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September 2, 2025 • 41 mins

He gives his final Herd Hierarchy before the NFL season officially kicks off and why the Chiefs are no longer a top 3 team.

Plus, he talks to Nick Wright from First Things First about the Micah Parsons trade and why the Cowboys did better than what people are giving them credit for

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and
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
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Oh well, comitted to Tuesday football is back? We are
back and are set. Listen. I don't talk about sets much, okay,
or graphics, but uh, the people that run this network
and make big decisions and you know, take town cars
to work. They have done a good job with our sets,

(00:46):
our design and our graphics. And so you'll see some
flares out there and some cool stuff and we appreciate
the effort. You know, if the host gets older, you
know you need help. I need support.

Speaker 3 (00:57):
My back's hurting from carry the com dbacks hurting from
all that golfs.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
You can tell what's happening to this show, Nick right
in a couple of minutes.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
So here we go.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
This is our last heard hierarchy going into the season. Listen,
the hardest part of this hierarchy was not the top.
It was who do I put ten to eleven twelve.
I got to watch the first couple of weekends. So
here we go.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Heard hierarchy. Now go the top ten NFL teams according
to College number ten.

Speaker 1 (01:32):
I'm gonna put Detroit in there. They've got two new coordinators,
they lost two offensive linemen. The strength of their team.
They get Aiden Hutchison back. I think their division is
better this team last year. You know you're talking fourteen
to fifteen wins. I think it's major pullback. They are
so good upstairs. They've built a really cool culture. I've

(01:54):
always liked Jared Goff more than the rest of the
media gallery. But I don't think this tea wins their division.
And I think losing elite coordinators go as Philadelphia can
get ugly fast. I have them at ten. Number nine,
I'll put the Rams, although I think Houston is a
dangerous opener with Will Anderson, the Rams left tackle just

(02:17):
started practicing this week, and I mean, anybody spotted Matt
Stafford in LA. I think it's a dangerous opener. But
I think they have the second best coach in the league,
and when Stafford has time to throw with this young defense,
they'll win games. This is amazing. They were the young
They played more rookies than anybody in the NFL last year,
and yet we're the least penalized team. They're a completely

(02:39):
buttoned up organization, but left tackle and quarterback is a
lot of question marks, and Houston is a scary opener
with their pass rush. Number eight the Packers. Let me
ask you, is Jordan Love good? I don't know, but
I like the culture. I like the team. They were
actually last year one in five in division, which is

(03:02):
rare for them, so I think they'll improve. There were
ten and one against everybody else. Jordan Loves starts the
season slow, so that's a real thing. Joe Burrow's done
the same thing. Reasons I don't know. Again, I thought
they went out and got a number one ride receiver.
The Mica trade is absolutely worth a win. I don't
know if it's worth two. But they won eleven games

(03:23):
last year and we're banged up at quarterback. Just out
of respect for the organization and the coach, I think
the Mica trade works for them. I think they win
the division. Number seven Commanders are good. I wonder if
they're great. They have five primetime games. They're the oldest
team in the league. Did you know that? Looked it
up this morning. Older players do not like primetime games.

(03:44):
The Chiefs are used to it, but it can be disruptive. Also,
Jadeen Daniels and the Commanders scored on fifty percent of
their drives. I'm gonna go with that's not going to
happen again. The Deebo Samuel Chess piece is really interesting,
but I have them at seven. I'm higher on the
Seahawks than everybody else. At five to one. They're the

(04:04):
best bet to win a division. And here's my thing.
Second year, with a really bright young coach, upgrade at
coordinator and quarterback, they will be more run specific. Grays
Abel has been a big pickup. He had a great preseason.
They could not run the football last year. They will
be a run first team. They'll miss some big plays
with DK Metcalf, absolutely, but I gotta tell you, I

(04:28):
don't think there's a better personnel guy in the league
than John Snyder. Their last three drafts not a lot
of misses, and I love this draft. I have the
Seahawks at six, number five, But are they Kansas City?

Speaker 4 (04:40):
No.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
I think this is where the gap happens. The final
five teams. Listen, Kansas City was twelve to zero one
score games. That's not going to happen. But Andy Reid
and Mahomes are, you know, the best at what they
do in this sport, which is leaning offense. But the
problem is that Rashi Rice six game suspension. I feel
like they've been bailing water at wider receiver for three
years and it's worked. But you know, let's be honest

(05:05):
about that. Guess who was closer to his prime Travis Kelce.
So they're going to be good. They have the best
defensive coordinator, the best coach, the best quarterback. The division
is a handful, but I think they'll be a playoff team.
But they got They were so good in one score games,
and I think the Raiders, the Broncos, and the Chargers
are all going to be a step better.

Speaker 2 (05:27):
Number four Denver.

Speaker 1 (05:29):
I think it's universally understood that bow Knicks is a
hit and will only get better. This is the team
last year that was very good but not great in
one score games. Now Breeze and Peyton were great in
one score game, so boone Nicks is not going to
be one in six and one score games. They also
went out and got real players the fun get safety, Green,

(05:50):
bought linebacker greenlot linebacker Evan Ingram at tight end. They
went and got productive veterans who will make an impact immediately.
They didn't just go to the transfer portal and get
rotational guys. They want and got productive stars in this league.
I have Denver at.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
Four, number three.

Speaker 1 (06:11):
You know, Lamar Jackson seven years, won seventy eight games,
and every game they lose is either against a playoff
team or it's close. I know, I know they don't
win in the postseason. It's a fair criticism, but I'm
I think structurally, like Kansas City, I don't see holes
in the organization. Number one rushing defense, number one rushing offense.

(06:32):
Everybody else says it's a passing league. Baltimore's like, yeah,
we can do that. But I have them at three,
number two. Listen, well, they've beaten the Chiefs in the
regular season, just not the postseason. I like Buffalo James
Cooks got his deal signed, they got all their early
draft picks. They went with defense, and that's what they

(06:52):
should have done. Listen, I think Josh Allen is the
most talented football player in the world. His strength, movement,
I don't think there's anything quite like it. He doesn't
have Mahomes as hardware, but he doesn't have Mahomes as coach.
Joey Bosa that's like under the radar. Still a good player,

(07:13):
but the Chargers didn't want to pay play for two
rush ends. So I just think they're lined up to
get to a super Bowl. Number one, best overall roster
composition in the league. Don't love their head coach, but
what do you want me to say? In the trenches
O line and D line, they nailed two early round corners.

(07:34):
I think they have the most players in the NFL,
either in their prime or close to their prime. I
can't find a hole on the team outside of I
don't always love the personality of the head coach, but
for a team that just blew out the Chiefs, they
were kind of strangely under the radar. So I have
them at number one, and with that Nick right, first

(07:55):
things first is joining us live, all right, there's usually
a aping hole that I missed, so I'm gonna I'm
gonna offer you an opportunity. What did I really swing
and miss on?

Speaker 5 (08:07):
I mean, I I hate to Chris in your gorgeous
brand new studio and welcome you back from what was
I don't know, six seven week vacation with this, but
I think in all our time knowing each other, this
is this is a bottom two or three Herd hierarchy.
I just have to I listen, the Eagles at top

(08:29):
is fine. I still I still need to talk to
either on or offline about how the Chargers left tackle
getting hurt made the Broncos so much better. I still
don't totally understand that.

Speaker 2 (08:44):
But fine.

Speaker 5 (08:45):
You also said, you know, everybody agrees bo Nix is,
you know, is a hit and good, and you know
I don't not everybody my hands up on not agreeing.
I think I wonder what the commentary after Mac jones
first year ten wins, fake Pro Bowl going into year

(09:06):
two was, and we compare that to where bo Nix is.
But you also said John Schneider is the best GM
in football. I mean, forget my guy, Brett Beach. Howie
Roseman might have something to say about that.

Speaker 1 (09:18):
But more importantly.

Speaker 5 (09:20):
Than any of that, because obviously you and your merry
brand of you know, friends in the media that are
just convinced the Chiefs fifteen wins and third straight Super
Bowl appearance was sign of doom. That's fine, I'll set
that aside. Where are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Colin, how
did the Tampa Bay eleven? You always say eleven. Whenever

(09:43):
I bring up the team, you always say eleven. I
feel like the Bucks are a little disrespected, the Seahawks
and Broncos are a little overly respected, And I might
argue for like, I'm surprised you didn't find room for
the Chargers or the Bears. And so those would be
my bigger gripes, like the Chiefs being Chiefs, Bills, Ravens,

(10:06):
Eagles all are the four best teams in football. We
can argue about the order. One of those teams is
not like the other with Denver and they're owen seven
record against good AFC teams last year. But we'll see
how that works out.

Speaker 1 (10:19):
So I said on the Mica trade is that it
was remarkable to me the pushback Dallas gott because I
watched Micah and Ceedee, Lamb and Dak get housed by
the Packers in a playoff game and trail like twenty
seven to nothing. I've seen it, and that was with
a better coaching staff than this staff. So Green Bay
needs a playwrecker, and that's what he is. The Cakes built,

(10:40):
He's the icing Dallas needs players and flexibility. Were you
surprised or maybe you agree with it, the outrage and
the negativity on Dallas getting two first rounders having four
total in the next two drafts. Oh, by the way,
next year could be a seedingly promising quarterback Drives or

(11:03):
I got it for Dallas, did you?

Speaker 5 (11:05):
So? This is one that I think you nailed more
than most and I agreed, Listen, I would not want
to be in the business of trading Micah Parsons. I
think the Cowboys made up and I think you might
agree with this, made a bunch of mistakes that led
them to this place. I would have signed Micah a
year ago. If I was looking at it and said, hey,

(11:28):
we cannot have CD at the top of market, Dak
at top of market, and Micah at top of market.
We're gonna have to move off one of those three.
Micah would have been the last one that I moved
off of Like so, there are things I would have
done differently, but once they got to where they were.
My defense of Dallas is this, if the breaking news

(11:51):
last week Colin was not that Mike has traded. It
was that the Cowboys signed Micah to the exact contract
Green Bay did. Everyone would be killing the Cowboys like
they put themselves in a spot where, no matter what,
they were going to be criticized, because if you cannot
pay Micah forty seven DAK sixty C thirty five and say,

(12:13):
and it's sure, we're just going to be better than
we've been the last few years when you haven't been
good enough. So once they got to the place they
were in, I understood the trade. Their hope, obviously, is
that it is their version of the Chiefs trading away
Tyreek Hill, where you recognize he's a great player, but
recognize you have other holes you need to fill. I

(12:36):
don't like that they got to the place, but once
they got there, two first round picks and in my opinion,
a good player in Kenny Clark. It's not an overwhelming return,
but it's fine. They just obviously have to hit on
those picks. So I agree with you that once they
got to this place, trading him was understandable. I don't

(12:57):
like the process that led them to getting to this place.
You know.

Speaker 1 (13:01):
So I'm watching Belichick and we looked it up this morning.
If you take Cleveland, New England and that game last
night with Al Brady Belichick has averaged nineteen points in
his career. And I've said this. Andy Reid got to
five NFC championships, Prima homes, Andy Reid won, got to
the playoffs with Alex Smith. Andy Reid wins everywhere. I

(13:23):
cannot be the only person that watches that game last
night and think it's hot. This is not aging. Well,
this does not look good. When Tom goes to Tampa
and a little bit of a pirate ship, of course,
and wins the trophy. I do think this dings his legacy.
I don't think the last several years helps at all.

Speaker 5 (13:45):
Well, I agree with the last part. It sutinly doesn't help.
There's no argument that it helps. Now, how much does
it hurt that I'm not ready to go there yet?
What I will say, let me defend Bill and then
give you my thoughts on last night. We all, all
of us that were there for the first three Super
Bowls recognize those were defense led teams with an incredibly clutch,

(14:09):
but not yet great quarterback. The final Super Bowl in
twenty eighteen, Colin, they shut down Todd Gurley, Sean McVeigh,
and a good Jared Goff to the tune of three
points in the Super Bowl. Like his ability for twenty
years in New England to put great defenses around Tom

(14:31):
should not be overshadowed in how that team won as
much as they did, So that part no one can
ever take away from him. But the fact that we
now over the last half decade in New England, his
talent evaluation was questionable, His coaching staff decisions were outright bad.

(14:51):
His inability to ever get the quarterback position right outside
of Brady, which is a big yeah. But because Brady
is the greatest in the history of the sport that
that matters. And we've talked about this, the melding of
his personal and professional life and the really odd decisions

(15:13):
to keep that front and center up to an including
last week with the trade attempted reported trademark of gold
Digger and other things. The only way that's going to
be okay is if you continue being excellent. And not
only were they not excellent, they were awful last night.
And it also to me there was a lot of

(15:34):
excuse making for a I'm not writing the kid off,
but a poor arch Manning performance because we were like
man Mike or Matt Patricia's defense, like there's just nothing
a college kid could ever have done well. Josh Hoover
looked pretty fine last night against Bill Belichick's defense. So
I don't think it was all that. I think it's

(15:55):
also the personnel and the experience. But yeah, that is Colin.
I looked this morning. They're now projected to win five
and a half games, Like they have three non con
games coming up and then a game against Stanford Nancy
State late, but they're going to be underdogs the majority
of the rest of the way, and that team doesn't

(16:17):
look anywhere close to competing for anything significant.

Speaker 1 (16:22):
Yeah, the you know, the arch Manning thing which you
alluded to. I said, you know, I was driving in
this morning and I was thinking about I never want
to be too harsh, but there's a difference between jitters
and nerves and like not throwing more than maybe one
ball all afternoon, where you're like, oh, that was pitching catch,

(16:44):
that's it was off kilter. He felt pressure that didn't exist.
He missed multiple layups. He sometimes he faded into pressure
like it's it looked about as bad as it could be.
And he's been with sort three years. And you can
criticize sarc well that, but he was things Sark can
coach offense in quarterbacks.

Speaker 5 (17:04):
We know that it was. It listened. It's not everything,
but it's not nothing, and it is. You then start
looking with a finer tooth comb at him versus the
other guys who were, you know, early in their college
career being talked about as future number one picks. I

(17:25):
understand his rookie year didn't go so these guys, by
the way, haven't yet to be proven to be great pros.
But Caleb Williams, the first time he ever played college
football as a true freshman, gets dropped into the Red
River Shootout, down two scores, then cooks, and it's just unbelievable.
Trevor Lawrence as a true freshman goes undefeated and beat

(17:48):
Alabama in the National Championship game, goes thirty eight to two.
And again you can say, well, what does that matter
because those guys haven't been the pros you know, Caleb
early and Trevor through four years that we would have hoped.
The point is those guys had this type of hype
about number one overall pick and immediately backed it up.
My concern for Arch going into the game was multi layered.

(18:11):
One is, it's not nothing that Texas last year decided
Quinn Ewers was the better option. Now, Quinn's a great
college player, seventh round pick, they're going for national championship.
I understand that, but that's not nothing. Expecting Arch to
cook against the national champion on the road in his

(18:31):
first ever road game. That was curious. And then also
the fact that he didn't go to a football factory.
He went to a small school in New Orleans and
had a nice but not overwhelming high school career, and
then three years in we haven't seen him play in
a big spot yet. There were just a lot of
reasons for me to believe this is gonna be tough

(18:52):
on him. Now, I didn't think they'd only score seven points,
but I did like Ohio State significantly in the game.
And I'm not writing all Arch Manning on anything except
for this. I do think we can write him off
on this year's Heisman Trophy, not only because he now
has a hugely high profile bad game, but also because

(19:16):
when you watched that, does it feel like he's about
to rip off ten straight awesome games?

Speaker 1 (19:21):
I don't know.

Speaker 5 (19:22):
I know their next three San Jose State, UTEP, Sam Houston,
he should be great. Then it's at Florida in the swamp,
and then it's the Red River shootout. Like I think that.
You know, his grandfather was like, Arch is gonna stay
for two years? And Arch was like, I don't know
about that. I think that's more on the board now
than it was going into the game. And that's not

(19:44):
an indictment, but it did feel like he was anointed
without having accomplished in a way we hadn't seen recently
in college football.

Speaker 1 (19:53):
Totally agree. It's good to be back. You know, I
do enjoy working. I take some respites, but I do
enjoy working.

Speaker 5 (19:59):
Listen, Colin, you are for thirty years the hardest working
man in the industry, and now you're the hardest working
man in the industry September through May. And you know what,
that's fine. There's no problem with that, bro. You have
earned it. I respect it, and I love it. It's

(20:19):
good to see you again.

Speaker 1 (20:21):
Ah, Nick right, my friend Nick right? First things first,
which is at it an hour? So that that is great.
Jane Mack, we both had good summers with our families.
That's what it was about you and I decided let's
go have some fun this summer.

Speaker 3 (20:32):
Oh he was outstanding until I came back and saw
you left the forty nine ers off the hurt hierarchy.
I mean, what a glaring error. Well, people, they're twelve
twelve with the easiest schedule that the NFL has seen.

Speaker 1 (20:45):
That I'm not putting in schedule yet. Let's see what transpires.
I think they're I think Seattle beats Seattle's a two
point dog at home. I love Seattle six. I think
Seattle is going to beat San Francisco. There are two
point dog at home. Well, you want have a sign?

Speaker 5 (21:00):
I bet?

Speaker 1 (21:00):
How about this?

Speaker 3 (21:00):
If the Niners win that game, you have to play
around of golf with me this week. I'm busy.

Speaker 1 (21:05):
Oh wow, that's disrespect. I'm okay, fine, I'm out there
deal making.

Speaker 6 (21:08):
You think the Seahawks are the sixth best team.

Speaker 5 (21:11):
In the YA.

Speaker 1 (21:12):
This is the herd hierarchy is not a schedule ranking.
It is your personnel, your coach, It is your acquisitions
and free agency. You lose Hfungo Greenlaw. You literally went
and got Robert Sola because you're like, we were bad
defensively you just lost two of your best defensive players.
Potentially interesting.

Speaker 3 (21:30):
So Seattle lost their quarterback Metcalf and Lockett.

Speaker 1 (21:34):
No upgraded at quarterback coordinator and hit on another two
or three draft picks. I can't believe Seattle is a
home dog in a division rivalry game.

Speaker 3 (21:45):
Make the market is telling you that the Niners are
way better and the Seahawks are overvalued. Make a side
bet with me. It doesn't have to be golf. It
doesn't have to be something to chew up your valuable time. Listen,
you better hang out with me at least one night
this week.

Speaker 1 (21:57):
Come on, I'll try to make time on Thursday.

Speaker 6 (22:00):
Oh for the game. We'll watch a game together. All right,
you'll buy me food and drinks? Well, I like that?

Speaker 1 (22:04):
What's new?

Speaker 2 (22:05):
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Speaker 7 (22:15):
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Speaker 1 (22:46):
See Saquon Barkley voted on by players top one hundred
players in the NFL. Saquon Barkley got number one. I
contend it was one play. Everybody knew he was good,
but he was below fifteen last year when he did
that jump backwards over a player that got him to
number one.

Speaker 3 (23:05):
Well, I mean, I think it might have been the
two thousand yards rushing. Well, everybody knew he was good,
not that good.

Speaker 1 (23:13):
Come on to be the number one player in the
National Football League.

Speaker 6 (23:17):
Well, I mean, listen, it's hard to argue.

Speaker 3 (23:18):
When he goes to the Eagles and they make the
leap and win the Super Bowl by a billion against
the Chiefs and he was awesome, it's hard to argue.

Speaker 6 (23:25):
I don't know about one.

Speaker 1 (23:26):
Remember this a few years ago when this ridiculous narrative
that running backs aren't being paid and have no value.

Speaker 6 (23:33):
We saw through that. We were early on that.

Speaker 1 (23:35):
Yeah, it's just ridiculous. I mean, I've never talked to
a coach or a GM. There are concerns about a
second contract because it's the last player offensively that you
can hit from any angle and not draw a penalty.
So you don't want to sign to a second big contract.
And he got a reasonable number. But it's like the
idea that running backs were treated unfairly, folks. It's a

(23:57):
game of regulated violence. There are certain positions that don't
They don't last interior defensive lineman. I mean Aaron Donald
could still play him. He's like, yeah, I'm out. It
beats up my body, Like we get it. Jmack with
a news.

Speaker 2 (24:13):
Turn on the news. This is the herd Line News.

Speaker 3 (24:18):
Let's start with the athletic colin They polled NFL coaches
and executives around the league ahead of Week one. This
was a bit of a surprise. The question was which
quarterback you'd want to start a franchise with. The top
three were obvious Josh Allen Mahomes at Burrow, but strangely
number four, Jaden Daniels, got double the amount of votes

(24:38):
of two time MVP Lamar Jackson.

Speaker 1 (24:42):
Well, he's viewed as better at this stage by a
long shot in the pocket.

Speaker 3 (24:47):
Okay, at this stage, yeah, Colin, I just got to
pump the brakes. We saw this with CJ. Stroud first year,
off the hook, second year. Nobodys talking about CJ. Stroud
as a top seven quarterback in the league, not after
last year. And I listen, there is some caution around
around the Commanders and Daniels right now for this season.
That defense got old. They were twenty of twenty three

(25:08):
on fourth down last year. There's no way they're sniffing
that again.

Speaker 5 (25:11):
No.

Speaker 1 (25:11):
I actually think the two underdogs this weekend that really
interest me Houston against the Rams okay left tackle, and
I think the Giants app I think the Giants can
give Washington. Listen, that defensive front for the Giants is spectacular,
Like it is top two or three in the league.

(25:33):
And what is the hardest unit to create chemistry and cohesion?
O lines? And nobody plays starting offensive linemen in the preseason.
So Week one, I think the Giants and the Points
are the player. I'm with you.

Speaker 6 (25:48):
The line is coming down on that game. I do
want to add.

Speaker 3 (25:51):
Abdul Carter is probably the guy we didn't talk about
enough in the preseason. He barely played, but when he played,
he was like unblockable. Like I'm talking unstoppable for I
just can't get behind the Giants the season because of
that schedule.

Speaker 6 (26:03):
You know you saw this guy.

Speaker 1 (26:04):
It's some division rivalries. That's the first thing I look
at with bets every week. When a division rival that's
capable is getting points, Seattle at home getting points against
the Niners, sounds.

Speaker 3 (26:16):
Like someone's almost got their Uh oh, I got it done, baby,
it's already.

Speaker 1 (26:19):
You got to fix it on I've never had a
winning week.

Speaker 3 (26:21):
One, who are you, Matthew McConaughey, And two for the money,
you've got to fix.

Speaker 5 (26:24):
It on you.

Speaker 1 (26:25):
I've never had a winning week one I started. Was
it last year or the year before? Oh to nine?
Oh yeah, but I feel I've got my picks all right.

Speaker 6 (26:32):
So let's move on. Speaking of quarterbacks.

Speaker 2 (26:33):
J J.

Speaker 6 (26:34):
McCarthy is the only quarterback.

Speaker 3 (26:36):
From last year stellar class who has yet to take
a regular season stap.

Speaker 6 (26:39):
He'll do that Monday in Chicago.

Speaker 3 (26:43):
You know, we've heard a lot of noise about McCarthy
a lot of negatives, some positive, but TJ. Hockinson has
chimed in saying he sees a little bit of Kirk
Cousins in Matthew Stafford in McCarthy. Wow, I don't.

Speaker 6 (26:58):
You don't see it at all.

Speaker 1 (27:00):
No, I have no idea what I'm getting. I think
I'm not saying this is Mahomes to the Chiefs. But
to be able to get an elite left tackle Justin Jefferson,
a brilliant offensive coach, a revamped offensive line, the best
offensive coordinator in the sport. That is your opening year

(27:23):
starting in the NFL. Now, it may not be as
good as Mahomes, who got Kelsey, Tyreek Red and a mentor.
But if you're looking at a comp with Mahomes, that
got the coach, the protection, the weapon where they.

Speaker 3 (27:38):
Drafted almost the same spot.

Speaker 6 (27:39):
I think Mahomes was like ten McCarthy was right around
there own.

Speaker 5 (27:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (27:43):
It's my take on him is if he's not capable.
If I don't get like twenty of twenty eight, it's
a warning sign. You do. This is keys to the Mercedes,
don't run it into the local tree.

Speaker 6 (27:57):
Well it is so it's made to win let's slow
your role.

Speaker 3 (28:01):
Remember they had to just go get Adam Feelin because
their receiving core was so decimated.

Speaker 1 (28:07):
So expect bid Addison's coming back.

Speaker 6 (28:09):
He is coming that.

Speaker 3 (28:10):
But I'll expect a lot of bracketing of Justin Jefferson
in the opener.

Speaker 2 (28:13):
Maybe straight up.

Speaker 1 (28:14):
Double this Viking roster top to bottom. Top five good,
it's good, top five or six.

Speaker 6 (28:20):
In the NFC or in the league.

Speaker 1 (28:21):
No, I mean, I don't think it's Baltimore. I don't
think it's Philadelphia. And then you can argue it is Detroit.

Speaker 3 (28:27):
So if you and maybe we'll do this tomorrow, if
you stack the skill position guys Vikings versus Bears, I
think the Bears probably.

Speaker 1 (28:35):
Have them buy an edge color.

Speaker 5 (28:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (28:37):
But if you go O line, yes, and if you
go prove an offensive coach.

Speaker 6 (28:43):
They've got the guy from the Chiefs.

Speaker 1 (28:45):
Well let's let's let's see real game footage. Let's see
it all pro with the the Bears O line is improved.
But I think Brian Flores is like Matt Patricia Ohio State.
I think Brian Flores is a secret sauce.

Speaker 3 (28:59):
In that game, you got Kevin O'Connell or Ben Johnson,
if you're hiring tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (29:03):
Well I would hire Kevin because I know what he
can do. Oh wait, neither has a playoff win, so
well one has one guy. How many games the Minnesota
in last year?

Speaker 6 (29:12):
A lot?

Speaker 1 (29:13):
I think it's Ben's never won a single game in
the NFL as a head coach. Let's get a few
reps in. Yes, that's probably fair.

Speaker 3 (29:20):
Final story Collins, you college football listen, we love a
little trash talk. Oklahoma State and Oregon play this weekend
in Eugene.

Speaker 1 (29:28):
I think it's a bloodbath.

Speaker 3 (29:29):
Ahead of the game, Mike Gundy, who is a mouthy coach,
took to his radio show to criticize Oregon's nil spending
and should schedule said they should schedule non conference opponents
with similar budgets. Well, Dan Lanning has chimed in, here
we go.

Speaker 9 (29:45):
If you want to be a top ten team in
college football, you better be invested in winning, and we
spend to win. Some people say to have an excuse
for why they don't right, and ultimately like he's a
great coach, They've done an unbelievable job. But I want
to be a team that's competing at the highest level
and We're really fortunate to be in that situation.

Speaker 8 (30:02):
So I can't speak on their situation. I have no idea.

Speaker 9 (30:05):
You know, what's what they got in their pockets over there.

Speaker 8 (30:08):
I'm sure U T.

Speaker 9 (30:09):
Martin maybe didn't have as much as them last week
and they played. So we'll let it play out.

Speaker 1 (30:14):
By the way, Oregon recruits at an elite level nationally,
Oklahoma State doesn't, So forget all the nil stuff. Oregon
has been an elite recruiter for a decade plus, all right,
So that Oregon's got unbelievable facilities, Phil Knight momentum, They've
had great coaching hires. So Oregon's a next level program.
Oregon's a top seven program in the country. Oklahoma State's

(30:35):
not the best program in their own state.

Speaker 3 (30:37):
So I want you to try to guess this spread,
and I don't know if you can get within a
touchdown of the spread of Oregon, Oregon Oklahoma States. It's
in ug and Mike Gundy's talking trash.

Speaker 1 (30:49):
I would say twenty six.

Speaker 3 (30:51):
Oh wow, that's good. It's currently twenty eight. And I
think based on these comments that Landing is not going
to call it the top of the fourth quarter. I
think he puts it on him.

Speaker 1 (31:01):
I mean, I think Gundy's done a really good job.
But Oregon, you don't. Don't tell me Oregon's winning because
of money. Oregon in the Chip Kelly days and there
the call off the dogs at halftime. Oregon's been winning forever.

Speaker 6 (31:14):
So the biggest spenders.

Speaker 3 (31:15):
If you're watching at home, Texas won Texas Tech number
two this year. That's why I love the Red Rape.
By the way, Texas lost.

Speaker 1 (31:23):
Texas lost Texas Tech one handle Texas A and m never
wins as much as we think they should. That Jimbo
Fisher had a tough run there.

Speaker 3 (31:30):
Oregon, Ohio State and Miami in there, Michigan, which.

Speaker 1 (31:33):
I didn't like the looks of Michigan.

Speaker 6 (31:36):
What you didn't take? The young quarterback look really good.

Speaker 1 (31:39):
I thought he looked good.

Speaker 6 (31:40):
The rest of the team not so much.

Speaker 1 (31:42):
I would be a little concerned.

Speaker 6 (31:45):
How about your Trojans.

Speaker 1 (31:46):
I don't think we've I mean ten yards of play.
I hope it was. Sadly, I had to go to
YouTube to see the highlights. Apparently there's some anti USC
network TV bias, but stand down on that one and
you can fire Tennessee. I watched Tennessee play. They look
pretty good.

Speaker 5 (32:04):
Hey.

Speaker 3 (32:04):
By the way, the Tennessee quarterback who played for UCLA,
did you see how Nico did?

Speaker 1 (32:08):
Oh my god? The first of all. Utah is the
most underappreciated program in college football for twenty years. So
like scheduling, you get your first start and it's against
Kyle Whittingham and Utah. By the way, half that stadium
was Utah fans. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (32:26):
I was at a fantasy draft with the UCLA guy
who was tailgating at the game, and.

Speaker 6 (32:31):
They said, oh, how did it go? He goes, the
Utah game was terrible.

Speaker 1 (32:34):
He didn't even make.

Speaker 6 (32:35):
It Ucla because they didn't show up.

Speaker 1 (32:37):
I mean, Colin, that was.

Speaker 5 (32:39):
Bad.

Speaker 2 (32:40):
J Mack with the news, Well that's the news, and
thanks for stopping by The Herd.

Speaker 8 (32:45):
Lie.

Speaker 1 (32:46):
There was another moment in Belichick's loss last night that
sort of stood out to us, and we'll talk about
that next.

Speaker 2 (32:54):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
in neon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Video
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Speaker 3 (33:02):
The NFL regular season kicks off on Fox this Sunday
as the Giants take on raining offensive rookie of the Year,
Jaden Daniels and the Commanders or the Niners take on
the Seahawks or other regional action.

Speaker 1 (33:17):
Then it's back Sunday on Fox. Giants Alive, dog dogs
are barking, yeap, watch that de front Washington, litle high
on the hog. I kind of like the Giants this weekend,
and I'm lousy in week one, so you know, what
do I know? So I did think it was kind

(33:37):
of funny watching the post game Bill Belichick comments with
balloons and celebratory balloons around the day ass. I think
the first warning side I talked about this before I
went on a vacation was forty players from the transfer
portal and the transfer portal, can we be honest about it.

(33:59):
It's a little like the junk food aisle at the
grocery store. Now, there's some good protein bars. I like
stuff in the junk food aisle. At the very end
of it, you'll find a couple of protein bars, but
it's not sound nutrition. And I think most of the
guys you get in the transfer portal, if Georgia likes
a player, he's not leaving Georgia.

Speaker 5 (34:18):
Now.

Speaker 1 (34:18):
Now Miami went and bought CJ. Daniels, the receiver from LSU.
That kid's a baller. Like sometimes you just pony up
the dough, Miami goes and buys him, or like Caleb
Downs from Alabama, you know, Ohio State buys him. But
I've always thought it's got a little bit cooin Field
to it, little oasis, you know, a little mirage out there.

(34:38):
You're telling all your buddies you're rich. I don't know,
you're still renting. I don't know. So my take on
the transfer portal, LSU went big first couple of years.
Transfer portal how to work for Brian Kelly. And I'm
not saying he didn't have to. Lincoln Riley went big.
He had to. You know, by year two it wasn't
very good. Chemistry check went huge. Dion Sanders has gone big.

(35:03):
I am not a huge fan of the transfer portal.
And I thought last night you were watching a veteran
quarterback and a veteran staff, and the longer the game
went they separated. It felt competitive for a quarter. The
longer they went, the coaching and the players and the
chemistry looked a lot better at TCU. Hereer's Nick Wright

(35:26):
thirty minutes ago on Belichick's debut.

Speaker 5 (35:29):
His talent evaluation was questionable, His coaching staff decisions were
outright bad. The melding of his personal and professional life
and the really odd decisions to keep that front and center.
The only way that's going to be okay is if
you continue being excellent. And not only were they not excellent,

(35:52):
they were awful last night.

Speaker 1 (35:55):
And the other thing I think I asked this question
about a week ago. We know Belichick's the best defensive
coach ever. We know he can build the culture. I
do not think he is aged particularly well. But do
we know that he's great at personnel? Where were there
great players? Where were there very good players? I mean

(36:17):
the quarterback had one drive? Where were there very good
players last night? And the other thing, I know Mac
Brown can judge personnel because I saw him go to
Texas and build a powerhouse. And I saw him start
Carolina and then go back the first couple of years
and they didn't have this nil money. I know Mac
Brown knows personnel. I watched the last several years when Belichick.

(36:37):
This is something that me and Ryan Risilla used to
talk about all the time. I used to always say this,
go look at his last seven drafts when he took
control of personnel. He and his dog in Nantucket controlling
the draft. Find me the Pro Bowlers Offensively, they had
a punter they just missed. And again he was controlling

(36:57):
the personnel, the system, the coaches. One of the reasons
Brady left, they didn't have any good players. There was
no separation. Brady chose Tampa because he looked at Chris Godwin,
those Mike Evans, the interior O line like great GM
and Tampa. Tampa's always had talent until Brady. They never

(37:20):
got a quarterback. But New England, I mean Mike Rabel's
taking it over. He had to go spend three hundred
million dollars. They had no speed, they were small, they
didn't have juice. So I'm not sure college is all
about coaches and their eye for personnel. Saban, great Lane Kiffin,
great Mac Brown, great Ryan Day is a good eye.
I'm I'm not sure that's a strength of Belichick. Also,

(37:43):
NFL Network had their top one hundred players and Mahomes
is five. I'm okay with it. I think that's okay
to say that he didn't have a tremendous year last
year ago. Saquon Barkley, Lamar, Josh Allen, Jamar, Chase, Patrick Mahomes.
I would probably have justin jeff higher than nine, but
nothing bothers me here. I thought the list was really accurate,

(38:06):
and generally I don't trust players' opinions on personnel. I
didn't have a problem with it. Again, Derrick Henry's a
little high for my taste, justin Jefferson's a little low.
By and large, I bought most of it. I think
I love Mahomes, but I think he got the best

(38:27):
landing spot in league history. Think about this, so he
comes into the league, doesn't have to start, gets to
sit and learn the system under the best coach in
the league offensively, Andy Reid, also as a pro bowler
and one of the more grateful and gracious players in
league history. Alex Smith as a mentor. Tyreek Hill and
Travis Kelsey are already pro bowlers right, so it's like

(38:52):
he had multiple weapons. The best offensive coach, ownership, stability,
Brett Veach is a top general manager, and Alex Smith
was there for a year to teach in the ropes
and then he with that took the momentum and became
a star and deserves all of it, and he deserves credit.

(39:13):
The last couple of years they've been bailing water at
wide receiver, you know. I mean they've just got Rashid
Rice six games suspension. There's always somebody in trouble in
the receiving corps. But I mean, in fairness to Mahomes,
Tom Brady got a good start, best defensive coach ever,
stacked defensively, did not have to win shootouts, capable run game.

(39:34):
Dante Scarnekia the Colts by year two as a starter,
got moved out of the division. He could have had
to face Peyton Manning for years. You're not getting home
bys at Peyton Manning's in your division. So I mean
Brady the same thing that Brady took advantage of it.
But they're I mean Lamar Jackson against the Ravens. Steve
Bushati maybe the best over in the league. When's the

(39:56):
last time the Ravens didn't have a capable roster take
big swings. They draft and develop well. So you know, generally,
if you want to be an all time great, you
need early help. Magic got Kareem and doctor Jerry Buss,
Larry Bird got read Arbach and by I think one
year after he was there that he got Kevin McHale.

(40:19):
That's not the same Bird wasn't great. But Mahomes, when
you're young, I don't care if you're an attorney, a landscaper,
or a quarterback. When you're young, you're getting molded. And
I don't think there's ever been a quarterback maybe Marino
with Don Shula. I don't know if there's ever been
a quarterback who had more things set moving had headed

(40:43):
in the right direction than Patrick Mahomes. And I didn't
think he played particularly well last year, and the overall
I thought the list was pretty good. Albert Breer joined
us next hour. Here's Andy Reid.

Speaker 8 (40:52):
By the way.

Speaker 1 (40:52):
On Mahomes, he.

Speaker 4 (40:54):
Feels comfortable with the guys and and so that's a
good part he hasn't. Yeah, I don't let anything really
mother them. You just full steam ahead with positive attitude.
That's the thing I appreciate the most. So I think
he's even taking it up a notch this year, and
he is really having ice camp. You can say he's

(41:15):
comfortable with the guys that he's playing with out there.

Speaker 1 (41:20):
It is. It's not never lost on me. Look at
if something happened in this country over the last twenty years,
got it sort of ignored the Midwest. It got very coastal.
Look at the teams in the Midwest right now, there's
a lot of good football. Green Bay could win the NFC,

(41:40):
Kansas City could win another Super Bowl. There's a lot,
there's a lot of interesting stuff happening in the Midwest
in this country, would you be shocked by a Chiefs
Packer Super Bowl. One has no owner, another one has
a great owner.
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