September 3, 2025 • 34 mins
Colin believes Jerry Jones has become a modern day Al Davis with the way he has been running the Cowboys and their lack of playoff success over the last 3 decades. He argues Bill Belichick’s legacy as a legendary head coach has taken a serious hit following the blowout loss to TCU in his college coaching debut. He also talks to Fox Sports NFL analyst Mark Sanchez about expectations for the Broncos and the Bears this season under their second year QBs.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox
Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to
noon Pacific. 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 Fox Sports Radio
or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Oh here we go, Ready to roll.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It is a Wednesday, Joel klad Mark Sanchez. We're live
in our snazzy new studio. We're in Los Angeles. It
is great to have you in today. We got all
sorts of stuff, you know. Jerry Jones on Good Morning
America this morning. He is defending that trade of Micah
Parsons on every network that will have him on Jay mackin.
(00:53):
We got a lot of stuff to talk about. One
of my favorite things came out in the Athletic. They've
done it two years in a row. I texted the
producer of the Morning at Fourfolded Coats. It's called the
NFL Hope oh meters. So they go and they do
a survey. Second year for the Athletic they do a
survey with fans, how optimistic are you with your team?
(01:16):
So this is pre Micah trade. So Micah was still
a cowboy when they did this. So the teams at
the top, they're loving life in Denver. You know it's
Philadelphia Ravens, Lions, Bill's Rams, Chiefs. You would understand that
the shocker is Look at the bottom, the least optimistic
teams Colts, Saints, Brown's Cowboys. Again, this is pre Micah
(01:44):
Parsons trade. Second straight year, Dallas third from the bottom.
They have a franchise quarterback that it's at least B
to B plus, no state tax, free agents, decent weather,
great facilities, big time.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Weappons third from the bottom.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
That is a one hundred percent complete indictment of Jerry Jones.
That is an anti Jerry Jones vote. I started talking
about this three years ago. It maybe sounds cruel, a
little mean, but we got to keep it one hundred.
This has become old Al Davis with the Raiders. Jerry's
(02:24):
become old Al Davis with the Raiders. He keeps trying
to sell the fans something and they're not buying. And
what's amazing about this hopometer poll in the Athletic number
one Denver and not shocking. Twenty twenty two they got
a new owner. They were awful fans, Sean Payton, everybody.
(02:44):
Now they're number one. They're above the Chiefs, Bills, Raven DRAMs.
Also see where the commanders are. They flushed out awful
Dan Snyder. They're a top ten optimism team. If you
don't think owners matter, you're not paying attention. Dallas is
in the same group as Cleveland, the Saints, the Jets,
(03:05):
the Colts. These are teams that have chaos at quarterback.
So I'll tell you the one thing because I watched
this documentary on Netflix with Jerry. He had a big ego.
Then he's got a big ego. Now he was a
savvy businessman. Then he's a savvy businessman. Now. The difference
is when he took that job, he got the best
(03:27):
coach available on the market, Jimmy Johnson. Over the course
of time, as coaching has become more crucial than ever,
more important than ever, and there's more great young coaching.
Jerry does not respect the profession. This is a quarterback
coach league, and he doesn't respect the position. Brian Schottennaimer
(03:49):
was on nobody's radar. I think the last time he
interviewed for a head coaching job was fourteen years ago.
He was considered an old school offensive guy. Nobody was
lined up for him forget head coach at coordinator. Maybe
I'm wrong, maybe he crushes it, but they could have
had Ben Johnson, Mike Rabel, Pete Carroll. I didn't even interview,
not even interested. So because I think Jerry looks at
(04:12):
it and thinks, I want to play with my toy.
And there's several things that have happened that the Cowboys
love the Cowboys. They over the last decade have more
starts from the players they've drafted than any other team.
They don't want outside influence. They want friends of the family.
(04:33):
I mean, you notice it, they don't. It's very in slur.
This is what happened to the Lakers until they got
the new owner. And that will change. But and Jerry
is going on any network that will listen. And I
defended him on the Mica trade, but here he is
on Good Morning America defending the Micah deal.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
We have two kinds of capital or currency in the NFL.
One of them is draft picks and the other is
the financial because every team is limited to the same
amount of resources to spend. And having said that, Mica
enabled us to have four, possibly as many as six
players for the future. That's a good trade when you
(05:12):
need numbers. I'll take the numbers every time.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Now, I'll defend him on that. I would have done
it a year ago, but not right before the season.
But the Cowboy job should be like that line at
Chick fil A or in an out burger. People should
be lined up around the block. If Ohio State or
Penn State, Georgia have a job opening, here come the resumes.
The Yankees of the Dodgers have an opening. Here come
(05:37):
the resumes. Kansas basketball Duke Carolina Yukon, Dallas Cowboys. Look
at who's applying for that thing. I mean, it is
that vote. The Cowboys are in the class of the Browns.
That is a one hundred percent anti Jerry vote.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
So you know what we were saying that yesterday.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
It's not that Bill Belichick lost to TCU, it's how
they lost. I turned it off mid third quarter. They
were cumiliated. They were bad at everything. After that first
opening drive, I think they went the next six drives,
didn't complete a pass. It was really bad. So you
think Bill's got his guys. Mike Rabel's one of his guys.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Right.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Here's Vrabel on WEEI radio talking about Bill's opener with
the tar Heels.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
You know, I mean, you've coached in college.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
It takes a while, don't you think to get a
program going in there like that?
Speaker 5 (06:40):
I don't know everymer won twelve of the first twelve
games in Ohio States. It didn't take him long.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I'm just that's my experience college football.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Ouch for the record. Lincoln Riley first year at Oklahoma
twelve wins. First year at USC eleven wins. And you
guys don't like Lincoln Riley Meyer. Remember he took over
for Ron Zook. It was a mess. First year nine
wins in the SEC at Ohio State twelve wins. Jim
(07:10):
Harbaugh Michigan took over Brady Hoak, a disaster.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
They didn't have.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
I mean, they weren't getting guys drafted in the first
couple of rounds.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Ten wins.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
I was there for the opener. Kurt Signetti at Indiana
Basketball School year one, eleven wins. Sunny Dyke's TCU first
year thirteen wins. It's not like Carolina. I mean they
went to a bowl game last year. So, as I
said yesterday, I'm absolutely convinced the number one problem with
(07:41):
Belichick when it's coaching staffs or players, he just is
seeking comfort. He just wants to coach and work with
people that he's comfortable with. But the other thing I
think is interesting is like, if you're a great actor,
You're Tom Cruise, CARLN. Brando, You're Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Hopkins,
(08:05):
whoever you are. If you have two or three duds
in your career, I do not hold it against you.
You're still a great artist. You're still a great actor.
Right If you're you're a great athlete Michael Jordan and
it ends ugly with the Wizards, or your shack and
you bounce around the league, or you're Patrick Ewing and
(08:29):
it ends with a lot of turbulence and a lot
of losses, I don't hold it against you. It just
disappears into the ether. But I no longer can look
at Belichick the same because without Brady and Cleveland, without
Brady in college, without Brady and New England, he won
(08:52):
forty four percent of his games, he averages nineteen points
a game. It would be as if Phil Jackson left
Michael and could never win again. But Phil proved in
Albany of the CEA Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson. If you
gave him the pieces, he would dominate the league. Wasn't
a great GM, he was older, whatever, some next, James Dolan, whatever.
(09:17):
But it is different like when it does in my opinion,
it does affect how I view Belichick.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I can't.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I can't help it. I watched that nothing works. Nothing
worked early in New England, nothing worked late. I'm not
saying Belichick didn't help with Dante Skarnek. It didn't help
Brady early, but by the end I felt like Belichick
was getting in the way of Brady. He got in
(09:45):
the way in that Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Wouldn't play Darius Butler got in the way. Won that
did New England even punt in that game. He got
in the way with personnality, could not draft receivers or
tight ends or Pro bowlers offensively. I think he he
carried Tom in the first couple Super bowls last eight
ten years. I'll make the argument just as often felt
(10:06):
like he got in the way. And you can be
an actor, you can be an athlete, you can be
an artist, you can deliver clunkers. But there is something
about what I'm watching. It's got a Bobby Knightfield, the
late Bobby knight that so many people told Bill how
brilliant he was. He bought the sauce and I what
(10:28):
I watched the other night, Mike Frable, that's an ouch. Yeah,
urban Meyer went twelve to zero first year taking over
for a six and seventeen. That is a big Ouch's
that's keeping it.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
One hundred j Mac.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
There are all sorts of funny things in this hopometer poll.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Should I ask where the Jets were or not even
worth it?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
I mean, honestly, my jets hope right now like eleven percent.
Like I don't think there's I will say, big injury
this morning?
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Oh what was that? Dear Tucker significant army. He gets
hurt a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, he's he has been a really good interior alignment,
but he has struggled with health.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
We're not gonna be good this year. We by the way,
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
I you know, you've been very critical of Charles Barkley
through the years. Yeah, I mean you you you you've
been very critical of him.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
This morning.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I'll take a shot because I don't. I don't buy
what he's selling me. I don't buy what Charles Barkley
on a podcast or something. I love Charles, you don't.
I love him, but I'm not buying what he's selling me.
And I'll talk about that next.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio App.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Hey, it's Ben, host of The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller,
with mean a lot to have you join us on
our weekly auditory journey. You're asking what in God's name
is the Fifth Hour. I'll tell you it's a spin
off of it. Ben Maler show, a cult hit overnights
on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture if you will
a world will? We chat with captains of industry in media,
sports and more every week explore some amazing facts about
(12:03):
human nature and more. Listen to The Fifth Hour with
Ben Mather on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Well.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
In the Athletics Optimism Poll, it's called the hypometer. The
fan base in the NFL that was the most optimistic.
Was not the Chiefs, Ravens or Bills or Eagles reliance.
It was the Denver Broncos. They are opening against the
Tennessee Titans. It's in the Mile Haig City and Mark
(12:30):
Sanchez is joining us. He'll be broadcasting the game.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Everybody talking.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
We said this a couple times during preseason, is that Denver,
from the reporters who bounce around the league at camps unanimously,
had an amazing camp. And I want to ask you
about that, because you know the starters don't play as much.
They're seventeen games. You're not going to play veteran offensive
lineman does camp. Did you ever come out of a
camp and feel good or bad that it have a
(12:59):
direct launch on outcomes?
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (13:01):
I think it. Camp. You need it to one. Physically
harden the body. Oh you got to. You got to
take those blows.
Speaker 7 (13:08):
You got to practice hard against other teams or against
your team, and truly scrimmage to get ready for week one,
just to get your body ready for what it's about
to endure. And then the mental side, it's lock in.
It's full focus. This is all we got, you know,
fifty three against the world. When we go on the road,
this is what we do. So I felt like you
(13:30):
needed to check that box, get over that hurdle, you know,
reach that wrung on the ladder, to feel like, okay,
it's time for Week one. And still in week one
we're gonna get unscouted. Looks we're gonna get way more
turnovers week one. Especially guys tackling full speed, tackling to
the ground.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
People forget.
Speaker 7 (13:49):
You know, guys are going to really try and knock
your head off and there goes to football. So I
think a lot of that has to do with how
your camp goes, how you approach it, and how you
come out of it hopeful, the injury free.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Now I picked Denver to win their division. It's not
a knock year high on I am, but I don't
like the fact that Kansas City lost Tooney and as
a rookie left tackle, I think this division is going
to be twelve wins, eleven wins, ten wins, and I
think Denver bo Nick should be better. I think their
defensive coordinator is so trusted by those players in Denver.
They add who fun dream Law and they've had a
(14:22):
very good camp. Are we a little hot on Denver
because everybody loved their camp.
Speaker 7 (14:27):
Well, it's hard for them to be this dark horse
sleeper pick because of all the positive pr this offseason.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
They're not sneaking up on anybody.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
And I think every you mentioned the division, every game
in that division is going to be a street fight.
I mean Pete Carroll in Vegas and Chip Kelly, they're
going to want to run the.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Ballids almost beat the Chiefs Plice.
Speaker 7 (14:45):
That's what I'm saying. I'm saying it's going to be
a more physical division. What does Jim Harbaugh want to do?
He wants to run the ball, so as you know,
tough as this Denver defense wants to be. They're going
to show me through those division games and he can't
be too beat up from those division games to then
lay an egg in some non division games. But you
nailed it's it's the consistency that they got the coaching
(15:07):
staff and the players. They got sixteen offensive and defensive
lineman on the roster, fifteen of them were there together
last year. That kind of consistency, same coaches, same defense.
We're going to add two key veterans on defense, two
key veterans on offense. You mentioned the safety, bring him
over from San Francisco. Tough as nails. That guy's just
(15:30):
a heat seeking missile. And then you get Dre Greenlaw.
Similar type of mentality, similar type of play production. I mean,
that guy's an assassin, and then you go on offense,
it's JK. Dobbins and it's Evan Ingram the tight end.
So you get the running back and the tight end
to help out Courtland Sutton and your year two quarterback.
I think they've done a lot of the right things,
and the consistency is the key.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Yeah, boy, that data on the O and d Lineman
ch Oh, it's huge. I don't know if I've ever
heard of that. Listen one of the things we talked
about cam Ward, I don't remember a number one quarterback
pick that was more under the radar, just so quiet.
I mean, generally it's a hype fest, right we're still
talking about Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels and Bo Nicks.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
I like what I see of his leadership style.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
We obviously he was a good college player, but I
just kind of love that nobody's talking about.
Speaker 7 (16:21):
I think that's, you know, a luxury you have in
a market like Nashville, not the biggest market. Sure they
love their football, but it's not you know, New York.
It's not Chicago. It's just a different place to be
and you get a little more leniency. I guess we
could call it. And bottom line is he can spin
the ball. And you know, it didn't look perfect in preseason,
(16:44):
but I did see some flashes and that's kind of
what I want to see. I did see the pre
snap process that you want to pay attention to. Is
this too big for this guy? It sure doesn't seem
like it. You know, he doesn't seem panic a lot
like Jackson Dart, you know. And with the Giants, you
see some guys play their first couple game James and
it's a deer in headlights kind of deal.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
So I think they like where they're at.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
I just, you know, I'm curious about that offensive line
they're moving Latham. He was formerly at Alabama right tackle,
played the left tackles rookie year. Now he's going to
the right side where he wants to be. And then
Bill Callahan and his son obviously coaching that offense and
offensive line. That's an interesting dynamic. They go pick up
more the left tackle from Pittsburgh Pittsburgh. So that was
(17:25):
a huge signing, four years, eighty two million bucks. I
mean that's they're investing in that offensive line to protect
this quarterback. And this is year two in a row
that they're trotting out, you know, a high draft pick
or somebody who they imagine is going to be the
face of the franchise.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
So they want to get it right.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Mark Sanchez joining us Fox Sports NFL analyst. We got
two segments, so a lot of Mark and we love
this and there's always tape, so I said, there are
sometimes you get a coordinator or a coach. Offensively and stylistically,
he helps the player, but he's not a perfect fit.
Ben Jumps to me, is a little bit. He's a
(18:02):
little bit like a Shanahan or a Kevin O'Connell. Here's
the player, run it. He'll give you some freedom. Sure
Caleb is. I mean he's an artist. I mean he
is a stocky, powerful player. And I know Caleb will
be better. I know that Mark, But sometimes I wonder
if stylistically they're not they're not a perfect fit. What
(18:24):
is a realistic expectation in your opinion?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Year two?
Speaker 7 (18:27):
Well, I think number one is his process approach in
philosophy is probably really taking a shift. And you know
he's had different types of coordinators, whether it's in college
or even his rookie year where he could kind of
add lib.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Kind of at will.
Speaker 7 (18:43):
I think exactly what you said, there's going to be
some more structure we're going to develop, you know, a
kind of a one two three plan. This is kind
of what it feels like. If it doesn't, we're getting
the two. If not, we're getting the three, and let's
speed that process up. I know from everybody you talked
to about Ben Jonson, he's a no nonsense guy. He
has a picture and a vision of what is supposed
(19:04):
to look like and if it don't look like that,
get the hell out of my way.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
I'll find a guy that can do it.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
So that kind of attitude I think might be just
what Caleb needs and we'll see it in the production
once again, that process, the pre snat process, and then
he's got to eliminate some of those sacks, and I
think naturally Ben Johnson's going to put him in some
great spots, give him some breather place where he just
I know where the ball's going. I'm spitting it out quick.
It might be a third and long. Hopefully we get
(19:30):
the first out. But I don't need him to drop
back right here. We don't need him. What did Sean
Payton say? I don't need him to fly the final
mission for top Gun to save the planet. Every single play,
Let's get my quarterback into groove. And then the big
one for me is him understanding when to hang in
the pocket and trust it and win from the pocket
with slight movement, and then when to completely break and
(19:52):
go steal some yards, get down, get out of bounds,
stay healthy. I think that kind of discernment. We're going
to see a little more with that, because I think
it his footwork and his eyes are just going to
be in the right place, right timing, and if it
ain't there, I'm moving on with my life. Cut bait,
move on with your life and go make a play
like I think Ben will give him that kind of
that speech. Hey, get me out of a jam. Maybe
(20:13):
two to three times a game, I'm gonna put you
in really good spots, okay, but those two to three
times are critical plays. We can't turn the ball over
and we can't take hits.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Yeah, I've argued this. You know Michael Jordan about twice
a game would take your breath away, but he lived
on eighteen footers and mahomes about three times a game.
You're like, what did I watch? But he never misses layups.
That's right, that's really quarterbacking. Mark Sanchez. Oh, was great,
great to have him back. We take a break, we
come back with more live in LA. It's the Herd.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Oh, it's always great to have Mark Sanchez, Fox Sports
NFL analyst.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
He will be good game.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Actually, you got to see Cam wore the number one
pick against Denver.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
That's a really good game.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
All right.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
So one of the things you talked about with Denver
was continuity, and the Jets have none. As you well know,
you were actually with the Jets the last time they
had some continuity and you had success in the playoffs,
especially on road games and big games and pressure games.
So the Jets have all new everything. Aaron Glenn was
a great coordinator. Is he a great hit coach? We
(21:22):
don't know. Justin fields is certainly capable. You take me
through the Jets all new stuff.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Well, I think you know he's going to light a
fire under those guys. And Aaron Glenn is that kind
of coach. He's former player, a Pro Bowl player, played
for the Jets. You know, with Parcels understands he's part
of that kind of tree toughness.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
Physicality, the attitude.
Speaker 7 (21:49):
And you know, you sit in front of him in
these production meetings and I want to go play defense,
you know what I mean. He's that kind of a motivator.
They have plenty of weapons on defense if they're healthy,
If Jermaine Johnson comes back. You know they got Quinn Williams,
didn't do a ton in the preseason.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
Is he going to be healthy?
Speaker 7 (22:07):
You know, who's gonna rush on the other side, like
they There's there's plenty there on defense for this team
to be a defensive first team. Plenty there on offense.
Although it sounds like Elijah Vera Tucker got hurt, which
is tragic, you know, stud player and has bounced between
guard rey guard, right tackle, you know, playing all over
and now he could finally focus at guard and it
(22:30):
sounds like he has a significant injury. So that's gonna hurt.
But if they can run the ball, Breese Hall, Braylen Allen.
I mean you should see Braylen Allen. This guy trains
with Dereck Henry Wisconsin. Holy smokes. I mean this guy
is just a first off the bus kind of player,
just so the other people can look at him like,
good luck, dude, good good luck tackling this guy. So
I think that's going to be their approach. And if
(22:50):
it's defense, Aaron Glenn's going to take care of that,
right That's that's where he's.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Going to really make his mark.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
And his team has to be tough defensively and stingy
opportunistics take the ball away.
Speaker 5 (23:00):
That got to be better on special teams. Colum.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
They lost like three games, just gave him away last
year because of the kicking game return game. I mean,
something went wrong. They got to get that tightened up.
And then, you know, for me, justin fields, he's an
able runner. He's got to be a willing runner in
this offense. Yeah, it's got to be movement throws. It's
got to be stuff that he's really really comfortable with.
And he's got to add you know, five hundred yards
(23:24):
with his legs. I mean, bo Nicks ran for four
hundred plus last year, so I got to see that
kind of production.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
Are more from Justin Fields.
Speaker 7 (23:31):
If this team wants to to, you know, really take
a step in the right direction, and let Erin Glenn
put his stamp on this franchise.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
So it's interesting. I remember you saying this once when
you were in New York. Because of the media and
the talk shows, they brought Tim Tebowan and you're like, he.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Was clearly a backup.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
But it's just a relentless, never ending drama every time
in the media. So here you have the Giants where
Jackson Dart has a good preseason, the schedule's tough. Brian
Dable and the general manager feel if it went sideways
in the first six weeks, they could be in trouble.
I like a lot about the Giants. I love neighbors,
I love their left tackle, I like their coach. I
(24:09):
think their front defensively is unbelievable. Abdull Carter is going
to be in that Rookie of the Year category stuff,
I think. But that quarterback Jackson Dart Russell, what do
you make of that?
Speaker 7 (24:21):
I think it's a similar situation to the Jets, where
it's going to be a defensive focus team. You mentioned
the guys they have up front. I mean that Bobby
Ocake is an excellent linebacker and he came over from
Indy and he's played really well in multiple systems there,
even with Wing Marndale, with you know all their guys
now Shane Bowen.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
I mean, they got some serious talent.
Speaker 7 (24:42):
Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Thibodeau, and Carter's stack.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
You know, it's one thing to be.
Speaker 7 (24:48):
A really good rusher as a rookie and you're kind
of on your own and looking for other guys to
kind of chip in.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
I mean, you might not even notice.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
Carter because you can't see past Dexter Lawrence, you know
what I mean. So this team is loaded and there'll
be a defensive first team. The quarterback position is a
noisy media and a loud market. It is hard to
manage those expectations. I think he got a guy in
Russell Wilson who's steady, and I think that's what is
attractive about him for Dable at the head coach.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
But you see Jackson Darr every opportunity he got, he.
Speaker 7 (25:23):
I mean, he lit it up. He did everything he
wanted to do. He checked every box. I wanted to see.
The spotlight wasn't too big. He hit the go ball
when he needed to. He handled two minute drives, sometimes
against the two, sometimes against the starter. He looked great
in the Jets Giants, you know, dual practice, joint practice.
He looked incredible. But so did Russ. So you have
someone there. You have this potential backup plan future. It's
(25:46):
just a timing thing. How long is the leash? You know,
those kind of questions show up when you have that
much talent. I guess it's a good problem to have
because you have so much talent, but managing that talent
is going to be a bumpy road.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Well, you went your year one with the Jets, you
made the playoffs. Then they went out and did they
had Braylon Edwards, the added to somebody.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
San Antonio Holmes.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
So we go into year two with all these quarterbacks.
So Jaden has proven himself. Bonix was very good. Can't
wait to watch JJ and Penix. I think Drake may
looked really good down the stretch without a lot of
juice on the perimeter. What was the biggest jump for
you year one the year two where you when you
went into that camp and maybe mid season, You're like, boy,
(26:29):
I'm a different player with this.
Speaker 7 (26:32):
I felt the pressure, not just externally but internally with
the veterans we acquired, but Danian Thomlinson and Jason Taylor,
two Hall of famers, and I just felt this sense
of urgency. I knew how close we were the year
before in the championship game, and there was there was
just a different approach, a different makeup of that team,
(26:57):
and there was something special about it. You could feel
it when we talked about training cam. You can feel
it in training camp. Could we were hard knocks? It
was it was nosy knocks. And so you know what
I will warn people Week one. We went out Week
one and laid an egg and lost in the first
game in Met Life against the Ravens and got smacked
around a little bit, especially on offense defense player. Right,
we didn't play very well after a great training camp.
(27:18):
So it ended up being a different year than we
expected to start. You know, we thought this is this
is it. And people have to remember also, just because
you go to the championship game, you start zero and
zero the next year, right, you know what I mean,
It's not just oh we win one more game.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
No, that was last year Bud put it to bed.
Speaker 7 (27:36):
Move on New Year, New lifetime really of emotions and
new living, breathing thing. So that was our first year
that I had won a fourth quarter comeback game, two
minute drives, winning games.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
We won three in a row, last play of the game.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Wow.
Speaker 7 (27:51):
And that those like three game heaters we didn't have
the year before like that. They didn't feel like that.
It didn't feel like, hey man, we got this. We
got some spell us here. I had never proven it.
I'd never won a fourth quarter comeback, so then the
other guy saw it, and then I'm getting tips from
Jason Taylor in training camp. Those one of my favorite stories.
Under the center, we used to take snaps under center.
(28:12):
If you didn't know that now it's all Shaka, but
under center, I would twitch my hand right before I
was going to receive the ball, when the cadence was
real and Jason Taylor was low on the ground looking
at my hand and said, hey, Rook, I got a
tip for you. Or he didn't call me rook because
I was sick here, but I got a tip for
you something with the snap, I got your cadence, and
(28:34):
I'm like, what's the deal.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
Dude, you're like in.
Speaker 7 (28:36):
The backfield as soon as I hiked the ball, you're
like taking the handoff going the other way. He said,
I'll tell you after training camp. I was like, dude,
but he ended up telling me, and then I would
use it just to make sure I would bluff it.
You know, so stuff like that, like you get insider
insight like that and knowledge from a guy like Jason Taylor.
I mean, you can't help but want to perform your best,
(28:58):
want to prepare your butt off because I don't want
to let that guy down. I don't want to miss
Ladanion on a checkdown. I couldn't afford to, you know
what I mean. That was the kind of feeling I had,
and I feel like if anybody's in a similar situation,
is Bonix, Jaydon Daniels, some of these Year two guys
who've been to the playoffs. This is the ultimate meritocracy.
What have you done for me lately?
Speaker 4 (29:17):
Right?
Speaker 7 (29:18):
Last year's over? Show me again, show me you can
do it again? And you know that's the position a
lot of these guys find themselves in.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
I think it's great that you're doing.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
I want to segue back to cam Ward's first game
as a pro. Your first game was in Houston, Houston.
I remember you made a big third down throw. It's
amazing what I can remember and can't. I mean, I
can't remember yesterday.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
Sam. Sam.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
So so you come out of USC were at the
time those games were sold out, you were in LA.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
You didn't come from Iowa State. So but take me
to your nerves.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
I want you to take me to to on the
field anthem.
Speaker 7 (29:55):
That's what cam Ward's going through feels. It feels like
a blur. You're on the road, it's loud. Joe Namath
is on the sidelines talking with my dad and my
high school coach before the game. I'm just like, oh
my god. I literally I told this story the other day.
But I went inside to go get ready for the game.
I didn't even take my ankles. I've taped my ankles
for every game I've ever played, and just forgot just
(30:16):
walked right out on the field. But it might clean something,
let's go, and was just so hyper focused on everything
else that you know, it's an absolute blur and you'll
look back and have fun if you'll look back and
remember what an amazing time it was. But in that
moment it is, you know, just tunnel vision and he'll
be locked in, ready to go. The first thing I
(30:38):
wanted to do was just get a completion, and I
wanted to get knocked down just one time.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
Get my jersey a little bit dirty. Yeah, just get
my jersey a little bit dirty.
Speaker 7 (30:46):
Not a hard hit, nothing to stop the game and
get walked off the field or anything, but just something
to remind me, Okay, I'm in games started. Let's rock
and get through our process. Great footwork, great eyes, great accuracy.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
Mark Sanchez is joining us, when you know, I do
think we're gonna go to eighteen games potentially by next
year or at seventeen. When I grew up, it was fourteen,
then we went to sixteen. Uh, we're gonna have probably
shrinkage in the preseason. There's joint practices. We know that
you joint practices I think have some impact. But when you,
(31:25):
even as a veteran Joe Burrows struggled in September, what
is the difference of speed. Yeah, intense joint practice, preseason,
real snaps and the first series of the season, is
it a noticeable difference in speed?
Speaker 5 (31:40):
There's a difference.
Speaker 7 (31:41):
I feel like the joint practices though it's you know,
controlled chaos. You know, it's it's managing the amount of
reps that you're getting and quality reps. Think more like
farmers market as opposed to you know, you know, grocery store,
Superstar chain. Right, so you get quality reps in a
controlled environment, and it's at times it feels more real
(32:05):
than the preseason. And then Week one hits and that's legit.
Then you play your first divisional game and you're like, ooh, yeah,
we really don't like each other.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Okay, got it.
Speaker 7 (32:15):
It's gonna be like, you know, the personnel, you know,
the coaches go back and forth, like you just know
a lot about that team, they know a lot about you.
Those are street fights, and that feels a little different.
And then you get to a playoff game, Holy smoke,
each each one that you get to experience Wildcard Divisional
(32:35):
and then the farthest we got was the championship game.
Speaker 5 (32:39):
Buddy, it's like a different world.
Speaker 7 (32:41):
And these kids, I mean everybody when the playoffs are
everybody's playing essentially for the same amount of money, right right,
your contracts expired, boom, You're just playing to win these games,
and nobody wants to go home.
Speaker 5 (32:54):
Nobody's making vacation plans. Forget all that.
Speaker 7 (32:57):
We're getting a Lombardi Trophy and that's all we know,
you know what I mean, And very few players get
to actually realize that. So it is it's a step
up as you go each once again, each wrong on
the ladder.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
You can feel it. And Week one, I'm excited for him.
Speaker 7 (33:12):
I'm gonna sit here next week and we're gonna have
all the answers about the entire league in just one week.
But we can't forget Week one is a dirty little
liar like your ex right, that was screaming with j Mac. Yeah,
so let's just not you know, let's not go crazy.
Let's not go crazy. It's gonna be impossible. I'll be
right there with you.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
So, Titans Broncos this Sunday for Eastern on Fox. You
get into town, what Saturday morning, I'll be there tomorrow.
Speaker 7 (33:38):
Shoot, well we go to the practice on Friday. Let's
go baby. That's fun, right, Oh, it's the best. Champaign
is a great interview too. Yeah, he does a great Joe,
we'll talk. Oh he's great.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
I mean he was here.
Speaker 7 (33:50):
I mean, he's got nuggets for days Man.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Great scene again. Appreciate you Mark Sanchez all year. How
lucky you're week. First things First is around the corner.
It still hurt.
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox
Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to
noon Pacific. 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 Fox Sports Radio
or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Oh here we go, Ready to roll.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It is a Wednesday, Joel klad Mark Sanchez. We're live
in our snazzy new studio. We're in Los Angeles. It
is great to have you in today. We got all
sorts of stuff, you know. Jerry Jones on Good Morning
America this morning. He is defending that trade of Micah
Parsons on every network that will have him on Jay mackin.
(00:53):
We got a lot of stuff to talk about. One
of my favorite things came out in the Athletic. They've
done it two years in a row. I texted the
producer of the Morning at Fourfolded Coats. It's called the
NFL Hope oh meters. So they go and they do
a survey. Second year for the Athletic they do a
survey with fans, how optimistic are you with your team?
(01:16):
So this is pre Micah trade. So Micah was still
a cowboy when they did this. So the teams at
the top, they're loving life in Denver. You know it's
Philadelphia Ravens, Lions, Bill's Rams, Chiefs. You would understand that
the shocker is Look at the bottom, the least optimistic
teams Colts, Saints, Brown's Cowboys. Again, this is pre Micah
(01:44):
Parsons trade. Second straight year, Dallas third from the bottom.
They have a franchise quarterback that it's at least B
to B plus, no state tax, free agents, decent weather,
great facilities, big time.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Weappons third from the bottom.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
That is a one hundred percent complete indictment of Jerry Jones.
That is an anti Jerry Jones vote. I started talking
about this three years ago. It maybe sounds cruel, a
little mean, but we got to keep it one hundred.
This has become old Al Davis with the Raiders. Jerry's
(02:24):
become old Al Davis with the Raiders. He keeps trying
to sell the fans something and they're not buying. And
what's amazing about this hopometer poll in the Athletic number
one Denver and not shocking. Twenty twenty two they got
a new owner. They were awful fans, Sean Payton, everybody.
(02:44):
Now they're number one. They're above the Chiefs, Bills, Raven DRAMs.
Also see where the commanders are. They flushed out awful
Dan Snyder. They're a top ten optimism team. If you
don't think owners matter, you're not paying attention. Dallas is
in the same group as Cleveland, the Saints, the Jets,
(03:05):
the Colts. These are teams that have chaos at quarterback.
So I'll tell you the one thing because I watched
this documentary on Netflix with Jerry. He had a big ego.
Then he's got a big ego. Now he was a
savvy businessman. Then he's a savvy businessman. Now. The difference
is when he took that job, he got the best
(03:27):
coach available on the market, Jimmy Johnson. Over the course
of time, as coaching has become more crucial than ever,
more important than ever, and there's more great young coaching.
Jerry does not respect the profession. This is a quarterback
coach league, and he doesn't respect the position. Brian Schottennaimer
(03:49):
was on nobody's radar. I think the last time he
interviewed for a head coaching job was fourteen years ago.
He was considered an old school offensive guy. Nobody was
lined up for him forget head coach at coordinator. Maybe
I'm wrong, maybe he crushes it, but they could have
had Ben Johnson, Mike Rabel, Pete Carroll. I didn't even interview,
not even interested. So because I think Jerry looks at
(04:12):
it and thinks, I want to play with my toy.
And there's several things that have happened that the Cowboys
love the Cowboys. They over the last decade have more
starts from the players they've drafted than any other team.
They don't want outside influence. They want friends of the family.
(04:33):
I mean, you notice it, they don't. It's very in slur.
This is what happened to the Lakers until they got
the new owner. And that will change. But and Jerry
is going on any network that will listen. And I
defended him on the Mica trade, but here he is
on Good Morning America defending the Micah deal.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
We have two kinds of capital or currency in the NFL.
One of them is draft picks and the other is
the financial because every team is limited to the same
amount of resources to spend. And having said that, Mica
enabled us to have four, possibly as many as six
players for the future. That's a good trade when you
(05:12):
need numbers. I'll take the numbers every time.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Now, I'll defend him on that. I would have done
it a year ago, but not right before the season.
But the Cowboy job should be like that line at
Chick fil A or in an out burger. People should
be lined up around the block. If Ohio State or
Penn State, Georgia have a job opening, here come the resumes.
The Yankees of the Dodgers have an opening. Here come
(05:37):
the resumes. Kansas basketball Duke Carolina Yukon, Dallas Cowboys. Look
at who's applying for that thing. I mean, it is
that vote. The Cowboys are in the class of the Browns.
That is a one hundred percent anti Jerry vote.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
So you know what we were saying that yesterday.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
It's not that Bill Belichick lost to TCU, it's how
they lost. I turned it off mid third quarter. They
were cumiliated. They were bad at everything. After that first
opening drive, I think they went the next six drives,
didn't complete a pass. It was really bad. So you
think Bill's got his guys. Mike Rabel's one of his guys.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Right.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Here's Vrabel on WEEI radio talking about Bill's opener with
the tar Heels.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
You know, I mean, you've coached in college.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
It takes a while, don't you think to get a
program going in there like that?
Speaker 5 (06:40):
I don't know everymer won twelve of the first twelve
games in Ohio States. It didn't take him long.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I'm just that's my experience college football.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Ouch for the record. Lincoln Riley first year at Oklahoma
twelve wins. First year at USC eleven wins. And you
guys don't like Lincoln Riley Meyer. Remember he took over
for Ron Zook. It was a mess. First year nine
wins in the SEC at Ohio State twelve wins. Jim
(07:10):
Harbaugh Michigan took over Brady Hoak, a disaster.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
They didn't have.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
I mean, they weren't getting guys drafted in the first
couple of rounds.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Ten wins.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
I was there for the opener. Kurt Signetti at Indiana
Basketball School year one, eleven wins. Sunny Dyke's TCU first
year thirteen wins. It's not like Carolina. I mean they
went to a bowl game last year. So, as I
said yesterday, I'm absolutely convinced the number one problem with
(07:41):
Belichick when it's coaching staffs or players, he just is
seeking comfort. He just wants to coach and work with
people that he's comfortable with. But the other thing I
think is interesting is like, if you're a great actor,
You're Tom Cruise, CARLN. Brando, You're Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Hopkins,
(08:05):
whoever you are. If you have two or three duds
in your career, I do not hold it against you.
You're still a great artist. You're still a great actor.
Right If you're you're a great athlete Michael Jordan and
it ends ugly with the Wizards, or your shack and
you bounce around the league, or you're Patrick Ewing and
(08:29):
it ends with a lot of turbulence and a lot
of losses, I don't hold it against you. It just
disappears into the ether. But I no longer can look
at Belichick the same because without Brady and Cleveland, without
Brady in college, without Brady and New England, he won
(08:52):
forty four percent of his games, he averages nineteen points
a game. It would be as if Phil Jackson left
Michael and could never win again. But Phil proved in
Albany of the CEA Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson. If you
gave him the pieces, he would dominate the league. Wasn't
a great GM, he was older, whatever, some next, James Dolan, whatever.
(09:17):
But it is different like when it does in my opinion,
it does affect how I view Belichick.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I can't.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I can't help it. I watched that nothing works. Nothing
worked early in New England, nothing worked late. I'm not
saying Belichick didn't help with Dante Skarnek. It didn't help
Brady early, but by the end I felt like Belichick
was getting in the way of Brady. He got in
(09:45):
the way in that Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Wouldn't play Darius Butler got in the way. Won that
did New England even punt in that game. He got
in the way with personnality, could not draft receivers or
tight ends or Pro bowlers offensively. I think he he
carried Tom in the first couple Super bowls last eight
ten years. I'll make the argument just as often felt
(10:06):
like he got in the way. And you can be
an actor, you can be an athlete, you can be
an artist, you can deliver clunkers. But there is something
about what I'm watching. It's got a Bobby Knightfield, the
late Bobby knight that so many people told Bill how
brilliant he was. He bought the sauce and I what
(10:28):
I watched the other night, Mike Frable, that's an ouch. Yeah,
urban Meyer went twelve to zero first year taking over
for a six and seventeen. That is a big Ouch's
that's keeping it.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
One hundred j Mac.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
There are all sorts of funny things in this hopometer poll.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Should I ask where the Jets were or not even
worth it?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
I mean, honestly, my jets hope right now like eleven percent.
Like I don't think there's I will say, big injury
this morning?
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Oh what was that? Dear Tucker significant army. He gets
hurt a lot.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, he's he has been a really good interior alignment,
but he has struggled with health.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
We're not gonna be good this year. We by the way,
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
I you know, you've been very critical of Charles Barkley
through the years. Yeah, I mean you you you you've
been very critical of him.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
This morning.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I'll take a shot because I don't. I don't buy
what he's selling me. I don't buy what Charles Barkley
on a podcast or something. I love Charles, you don't.
I love him, but I'm not buying what he's selling me.
And I'll talk about that next.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio App.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Hey, it's Ben, host of The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller,
with mean a lot to have you join us on
our weekly auditory journey. You're asking what in God's name
is the Fifth Hour. I'll tell you it's a spin
off of it. Ben Maler show, a cult hit overnights
on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture if you will
a world will? We chat with captains of industry in media,
sports and more every week explore some amazing facts about
(12:03):
human nature and more. Listen to The Fifth Hour with
Ben Mather on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Well.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
In the Athletics Optimism Poll, it's called the hypometer. The
fan base in the NFL that was the most optimistic.
Was not the Chiefs, Ravens or Bills or Eagles reliance.
It was the Denver Broncos. They are opening against the
Tennessee Titans. It's in the Mile Haig City and Mark
(12:30):
Sanchez is joining us. He'll be broadcasting the game.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Everybody talking.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
We said this a couple times during preseason, is that Denver,
from the reporters who bounce around the league at camps unanimously,
had an amazing camp. And I want to ask you
about that, because you know the starters don't play as much.
They're seventeen games. You're not going to play veteran offensive
lineman does camp. Did you ever come out of a
camp and feel good or bad that it have a
(12:59):
direct launch on outcomes?
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (13:01):
I think it. Camp. You need it to one. Physically
harden the body. Oh you got to. You got to
take those blows.
Speaker 7 (13:08):
You got to practice hard against other teams or against
your team, and truly scrimmage to get ready for week one,
just to get your body ready for what it's about
to endure. And then the mental side, it's lock in.
It's full focus. This is all we got, you know,
fifty three against the world. When we go on the road,
this is what we do. So I felt like you
(13:30):
needed to check that box, get over that hurdle, you know,
reach that wrung on the ladder, to feel like, okay,
it's time for Week one. And still in week one
we're gonna get unscouted. Looks we're gonna get way more
turnovers week one. Especially guys tackling full speed, tackling to
the ground.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
People forget.
Speaker 7 (13:49):
You know, guys are going to really try and knock
your head off and there goes to football. So I
think a lot of that has to do with how
your camp goes, how you approach it, and how you
come out of it hopeful, the injury free.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Now I picked Denver to win their division. It's not
a knock year high on I am, but I don't
like the fact that Kansas City lost Tooney and as
a rookie left tackle, I think this division is going
to be twelve wins, eleven wins, ten wins, and I
think Denver bo Nick should be better. I think their
defensive coordinator is so trusted by those players in Denver.
They add who fun dream Law and they've had a
(14:22):
very good camp. Are we a little hot on Denver
because everybody loved their camp.
Speaker 7 (14:27):
Well, it's hard for them to be this dark horse
sleeper pick because of all the positive pr this offseason.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
They're not sneaking up on anybody.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
And I think every you mentioned the division, every game
in that division is going to be a street fight.
I mean Pete Carroll in Vegas and Chip Kelly, they're
going to want to run the.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Ballids almost beat the Chiefs Plice.
Speaker 7 (14:45):
That's what I'm saying. I'm saying it's going to be
a more physical division. What does Jim Harbaugh want to do?
He wants to run the ball, so as you know,
tough as this Denver defense wants to be. They're going
to show me through those division games and he can't
be too beat up from those division games to then
lay an egg in some non division games. But you
nailed it's it's the consistency that they got the coaching
(15:07):
staff and the players. They got sixteen offensive and defensive
lineman on the roster, fifteen of them were there together
last year. That kind of consistency, same coaches, same defense.
We're going to add two key veterans on defense, two
key veterans on offense. You mentioned the safety, bring him
over from San Francisco. Tough as nails. That guy's just
(15:30):
a heat seeking missile. And then you get Dre Greenlaw.
Similar type of mentality, similar type of play production. I mean,
that guy's an assassin, and then you go on offense,
it's JK. Dobbins and it's Evan Ingram the tight end.
So you get the running back and the tight end
to help out Courtland Sutton and your year two quarterback.
I think they've done a lot of the right things,
and the consistency is the key.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Yeah, boy, that data on the O and d Lineman
ch Oh, it's huge. I don't know if I've ever
heard of that. Listen one of the things we talked
about cam Ward, I don't remember a number one quarterback
pick that was more under the radar, just so quiet.
I mean, generally it's a hype fest, right we're still
talking about Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels and Bo Nicks.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
I like what I see of his leadership style.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
We obviously he was a good college player, but I
just kind of love that nobody's talking about.
Speaker 7 (16:21):
I think that's, you know, a luxury you have in
a market like Nashville, not the biggest market. Sure they
love their football, but it's not you know, New York.
It's not Chicago. It's just a different place to be
and you get a little more leniency. I guess we
could call it. And bottom line is he can spin
the ball. And you know, it didn't look perfect in preseason,
(16:44):
but I did see some flashes and that's kind of
what I want to see. I did see the pre
snap process that you want to pay attention to. Is
this too big for this guy? It sure doesn't seem
like it. You know, he doesn't seem panic a lot
like Jackson Dart, you know. And with the Giants, you
see some guys play their first couple game James and
it's a deer in headlights kind of deal.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
So I think they like where they're at.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
I just, you know, I'm curious about that offensive line
they're moving Latham. He was formerly at Alabama right tackle,
played the left tackles rookie year. Now he's going to
the right side where he wants to be. And then
Bill Callahan and his son obviously coaching that offense and
offensive line. That's an interesting dynamic. They go pick up
more the left tackle from Pittsburgh Pittsburgh. So that was
(17:25):
a huge signing, four years, eighty two million bucks. I
mean that's they're investing in that offensive line to protect
this quarterback. And this is year two in a row
that they're trotting out, you know, a high draft pick
or somebody who they imagine is going to be the
face of the franchise.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
So they want to get it right.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Mark Sanchez joining us Fox Sports NFL analyst. We got
two segments, so a lot of Mark and we love
this and there's always tape, so I said, there are
sometimes you get a coordinator or a coach. Offensively and stylistically,
he helps the player, but he's not a perfect fit.
Ben Jumps to me, is a little bit. He's a
(18:02):
little bit like a Shanahan or a Kevin O'Connell. Here's
the player, run it. He'll give you some freedom. Sure
Caleb is. I mean he's an artist. I mean he
is a stocky, powerful player. And I know Caleb will
be better. I know that Mark, But sometimes I wonder
if stylistically they're not they're not a perfect fit. What
(18:24):
is a realistic expectation in your opinion?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Year two?
Speaker 7 (18:27):
Well, I think number one is his process approach in
philosophy is probably really taking a shift. And you know
he's had different types of coordinators, whether it's in college
or even his rookie year where he could kind of
add lib.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Kind of at will.
Speaker 7 (18:43):
I think exactly what you said, there's going to be
some more structure we're going to develop, you know, a
kind of a one two three plan. This is kind
of what it feels like. If it doesn't, we're getting
the two. If not, we're getting the three, and let's
speed that process up. I know from everybody you talked
to about Ben Jonson, he's a no nonsense guy. He
has a picture and a vision of what is supposed
(19:04):
to look like and if it don't look like that,
get the hell out of my way.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
I'll find a guy that can do it.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
So that kind of attitude I think might be just
what Caleb needs and we'll see it in the production
once again, that process, the pre snat process, and then
he's got to eliminate some of those sacks, and I
think naturally Ben Johnson's going to put him in some
great spots, give him some breather place where he just
I know where the ball's going. I'm spitting it out quick.
It might be a third and long. Hopefully we get
(19:30):
the first out. But I don't need him to drop
back right here. We don't need him. What did Sean
Payton say? I don't need him to fly the final
mission for top Gun to save the planet. Every single play,
Let's get my quarterback into groove. And then the big
one for me is him understanding when to hang in
the pocket and trust it and win from the pocket
with slight movement, and then when to completely break and
(19:52):
go steal some yards, get down, get out of bounds,
stay healthy. I think that kind of discernment. We're going
to see a little more with that, because I think
it his footwork and his eyes are just going to
be in the right place, right timing, and if it
ain't there, I'm moving on with my life. Cut bait,
move on with your life and go make a play
like I think Ben will give him that kind of
that speech. Hey, get me out of a jam. Maybe
(20:13):
two to three times a game, I'm gonna put you
in really good spots, okay, but those two to three
times are critical plays. We can't turn the ball over
and we can't take hits.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Yeah, I've argued this. You know Michael Jordan about twice
a game would take your breath away, but he lived
on eighteen footers and mahomes about three times a game.
You're like, what did I watch? But he never misses layups.
That's right, that's really quarterbacking. Mark Sanchez. Oh, was great,
great to have him back. We take a break, we
come back with more live in LA. It's the Herd.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Oh, it's always great to have Mark Sanchez, Fox Sports
NFL analyst.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
He will be good game.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Actually, you got to see Cam wore the number one
pick against Denver.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
That's a really good game.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
All right.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
So one of the things you talked about with Denver
was continuity, and the Jets have none. As you well know,
you were actually with the Jets the last time they
had some continuity and you had success in the playoffs,
especially on road games and big games and pressure games.
So the Jets have all new everything. Aaron Glenn was
a great coordinator. Is he a great hit coach? We
(21:22):
don't know. Justin fields is certainly capable. You take me
through the Jets all new stuff.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Well, I think you know he's going to light a
fire under those guys. And Aaron Glenn is that kind
of coach. He's former player, a Pro Bowl player, played
for the Jets. You know, with Parcels understands he's part
of that kind of tree toughness.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
Physicality, the attitude.
Speaker 7 (21:49):
And you know, you sit in front of him in
these production meetings and I want to go play defense,
you know what I mean. He's that kind of a motivator.
They have plenty of weapons on defense if they're healthy,
If Jermaine Johnson comes back. You know they got Quinn Williams,
didn't do a ton in the preseason.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
Is he going to be healthy?
Speaker 7 (22:07):
You know, who's gonna rush on the other side, like
they There's there's plenty there on defense for this team
to be a defensive first team. Plenty there on offense.
Although it sounds like Elijah Vera Tucker got hurt, which
is tragic, you know, stud player and has bounced between
guard rey guard, right tackle, you know, playing all over
and now he could finally focus at guard and it
(22:30):
sounds like he has a significant injury. So that's gonna hurt.
But if they can run the ball, Breese Hall, Braylen Allen.
I mean you should see Braylen Allen. This guy trains
with Dereck Henry Wisconsin. Holy smokes. I mean this guy
is just a first off the bus kind of player,
just so the other people can look at him like,
good luck, dude, good good luck tackling this guy. So
I think that's going to be their approach. And if
(22:50):
it's defense, Aaron Glenn's going to take care of that,
right That's that's where he's.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Going to really make his mark.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
And his team has to be tough defensively and stingy
opportunistics take the ball away.
Speaker 5 (23:00):
That got to be better on special teams. Colum.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
They lost like three games, just gave him away last
year because of the kicking game return game. I mean,
something went wrong. They got to get that tightened up.
And then, you know, for me, justin fields, he's an
able runner. He's got to be a willing runner in
this offense. Yeah, it's got to be movement throws. It's
got to be stuff that he's really really comfortable with.
And he's got to add you know, five hundred yards
(23:24):
with his legs. I mean, bo Nicks ran for four
hundred plus last year, so I got to see that
kind of production.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
Are more from Justin Fields.
Speaker 7 (23:31):
If this team wants to to, you know, really take
a step in the right direction, and let Erin Glenn
put his stamp on this franchise.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
So it's interesting. I remember you saying this once when
you were in New York. Because of the media and
the talk shows, they brought Tim Tebowan and you're like, he.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Was clearly a backup.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
But it's just a relentless, never ending drama every time
in the media. So here you have the Giants where
Jackson Dart has a good preseason, the schedule's tough. Brian
Dable and the general manager feel if it went sideways
in the first six weeks, they could be in trouble.
I like a lot about the Giants. I love neighbors,
I love their left tackle, I like their coach. I
(24:09):
think their front defensively is unbelievable. Abdull Carter is going
to be in that Rookie of the Year category stuff,
I think. But that quarterback Jackson Dart Russell, what do
you make of that?
Speaker 7 (24:21):
I think it's a similar situation to the Jets, where
it's going to be a defensive focus team. You mentioned
the guys they have up front. I mean that Bobby
Ocake is an excellent linebacker and he came over from
Indy and he's played really well in multiple systems there,
even with Wing Marndale, with you know all their guys
now Shane Bowen.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
I mean, they got some serious talent.
Speaker 7 (24:42):
Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Thibodeau, and Carter's stack.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
You know, it's one thing to be.
Speaker 7 (24:48):
A really good rusher as a rookie and you're kind
of on your own and looking for other guys to
kind of chip in.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
I mean, you might not even notice.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
Carter because you can't see past Dexter Lawrence, you know
what I mean. So this team is loaded and there'll
be a defensive first team. The quarterback position is a
noisy media and a loud market. It is hard to
manage those expectations. I think he got a guy in
Russell Wilson who's steady, and I think that's what is
attractive about him for Dable at the head coach.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
But you see Jackson Darr every opportunity he got, he.
Speaker 7 (25:23):
I mean, he lit it up. He did everything he
wanted to do. He checked every box. I wanted to see.
The spotlight wasn't too big. He hit the go ball
when he needed to. He handled two minute drives, sometimes
against the two, sometimes against the starter. He looked great
in the Jets Giants, you know, dual practice, joint practice.
He looked incredible. But so did Russ. So you have
someone there. You have this potential backup plan future. It's
(25:46):
just a timing thing. How long is the leash? You know,
those kind of questions show up when you have that
much talent. I guess it's a good problem to have
because you have so much talent, but managing that talent
is going to be a bumpy road.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Well, you went your year one with the Jets, you
made the playoffs. Then they went out and did they
had Braylon Edwards, the added to somebody.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
San Antonio Holmes.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
So we go into year two with all these quarterbacks.
So Jaden has proven himself. Bonix was very good. Can't
wait to watch JJ and Penix. I think Drake may
looked really good down the stretch without a lot of
juice on the perimeter. What was the biggest jump for
you year one the year two where you when you
went into that camp and maybe mid season, You're like, boy,
(26:29):
I'm a different player with this.
Speaker 7 (26:32):
I felt the pressure, not just externally but internally with
the veterans we acquired, but Danian Thomlinson and Jason Taylor,
two Hall of famers, and I just felt this sense
of urgency. I knew how close we were the year
before in the championship game, and there was there was
just a different approach, a different makeup of that team,
(26:57):
and there was something special about it. You could feel
it when we talked about training cam. You can feel
it in training camp. Could we were hard knocks? It
was it was nosy knocks. And so you know what
I will warn people Week one. We went out Week
one and laid an egg and lost in the first
game in Met Life against the Ravens and got smacked
around a little bit, especially on offense defense player. Right,
we didn't play very well after a great training camp.
(27:18):
So it ended up being a different year than we
expected to start. You know, we thought this is this
is it. And people have to remember also, just because
you go to the championship game, you start zero and
zero the next year, right, you know what I mean,
It's not just oh we win one more game.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
No, that was last year Bud put it to bed.
Speaker 7 (27:36):
Move on New Year, New lifetime really of emotions and
new living, breathing thing. So that was our first year
that I had won a fourth quarter comeback game, two
minute drives, winning games.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
We won three in a row, last play of the game.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Wow.
Speaker 7 (27:51):
And that those like three game heaters we didn't have
the year before like that. They didn't feel like that.
It didn't feel like, hey man, we got this. We
got some spell us here. I had never proven it.
I'd never won a fourth quarter comeback, so then the
other guy saw it, and then I'm getting tips from
Jason Taylor in training camp. Those one of my favorite stories.
Under the center, we used to take snaps under center.
(28:12):
If you didn't know that now it's all Shaka, but
under center, I would twitch my hand right before I
was going to receive the ball, when the cadence was
real and Jason Taylor was low on the ground looking
at my hand and said, hey, Rook, I got a
tip for you. Or he didn't call me rook because
I was sick here, but I got a tip for
you something with the snap, I got your cadence, and
(28:34):
I'm like, what's the deal.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
Dude, you're like in.
Speaker 7 (28:36):
The backfield as soon as I hiked the ball, you're
like taking the handoff going the other way. He said,
I'll tell you after training camp. I was like, dude,
but he ended up telling me, and then I would
use it just to make sure I would bluff it.
You know, so stuff like that, like you get insider
insight like that and knowledge from a guy like Jason Taylor.
I mean, you can't help but want to perform your best,
(28:58):
want to prepare your butt off because I don't want
to let that guy down. I don't want to miss
Ladanion on a checkdown. I couldn't afford to, you know
what I mean. That was the kind of feeling I had,
and I feel like if anybody's in a similar situation,
is Bonix, Jaydon Daniels, some of these Year two guys
who've been to the playoffs. This is the ultimate meritocracy.
What have you done for me lately?
Speaker 4 (29:17):
Right?
Speaker 7 (29:18):
Last year's over? Show me again, show me you can
do it again? And you know that's the position a
lot of these guys find themselves in.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
I think it's great that you're doing.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
I want to segue back to cam Ward's first game
as a pro. Your first game was in Houston, Houston.
I remember you made a big third down throw. It's
amazing what I can remember and can't. I mean, I
can't remember yesterday.
Speaker 5 (29:39):
Sam. Sam.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
So so you come out of USC were at the
time those games were sold out, you were in LA.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
You didn't come from Iowa State. So but take me
to your nerves.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
I want you to take me to to on the
field anthem.
Speaker 7 (29:55):
That's what cam Ward's going through feels. It feels like
a blur. You're on the road, it's loud. Joe Namath
is on the sidelines talking with my dad and my
high school coach before the game. I'm just like, oh
my god. I literally I told this story the other day.
But I went inside to go get ready for the game.
I didn't even take my ankles. I've taped my ankles
for every game I've ever played, and just forgot just
(30:16):
walked right out on the field. But it might clean something,
let's go, and was just so hyper focused on everything
else that you know, it's an absolute blur and you'll
look back and have fun if you'll look back and
remember what an amazing time it was. But in that
moment it is, you know, just tunnel vision and he'll
be locked in, ready to go. The first thing I
(30:38):
wanted to do was just get a completion, and I
wanted to get knocked down just one time.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
Get my jersey a little bit dirty. Yeah, just get
my jersey a little bit dirty.
Speaker 7 (30:46):
Not a hard hit, nothing to stop the game and
get walked off the field or anything, but just something
to remind me, Okay, I'm in games started. Let's rock
and get through our process. Great footwork, great eyes, great accuracy.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
Mark Sanchez is joining us, when you know, I do
think we're gonna go to eighteen games potentially by next
year or at seventeen. When I grew up, it was fourteen,
then we went to sixteen. Uh, we're gonna have probably
shrinkage in the preseason. There's joint practices. We know that
you joint practices I think have some impact. But when you,
(31:25):
even as a veteran Joe Burrows struggled in September, what
is the difference of speed. Yeah, intense joint practice, preseason,
real snaps and the first series of the season, is
it a noticeable difference in speed?
Speaker 5 (31:40):
There's a difference.
Speaker 7 (31:41):
I feel like the joint practices though it's you know,
controlled chaos. You know, it's it's managing the amount of
reps that you're getting and quality reps. Think more like
farmers market as opposed to you know, you know, grocery store,
Superstar chain. Right, so you get quality reps in a
controlled environment, and it's at times it feels more real
(32:05):
than the preseason. And then Week one hits and that's legit.
Then you play your first divisional game and you're like, ooh, yeah,
we really don't like each other.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Okay, got it.
Speaker 7 (32:15):
It's gonna be like, you know, the personnel, you know,
the coaches go back and forth, like you just know
a lot about that team, they know a lot about you.
Those are street fights, and that feels a little different.
And then you get to a playoff game, Holy smoke,
each each one that you get to experience Wildcard Divisional
(32:35):
and then the farthest we got was the championship game.
Speaker 5 (32:39):
Buddy, it's like a different world.
Speaker 7 (32:41):
And these kids, I mean everybody when the playoffs are
everybody's playing essentially for the same amount of money, right right,
your contracts expired, boom, You're just playing to win these games,
and nobody wants to go home.
Speaker 5 (32:54):
Nobody's making vacation plans. Forget all that.
Speaker 7 (32:57):
We're getting a Lombardi Trophy and that's all we know,
you know what I mean, And very few players get
to actually realize that. So it is it's a step
up as you go each once again, each wrong on
the ladder.
Speaker 5 (33:08):
You can feel it. And Week one, I'm excited for him.
Speaker 7 (33:12):
I'm gonna sit here next week and we're gonna have
all the answers about the entire league in just one week.
But we can't forget Week one is a dirty little
liar like your ex right, that was screaming with j Mac. Yeah,
so let's just not you know, let's not go crazy.
Let's not go crazy. It's gonna be impossible. I'll be
right there with you.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
So, Titans Broncos this Sunday for Eastern on Fox. You
get into town, what Saturday morning, I'll be there tomorrow.
Speaker 7 (33:38):
Shoot, well we go to the practice on Friday. Let's
go baby. That's fun, right, Oh, it's the best. Champaign
is a great interview too. Yeah, he does a great Joe,
we'll talk. Oh he's great.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
I mean he was here.
Speaker 7 (33:50):
I mean, he's got nuggets for days Man.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Great scene again. Appreciate you Mark Sanchez all year. How
lucky you're week. First things First is around the corner.
It still hurt.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.