August 23, 2024 • 34 mins
Jason McIntyre fills in for Colin and has some bad news for the Cowboys as Dak Prescott's contract situation remains unresolved with the regular season quickly approaching. He gives you the 7 new teams who will make the playoffs this year in the NFL. Plus Fox Sports NFL analyst Geoff Schwartz joins the show to offer his thoughts on the Chiefs and their chances to win a 3rd straight Super Bowl.
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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
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowhert
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Happy Friday, Everybody, what is up? It's me Jason McIntyre. Yes,
back for round two in for Colin Cowherd. I did
not get an update on his vacation, but here's a
huge update. Alex Curry is at a wedding this weekend.
So your boys flying solo except my main man, Ryan
(00:50):
Music producer to the Stars. He is with me today
on Herdline News. I know you can't wait. Fun fact
about Ryan. There he is on the screen on FS one.
When I first got a radio show at Fox Sports
Radio eight nine years ago, Ryan was my first producer.
It's right, Jamax Swimming League. We go back years and years.
My friend, Yes, it's been a while. He's a big
(01:11):
Bengals fan. I'll try not to needle him too much.
Although I did pitch something radical in the morning meeting
that's probably not gonna happen. Anyways, I do want to
start here with the Dallas Cowboys in the Dak Prescott situation,
which remains unsolved. Unbelievable ineptitude on account of the Dallas Cowboys.
And so we're talking about the Cowboys in the morning meeting,
(01:32):
and out of the blue, someone hits me with a
stat that I had never heard. And when you hear this,
it's one of these like knock your socks off moment,
Like whoa, whoa? Are you sitting down, folks? The last
time the Dallas Cowboys drafted a quarterback in the first
round thirty five years ago, Troy Aikman first overall thirty
(01:55):
five years. That is absolutely staggering. And in what is
an offensive league by far, where a quarterbacks the most
valuable position, you know, the face of the franchise, the
most important position in sports. The Dallas Cowboys have just,
you know, not prioritized drafting quarterbacks in the first round.
And we've got a list, unbelievable of the quarterbacks that
(02:18):
Dallas has drafted since Aikman. This is it. This is
the list, folks, At what point does the Dallas media
start to hold Jerry Jones's feet to the fire Bill Musgrave,
the immortal Isaiah Stanback who was converted to a wide
receiver and caught a few passes. You see Dak Prescott
in twenty sixteen. But even look as Dak was having
(02:41):
injuries and aging, look at that. You got to. The
last quarterback the Cowboys drafted was Ben Gucci Denucci, great nickname.
It's seventh round twenty twenty. Okay, Jerry, this is it.
This is all you've done at quarterback since Troy Aikman
and now lo and behold your embroiled in an ugly
man us with Dak Prescott, who wants fifty five sixty
(03:04):
million dollars. Okay, far be it from me to criticize
someone who has, you know, won three Super Bowls in
the Hall of Fame. But Jerry, what on earth are
you doing? What kind of program building is this? I
just don't understand what we're doing. And Jerry spoke to
the media this week about what is the latest with
Dak Prescott, and here it is, we're just continuing to talk.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
The thing is there that since we're really in season,
we're practicing. We're doing all those things operating under his
existing contract, which.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Is really good.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
You know.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
One of the things that app to have the Black
Boots fans to really understand is that in man time's
out of ten, these are existing contracts that you.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Have in place, and you should be able to operate
on those.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
And that's what we're doing. But none of us player
our teams wanted to hurt the corporation or the likelihood
of playing at your best opening dot hmm.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
That sounds like a owner who's filling the heat from fans.
I need the fans to understand Dak's under contract. Good luck.
Dak was a runner up for MVP Award last year.
Cowboys have won twelve games each of the last three years.
And here is Jerry and Dak squabbling. Now the smart organizations,
Jerry take notes here. You know, they're always drafting quarterbacks.
(04:26):
The Green Bay Packers had Brett Farv spend a first
round pick on Aaron Rodgers. Worked out pretty damn good.
Packers also had Aaron Rodgers. They said, you know, let's
go take a flyer on this guy, Jordan Love in
the first round. That also, so far early returns are nice.
Speaker 6 (04:41):
Job.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Green Bay wait to be forward thinking. They had their
squabble with Rogers, they had their squabble with Farv, but
they had a plan in place. Jerry doesn't have a plan.
Look at the forty nine Ers. Forty nine Ers go
to the Super Bowl with Jimmy Garoppolo lead the Chiefs.
In the fourth quarter, they blow the lead, they lose,
and fourteen months later they Trey Lance. They trade up
(05:02):
for Trey Lance. Even after getting Lance, they're not done.
The Niners went and took Brock Purdy the following year
after Trey Lance in the seventh round. They're constantly picking Jerry. Oh,
we're good, we got Dak. He's really resting on his laurels.
The dude is he's a blind man walking around without
a cane. That's how desperate Dak and the Cowboys are
(05:22):
right now watching their owner flail around. Listen, Jerry, I
think you have no choice at this point but to
walk away from Dak Prescott. And I know that's gonna
be a bitter pill to swallow. And we had Dave
Hellman yesterday talking about how unprecedented this situation is in Dallas.
Speaker 7 (05:39):
It's unprecedented for your franchise quarterback to not have a
deal and also have the leverage to leave if he
wants to. And I think that is what people need
to remember. This is different because Dak Prescott has a
no tag clause. He's got a no trade clause. The
Cowboys can't keep him there if they if they don't
sign him. So when this season gets going, I think
(06:00):
we would all agree it's very rare to see a
deal get done in season. So what we're two weeks
out from the start of the season, and if Dak
doesn't have a deal, you can go ahead and assume
he's going to hit free agency in March at the
age of thirty one with an all pro to his name.
And I just think it's going to be a free
agent marketlet that we've rarely seen before.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
I slightly disagree on this robust market that Dave and
others have talked about, but that's that's a story for
later this season. I just want to remind Cowboys that
two things are true. Dak Prescott can be I believe
he is a top ten quarterback in the league, right
that's my belief. I think that's true. I also believe
(06:41):
you cannot contend for a Super Bowl paying Dak Prescott
north of fifty to fifty five million dollars a year.
I just that's not possible from a team building standpoint.
So Jerry Jones really has himself in a bind here
by not drafting quarterbacks. Let me think about it. Thirty
five years in you've drafted one quarterback in the first round.
(07:01):
The only team with a longer drought, according to our staff,
is the New Orleans Saints. Okay, is that the company
you want to keep? And Cherry like, come on, dude,
you really botch this. Fix the mess. Now, let's pivot
to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They've got arguably the biggest preseason
game this weekend, only because Russell Wilson is trying to
(07:23):
win or save or hold on to the starting quarterback
job with Justin Fields maybe sort of breathing down his neck.
Here's where it gets interesting. So yesterday I kind of
went in on the Steelers, got a little, maybe a
little antsy, and fired a couple of Salvos, and my
Pittsburgh friends were not happy. These are the kind of
friends who you like. You walk in their house and
there's a terrible towel prominently displayed well. First, let's listen
(07:47):
to Justin Field's talk about the quarterback situation with Russell Wilson.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
I think I've shown you know what I can do,
And I said, you know the time that I did
have with the wine spike sing King Trady Caba think
that well. Well, I think we grew a lot, EA
said every day. But at the end of the day,
like I said, it's not up to me. So yeah,
I mean, I'm just gonna come in here every day,
you said, every day the same person being being a
leader for this team. And worry mybtov.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I know the kids like to use the word mid
but this is a mid off at quarterback, folks. It
is uninspiring. I don't want to say downright pathetic because
I think still think Fields has some upside in the
right spot, but it is not going well in Pittsburgh.
And I want to tell Steelers fans a quick story
about this small company you may have heard of called Intel.
They were designing and manufacturing computer chips for personal computers
(08:39):
dating back to the seventies, and they were utterly dominant.
Intel ruled the personal computer space seventies, eighties, nineties, and
then smartphones came about and Intel, this smart company. I'm
talking like on the Mount Russemore or Silicon Valley. Intel said,
I don't know about smartphones. Let's stick with the personal computers.
(09:03):
And you know how that worked out. I mean, practically
every human on planet Earth has a cell phone at
this point except for my kids. That's about it. But
they missed the window on pivoting to smartphones, and that
was a huge screw up on the part of Intel.
They even more recently missed the boat on AI. They're
late to the game. I don't know if you saw
(09:23):
the news Intel lay and off fifteen thousand workers. It's
getting bleak over there. And how does this relate to
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, for close to three decades they
have dominated thanks to defense. But the Pittsburgh Steelers, like Intel,
missed the pivot to being an offensive league, and for
reasons that still remain unexplained, the Pittsburgh Steelers oldest defense
(09:48):
in the NFL last season, most expensive defense in the
NFL this season. Mike, what are we doing now? I
know you're not in charge of the roster. That would
be the GM who's no I wrote down here Omar Kahn,
I would like to give some free advice. You know,
Colin and I kind of patented Jay and C consulting
Jason and Colin. Jason obviously first my idea, it was
(10:11):
a free free advice. Coward is you know not here,
So I'll just fire this off. If you want to
turn things around in Pittsburgh and there is no end
in sight the way this team is built, you have
no quarterback for the future, neither quarterbacks signed beyond this year.
Here's a radical idea. Sometimes you need to get radical.
I think you got to put TJ. Watt on the
(10:34):
trading block and after your heads are done exploding in Pittsburgh,
look at TJ. Watt just maulings at Burrow. Yeah, he
just destroying quarterbacks. I mean, three time Defensive Player of
the Year, twenty nine years old, gonna turn thirty soon.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
He's the most popular Steeler. He makes so many incredible plays.
Look at that interception dropping into coverage. TJ. Watt can
do it all. He is tremendous. So why the hell
would you trade him? Jay, You're trading our best defensive
player because it's not a defensive lead. I gave you,
guys the numbers yesterday, every playoff game that they've been
to and gotten smashed in the last six years to
give it up thirty forty points. So what's the point
(11:10):
of being built around defense?
Speaker 6 (11:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Trading, okay, fine, trade Minka Fitzpatrick, Fine, But TJ. Watt's
gonna get you two ones. Now. Listen, I know TJ.
Watt is beloved. He's gonna be probably you putting together
at Pittsburgh Steelers all time defensive unit. TJ Wat's gotta
be on there historically, great player, game changer, and you
trade them for two ones, even if it's your team
(11:33):
like Atlanta, right, the Falcons seem to be spending all
the money on defend. Hey, Matthew, Judah Simmons, come on down, Hey, Atlanta,
we're all in. I don't know who else is all in. Lions, Jets, Eagles,
A lot of coaches out there desperate. A lot of
teams appear close. The Lions are close to a Super Bowl?
(11:54):
Are they a piece away? Now? Listen, TJ. Watt's gonna
be pricey. You're talking to two number ones at the minimum.
But guess what Pittsburgh needs that desperately. They need the
ammunition to go up and draft a quarterback, and much
like Dallas, Pittsburgh ain't drafted in the top ten a
lot because they like to hold onto the whole. Hey
we're never under five hundred. Well, you know a lot
(12:16):
of that's got you in the middle. You know what
that means, drafting in the ten to eighteen range, twelve
to twenty twenty one. In that range, you're not getting
any league quarterback that way. They landed Ben Roethlisberger at eleven,
but they're gonna need to go higher to get a
quarterback now as it's an offensive league and Pittsburgh, yeah,
miss the pivot to offense. So I know that's gonna
(12:37):
sound radical. Steelers fans are gonna want nothing to do
with it, but listen, far be it from me to
try to organize your roster and get it. I don't
know up to speed in the modern era, because folks,
I don't like what I'm seeing in Pittsburgh with this
Justin Fields, Russell Wilson quarterback battle, Mike Tomlin praising Did
you hear that? After last week? He opened the press conference,
(12:58):
I was really happy with our punting. That's a real
thing that happened. That's how unhappy he is with his
quarterback situation. And let me just remind you, guys, your
division with Joe Burrow's offensive minded Bengals, Lamar Jackson's offensive
minded Ravens, and Kevin Stefanski's been the two time coach
of the year I think in the last five years.
He's an offensive guy. So Pittsburgh, you can get with
(13:19):
the program and put JJ Watt on the trade block,
or you could continue to be mediocre and hang your
hat on. We never finish under five hundred. Got a
great show today, very fired up, a couple good gambling guests.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
I know.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
We got the NFL on the horizon. Coming up next,
could DeVante Adams be added to Buffalo to team up
with Josh Allen. Not as crazy as it sounds, and
I'll tell you why that's next.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
App Our number two. Here we go The Herd on
a Friday. Jason mcint are in for Colin Cowherd.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Boy.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Just talking to our next guest. He'll be here in
five minutes, Jogi Roth. If you like football. You know
you're gonna love it. Obviously, he's super plugged in. And
you know, during our morning meeting, we're going through a
lot of football stuff. And I saw a tweet yesterday
and I sent it to the staff that each of
the last three years in the NFL, seven new playoff
(14:25):
teams have emerged. That which is crazy because you start
going through the standings and you're like, all right, I
can find one, two, Okay, I got three, seven, So
we're gonna try it. Here we go. I'm gonna try
to give you seven new playoff teams in the NFL.
Here we go, let's get started. This is an easy one.
There is one layoff and that's the Cincinnati Bengals. They
(14:45):
were last place last year, mostly because Burrow got injured.
Jake Browning comes in who was more than serviceable. Browning
was pretty good, very competitive, and they narrowly missed the playoffs.
But if Burrow's healthy, once they get Chase in the building,
hot take you Chase misses the opener against the Patriots,
think they can afford to win that game without him,
But I think he's really going to angle for all
(15:06):
that money. But the Bengals are getting in the playoffs. Now,
I don't know if you want me to force teams out,
but I have the Bengals in the playoffs. Next up,
the New York Jets come on. The should not be
a hot take at all. The Jets are getting in
the playoffs for sure this season thanks to healthy Aaron Rodgers,
(15:27):
rebuilt offensive line, and the defense is still gonna be good.
This Reddick thing continues to be massively embarrassing. You know,
I'll just keep the out easy. I have them replacing
the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins, of course, led the division
much of last season, right and then the Dolphins crater
at the end and gets smashed in Kansas City. I
think the Jets simply replace the Dolphins. Miami's schedules brutal.
(15:49):
The Jets is easy. Jets are in next up, and
I've waffle back and forth. You know, I love it.
The Chargers with Harbaugh and Herbert. I do have some
concerns about the skill position players, but seeing the news
that Bosa and Derwin James are very very likely to
play Week one, I mean, they've been on a milk
cart in all preseason and nobody's talking about it. It's
like dude, without Bosa, what's this defense? And Herbert now
(16:12):
out of the boot. So I like the Chargers bouncing
back getting in the playoffs. The division has a lot
to do with it. Obviously, the division is very rotten
with the Broncos and Raiders. I am gonna shove the
Steelers out, but if you listen at the beginning of
the show, that's no surprise. Next playoff team in somewhat
influenced by Chris de barr Faliga last hour, I got
(16:33):
the Jacksonville Jaguars sneaking into the playoffs. You had to
like the move of Brian Thomas and the draft kid
out of LSU. He's got a lot of talent. I
just want to remind people the Jags started last season
eight and three like they were look and the year
prior they lose in the playoffs to the Chiefs, and
then they start eight and three and they're like, oh damn,
(16:53):
Jags are for real. And then you know, Trevor Lawrence
had the high ankles brain it kind of fell apart
and they cratered. But I think this team gets back
in the vision sneaky good with the Texans all of
a sudden being very good so I got the Jags
in the playoffs. Next up, let's go to the NFC.
I got the Falcons in. That feels like a layup.
Nobody believes the Bucks can duplicate what they did last
(17:13):
year with the Dave Canalis, Baker Mayfield combo on offense.
So I have the Falcons leaping up thanks to not
Michael Pennix, but Kirk Cousins. They're spending on defense here
recently with Simmons, and they had rusher Judea on So
I like Atlanta. I don't love this team like Cowherd does.
He seems to think they're in the mix to win,
like twelve thirteen games, be the number one overall seed.
(17:34):
I don't see that. Raheem Morris little too conservative of
a head coach for my liking. But I do think
the Falcons get into the playoffs this next one. I'm
a little nervous about not gonna lie Seattle Seahawks. Listen,
when you got to get seven new teams, you're gonna
have some randoms. I have Seattle getting and I'm a
bye on Mike McDonald, the great defensive coordinator who wasn't
(17:57):
Michigan and then was in Baltimore. I don't love Geno Smith,
but I kind of like the kid Grubb, the OC
from Washington. I think they're gonna look a little different,
and I do believe this defense will rattle some people.
I think they're gonna destroy bo Nicks in the opener,
I know our next guest knows bo Nicks well. I
think they shut Nix and Peyton down and Seattle served
(18:17):
notice that they're gonna be a playoff team and my
final new playoff team, final new team, the Chicago Bears.
Get them in there. Caleb Williams, I'm feeling it. I
know a lot of it is just based off vibes
and good energy. Some of the underlying metrics may scare
some people. I know there was a couple splash plays
from Caleb over the weekend. I do want to remind
(18:38):
people go look at the other drives. Bears couldn't do anything.
So there is a world where this team's like what's
going on, iber flues gets fired, YadA, YadA, YadA. But
I'm betting on Dj Moore Roma Dunze. I like Keenan
Allen when he's healthy. I like the running back room
offensive line. As long as Caleb can say I'm gonna
win from the pocket and only do backyard football when
(18:58):
it's an emergency. We got the Bears getting in the playoffs,
so those are my new seven playoff teams.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
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Speaker 3 (19:39):
Welcome back to The Herd. Jason McIntyre in for Colin.
Let's bring in our next guest. Jeff Schwartz, former offensive
linemen in the NFL, does the Bear Bets Pod with
Chris Filica, who we talked to earlier. Jeff, I know
you're excited for your Oregon Ducks. Obviously you want to
start in college or the pros. I'll let you dealers
(19:59):
to what do you got.
Speaker 9 (20:01):
I'm excited for college football back tomorrow. I got I
have to find a way to get a few bets done, Jason.
I just couldn't go into a Saturday for college football,
even with a limited menu, and not have something to do.
So I'm excited for football to begin officially. These predeasy
games this weekend, there's bits and pieces of teams like
trying hard. But the games that I watched Chiefs last time,
I mean the third stringers played the entire game like
(20:22):
These games this weekend aren't as much fun as as
the College Bowl we're going to see tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Yeah, I want FSU to dip down a nine and
a half. I think it's down from thirteen and a
half to like ten. But I haven't seen a nine
and a half. I don't think it'll cross, but if
it does, I'll fire on FSU. I don't know DJU
third stop? Why not?
Speaker 9 (20:40):
Well, I think everyone's just betting Georgia Tech. That's probably
why too, right, I mean, you look at Florida State.
They I think they lost eight guys on offense and
I think seven on defense. In the eight guys on
offense where they're wide receivers, they're running back, their offensive linement,
their quarterback, and Georgia Tech's rebuilding into really year two
of Brent Key. But yeah, the number is flying down
because I mean, publics are just hammering Georgia Tech because
(21:01):
they're saying, hey, Florida State's thirteen oh last year, there's
gonna be a hangover. But I don't think Georgia Tech
has the bodies inside the deal with Florida State. Forestay
can rush the passer and he's still some offensive linemen
that are good.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Totals aren't his fun but probably I'll hit the over Anyways,
I'm curious. You know this, This Oregon Ohio State game
is being made out to be massive. I could sell
you on this. The loser of that game almost is
in slightly better shape because then they have to say
the inside track on the fifth seed Felika outline that
(21:33):
Brad Powers did that on my pod earlier this week.
It just it feels like not that you can lose
that game, but it's not the end of the world.
The Oregon Ohio State loser, it's.
Speaker 9 (21:44):
Not the end of the world because the five seed
will presumably get the G five team right where that's
Liberty again, which would have been last year Boise State
or app State or someone sort of in that in
that realm. So and then you get the presumably easier
next game, right because you're playing a quarterfinal game against
four seed that will most likely be the Big Ten.
This will be the Big twelve champion, right, So maybe
it's a Utah or UCF or Oklahoma State something like that.
(22:07):
But I think, Jason, the real hard part about this
new playoff format is the amount of games you're playing.
Speaker 6 (22:13):
Right.
Speaker 9 (22:14):
In the old format, it was two games. TCU gets
hot one year, they kind of win a flute game
against Michigan, right two pick six is a fourth and
two stop, you know, like, and then you're in the
championship game. Yeah, they got boat raced by Georgia, but
you're in the championship.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Game, right.
Speaker 9 (22:29):
Washington last year didn't come out of nowhere, but relatively,
I think naturally unknown you beat Texas, you gotta win
one more game in this new system. Now, if you
don't have a buy you have to beat you know,
like the Big Twelve Champion, the Big Ten champions. To
see champion, you have to win so many more games.
Even with the buy, you gotta win three games. Like
it's Jason, It's gonna take its toll. A lot of
(22:50):
teams that don't have the depth to win three or
four games. Organ has the depth, Ohio State does, Georgia,
probably Texas, and Michigan has a quarterback, maybe they have
the depth. But out of that, there's not a lot
of teams around the country that can win three or
four games. So the one seed or five seed I
think for Oregon Ohio State, they have enough depth on
their team to a stand playing the three or four
(23:11):
playoff games.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
So I'll be in Vegas next week setting up for
the NFL contest. I'm assuming you're doing it again. I
am curious any futures bets for the NATTY winner. I
will have Ohio State for sure, but I'm wondering are
you Are you like a spray of the board kind
of guy. Three four teams and answer chances? Where are
you on that? So I'm a.
Speaker 9 (23:31):
Mixed on my futures buddy. Like I the idea of
tying up the money always policy. I'm looking at my sheet.
I keep a spreadsheet of every wager I make, so
I know money in, money out. I meant I got
a good amount of futures the first year I've had
legal sports wager in North Carolina, so be able to
do a lot of these. I don't have a lot
of win the championship futures. I kind of mostly I
(23:52):
just don't want to bet on organ I hate doing it.
I'm not going to do it, so I'm going to
keep them out of this. I have futures to win,
you know, to make playoffs and to win conferences, but
I don't have any title futures. Again, I think it's
three teams though it's it's Oregon, it's Georgia, it's Ohio State,
and there's that. I believe South Point has the the
Georgia Ohio States or the field wager. I would take
(24:14):
Georgia Ohio States.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
I don't disagree with that at all. Yeah, I think
they'll certainly meet in the Natty. Let's go to the NFL.
I saw the big Creed Humphrey signing. You obviously connected
with the Chiefs significantly. Your brother played there. I know
that's the big story, but to me, it's not the
big story. The big story is it looks like they're
going to be starting the second round pick out of
BYU at left tackle. Where are you on that? I
(24:40):
know they were high on him, but that's still a
rookie left tackle for Patrick Mahomes. The interior is fine,
but and Taylor kicking over to the right side looks
I mean, he struggled badly last year. Yeah, where are
you on this? Well?
Speaker 9 (24:53):
Kingsley sue Mattia has had a good preseason. Obviously, it's preseason,
it's not the regular season. There's things he needs to
work on that he will continue to work on. But
here's the thing, Jason, when you have one offensive alignment
that might need a little help, you can deal with that, right.
You can say, Joe Tooney, he's back from injury, should
play this season. Creed Trey Taylor, who's getting paid a
lot of money to block by himself. You four guys,
(25:13):
you're kind of on your own right. And then we're
going to help Kingsley. So we'll put a tight end there,
We'll formationally do some things. We'll have run action in
his way, like we'll be able to sort of get
him in a position where he's not on an island
very often, and the way the Chiefs offense operates in
most years. I think we'll get back to this with
the addition of Worthy and I Brown's herp when he
comes back is that the Chiefs are the best offense
(25:36):
under Patrick Mahomes on first and second down, so third
down was always third and two, third and three, third
and one, or they skip third down altogether. So in
those situations where it's third and eight, thirty nine, third
and twelve, the Chiefs are rarely in those in most years.
Last year was a little bit different because their offense
and function as well. So I think you can get
by with a rookie left tackle because the Chiefs offense
allows them some more outs, where other teams you start rookies,
(25:59):
you're third and eight and you're in trouble. So I
when you have one guy like that, you're fine. If
you have two or three guys you have to help.
That's what the problem has become, just a lot more noticeable.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Speaking of offensive lines, how is the situation in Denver
for bow Knicks who is going to get to start?
But Jeff, I don't know if you've looked at that schedule.
They're facing some real tough defenses out of the shoot,
including McDonald's Seattle defense in lumen Field. That is a
tough spot for bow Knicks. If you remember last year CJ.
Stroud had to go to Baltimore and McDonald put him
(26:31):
in a body bag like it was struggling to read
the defense. I don't want to say I'm gonna hit
Seattle in the opener. I think it's the lines four
or five. But that's just a tough spot for bo Knicks.
But he got the starting job. Do you like Denver
this year?
Speaker 9 (26:44):
I don't know if like is the right word. That
they certainly are a talented team. I think we saw
from bow Knicks has been impressive so far. Everyone always
says that's against the twos. Well, it should look good
against the twos, right because he's an NFL starting quarterback.
He's what the twelve pick I believe overall, and he
should look good against second string defenses we're seeing right now,
and so I take that as a positive. I will say, though,
(27:05):
I've been impressed with the things that Denver has done
to highlight his strengths. They're getting the ball out quickly,
which he is really good at and they're sort of
adding his legs and some RPO things, which are things
he did well Oregon. Now he's got to work on
sometimes going through all his reads. He's got to work
on some hitting, some deep passes. At times he has
turned down some of that has been pressure. So there's
(27:25):
things to work on. But I think so far you
have to be happy with the way Sean Payne has
taylored offense to Boknicks. Bo Knicks does some good things.
Are they going to be great across the board?
Speaker 3 (27:34):
No?
Speaker 9 (27:35):
But the one thing I will say about going to
Seattle is we don't know what Seattle is going to
be right, brand new coach, new philosophy, new things. That
their field is extremely loud. I think it's allows field
in the NFL. But bo Knicks has started Jason what
sixty one college games like he's played at Washington last
year that Colin said was allows game he's ever been to,
right like he's played in these atmospheres. He's played the
SEC for three years, So to me, the atmosphere is
(27:57):
not gonna be overwhelming for him. It's a matter of
of playing a starting defense now and knowing that you
know we have things to work on an offense and
to make it work into week one.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
Earlier in the show, I floated that the Steelers are
kind of in no man's land. They're going down for sure.
I mean this close game luck they've had in the
last three years, like twenty nine to ten and one.
You cannot continue this quarterback situation. Unsettled, I said, I
think you should trade TJ. Watt, put them on the market.
You got great years out of him, All Pro sack leader,
Defensive Player of the Year, all He's done everything. He's
(28:29):
also twenty nine. He's had a couple injuries the last
few years. I would try to move off him, get
a couple first, and hope that you can get a
quarterback in the draft. I don't know what is that
to Steelers fans don't seem happy with me right now.
But how else are you going to turn around?
Speaker 9 (28:44):
Well, they have, so the Steelers have to hit rock
bottom to turn around, right because, as we know, Mike
Thomas and the great job every year of getting his
team to sort of exceed expectations right and get in
the playoffs and have one of all those playoff games
in recent years. But the idea is dictations this year.
It feels like to I think we're on the same page.
You're like, it's over. I bet saying there's win total under.
(29:05):
I bet them total points under. This season. They have
two quarterbacks that aren't good, and no matter how much
you try to scream like they're gonna be better, we
know what Russell Wilson is now. Fields guys started for
three seasons, Like we know what Field is already, and
so far in the preseason he's been exactly the same
guy he was in Chicago. And and then the offensive line,
we talked about that throughout the you know, throughout this
(29:27):
so far, like they're they're young, and they have some
good players that are young, like Zach Frasier, but there's
some questions to right tackle with Atanu Hurt, Like there's
just all these things together. They need a second wide receiver.
But besides pickings, I don't I don't think. I don't
think I use at this point will be traded to them.
But you know, so like they have these issues on offense,
adding Wilson and Fields who aren't that good, and I
(29:47):
think this sort of falls apart. But they're not gonna
trade a lot because they're a proud of organization and
they're gonna just sort of ride this thou as long
as they can. They have to somehow they have to
go like a four and thirteen and I don't think
it be fourn thirteen, Jason, but like they need need
that sort of season to decide, look, we have to
do something different because I heard you talking about their
offense and they're way they're they're well behind it. And
(30:08):
they hired off n oc by the way, who's like
thirty second in pass rates. Like they just run the like,
So they're not going to pass the ball very much,
gonna be a run first team, which doesn't really work
as much in in twenty twenty four, they have to
hit rock bottom to figure out that it's not working.
They're never bad enough to do that. So this year
this is gonna tread water. They're gonna be in eight
(30:29):
win team, a seven win team in a tough division.
And that's probably good enough to say, hey man, like
let's tweet some things and next year will win ten games.
But the goal for Pittsburgh is winning super Bowls. They're
not close to that goal. They have the fourth best
quarterback room in that division. Assuming Watson is a little
bit better. That's not good enough for for division wins
or wildcard spot.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
So trade Wie right, I don't know.
Speaker 9 (30:53):
I don't know if you can do that. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Fans would be out right, he's a number one selling
jersey is super popular.
Speaker 9 (30:58):
But it's not even about the it's about the idea,
like if you're built the way you are now to
win with your defense, if you trade what you're admitting
before the season, Like we're out in the season and
I don't think Pittsburgh's gonna admit that. We might think
that's a good idea because we're thinking about the future,
which we should, you know, we're fans or analysts. We
think about those things. But in the in the moment,
(31:19):
they're not going to trade him because that said those
like we're kind of waving white flag on the season
and they're never going to do that.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Well, maybe around the deadline if they're two and five
and sputtering and quarterback rotation, maybe that's in play. So
we'll wrap up with this one. Then it's just a
little speculative. But I saw a report that the Washington
trade of Dotson, Yeah, makes it a little interesting. You
said it looks like the Steelers won't land a Yuk. Well,
Ayuk's college quarterback for a year was Jaden Daniels in Washington.
(31:50):
Washington has some cap space. Brandon Ayuk mysteriously still not
signed in San Francisco. Is there a world where Washington says,
you know what, we got the quarterback on the rookie deal.
Let's overpay Ayuk, we pair him next to Terry McLaurin,
who's excellent, and let's just let's freaking go for it.
Why not any shot of Washington and landing Brandon Ayuk.
Speaker 9 (32:11):
I like that idea. It's come up before after you
know that they have more ammo to do this now.
As you mentioned, Daniels and Ayuk played well together all
the way back at Arizona State. I just have a
sense that the Niners and and Bran I understand that
they're best together, like their relationship. And look at times
in life there's relationships that you have and you're a
(32:32):
little bit upset at the other person. You feel like
a breakup is necessary, but you realize, like, hey, maybe
we're best together, right, brand Ayuk is he's gonna leave
the offense that he has now to go play in Pittsburgh, Like, seriously,
that's what you want for your career, and I know
you're gonna get maybe the most money. I get that.
And the Niners know they need him too. Look at
all the injuries they have right now, Jason, they can't
(32:52):
go in the season with Pierre saw her and and
McCaffrey beat up, and no Trent Williams as of right now,
and then just don't have their their you know, and
Ayuk as well, so they both know they need each other.
I and they work it out. But if Washington says, hey,
we'll give you a first and a third and we'll
give him thirty one million dollars a year, the Niners
might do it for a first round pick.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
That's spicy. And there's no guarantee that Jayden Daniels and
even with Iyuk and McLaurin are going to be like
a ten win team. They could still win six months.
Speaker 9 (33:21):
No, they're not there. But I think you say, look,
let's bring in. If we bring him in, we have
two wide receivers. Their offensive line as we is kind
of reshuffling, but it's not bad, it's not as bad
as it's been. And let's get him in this you know,
get him here. This season is sort of jayde and
Daniels workie year, like you work through some kinks and
next year, with another draft and more freegency, we have
(33:44):
everyone sort of going in the right direction. Like this
year to me for Washington is not about playoffs, just
about making sure that you end the season with Jane
and Daniels playing better than he started this season, so
you enter year two with the firm idea of who
he is as a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Yeah, I like that. Jeff Schwartz Fox Sports does a
lot of gambling right stuff on foxsports dot Com, does
the Bare Bets podcast with Felika. Jeff. Have a great
weekend and good luck to your ducks this season.
Speaker 9 (34:08):
Take care, thank you bug, all right, Pal,
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 Cowhert
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Happy Friday, Everybody, what is up? It's me Jason McIntyre. Yes,
back for round two in for Colin Cowherd. I did
not get an update on his vacation, but here's a
huge update. Alex Curry is at a wedding this weekend.
So your boys flying solo except my main man, Ryan
(00:50):
Music producer to the Stars. He is with me today
on Herdline News. I know you can't wait. Fun fact
about Ryan. There he is on the screen on FS one.
When I first got a radio show at Fox Sports
Radio eight nine years ago, Ryan was my first producer.
It's right, Jamax Swimming League. We go back years and years.
My friend, Yes, it's been a while. He's a big
(01:11):
Bengals fan. I'll try not to needle him too much.
Although I did pitch something radical in the morning meeting
that's probably not gonna happen. Anyways, I do want to
start here with the Dallas Cowboys in the Dak Prescott situation,
which remains unsolved. Unbelievable ineptitude on account of the Dallas Cowboys.
And so we're talking about the Cowboys in the morning meeting,
(01:32):
and out of the blue, someone hits me with a
stat that I had never heard. And when you hear this,
it's one of these like knock your socks off moment,
Like whoa, whoa? Are you sitting down, folks? The last
time the Dallas Cowboys drafted a quarterback in the first
round thirty five years ago, Troy Aikman first overall thirty
(01:55):
five years. That is absolutely staggering. And in what is
an offensive league by far, where a quarterbacks the most
valuable position, you know, the face of the franchise, the
most important position in sports. The Dallas Cowboys have just,
you know, not prioritized drafting quarterbacks in the first round.
And we've got a list, unbelievable of the quarterbacks that
(02:18):
Dallas has drafted since Aikman. This is it. This is
the list, folks, At what point does the Dallas media
start to hold Jerry Jones's feet to the fire Bill Musgrave,
the immortal Isaiah Stanback who was converted to a wide
receiver and caught a few passes. You see Dak Prescott
in twenty sixteen. But even look as Dak was having
(02:41):
injuries and aging, look at that. You got to. The
last quarterback the Cowboys drafted was Ben Gucci Denucci, great nickname.
It's seventh round twenty twenty. Okay, Jerry, this is it.
This is all you've done at quarterback since Troy Aikman
and now lo and behold your embroiled in an ugly
man us with Dak Prescott, who wants fifty five sixty
(03:04):
million dollars. Okay, far be it from me to criticize
someone who has, you know, won three Super Bowls in
the Hall of Fame. But Jerry, what on earth are
you doing? What kind of program building is this? I
just don't understand what we're doing. And Jerry spoke to
the media this week about what is the latest with
Dak Prescott, and here it is, we're just continuing to talk.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
The thing is there that since we're really in season,
we're practicing. We're doing all those things operating under his
existing contract, which.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Is really good.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
You know.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
One of the things that app to have the Black
Boots fans to really understand is that in man time's
out of ten, these are existing contracts that you.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Have in place, and you should be able to operate
on those.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
And that's what we're doing. But none of us player
our teams wanted to hurt the corporation or the likelihood
of playing at your best opening dot hmm.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
That sounds like a owner who's filling the heat from fans.
I need the fans to understand Dak's under contract. Good luck.
Dak was a runner up for MVP Award last year.
Cowboys have won twelve games each of the last three years.
And here is Jerry and Dak squabbling. Now the smart organizations,
Jerry take notes here. You know, they're always drafting quarterbacks.
(04:26):
The Green Bay Packers had Brett Farv spend a first
round pick on Aaron Rodgers. Worked out pretty damn good.
Packers also had Aaron Rodgers. They said, you know, let's
go take a flyer on this guy, Jordan Love in
the first round. That also, so far early returns are nice.
Speaker 6 (04:41):
Job.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Green Bay wait to be forward thinking. They had their
squabble with Rogers, they had their squabble with Farv, but
they had a plan in place. Jerry doesn't have a plan.
Look at the forty nine Ers. Forty nine Ers go
to the Super Bowl with Jimmy Garoppolo lead the Chiefs.
In the fourth quarter, they blow the lead, they lose,
and fourteen months later they Trey Lance. They trade up
(05:02):
for Trey Lance. Even after getting Lance, they're not done.
The Niners went and took Brock Purdy the following year
after Trey Lance in the seventh round. They're constantly picking Jerry. Oh,
we're good, we got Dak. He's really resting on his laurels.
The dude is he's a blind man walking around without
a cane. That's how desperate Dak and the Cowboys are
(05:22):
right now watching their owner flail around. Listen, Jerry, I
think you have no choice at this point but to
walk away from Dak Prescott. And I know that's gonna
be a bitter pill to swallow. And we had Dave
Hellman yesterday talking about how unprecedented this situation is in Dallas.
Speaker 7 (05:39):
It's unprecedented for your franchise quarterback to not have a
deal and also have the leverage to leave if he
wants to. And I think that is what people need
to remember. This is different because Dak Prescott has a
no tag clause. He's got a no trade clause. The
Cowboys can't keep him there if they if they don't
sign him. So when this season gets going, I think
(06:00):
we would all agree it's very rare to see a
deal get done in season. So what we're two weeks
out from the start of the season, and if Dak
doesn't have a deal, you can go ahead and assume
he's going to hit free agency in March at the
age of thirty one with an all pro to his name.
And I just think it's going to be a free
agent marketlet that we've rarely seen before.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
I slightly disagree on this robust market that Dave and
others have talked about, but that's that's a story for
later this season. I just want to remind Cowboys that
two things are true. Dak Prescott can be I believe
he is a top ten quarterback in the league, right
that's my belief. I think that's true. I also believe
(06:41):
you cannot contend for a Super Bowl paying Dak Prescott
north of fifty to fifty five million dollars a year.
I just that's not possible from a team building standpoint.
So Jerry Jones really has himself in a bind here
by not drafting quarterbacks. Let me think about it. Thirty
five years in you've drafted one quarterback in the first round.
(07:01):
The only team with a longer drought, according to our staff,
is the New Orleans Saints. Okay, is that the company
you want to keep? And Cherry like, come on, dude,
you really botch this. Fix the mess. Now, let's pivot
to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They've got arguably the biggest preseason
game this weekend, only because Russell Wilson is trying to
(07:23):
win or save or hold on to the starting quarterback
job with Justin Fields maybe sort of breathing down his neck.
Here's where it gets interesting. So yesterday I kind of
went in on the Steelers, got a little, maybe a
little antsy, and fired a couple of Salvos, and my
Pittsburgh friends were not happy. These are the kind of
friends who you like. You walk in their house and
there's a terrible towel prominently displayed well. First, let's listen
(07:47):
to Justin Field's talk about the quarterback situation with Russell Wilson.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
I think I've shown you know what I can do,
And I said, you know the time that I did
have with the wine spike sing King Trady Caba think
that well. Well, I think we grew a lot, EA
said every day. But at the end of the day,
like I said, it's not up to me. So yeah,
I mean, I'm just gonna come in here every day,
you said, every day the same person being being a
leader for this team. And worry mybtov.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I know the kids like to use the word mid
but this is a mid off at quarterback, folks. It
is uninspiring. I don't want to say downright pathetic because
I think still think Fields has some upside in the
right spot, but it is not going well in Pittsburgh.
And I want to tell Steelers fans a quick story
about this small company you may have heard of called Intel.
They were designing and manufacturing computer chips for personal computers
(08:39):
dating back to the seventies, and they were utterly dominant.
Intel ruled the personal computer space seventies, eighties, nineties, and
then smartphones came about and Intel, this smart company. I'm
talking like on the Mount Russemore or Silicon Valley. Intel said,
I don't know about smartphones. Let's stick with the personal computers.
(09:03):
And you know how that worked out. I mean, practically
every human on planet Earth has a cell phone at
this point except for my kids. That's about it. But
they missed the window on pivoting to smartphones, and that
was a huge screw up on the part of Intel.
They even more recently missed the boat on AI. They're
late to the game. I don't know if you saw
(09:23):
the news Intel lay and off fifteen thousand workers. It's
getting bleak over there. And how does this relate to
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, for close to three decades they
have dominated thanks to defense. But the Pittsburgh Steelers, like Intel,
missed the pivot to being an offensive league, and for
reasons that still remain unexplained, the Pittsburgh Steelers oldest defense
(09:48):
in the NFL last season, most expensive defense in the
NFL this season. Mike, what are we doing now? I
know you're not in charge of the roster. That would
be the GM who's no I wrote down here Omar Kahn,
I would like to give some free advice. You know,
Colin and I kind of patented Jay and C consulting
Jason and Colin. Jason obviously first my idea, it was
(10:11):
a free free advice. Coward is you know not here,
So I'll just fire this off. If you want to
turn things around in Pittsburgh and there is no end
in sight the way this team is built, you have
no quarterback for the future, neither quarterbacks signed beyond this year.
Here's a radical idea. Sometimes you need to get radical.
I think you got to put TJ. Watt on the
(10:34):
trading block and after your heads are done exploding in Pittsburgh,
look at TJ. Watt just maulings at Burrow. Yeah, he
just destroying quarterbacks. I mean, three time Defensive Player of
the Year, twenty nine years old, gonna turn thirty soon.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
He's the most popular Steeler. He makes so many incredible plays.
Look at that interception dropping into coverage. TJ. Watt can
do it all. He is tremendous. So why the hell
would you trade him? Jay, You're trading our best defensive
player because it's not a defensive lead. I gave you,
guys the numbers yesterday, every playoff game that they've been
to and gotten smashed in the last six years to
give it up thirty forty points. So what's the point
(11:10):
of being built around defense?
Speaker 6 (11:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Trading, okay, fine, trade Minka Fitzpatrick, Fine, But TJ. Watt's
gonna get you two ones. Now. Listen, I know TJ.
Watt is beloved. He's gonna be probably you putting together
at Pittsburgh Steelers all time defensive unit. TJ Wat's gotta
be on there historically, great player, game changer, and you
trade them for two ones, even if it's your team
(11:33):
like Atlanta, right, the Falcons seem to be spending all
the money on defend. Hey, Matthew, Judah Simmons, come on down, Hey, Atlanta,
we're all in. I don't know who else is all in. Lions, Jets, Eagles,
A lot of coaches out there desperate. A lot of
teams appear close. The Lions are close to a Super Bowl?
(11:54):
Are they a piece away? Now? Listen, TJ. Watt's gonna
be pricey. You're talking to two number ones at the minimum.
But guess what Pittsburgh needs that desperately. They need the
ammunition to go up and draft a quarterback, and much
like Dallas, Pittsburgh ain't drafted in the top ten a
lot because they like to hold onto the whole. Hey
we're never under five hundred. Well, you know a lot
(12:16):
of that's got you in the middle. You know what
that means, drafting in the ten to eighteen range, twelve
to twenty twenty one. In that range, you're not getting
any league quarterback that way. They landed Ben Roethlisberger at eleven,
but they're gonna need to go higher to get a
quarterback now as it's an offensive league and Pittsburgh, yeah,
miss the pivot to offense. So I know that's gonna
(12:37):
sound radical. Steelers fans are gonna want nothing to do
with it, but listen, far be it from me to
try to organize your roster and get it. I don't
know up to speed in the modern era, because folks,
I don't like what I'm seeing in Pittsburgh with this
Justin Fields, Russell Wilson quarterback battle, Mike Tomlin praising Did
you hear that? After last week? He opened the press conference,
(12:58):
I was really happy with our punting. That's a real
thing that happened. That's how unhappy he is with his
quarterback situation. And let me just remind you, guys, your
division with Joe Burrow's offensive minded Bengals, Lamar Jackson's offensive
minded Ravens, and Kevin Stefanski's been the two time coach
of the year I think in the last five years.
He's an offensive guy. So Pittsburgh, you can get with
(13:19):
the program and put JJ Watt on the trade block,
or you could continue to be mediocre and hang your
hat on. We never finish under five hundred. Got a
great show today, very fired up, a couple good gambling guests.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
I know.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
We got the NFL on the horizon. Coming up next,
could DeVante Adams be added to Buffalo to team up
with Josh Allen. Not as crazy as it sounds, and
I'll tell you why that's next.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
App Our number two. Here we go The Herd on
a Friday. Jason mcint are in for Colin Cowherd.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Boy.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Just talking to our next guest. He'll be here in
five minutes, Jogi Roth. If you like football. You know
you're gonna love it. Obviously, he's super plugged in. And
you know, during our morning meeting, we're going through a
lot of football stuff. And I saw a tweet yesterday
and I sent it to the staff that each of
the last three years in the NFL, seven new playoff
(14:25):
teams have emerged. That which is crazy because you start
going through the standings and you're like, all right, I
can find one, two, Okay, I got three, seven, So
we're gonna try it. Here we go. I'm gonna try
to give you seven new playoff teams in the NFL.
Here we go, let's get started. This is an easy one.
There is one layoff and that's the Cincinnati Bengals. They
(14:45):
were last place last year, mostly because Burrow got injured.
Jake Browning comes in who was more than serviceable. Browning
was pretty good, very competitive, and they narrowly missed the playoffs.
But if Burrow's healthy, once they get Chase in the building,
hot take you Chase misses the opener against the Patriots,
think they can afford to win that game without him,
But I think he's really going to angle for all
(15:06):
that money. But the Bengals are getting in the playoffs. Now,
I don't know if you want me to force teams out,
but I have the Bengals in the playoffs. Next up,
the New York Jets come on. The should not be
a hot take at all. The Jets are getting in
the playoffs for sure this season thanks to healthy Aaron Rodgers,
(15:27):
rebuilt offensive line, and the defense is still gonna be good.
This Reddick thing continues to be massively embarrassing. You know,
I'll just keep the out easy. I have them replacing
the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins, of course, led the division
much of last season, right and then the Dolphins crater
at the end and gets smashed in Kansas City. I
think the Jets simply replace the Dolphins. Miami's schedules brutal.
(15:49):
The Jets is easy. Jets are in next up, and
I've waffle back and forth. You know, I love it.
The Chargers with Harbaugh and Herbert. I do have some
concerns about the skill position players, but seeing the news
that Bosa and Derwin James are very very likely to
play Week one, I mean, they've been on a milk
cart in all preseason and nobody's talking about it. It's
like dude, without Bosa, what's this defense? And Herbert now
(16:12):
out of the boot. So I like the Chargers bouncing
back getting in the playoffs. The division has a lot
to do with it. Obviously, the division is very rotten
with the Broncos and Raiders. I am gonna shove the
Steelers out, but if you listen at the beginning of
the show, that's no surprise. Next playoff team in somewhat
influenced by Chris de barr Faliga last hour, I got
(16:33):
the Jacksonville Jaguars sneaking into the playoffs. You had to
like the move of Brian Thomas and the draft kid
out of LSU. He's got a lot of talent. I
just want to remind people the Jags started last season
eight and three like they were look and the year
prior they lose in the playoffs to the Chiefs, and
then they start eight and three and they're like, oh damn,
(16:53):
Jags are for real. And then you know, Trevor Lawrence
had the high ankles brain it kind of fell apart
and they cratered. But I think this team gets back
in the vision sneaky good with the Texans all of
a sudden being very good so I got the Jags
in the playoffs. Next up, let's go to the NFC.
I got the Falcons in. That feels like a layup.
Nobody believes the Bucks can duplicate what they did last
(17:13):
year with the Dave Canalis, Baker Mayfield combo on offense.
So I have the Falcons leaping up thanks to not
Michael Pennix, but Kirk Cousins. They're spending on defense here
recently with Simmons, and they had rusher Judea on So
I like Atlanta. I don't love this team like Cowherd does.
He seems to think they're in the mix to win,
like twelve thirteen games, be the number one overall seed.
(17:34):
I don't see that. Raheem Morris little too conservative of
a head coach for my liking. But I do think
the Falcons get into the playoffs this next one. I'm
a little nervous about not gonna lie Seattle Seahawks. Listen,
when you got to get seven new teams, you're gonna
have some randoms. I have Seattle getting and I'm a
bye on Mike McDonald, the great defensive coordinator who wasn't
(17:57):
Michigan and then was in Baltimore. I don't love Geno Smith,
but I kind of like the kid Grubb, the OC
from Washington. I think they're gonna look a little different,
and I do believe this defense will rattle some people.
I think they're gonna destroy bo Nicks in the opener,
I know our next guest knows bo Nicks well. I
think they shut Nix and Peyton down and Seattle served
(18:17):
notice that they're gonna be a playoff team and my
final new playoff team, final new team, the Chicago Bears.
Get them in there. Caleb Williams, I'm feeling it. I
know a lot of it is just based off vibes
and good energy. Some of the underlying metrics may scare
some people. I know there was a couple splash plays
from Caleb over the weekend. I do want to remind
(18:38):
people go look at the other drives. Bears couldn't do anything.
So there is a world where this team's like what's
going on, iber flues gets fired, YadA, YadA, YadA. But
I'm betting on Dj Moore Roma Dunze. I like Keenan
Allen when he's healthy. I like the running back room
offensive line. As long as Caleb can say I'm gonna
win from the pocket and only do backyard football when
(18:58):
it's an emergency. We got the Bears getting in the playoffs,
so those are my new seven playoff teams.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Eastern not a em Pacific.
Speaker 8 (19:09):
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.
Speaker 6 (19:16):
You're asking, what in God's name is the Fifth Hour.
Speaker 8 (19:19):
I'll tell you it's a spin off of it Ben
Mather Show, a cult hit overnights on FSR.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Why should you listen? Picture if you will a world will?
Speaker 8 (19:26):
We chat with captains of industry in media, sports, and
more every week explore some amazing facts about human nature
and more. Listen to The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller
on the iHeartRadio app, Apple.
Speaker 6 (19:37):
Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Welcome back to The Herd. Jason McIntyre in for Colin.
Let's bring in our next guest. Jeff Schwartz, former offensive
linemen in the NFL, does the Bear Bets Pod with
Chris Filica, who we talked to earlier. Jeff, I know
you're excited for your Oregon Ducks. Obviously you want to
start in college or the pros. I'll let you dealers
(19:59):
to what do you got.
Speaker 9 (20:01):
I'm excited for college football back tomorrow. I got I
have to find a way to get a few bets done, Jason.
I just couldn't go into a Saturday for college football,
even with a limited menu, and not have something to do.
So I'm excited for football to begin officially. These predeasy
games this weekend, there's bits and pieces of teams like
trying hard. But the games that I watched Chiefs last time,
I mean the third stringers played the entire game like
(20:22):
These games this weekend aren't as much fun as as
the College Bowl we're going to see tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Yeah, I want FSU to dip down a nine and
a half. I think it's down from thirteen and a
half to like ten. But I haven't seen a nine
and a half. I don't think it'll cross, but if
it does, I'll fire on FSU. I don't know DJU
third stop? Why not?
Speaker 9 (20:40):
Well, I think everyone's just betting Georgia Tech. That's probably
why too, right, I mean, you look at Florida State.
They I think they lost eight guys on offense and
I think seven on defense. In the eight guys on
offense where they're wide receivers, they're running back, their offensive linement,
their quarterback, and Georgia Tech's rebuilding into really year two
of Brent Key. But yeah, the number is flying down
because I mean, publics are just hammering Georgia Tech because
(21:01):
they're saying, hey, Florida State's thirteen oh last year, there's
gonna be a hangover. But I don't think Georgia Tech
has the bodies inside the deal with Florida State. Forestay
can rush the passer and he's still some offensive linemen
that are good.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Totals aren't his fun but probably I'll hit the over Anyways,
I'm curious. You know this, This Oregon Ohio State game
is being made out to be massive. I could sell
you on this. The loser of that game almost is
in slightly better shape because then they have to say
the inside track on the fifth seed Felika outline that
(21:33):
Brad Powers did that on my pod earlier this week.
It just it feels like not that you can lose
that game, but it's not the end of the world.
The Oregon Ohio State loser, it's.
Speaker 9 (21:44):
Not the end of the world because the five seed
will presumably get the G five team right where that's
Liberty again, which would have been last year Boise State
or app State or someone sort of in that in
that realm. So and then you get the presumably easier
next game, right because you're playing a quarterfinal game against
four seed that will most likely be the Big Ten.
This will be the Big twelve champion, right, So maybe
it's a Utah or UCF or Oklahoma State something like that.
(22:07):
But I think, Jason, the real hard part about this
new playoff format is the amount of games you're playing.
Speaker 6 (22:13):
Right.
Speaker 9 (22:14):
In the old format, it was two games. TCU gets
hot one year, they kind of win a flute game
against Michigan, right two pick six is a fourth and
two stop, you know, like, and then you're in the
championship game. Yeah, they got boat raced by Georgia, but
you're in the championship.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Game, right.
Speaker 9 (22:29):
Washington last year didn't come out of nowhere, but relatively,
I think naturally unknown you beat Texas, you gotta win
one more game in this new system. Now, if you
don't have a buy you have to beat you know,
like the Big Twelve Champion, the Big Ten champions. To
see champion, you have to win so many more games.
Even with the buy, you gotta win three games. Like
it's Jason, It's gonna take its toll. A lot of
(22:50):
teams that don't have the depth to win three or
four games. Organ has the depth, Ohio State does, Georgia,
probably Texas, and Michigan has a quarterback, maybe they have
the depth. But out of that, there's not a lot
of teams around the country that can win three or
four games. So the one seed or five seed I
think for Oregon Ohio State, they have enough depth on
their team to a stand playing the three or four
(23:11):
playoff games.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
So I'll be in Vegas next week setting up for
the NFL contest. I'm assuming you're doing it again. I
am curious any futures bets for the NATTY winner. I
will have Ohio State for sure, but I'm wondering are
you Are you like a spray of the board kind
of guy. Three four teams and answer chances? Where are
you on that? So I'm a.
Speaker 9 (23:31):
Mixed on my futures buddy. Like I the idea of
tying up the money always policy. I'm looking at my sheet.
I keep a spreadsheet of every wager I make, so
I know money in, money out. I meant I got
a good amount of futures the first year I've had
legal sports wager in North Carolina, so be able to
do a lot of these. I don't have a lot
of win the championship futures. I kind of mostly I
(23:52):
just don't want to bet on organ I hate doing it.
I'm not going to do it, so I'm going to
keep them out of this. I have futures to win,
you know, to make playoffs and to win conferences, but
I don't have any title futures. Again, I think it's
three teams though it's it's Oregon, it's Georgia, it's Ohio State,
and there's that. I believe South Point has the the
Georgia Ohio States or the field wager. I would take
(24:14):
Georgia Ohio States.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
I don't disagree with that at all. Yeah, I think
they'll certainly meet in the Natty. Let's go to the NFL.
I saw the big Creed Humphrey signing. You obviously connected
with the Chiefs significantly. Your brother played there. I know
that's the big story, but to me, it's not the
big story. The big story is it looks like they're
going to be starting the second round pick out of
BYU at left tackle. Where are you on that? I
(24:40):
know they were high on him, but that's still a
rookie left tackle for Patrick Mahomes. The interior is fine,
but and Taylor kicking over to the right side looks
I mean, he struggled badly last year. Yeah, where are
you on this? Well?
Speaker 9 (24:53):
Kingsley sue Mattia has had a good preseason. Obviously, it's preseason,
it's not the regular season. There's things he needs to
work on that he will continue to work on. But
here's the thing, Jason, when you have one offensive alignment
that might need a little help, you can deal with that, right.
You can say, Joe Tooney, he's back from injury, should
play this season. Creed Trey Taylor, who's getting paid a
lot of money to block by himself. You four guys,
(25:13):
you're kind of on your own right. And then we're
going to help Kingsley. So we'll put a tight end there,
We'll formationally do some things. We'll have run action in
his way, like we'll be able to sort of get
him in a position where he's not on an island
very often, and the way the Chiefs offense operates in
most years. I think we'll get back to this with
the addition of Worthy and I Brown's herp when he
comes back is that the Chiefs are the best offense
(25:36):
under Patrick Mahomes on first and second down, so third
down was always third and two, third and three, third
and one, or they skip third down altogether. So in
those situations where it's third and eight, thirty nine, third
and twelve, the Chiefs are rarely in those in most years.
Last year was a little bit different because their offense
and function as well. So I think you can get
by with a rookie left tackle because the Chiefs offense
allows them some more outs, where other teams you start rookies,
(25:59):
you're third and eight and you're in trouble. So I
when you have one guy like that, you're fine. If
you have two or three guys you have to help.
That's what the problem has become, just a lot more noticeable.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Speaking of offensive lines, how is the situation in Denver
for bow Knicks who is going to get to start?
But Jeff, I don't know if you've looked at that schedule.
They're facing some real tough defenses out of the shoot,
including McDonald's Seattle defense in lumen Field. That is a
tough spot for bow Knicks. If you remember last year CJ.
Stroud had to go to Baltimore and McDonald put him
(26:31):
in a body bag like it was struggling to read
the defense. I don't want to say I'm gonna hit
Seattle in the opener. I think it's the lines four
or five. But that's just a tough spot for bo Knicks.
But he got the starting job. Do you like Denver
this year?
Speaker 9 (26:44):
I don't know if like is the right word. That
they certainly are a talented team. I think we saw
from bow Knicks has been impressive so far. Everyone always
says that's against the twos. Well, it should look good
against the twos, right because he's an NFL starting quarterback.
He's what the twelve pick I believe overall, and he
should look good against second string defenses we're seeing right now,
and so I take that as a positive. I will say, though,
(27:05):
I've been impressed with the things that Denver has done
to highlight his strengths. They're getting the ball out quickly,
which he is really good at and they're sort of
adding his legs and some RPO things, which are things
he did well Oregon. Now he's got to work on
sometimes going through all his reads. He's got to work
on some hitting, some deep passes. At times he has
turned down some of that has been pressure. So there's
(27:25):
things to work on. But I think so far you
have to be happy with the way Sean Payne has
taylored offense to Boknicks. Bo Knicks does some good things.
Are they going to be great across the board?
Speaker 3 (27:34):
No?
Speaker 9 (27:35):
But the one thing I will say about going to
Seattle is we don't know what Seattle is going to
be right, brand new coach, new philosophy, new things. That
their field is extremely loud. I think it's allows field
in the NFL. But bo Knicks has started Jason what
sixty one college games like he's played at Washington last
year that Colin said was allows game he's ever been to,
right like he's played in these atmospheres. He's played the
SEC for three years, So to me, the atmosphere is
(27:57):
not gonna be overwhelming for him. It's a matter of
of playing a starting defense now and knowing that you
know we have things to work on an offense and
to make it work into week one.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
Earlier in the show, I floated that the Steelers are
kind of in no man's land. They're going down for sure.
I mean this close game luck they've had in the
last three years, like twenty nine to ten and one.
You cannot continue this quarterback situation. Unsettled, I said, I
think you should trade TJ. Watt, put them on the market.
You got great years out of him, All Pro sack leader,
Defensive Player of the Year, all He's done everything. He's
(28:29):
also twenty nine. He's had a couple injuries the last
few years. I would try to move off him, get
a couple first, and hope that you can get a
quarterback in the draft. I don't know what is that
to Steelers fans don't seem happy with me right now.
But how else are you going to turn around?
Speaker 9 (28:44):
Well, they have, so the Steelers have to hit rock
bottom to turn around, right because, as we know, Mike
Thomas and the great job every year of getting his
team to sort of exceed expectations right and get in
the playoffs and have one of all those playoff games
in recent years. But the idea is dictations this year.
It feels like to I think we're on the same page.
You're like, it's over. I bet saying there's win total under.
(29:05):
I bet them total points under. This season. They have
two quarterbacks that aren't good, and no matter how much
you try to scream like they're gonna be better, we
know what Russell Wilson is now. Fields guys started for
three seasons, Like we know what Field is already, and
so far in the preseason he's been exactly the same
guy he was in Chicago. And and then the offensive line,
we talked about that throughout the you know, throughout this
(29:27):
so far, like they're they're young, and they have some
good players that are young, like Zach Frasier, but there's
some questions to right tackle with Atanu Hurt, Like there's
just all these things together. They need a second wide receiver.
But besides pickings, I don't I don't think. I don't
think I use at this point will be traded to them.
But you know, so like they have these issues on offense,
adding Wilson and Fields who aren't that good, and I
(29:47):
think this sort of falls apart. But they're not gonna
trade a lot because they're a proud of organization and
they're gonna just sort of ride this thou as long
as they can. They have to somehow they have to
go like a four and thirteen and I don't think
it be fourn thirteen, Jason, but like they need need
that sort of season to decide, look, we have to
do something different because I heard you talking about their
offense and they're way they're they're well behind it. And
(30:08):
they hired off n oc by the way, who's like
thirty second in pass rates. Like they just run the like,
So they're not going to pass the ball very much,
gonna be a run first team, which doesn't really work
as much in in twenty twenty four, they have to
hit rock bottom to figure out that it's not working.
They're never bad enough to do that. So this year
this is gonna tread water. They're gonna be in eight
(30:29):
win team, a seven win team in a tough division.
And that's probably good enough to say, hey man, like
let's tweet some things and next year will win ten games.
But the goal for Pittsburgh is winning super Bowls. They're
not close to that goal. They have the fourth best
quarterback room in that division. Assuming Watson is a little
bit better. That's not good enough for for division wins
or wildcard spot.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
So trade Wie right, I don't know.
Speaker 9 (30:53):
I don't know if you can do that. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Fans would be out right, he's a number one selling
jersey is super popular.
Speaker 9 (30:58):
But it's not even about the it's about the idea,
like if you're built the way you are now to
win with your defense, if you trade what you're admitting
before the season, Like we're out in the season and
I don't think Pittsburgh's gonna admit that. We might think
that's a good idea because we're thinking about the future,
which we should, you know, we're fans or analysts. We
think about those things. But in the in the moment,
(31:19):
they're not going to trade him because that said those
like we're kind of waving white flag on the season
and they're never going to do that.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Well, maybe around the deadline if they're two and five
and sputtering and quarterback rotation, maybe that's in play. So
we'll wrap up with this one. Then it's just a
little speculative. But I saw a report that the Washington
trade of Dotson, Yeah, makes it a little interesting. You
said it looks like the Steelers won't land a Yuk. Well,
Ayuk's college quarterback for a year was Jaden Daniels in Washington.
(31:50):
Washington has some cap space. Brandon Ayuk mysteriously still not
signed in San Francisco. Is there a world where Washington says,
you know what, we got the quarterback on the rookie deal.
Let's overpay Ayuk, we pair him next to Terry McLaurin,
who's excellent, and let's just let's freaking go for it.
Why not any shot of Washington and landing Brandon Ayuk.
Speaker 9 (32:11):
I like that idea. It's come up before after you
know that they have more ammo to do this now.
As you mentioned, Daniels and Ayuk played well together all
the way back at Arizona State. I just have a
sense that the Niners and and Bran I understand that
they're best together, like their relationship. And look at times
in life there's relationships that you have and you're a
(32:32):
little bit upset at the other person. You feel like
a breakup is necessary, but you realize, like, hey, maybe
we're best together, right, brand Ayuk is he's gonna leave
the offense that he has now to go play in Pittsburgh, Like, seriously,
that's what you want for your career, and I know
you're gonna get maybe the most money. I get that.
And the Niners know they need him too. Look at
all the injuries they have right now, Jason, they can't
(32:52):
go in the season with Pierre saw her and and
McCaffrey beat up, and no Trent Williams as of right now,
and then just don't have their their you know, and
Ayuk as well, so they both know they need each other.
I and they work it out. But if Washington says, hey,
we'll give you a first and a third and we'll
give him thirty one million dollars a year, the Niners
might do it for a first round pick.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
That's spicy. And there's no guarantee that Jayden Daniels and
even with Iyuk and McLaurin are going to be like
a ten win team. They could still win six months.
Speaker 9 (33:21):
No, they're not there. But I think you say, look,
let's bring in. If we bring him in, we have
two wide receivers. Their offensive line as we is kind
of reshuffling, but it's not bad, it's not as bad
as it's been. And let's get him in this you know,
get him here. This season is sort of jayde and
Daniels workie year, like you work through some kinks and
next year, with another draft and more freegency, we have
(33:44):
everyone sort of going in the right direction. Like this
year to me for Washington is not about playoffs, just
about making sure that you end the season with Jane
and Daniels playing better than he started this season, so
you enter year two with the firm idea of who
he is as a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Yeah, I like that. Jeff Schwartz Fox Sports does a
lot of gambling right stuff on foxsports dot Com, does
the Bare Bets podcast with Felika. Jeff. Have a great
weekend and good luck to your ducks this season.
Speaker 9 (34:08):
Take care, thank you bug, all right, Pal,
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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