight stories on
Aaron Rodgers negative coach Aaron Aaron coach GM time Montgomery.
What is he? He's not the next big thing, He's
no longer the goat, he's not the MVP. He's not
(19:59):
the comeback player of the year. He's not Big Ben
leading a unbelievably gifted offense to potentially a number one seat.
What is he? What he is now is expensive, difficult
with a great arm. Do you realize since that dazzling
throw to Jared Cook to beat the Dallas Cowboys, remember
that play? Amazing? It was all Hail Caesar. Since this
(20:23):
remarkable play that resulted in a win, Green Bay's eleven
sixteen and one, that's it. They're eleven sixteen and one
and three and twelve on the road with the mind
is ninety point differential now I want you to think
(20:44):
about this. If I said to you, great arm but
doesn't win enough questionable mechanics, that's Matt Stafford today, this morning,
this year, Aaron Rodgers is closer to Matt's Stafford than
Drew Brees. And forget Tom Brady. The trophy case is
too large. He's eleven sixteen and one. Since that, the
(21:07):
Packers are They're three and twelve in the road and
a minus ninety point differential. And for the first time,
and I've been doing this for thirty years, the last ten,
for the first time this week I turn on the
radio and the Golden Boy, the Gifted one. The narrative
is changing. Goat no MVP, no next great thing, no difficult,
(21:34):
expensive with a really great arm. That's what it's becoming.
Some of it's on him Westbrook. A lot of it's
on him. Doesn't happen to all NBA players. Keeps happening
to Westbrook. People get better when they leave him. Keeps
(21:54):
happening to Aaron Rodgers. Brothers calling him out, teammates calling
him out, McCarthy telling people close to him calling him out.
Eleven sixteen and one's what Green Bay is. Since that
dazzling play. That's it. Be sure to catch live editions
of The Herd weekdays in noon Easter nine am Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeart Radio
(22:16):
A Greg Cosell thirty plus years NFL films. Lets let's
talk about the other Texas team for a second. They
just played on Monday night at the Houston Texans. Deshaun
Watson a little bit. I'm an enigma Greg. Coming out
of college, I liked him, but you know, he made
Clemson a good program better. He's now in an eight
(22:36):
game winning streak, and this has been a good roster
for years. He's clearly taken the roster to a different spot.
What does the films say on de Shaun Watson? What's
he doing better this year? Well, I think first of all,
you have to look at the way they've chosen to
play over the last six games. He has not had
more than twenty five pass attempts collin in any of
the last six games. They've dialed back his dropbacks, which
(23:00):
is smart. First of all, their offensive line is below average. Yeah,
that's clear on tape. Secondly, Watson is still developing as
are a fine pocket quarterback. He's not at the point
in his career where he can help camouflage and compensate
for O line issues. So you need to dial back
his dropbacks. And that's what they've done, and they've run
the ball more and well, and they're playing to their
(23:22):
defense now. Watson still has the ability, obviously to make
improvisational second reaction plays, and I think he's a good
thrower of the football, but I think they understand that,
given where their O line is, and given where he
is in his development, that they needed to cut down
the number of times he dropped back. Yeah. I find
him really interesting to watch. I think he's fun. I
(23:44):
think he's kg and to your point, he's a good
thrower of the football. When he's got guys open, he
hits him. But he is a developing quarterback. And to
your point, the Texans see him as a developing quarterback.
Now here's a guy who's more developed. Andrew Luck was
great and then gets beat up and we don't know
what we're getting this year. I love the Colts. They're
(24:05):
very tight end centric. I think it's just what my
eyes tell me. He maybe not the most accurate thrower
of the football. He'll lead guys too much. He'll overthrow guys.
He's not the most accurate guy like Drew Brees, but
I got to tell you he's a tour divorce of everything.
The pre snap. I just watched this guy, Greg and
I think he's incredible. And I've been saying this for
(24:26):
eight years. Anything on tape jump this year, Oh well,
I've always thought Andrew luck was a really good player,
and beginning with when he came out. But I think
you just have to look really at the time touchdown
he threw this past week, call it. I mean, that
was a big time throw and it seeks to one
thing that I've always believed in when you evaluate quarterbacks.
(24:48):
I think at the NFL level, you need to be
aggressive as a passer. Now, there's always a balance. Obviously,
game situations dictate nature of throws, but I think if
you're going to reach the highest level, and that's what
we're talking about, then I think there are just times
when you need to really turn it loose and be aggressive.
And I think that touchdown he threw to Ebron for
(25:09):
twelve yards that tied it up late in that game
is a great example of that. That was a really
difficult zone throw and you've got to make those kinds
of throws in the NFL, and I think he's always
had that in his DNA. It's the reason every once
in a while he'll throw some picks. But I think
that as you gain more experience, I think you work
(25:29):
through that. I think that's really an in a quarterbacks DNA.
It's sort of inherent. It's very difficult to say to guys, hey,
you've got to turn it loose. And I think that's
one trait that he's always had. Lamar Jackson's better than
I thought. The question with running quarterbacks is sustainability. There's
a lot of things in this country. We fall for
(25:51):
RG three. I had pushback his rookie year. I said, okay,
he won Rookie of the Year, but I'm not sure
this style with his body type is sustainable. Tim Tebow
had a winning streak and I said, yeah, Matt Prader's
a great kicker. In their defense is keeping him in games?
I don't think Tebow's winning streak is sustainable. What do
you see on film from Lamorrow? There's a macro element
(26:11):
to this. There's a larger element. You have to decide
how you feel about the quarterback position in the NFL.
Can you be a high level quarterback? And don't forget
they traded up to get him in the first round.
Can you be a high level quarterback if you're not
a consistent throw over the football from the pocket? Now?
I think, and again, he's only started two games, so
this is not We're not discussing his career as a
(26:33):
whole here, but the question is can you be And
I'm sure there are people who now believe that, hey,
you don't have to be that with the influence of
the college game in the NFL. But if you believe,
as I do, that you still have to be able
to make throws from the pocket in the NFL to
be a really high level quarterback, then I'm not sure
(26:54):
that the nature of that offense right now is sustainable
unless he continues to significantly improve. And that's where the
ball placement issue comes into play. He's going to have
to get better at that. I let's shift to Baker Mayfield.
I said he's too accurate a thrower to be a bust.
I never said he'd be a bust. I said he'll
be a way better version of Case Keenan. But that's
(27:14):
what he is. I don't think he's breezes. I don't
think he's Russell Wilson. Now he's had it like a
three week stretch. How much of that stretch is Atlanta, Cincinnati,
Kansas City defense, which are dreadful. By the way, he
seems better now that Hugh Jackson and Todd Hailey are gone.
What's happened in the last month to elevate his play? Well,
we can agree to disagree on that, Colin, because I
(27:35):
think that actually that Maker Mayfield is going to be
a very very good quarterback. First of all, he has
a really good field vision, and that's something that's very
rare for a young player. He sees things extremely well,
and there's something he does that very few young quarterbacks do.
He has a great natural feel for two things, for
moving and manipulating the defense and zone coverage, and number
(27:59):
two for eliminating what's not there very quickly within the
timing of the play and then getting to what is there.
And those are two things that you rarely ever see
from young quarterbacks. And he's very very refined at that
for a first year player. In the last three weeks,
why has he jumped up? Because it since Haley left
(28:20):
and since you left, his numbers are better. Well, I
think they they've to me just watching the tape. I
think what they've done is they've done a lot more
of rhythm stuff, which is essentially what he is. Yes,
does he have the ability to move, He's sure he does.
But at his core he's a twitchy kid who with
a very quick drop and set, quick compact delivery, and
(28:41):
you want him to play in rhythm and he's very,
very accurate with the football. So I think they've done
a lot more of that and he's been very effective.
Tom Brady's numbers are not spectacular. They year in a
world where everything's a firework show. His numbers have been
very mundane, very average. Now they do have with Sony
(29:01):
Michelle and James White, a really nice tandem at running back,
maybe one of the better running back tandems. You know,
Is that why the numbers are down? Are they becoming
more run reliant? What do you see? Well? I think
they are more run reliant, particularly with Michelle when he's healthy.
He's carried the ball over twenty times in three games,
(29:21):
I think eighteen times in another game last week they
rushed for over two hundred yards for the first time
since twenty fourteen, and it'll be very interesting this week
in that game against Minnesota, where Minnesota has a very
good run defense, among the top five in the league.
But this is an offense that I think has sort
of transitioned a little bit. You never know with Bill Belichick,
(29:41):
but I don't think that Brady is at the stage
or their offense is at the stage where they're going
to come out, spread it out and have Brady dropped
back forty five times against that defense. I think they're
past that point. I don't think they can be that
effective as effective as they used to be doing that.
I think they're going to continue to stay with the
run game. Yeah. And by the way, I like Michelle
and I like James White, so it's a good time
(30:03):
to do it. They have good personnel back and Brex Burkhead,
so they got guys. Yeah. I would agree with you.
Dak Prescott the Amari Cooper trade, his numbers have gone up.
Is it mostly Amari? Well, you know, I think that
Cooper helps because Cooper can win one on one and
it certainly helps when you throw ten yard passes and
he takes it to the house. But at their core,
(30:25):
the Cowboys are an old school offense. And again, now
tonight's game is going to be the poster child for
people's worldview of the NFL, and it's going to be
one sample, not large enough to make any definitive opinion,
but people will because what you're going to do is
you have an old school offense. They're a run game
foundation with a high level back. We know that they're
an execution run game. So it's not a lot of
(30:46):
misdirection deception. You know, it's not yet sweep. It's basically,
let's line up and run the ball with a really
good back. And it's a very basic task game that
by NFL standards is somewhat remedial in elementary and when
you have really good players, that can work to some degree.
But that's what their offense is. And they played to
their defense and they played to their run game, and
(31:07):
that's so the question is can their defense be good
enough to hold the highest scoring team in the league,
let's say under thirty, which the Cowboys have not given
up in any game, And can their offense put up
enough points if they don't get you twenty yard passes
that become ninety yard touchdowns. Yeah? Yeah, I like New
Orleans by about ten before I get to the play
of the night. I thought one of the really interesting
(31:28):
games last week that was under the radar, and I
thought it was a really impressive win, Seattle coming back
to beat Carolina, Russell Wilson a couple of dimes late
in the game. You know, I like Russell more than
most people, and I don't like Cam as much as
most people. What did you think about the quarterback matchup
Cam and Russell last weekend? I thought, actually, they both
played really well. I thought Cam Newton played very well.
(31:49):
It might have been his best game of the season.
But that's lost because they lost. But I think Russell Wilson,
who was a continuation of the way he's playing this year.
Not a lot of running. He's playing more from the pocket,
and I think he's been far more efficient. They still
want to run the ball. I guess he can run
at times when he feels the need to, but he's
not doing that anywhere near as much, and therefore their
(32:11):
offense is playing far more within rhythm. It's more consistent
that way, it's more stable that way. And you know,
as we've probably discussed before, I think Mike Solari, their
on line coach, is as he's assistant coach of the Year.
I mean, he's doing an unbelievable job. It's the exact
for the most part, a lot of the same group
that they had in previous years, and they're playing very
(32:32):
very well. Yeah, they really are. Carson's been a really
good running back too. He's a Yeah, he's a grinder.
He fits what Pete Carroll wants. Yeah. Not spectacular, you know,
there's nothing special about him, but he is a grinder.
And if it's blocked for three, he gets six. And
that's the way you want your running game to be
as a sustaining run game. Greg Kosell plus thirty years
in the NFL film's business. Thanks man, appreciate it. Colin,
(32:54):
thank you. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Herd weekdays and Nooneaster, not a Empacific. Baker Mayfield one
offensive Player, Rookie offensive player, not offensive player, Rookie Offensive
Player of the Month. It's whatever. I don't blame Cleveland fans.
I mean Cleveland outside of Lebron's a hole. I mean,
Browns have been embarrassing. Indians have never won a title.
(33:15):
I mean it's you know, the Cavaliers are a joke
without Lebron, I don't. I don't blame Cleveland for going
Gaga over Baker Mayfield. I get it. Like they've whipped
in the last twenty quarterbacks. I totally get it. Right.
Their weather, it's not good. They're not glamorous. Rockefeller laugh
Steinreunner laughed, Lebron leaves twice. I get it. They're a
low self esteem sports city. I get it. And they're
(33:37):
just loving this whole Baker thing. I get it. I
totally get it. And he's been Colin he's better than
you thought. Well, I mean right now, he didn't start
the year and they haven't played their last five games,
which are a lot of road games against better defenses.
If he scales back, he is two years older than
all the other rookie quarterbacks, but twice as many college starts.
(33:57):
My feeling was always he's gonna be better sooner than
everybody else. But I don't think over twelve years he's
got the personality I want running my franchise. But he
is two years older double the college starts. There's no
question right now, he's more refined, He's played more of
this game called football. He stayed in college all five
years if he count the transfers. Here's what I don't
like though, He's a rookie NFL quarterback, not through his
(34:20):
first year, and he continues he's got three different coaches
he's already called out. So he called out Todd Hailey
this week, his first coordinator. Here we go, and when
it comes down to is we still have the same players.
That's what I said when everything was happening. We just
had to play better, you know what. You can put
your own spin on it. But we have the same players. Yeah,
(34:42):
we have people. We have people that we believe in
calling the place. Now, didn't have to really go there.
So he called out his first NFL coordinator, and three
times this week he's called out his first NFL head coach.
Here's one of the quotes. I didn't lose thirty plus games.
I wasn't fake. I wasn't going to have a scholarship
in college. Don't compare the good too good try though,
(35:05):
So now he's called out his first NFL coach. Didn't
have to go there. He's called out his first NFL
coordinator and oh, by the way, his first college coach,
Cliff Kingsbury, he called him out too. Once he came
to the program, got hurt. He felt he was ignored
by Kingsbury. I went from being the guy for coach Ingsbury,
(35:28):
and then when I got hurt, it just changed a
little bit, and not a little bit, a lot. All
of a sudden, it was as if I hadn't played
for him, hadn't done anything for him. It was just different.
That's where I got hurt. I've invested a lot into this,
and now you're telling me that you don't have a
scholarship for a guy that won you five games after
choosing to come here. That was the final straw for me. Again,
(35:51):
there's no reason to go here. Three times all I'm
saying now this stuff's all in his resume. And one
of the reasons I said, I am all about when
you draft a quarterback number one. I loved Carson Wentz,
I liked to Shaun Watson. You know, I loved Andrew Luck.
You know I'm pretty good on the quarterback thing. One
of the things I said is, you know he's older,
(36:13):
He's not going to fail completely. He's too accurate. But
is this twelve years of this stuff, because even people
who are more talented, Cam Rogers and Big Ben are
so dramatic. Those are the three most dramatic quarterbacks in
the league. Baker, who's not nearly as talented as Cam
big Ben or runchers noise overtime, wears people out. This
(36:35):
dude's not through his rookie year. He's called out his
first college coach. He's called out his first NFL coach,
He's called out his first NFL coordinator. It's all on
his resume now, I mean, this is his brand, like
he rips coaches. Well, in fairness, aren't all three of
them fired? By the way, there's a you could go
as a lot of coach has been fired that Brady's
(36:56):
worked for. McDaniels was a disaster. Bill O'Brien has not
been a home. Charlie Weiss wasn't at that. I'm not
saying that. Like, all I'm saying is it's you know,
Baker had an issue with them and they have all
been fired. I'm not saying that there's a collation to two.
But it's not like he's calling out Bill Belichick or
Nick Saban. But he's a rookie quarterback halfway through his starts.
(37:19):
Do you really gotta put this on your resume? I mean,
I for one. By the way, Andrew Luck his coach
got fired, You'll never know, but Angela doesn't say anything.
He's got a flip phone, wears velcro shoes. You know what,
simplify every I may buy velcro shoes. I'm actually for
that Steve Drop style. Yeah, I'm shocked that there's just
(37:39):
want your quarterback taking shots constantly at coaches. Oh, I
don't think it's necessary to take shots constantly at coaches.
But I think Hugh Jackson and Todd Haley just got fired.
That clings clings Kingsbury thing is old. It's just being
brought up now because you're using example. He rips people
all the time. Happened, But it's still if you rip people,
it goes on your resume. If I was ripping all
(38:00):
my bosses, then people could go back and say, oh,
it's not the first time colin seven years. But he
clearly does this. Whenever he is cross, he's going to
talk about what happened. But so did Hugh Jackson. Hugh
Jackson's not my franchise quarterback. I just don't want my
franchise quarterback being dramatic. Cam Is he's underachieved. Aaron Rodgers eleven,
(38:20):
sixteen and one Ben they've underachieved. I think, I think
football's hard. I think when you add but did you
think that Baker was going to come into the league
and be different than Baker is? I didn't think it'd
be this bad. I mean, by the way Hugh came
on the set, he wouldn't say a bad word about him,
wouldn't say a bad word about And when Hugh was
on the set, Baker hadn't been great when above didn't
rip him trying to be a nice guy. I'm not
(38:42):
into this stuff. One more Herd. The Herd streams twenty
four hours a day, seven days a week within the
iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand
whenever you'd like. After almost three hours, Colin apparently hasn't
gotten to the point yet quit holding out on us Cowherd.
It's the best for last. So Aaron Rodgers replaced Brett Farve.
(39:04):
You know, Brett Farve was so iconic and so beloved.
Aaron Rodgers came in and we didn't really know what
to expect. First year wasn't great. He was talented, but
not great. And then you know, for the rest of it,
he's been amazing, right, and he's been kind of the
Golden Boy, the talented arm a lot of national endorsements,
all earned by the way he's terrific. But I noticed,
and I said this earlier today driving into work the
(39:25):
last five or six days, especially since that lost in Minnesota,
you can tell that that branding is changing. People are
now not just me, I've been doing this for years,
but a lot of people, a lot of hosts radio
and TV, are like, you know what, some of this
is on Aaron. He's prickly, he can be condescending, he's difficult,
he's forcing the coach out, he's passive aggressive. So for
(39:46):
the first time, Aaron's the Golden Boys getting tarnished, the
Golden Boys being criticized, and his reputation has gone from talented, smart,
the great ad liber goat conversation to he's eleven sixteen
and one over his last two years, and he's difficult
(40:08):
and he can't get along with the coach and they're
not that fun to watch. And you know so, but
I thought to myself, you know, Joey, his new brand
is kind of prickly and kind of difficult and kind
of passive aggressive. But that doesn't mean if I was
his agent, he's still He's got a new brand, So
let's create commercials for the new Aaron Rodgers. It's not
(40:28):
the worst thing to have his brand. You way into
this agent role today. Yeah, so, I mean I'm than myself,
all right. I can create products that fit Aaron Rodgers
new personality that's been unveiled here for the holiday season.
Here's what I thought about just in time for the holidays,
Aaron Rodgers brand Rubik's cubes. You'll think they're really cool
(40:50):
at first, but then yell immediately grow tired of playing
with them. Now in stores, that is kind of a
good description of a Rubik's cube and Aaron. You kind
of get tired a plan with him. It's not terrible.
I think i'd buy that thing. Here's another one that
is totally on brand for Aaron just in time for
(41:11):
the holidays. Aaron Rodgers Grant mops. They'll clean up all
your messes unless you've fumbled in the fourth quarter like
some idiot. Now in stores. It's kind of a shot
of time. Montgomery, I don't know how about this one.
This one's on brand for Aaron and the packers. Okay,
(41:35):
just in time for the holidays. Aaron Rodgers brand desktop computers.
They're great when you're at home, but completely useless when
you're everywhere else, especially Minnesota. Now in stores, I mean,
that is incredibly accurate. If only all ads were as
accurate as that, No kidding, like that, you could name
that the Aaron Rodgers desktop computer. You could just forget Microsoft.
(41:57):
I mean, really, like desktops are so reliable at home,
they're not great in Minnesota. Yeah, yeah, and yeah, So
I think he's got a he's got a new brand, difficult,
little prickly. Uh. This one, I think for the holidays
is the best match. Just in time for the holidays.
Aaron Rodgers brand snuggies. Perfect for when you're curling up
(42:18):
on your couch in January, just like Aaron will be
doing now in store. That that was kind of a
cheap shot.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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