December 29, 2025 • 33 mins
NFL insider Dianna Russini discusses NFL coach openings, potential hires like Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and who else could potentially be fired before February. Are there reservations about Sean McDermott and his future in Buffalo? Colin discusses Kyle Whitingham taking the Michigan job and how he’s going to fit in with the program.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
This time of the year, their job openings. People. I mean,
these bad teams, they're working on the draft, they're looking
at they're looking at free agency, They're mapping out the
future the athletics. Senior NFL Insider cover the NFL for
a decade. Diana Russini is now joining US Live. So
(00:24):
let's just address the one. Marcus Freeman was maybe a
long shot, but I do think that Marcus is one
of those rare college coaches that everybody in the NFL
just thinks energy talent. Why this morning, Okay, I'll tell you.
The cynical column is that now that the Giants can't
get Fernando Mendoza, Freeman looks at that and goes Jackson
(00:47):
darts three and eight. I like Notre Dame. I'm staying
in college. That's the cynical me. Why the time, Why
the timing today that he's staying at Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, I appreciate that you stay cynical through the entire
year here, which is a few.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Days left in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Look, the New York Giants were not the only team
who are interested in Marcus Freeman, So I get what
you're saying. That lines up for why he would perhaps
not be interested in New York. There were at least
four other teams I know poking around on Marcus Freeman.
And when I stay poking around because some of those
teams have a coach currently in place, right, which makes
sense because there's only two available head coaching jobs right
(01:24):
now on the table, that being the New York Giants
and the Tennessee Titans, who you know, both organizations definitely
had plans of bringing Marcus Freeman in and New York
made the most sense. There's some connections there, and I
do think in terms of what the New York Giants
are looking for, Marcus Freeman lined up with that. Because
back to the conversation we had every time this year, right,
(01:47):
leader of men? What were we talking about last year
this time of year as well? Leader of men? Who
were those people? And we see how that has fared?
So what does this leave New York?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Now?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Okay, so you got Jeff Hafley, the Packers defense of coordinator.
You have lou Annarumo, the Colts defensive coordinator. He interviewed
for the job before and did very well. From what
I recall, I could see him, you know, having a
really good shot at getting this job, Brian Flores. Did
you see that clinic that defense put on against the
(02:18):
Detroit Lions at home on Christmas Day? The New York
Giants were watching. I was down on the sideline for
that colin and it was incredible. And I talked to
flora Is actually at the game about his future and
he's like, look, I'm happy here in Minnesota. I love
being part of this organization. We'll see who calls. People
are gonna be calling. I can tell you that organizations
(02:38):
have Brian Flora's on their board. Chris Shula in La Right,
anytime you're around Sean McVeigh, anytime you have a name
like Shula, it's a good thing. And he has done
a tremendous job with the defense that wasn't supposed to
be this good and they're spectacular.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Yeah, I would hire Brian Floras in one second. I
think Brian Flores is really one of the sharp guys
out there. I like him.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Allure this name out for the New York Giants just
for your reaction. This isn't a name on their board.
I just want your feelings. Robert salah Well.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I thought it was a huge mistake when Sala got fired.
They were going to Buffalo and if they won, they'd
be tied for first. I thought it was egregious when
they let go of him. I also think you could
argue that Jets it's quicksand Darnold couldn't win there. Nobody
can win there like Aaron Rodgers looks better. All I
know is if you gave me three guys to hire
(03:30):
in this next cycle, I would do Sala Flores one
and two. I think they're great. I don't know Shula
well enough. I always feel like so much as McVeigh magic.
Everything he touches is great. So I just think Brian
Floor is in Minnesota and Sala high energy, kind of intimidating,
like a guys guy, a player's player, kind of an
(03:51):
alpha thing. I don't know the big And then Marcus Freeman,
I thought it's great, but he is a college guy,
not a pro guy.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, And here's the thing with Sala, I do think
he is a good mix. He's obviously a fantastic defensive coordinator.
Look at what the San Francisco forty nine ers are
working with and look at the performance that they've been
able to do it week in and week out. Is
it pretty? No, Right, it's not perfect. You know, he's
sitting there like, how am I going to make this work?
But I think he's done a really good job of
(04:19):
just rallying those guys. And I think for an organization
like the New York Giants that lacks accountability, to me,
that's got to be the word on the board in
the meeting room with these coaches. Can you hold players accountable?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Right?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Because some of the knot that we had on solo
when Aaron Rodgers was there, Remember we said you had
to have a very specific characteristic in order for that
to work with the Rogers, right, and we see that,
and who Mike Tomlin It's working great, you see that?
And who Arthur Smith?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Right?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Arthur Smith's another name that I think is going to
make some rounds here once again to get an opportunity
because Arthur also has a really good, obviously offensive mind,
but he's not scared of these players. He is not
scared to go up to the best guy on the
team and say, yeah, that's not good enough. And that's
what the New York John's are looking for, because accountability
was really it is the biggest flaw in that building.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
So we were talking about this during the break, and
I think I've been saying this three years, is that
when you look at Philadelphia against Buffalo, Philadelphia has got
a lot more good players and it's not close. Buffalo
has a superstar quarterback, a very good left tackle, a
nice running back. So my take is Denver could bounce
(05:33):
out Buffalo in the first round, Jacksonville could, New England could,
And my take is there are very rarely is there
a great job opening. When Matt Lafleur got Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers late prime, that's a great job. That is
a great hardball, getting justin Herbert Vrabel, getting Drake May
and that owner. Those are really good jobs. Buffalo loses
(05:58):
round one, gets whack at Diana.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
That feels like to me, that's trouble, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I know, you mean, I don't think you're wrong. I
don't think it's it's a lock for sure. I mean,
how could it be right? You have Josh Allen in
his prime and you continue to dance, but you don't
go to the big one right, And it just seems
like they don't have the makeup that they need to
get over this hump and this has to be it.
(06:30):
And look, this is not to be defensive of Buffalo. Well,
look what Josh is working with, as you just pointed out,
Look at that Philly offense, Look at that roster compared
to Buffalo's roster, and yet Josh Allen is staying in
these games and almost winning it. I mean, if he
makes that pass there in the end zone and it's
to the right just a bit, you know it's game over.
(06:51):
And look you I don't want to question Sean McDermott,
but first of all, this is a head coach who
was against the toush Bush. Right, they run it twice yesterday,
and then on top of that, you already see the
fact that this Philly offense isn't clicking, right, They did
not have a good day, right, and to go for two.
I understand the confidence, the belief in Josh Allen and
(07:12):
your offense, but big picture, in that moment, I don't
necessarily agree that that was the right call. And I
know that's of course very easy for us to say
on Monday when when the catch isn't made. But yeah,
that is certainly going to be one of the teams
that will be keeping an eye on, depending on how
this shakes out. But you know, next week it could
be busy, you know, I know we talk about this
a lot, like I think there's like an average of
(07:34):
five head coaching openings every year. Right, So we got
the Giants, the Titians. I'm expecting at least four more
on top of that, right, So that puts us at six.
And we're not even talking about some of these teams
that are going to be dancing to the playoffs, right,
because there's always one or two head coaches out of
that group. But you know, the right owner the quarterback
shows how much success and how you can be off
(07:56):
on the right foot, Ben Johnson obviously, now that Mike Vrabel,
now that that was an off season that was Look
how we can reflect on that. Liam Collen.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yeah, these three new.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Head coaches are having spectacular seasons. I just don't think
it's going to be as exciting this offseason in terms
of the type of talented head coaches that are in
this pool.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Okay, so Mendoz is going to go to the Raiders.
They need a quarterback. I actually said, I thought when
you combine Pete Carroll, Chip Kelly and Gino Smith, I said,
I picked him for fourth. But I said they could
be a really interesting team. They could win seven games.
They could be a spoiler. Late it is a disaster.
Now the disaster turns into the number one pick. So
(08:36):
maybe everybody's brilliant and I'm not seeing the obvious stuff.
But Tom Brady's not sitting around forever. They've got you know,
Mark Davis went out and took some money from other
people who have a voice.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Could the Raiders just blow this whole thing up?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Here's what I want to see happen. Okay, So obviously
Tom Brady being part of anything in life is going
to be good for you because the guy knows how
to win. He's the best at what he does. He's
been around football and he lives it, breads it, all
of it. He's doing a lot right like he's calling games.
He has a family in Florida. He's in touch with
(09:12):
people with the Raiders. He's got his eyes and ears
on the ground there with people that are working with
the Raiders organization. I just think this offseason, I actually
want more Tom Brady. I think that's what Vegas needs.
More input from him and more of a presence. I
think that's important. Think about if you're just a Raider,
you're a young player, and Tom Brady's walking around your
(09:32):
building like how different are you behaving? How different are
you acting? It's the grown up the best at it
there and the Max Crosby situation. You know, I don't
know who made that call, but you have to figure
Tom Brady's thinking future. He's thinking about the organization as
a whole, what's best for them. Max Crosby dealing with
the knee injury going back to October. I know he's
(09:53):
a competitor and he wants to be out there. I
understand why they shut him down. But that being said,
Max Crosby is the best thing going for the Raiders.
He's setting the example, the standard. If you lose Max Crosby,
you think things are banned now in terms of the
Raiders and what they're about and what they believe in
and how he's the thing that makes that place great
and if you lose him mentally, those are my concerns.
(10:17):
So if your question is they've blown this thing up,
how could they not look at this coaching staff and
go it has to be better because what it is now,
it's just it discombobulated, right, It does it. It's not InSync.
You don't even know what the raiders are. It's December
twenty ninth. What are the raiders?
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I have no idea, Diana Russini. This next three months
for you is crazy town. So I know, like you've
got a big family here and you're very, very busy.
But we love having you on the show. You bring
great energy and insight and I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Thank you. You know, everyone always says, oh, you're so
busy in season. I love the season. It's football, right.
My job starts like January seventh, is actually when my
jobs are. It's like coaching, hiring, free agency. We're off
and running either way, though. This is this is a blast, you.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Know, Diana Rossini, Good Senia, same great great stuff.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
at noon Eastern am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS
one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire
with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing
the same tired narratives down your throat.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Every day.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
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Speaker 1 (11:51):
Yeah, it is, Uh, there's a I don't know if
I don't know what you do if you're the Raiders.
I don't know if what you do if you're in Tampa.
I've said before the Jets thing with Aaron Glenn feels
very much. Nathaniel Hackett and Denver, Jim, Tom Sula and
San Francisco like it. Just Freddie Kitchens in Cleveland, David
Cully in Houston, You're like, it just doesn't feel right.
I could be wrong. They could give you know, the
(12:13):
Jets privately always argued, hey, we gave Sala all these years.
I think if I run a team, the best candidates
to me are Brian Flores and Robert Sala at the top.
I know they're defensive guys, but Mike McDonald and Demiko
Ryans are crushing. You don't have to be an offensive guy.
(12:33):
If you're a defensive guy, you got to be Young.
I would say Brian Flores in Minnesota love him. I
mean again, when you watch that defense, you know it's
a Flores defense. I would say the second best candidate
is Sala. Third best candidate Mike McCarthy. I don't want
to hear it. He wins a lot of games. And
(12:54):
then I would put a bunch of guys like Chris
Shula in LA in that third level. WHOA, what about
Chris Shula? Brandon Staley was under Sean McVay and had
the number one defense in the league. Everybody that touches
McVeigh looks brilliant. Raheem Morris got another job and hasn't
already done very well. You know, you can blame a
(13:15):
lot of different reasons, but like everybody with McVeigh looks magical,
you know. So I don't know what to do there.
I don't know what to do there. J Mack with
the news.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
No, no, no, this is the herd Line News.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Let's quickly revisit the Marcus Freeman staying at Notre Dame situation.
Obviously NFL teams wanted him. He did not consider any
of them. None of them are good jobs.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
I don't care what.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
People say about the Giants, Colin, that's not a great opening.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Okay, they got a lot of work to do. Freeman's
got a great set up. The quarterback was excellent. He's back.
I know they lose a couple.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
Running backs to the draft. Notre Dame will be right
back in the playoff mix next year. As you noted,
the schedule is very favorable. I will maintain that Freeman,
and you know, I have some good Notre Dame connections.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Freeman's not leaving.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
For an NFL job unless it's hardball, like, oh, Justin
Herbert is your quarterback. Yes, I'll consider that. That's when
Freeman will go. These guys don't need to take on
a rebuild. Freeman's got a lot of kids, and he's
got his family, loves the area. It's going to be
tough to pry him out of South Bend unless it's
a plumb job.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
You know, I hear this from a lot of people. Oh,
being a college coach these days, you don't have to recruit,
you just it's transactional. If your Notre Dame, your brand
gets you about half your class, another fifteen to twenty
percent you write a check for, and then you got
another twenty five percent. You go high school games. But
(14:40):
I mean, I you start looking at what I follow
USC recruiting. It's not like Lincoln Riley to a different
high school every Tuesday or every Friday night. The bottom
line is these college jobs. Now, that's why Kurt Signetti
and Kyle Whittingham, the older coaches, well they're older. You're
not at high school games too, and days a year.
(15:00):
It's very administrative. It's very Bill Belichick. I don't know
if it works or not. Bill Belichick would not have
worked in the college football ten years ago. I would
never hire a sixty six year old ten years ago.
Kyle Whittingham, Come on, Michigan recruits. Half of a class
is based on the brand of Michigan. A quarter of
the class, You're right, a check for in a quarter
(15:21):
of the class. You got to go to high school games.
So I think, Freeman, I think these top college jobs
are pretty good.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Yeah, I'm with you.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
You made an interesting point there. The older coaches, you know,
the can you teach an old dog nu tricks? Yeah,
when Nick Saban's been coaching for thirty years and then
gets upended by this nil stuff that suddenly balances things
out Yeah, it's gonna be a little challenging. He's not
gonna love it. Marcus Freeman's a young guy, Colin. These
young people adapt. My son told me a year ago, Dad,
you need a YouTube base, So I start a YouTube base.
(15:49):
I don't you think I want to get in the
weeds with that, but you got to follow the trends.
Marcus Freeman's young, he's adapted well. As you said, Notre
Dame recruits itself. I think, without a doubt he's in
a plumb spot. The only college job my Notre Dame
connections have told me to watch out for if it
comes open is Ohio State. That's the one Freeman would
consider leaving for. Obviously, that's an amazing job. People could
(16:12):
do their homework on that if they want. Next up, Colin,
let's go also to college football. That's how winning him.
Obviously going to Michigan bit of a surprise. He is
sixty six years old, and there's some concern about that,
but you know, he'd been at Utah for thirty two
years with the program, so now he's going to Michigan.
(16:32):
And obviously at Michigan they asked him about one school.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Here's what he had to say, I do now, I guess,
but physicality will be our calling card.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Yeah, we're sure you to have the place I was,
we were the most physical team in the league.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
You know, whichever league we played in, that's not going
to be any different here.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Yeah, I mean, here's my thing for the people that
push back. He is sixty six. Let's say he stays
for four years, and that's kind of how I view it.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
You will.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
He is a big ten coach. Even when he was
at Utah that the number one defense in his era.
They played Big ten level football. Utah plays a lot
of cold weather games. I've been to several. He's a
very good fit. I think. Let's say he stays four
three years. They went nine games, ten games, nine games.
That's not bottoming out like right now Michigan's in trouble.
(17:27):
I say the same with Matt campbellt at Penn State. Oh,
is he the best candidate. He's a good candidate. So
and the other thing is, again, he's in four sixty six.
Not all sixty six year olds. Nick Saban is sixty
seven or something. In me he's got great energy. So
I think in today's nil transfer portal World Michigan's got
(17:49):
great endowment. We've got a lot of lettuce, a lot
of money. This is the kind of job that I
think a sixty six year old guy in great shape
can handle. I think it's a three to a four
year gig, and I think he serves himself well, very ethical,
no nonsense. But he's not a nine year coach. That's
not what it is here. You just all a d
(18:10):
should always keep a short list in their drawer in
their office. And you know, every year you go out
and just say how you feeling, how's it going. But
if Utah with Underwood the quarterback for the next two.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Years, that was my question, dude, you're a day yes, yes,
and so you're.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Gonna get Wittingham's defense and special teams, which were great
at Utah. You've already got the magical quarterback, marsh the
wide receiver, so Michigan offensively next two years they got
NFL guys. He'll stabilized the defense, the operational functionality of
the team. I think it's a very very B plus,
(18:51):
solid higher. If Witningham was fifty six, I would consider
it an a higher. It's sixty six. Maybe it's B
plus because you don't none. None of us have the energy.
Nobody knows the energy at sixty six to fifty. If
you're the same guy.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Sometimes you like to say, like if you had a
defensive coach and it flops, you go the opposite and
get offensive. Well in this case, Sharon Moore, you know,
he's a kind of a he was in crazy town,
as you like to say stories about him, dming OnlyFans models.
Guy's a mess. You got a class act in winning him.
Who's going to clean up the program? Kind of a
mature individual.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
They need that.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
I think it's a good hire. I mean it's not
as good. I don't think it's Penn State getting Campbell.
But it's like you said, a B plus final story, Colin,
let's go to tonight's game, Monday Night Football. Not a
lot of juice here, Rams Falcons. I took the points
at eight and a half, it's down to seven. Rams
obviously cannot win the NFC West, cannot get the number
one seed.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Somebody decided to act.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Max Crosby of the Raiders, who he thinks is the
team to beat for the Lombardi Trophy.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
And here's who he said, the Rams like I could
see them winning the Super Bowl. I think the combination
of having two legitimate number one receivers Lit Pooka and
having an all Pro slash Pro Bowl running back, having
Sean McVay one of the best offensive mines and football
and coaches in general, and then Matthew Stafford playing at
(20:10):
a level that we didn't even know he can hit
another level and he's doing that.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Yeah, I think they should be the favorite if they
you know tonight, here's the thing to remember about tonight.
If you don't think the Rams have anything to play for.
The Rams have two first round picks. You know, their
first first round pick, it's Atlanta's. The players don't no, no, no,
no no no, players don't. The coaches do right, They're
(20:38):
going to be aggressive. They're going to have an aggressive
game plan. You want to hand Atlanta a loss here
and Atlanta I think next week plays the pretty hot Saints.
Atlanta has two more losses and that eleven twelve pick
becomes an eight. Don't kid yourself, Rams. If they can
pour it on, they will. They want that Atlanta pick.
(21:01):
McVeigh does. Because McVay knows you have to an eight pick.
You can move down to eleven and still get your guy.
If you have the eleventh or twelfth pick, you're not
moving down your stand poet.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Okay, so what.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
About the opposite? What about the Falcons? Kirk Cousins is
playing for. Hey, I don't want to be a backup. Look,
I've proven some stuff. Somebody come get me and Brahie
Morris he's on the hot seat in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
I mean they were.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Supposed to be friends playoff team. They've been a disaster.
I want I think the Falcon they need this game.
Morris could be in trouble in Atlanta. They don't have
nearly the talent. They need a lot of things. They're
not beating the Rams. They Drake London sounds like he
is going to play, and we know Jon Robbinson's very good.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Quick quick sub subplot, Colin.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
Is it crazy that like two weeks ago, the Rams
were up thirty to fourteen on Seattle in the fourth
quarter with eight minutes left, they had the number one seed,
they were eight minutes away, up sixteen points, and now
they're going to be like, what's fourteen and three thirteen pick?
Speaker 3 (21:57):
She go on the road.
Speaker 5 (21:59):
I'm just telling you, I love the Rams, but everybody
loves it Are they definitely beating the Eagles on the road,
definitely if they have to.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Are they definitely winning in Chicago?
Speaker 1 (22:12):
I think they're winning in Chicago unless it's a snowstorm.
But they run the ball, so they'll be okay.
Speaker 5 (22:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Jmack with the news.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the
Herd Line News.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Yeah. I looked this morning the Rams. We thought they're
the best team in the league. If they win tonight,
they could be number one team in the league in
most eyes. And right now there, I think they're a
six seed in the NFC. I mean, the NFC West
arguably has the three best teams any order, Niners, Hawks, Rams,
it's the Herd.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays,
and noone East. They're not a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
You know, I know I should be more empathetic, but
I never really have a problem when kickers get released.
I mean, honestly, you don't have to tackle, you don't
have the pass, you don't have to run the football,
you don't have to get hit. Just make your kicks.
You screw around at practice, just make your kicks. So
the Bills release kicker Michael Badsley from the practice squad.
(23:13):
They missed more extra points than any team, and the
Eagles blocked more kicks than any team in the league.
So that's another reason why the Buffalo Bills go for
it yesterday, Like this isn't a guarantee for us Jalen
Carter blocking kicks all year and the Eagles a bit
(23:35):
on the field the entire game. Matt Matt Hasselbeck kind
of agreed with me. I had no problem with it
for a variety of reasons. One of them is, Josh
Allen's the best athlete in the league. You're at home,
you're favored, Eagles defense is gassed, and that was a
good play call. You should have hit him. Here was
Hasselbeck on the decision.
Speaker 7 (23:53):
I bet you they thought really good about this play.
The play worked, and you know, Josh Allen, he's got
to be kicking himself. Ninety nine out of a hundred
times he makes that throw, guarantee it. It was kind
of shocking to see him not making now. He's banged up,
he's got a real bad foot injury. He maybe he
can't push off, feels the pressure, bad weather, all the stuff.
But no, I'm in favor of going for that, i'd
(24:15):
and I'd be in favor of calling the exact same
play again in the exact same situation. I'd feel good
about the quarterback making the play.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah, I know, I know I should be nicer to kickers,
but I can't be the only person that watches games.
And you know, kickers missed like Pats. And I'm like, guys,
you're not asked to do much. You gotta make those kicks.
I'm not asking you. I mean, I got guys in
the league now that drill fifty six yard field goals
with fifteen yards to spare, So you can't be missing Pat.
(24:44):
I don't care what the weather is. Get it through.
College kids can do it. You're a pro.
Speaker 6 (24:47):
Do it.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
So I'm sure the guy will get a job somewhere else.
But the Bills were a circus this year on extra
points and the Eagles block kick.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
So do it.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
For the record, And I've I don't like coaches getting
fired unless it's a complete mess. You know, I said,
Nat Hackett, you're an offensive coach. You can't figure the
clock out. This isn't gonna work. Go be an oc.
You know these guys always get other jobs. I think
the Sean McDermott issue. I had the Bills number ten
(25:20):
in my hurt hierarchy. Did you like that first half
game plan at home? Can't score until six minutes to
go in the fourth. I'm just kind of over it.
I don't think Sean's bad if the Miami Dolphins tomorrow.
Let's say that the Bills losing the playoffs first round
and the Dolphins hire Sean McDermott. I've always compared him
(25:42):
to Chuck Knox. You can look it up. Very organized,
very solid, B plus across the board. Bit conservative, doesn't
quite have a feel for offense, but a grown up, mature, smart,
clean it up. I would have no problem with Sean
McDermott getting the Miami Doll's job the Tennessee Titans shop.
(26:02):
He's a pro. But with Josh Allen, I kind of watch,
you know, I kind of watched Stafford getst McVeigh, and
you know, Aaron had McCarthy, Uh Purdy's got Shanahan Maholmes
has read Vo Nicks has Sean Payton. It feels Caleb
(26:23):
has Ben Johnson. I'm not crazy, right, it feels like
a little bit of an advantage over an older defensive coach.
Mcdermot's not that old. Here's Diana Russini on just the
Bill's situation at head coach.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
You have Josh Allen in his prime and you continue
to dance, but you don't go to the big one, right,
And it just seems like the don't have the makeup
that they need to get over this hump and this
has to be it. And look, this is not to
be defensive of Buffalo. Well look what Josh is working with,
as you just pointed out. Look at that Philly look
(27:00):
at that roster compared to Buffalo's roster, and yet Josh
Allen is staying in these games and almost winning it.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
I mean, it's.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
This league is interesting. If you go and look at
the seven playoff teams in the AFC and the seven
playoff teams in the NFC, the NFC and the AFC
have sort of flipped. For about a five year period.
We thought the top of the AFC was dominant. It
was Baltimore, it was Kansas City, it was Buffalo, and
(27:35):
then about the sixth team on you're like, well, the NFC,
they're not Super Bowl teams, but they're good teams. It's flipped.
I think the three best Super Bowl potential teams are Rams, Seahawks, Niners,
and I'd keep Philadelphia close, whereas I think the Denver,
New England, Jacksonville. You can argue Houston. Are they super
(27:57):
Bowl teams or are they conference championship team. It's Mike
Rabel's on the show tomorrow, I actually think, and it's
weird that a thirteen and three team is underrated. If
you go look at New England this year they played Buffalo,
the team everybody loves, eight quarters six of them. New
England was better, and if they met again, I'd take
New England. But what Rabel's done is remarkable because it
(28:19):
just goes to show how big ownership is. So when
Rabel took this job, everybody went, oh, this is the circus.
I had Robert Kraft, I had Drake May, and I
had Josh McDaniel's OC. It's basically the dynasty Patriots, and
instead of Belichick you have a former Patriot player, high
(28:44):
IQ guy who share some some, not all, of Belichick's principles.
He's much more player friendly, he's much more current. I mean,
Mike Vrabel is a twenty twenty five coach. Player friendly,
but demanding, doesn't pander on the show tomorrow. I think
people now are short selling New England. The most remarkable
(29:06):
thing about what Vrabel and his guys have done. One
year ago, we thought New England had the worst receiving
corps in the league. Then all of a sudden, you
look at Kyle Williams, Booty Stefan Diggs. Now I look
at him and I'm like, it's actually a it's actually
(29:26):
a really good, big play receiving corps. Then they get
Trayvon Henderson. Okay, now you have a big play running
back room Hunter, Henry Good, solid B plus tight end.
So the stuff we looked at last year, it doesn't
take long in this in this league to correct problems
one year ago, where like they have no speed, they
have no juice, they have no home run hitters. Now
(29:49):
I look at their wide receiving corps. There's three different
guys that can beat you down the field. If you
go to the NFC, Boy, this gets interesting. You know,
it's funny like, oh, Seattle can't win a Super Bowl
with Darnold, Oh really, Chicago, Caleb Williams, I don't know.
I think the top of the NFC is unbelievable. But
(30:15):
even the Rams, you don't love their special teams, and
you can beat them on the back end of that defense.
I honestly don't know what to do with Philadelphia, and
maybe I'm wrong. Maybe San Francisco with brock Purty is
the most dangerous team in the NFCY. Maybe they are.
(30:36):
Here's Ben Johnson, Bears coach on brock Purty, first time
he's faced them as head coach.
Speaker 8 (30:43):
He's a dangerous player, particularly when he can see down
down the field and have that much time.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
I agree with you.
Speaker 8 (30:50):
And then he extended the some of those plays with
his legs too, and he did a really nice shot
and we certainly didn't affect him enough.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Yeah, I thought Chicago's defensive game plan felt a little passive.
Pretty had the most time to throw he's had all
year in any game, really, the second most time he's
had to throw in his career.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Really.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
San Francisco's defense got worked, but Sala was mixing stuff
up and in key spots was super aggressive. I didn't
see that with Chicago. I didn't love what I saw.
I kind of felt like brock Purty just kind of
picked him apart. And Dennis Allen didn't dial up. I mean,
if he did, it wasn't terribly effective. That's what my
(31:35):
eyes told me. Sala's doing the most with very little.
That's why I think he and Brian Floores and Mike
McCarthy would be at the top of my higher list.
J Mack, for the record, you're a Jets fan. What
do you do with a team that's been blown out
in four straight games?
Speaker 5 (31:52):
Well, I've been waiting for you to come back to
me on this, so Colin, I have a list of
coaches in the last fifty years who started out arrably
and managed to turn things around. I do want to
say this is not a defense of Aaron Glenn. Dan Campbell,
as you noticed, started three thirteen and one two years
later was in the NFC Title Game. I know there's
some context needed. Jimmy Johnson in Dallas started out one
(32:13):
in fifteen, three years later they had a dynasty.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Zach Taylor two and fourteen.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
I don't like Zach Taylor at all, but two and
fourteen first year, two years later in the Super Bowl.
Bill Walsh two and fourteen hadn't done much prior to
San Francisco two and fourteen. Within two years was in
the Super Bowl, had a dynasty, and Chuck Nole way
back in the seventies started out one and thirteen. Four
years later, they started a dynasty. Now, I'm not saying
(32:39):
Aaron Glenn as any of those guys. I'm just saying
I don't know that I want to fire him if
I don't have a sure fire name.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
Ready, here's no vaybel like he was sitting out there
for the Patriots. There is no there isn't.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
All right, there you have it, Aaron Glenn will be
returning to the New York Jets for another sensational season
of zero interception. That doesn't even make sense. I had
to triple jack with the staff that I had to
google that about four times.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
No interceptions all season.
This time of the year, their job openings. People. I mean,
these bad teams, they're working on the draft, they're looking
at they're looking at free agency, They're mapping out the
future the athletics. Senior NFL Insider cover the NFL for
a decade. Diana Russini is now joining US Live. So
(00:24):
let's just address the one. Marcus Freeman was maybe a
long shot, but I do think that Marcus is one
of those rare college coaches that everybody in the NFL
just thinks energy talent. Why this morning, Okay, I'll tell you.
The cynical column is that now that the Giants can't
get Fernando Mendoza, Freeman looks at that and goes Jackson
(00:47):
darts three and eight. I like Notre Dame. I'm staying
in college. That's the cynical me. Why the time, Why
the timing today that he's staying at Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, I appreciate that you stay cynical through the entire
year here, which is a few.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Days left in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Look, the New York Giants were not the only team
who are interested in Marcus Freeman, So I get what
you're saying. That lines up for why he would perhaps
not be interested in New York. There were at least
four other teams I know poking around on Marcus Freeman.
And when I stay poking around because some of those
teams have a coach currently in place, right, which makes
sense because there's only two available head coaching jobs right
(01:24):
now on the table, that being the New York Giants
and the Tennessee Titans, who you know, both organizations definitely
had plans of bringing Marcus Freeman in and New York
made the most sense. There's some connections there, and I
do think in terms of what the New York Giants
are looking for, Marcus Freeman lined up with that. Because
back to the conversation we had every time this year, right,
(01:47):
leader of men? What were we talking about last year
this time of year as well? Leader of men? Who
were those people? And we see how that has fared?
So what does this leave New York?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Now?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Okay, so you got Jeff Hafley, the Packers defense of coordinator.
You have lou Annarumo, the Colts defensive coordinator. He interviewed
for the job before and did very well. From what
I recall, I could see him, you know, having a
really good shot at getting this job, Brian Flores. Did
you see that clinic that defense put on against the
(02:18):
Detroit Lions at home on Christmas Day? The New York
Giants were watching. I was down on the sideline for
that colin and it was incredible. And I talked to
flora Is actually at the game about his future and
he's like, look, I'm happy here in Minnesota. I love
being part of this organization. We'll see who calls. People
are gonna be calling. I can tell you that organizations
(02:38):
have Brian Flora's on their board. Chris Shula in La Right,
anytime you're around Sean McVeigh, anytime you have a name
like Shula, it's a good thing. And he has done
a tremendous job with the defense that wasn't supposed to
be this good and they're spectacular.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Yeah, I would hire Brian Floras in one second. I
think Brian Flores is really one of the sharp guys
out there. I like him.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Allure this name out for the New York Giants just
for your reaction. This isn't a name on their board.
I just want your feelings. Robert salah Well.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I thought it was a huge mistake when Sala got fired.
They were going to Buffalo and if they won, they'd
be tied for first. I thought it was egregious when
they let go of him. I also think you could
argue that Jets it's quicksand Darnold couldn't win there. Nobody
can win there like Aaron Rodgers looks better. All I
know is if you gave me three guys to hire
(03:30):
in this next cycle, I would do Sala Flores one
and two. I think they're great. I don't know Shula
well enough. I always feel like so much as McVeigh magic.
Everything he touches is great. So I just think Brian
Floor is in Minnesota and Sala high energy, kind of intimidating,
like a guys guy, a player's player, kind of an
(03:51):
alpha thing. I don't know the big And then Marcus Freeman,
I thought it's great, but he is a college guy,
not a pro guy.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, And here's the thing with Sala, I do think
he is a good mix. He's obviously a fantastic defensive coordinator.
Look at what the San Francisco forty nine ers are
working with and look at the performance that they've been
able to do it week in and week out. Is
it pretty? No, Right, it's not perfect. You know, he's
sitting there like, how am I going to make this work?
But I think he's done a really good job of
(04:19):
just rallying those guys. And I think for an organization
like the New York Giants that lacks accountability, to me,
that's got to be the word on the board in
the meeting room with these coaches. Can you hold players accountable?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Right?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Because some of the knot that we had on solo
when Aaron Rodgers was there, Remember we said you had
to have a very specific characteristic in order for that
to work with the Rogers, right, and we see that,
and who Mike Tomlin It's working great, you see that?
And who Arthur Smith?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Right?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Arthur Smith's another name that I think is going to
make some rounds here once again to get an opportunity
because Arthur also has a really good, obviously offensive mind,
but he's not scared of these players. He is not
scared to go up to the best guy on the
team and say, yeah, that's not good enough. And that's
what the New York John's are looking for, because accountability
was really it is the biggest flaw in that building.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
So we were talking about this during the break, and
I think I've been saying this three years, is that
when you look at Philadelphia against Buffalo, Philadelphia has got
a lot more good players and it's not close. Buffalo
has a superstar quarterback, a very good left tackle, a
nice running back. So my take is Denver could bounce
(05:33):
out Buffalo in the first round, Jacksonville could, New England could,
And my take is there are very rarely is there
a great job opening. When Matt Lafleur got Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers late prime, that's a great job. That is
a great hardball, getting justin Herbert Vrabel, getting Drake May
and that owner. Those are really good jobs. Buffalo loses
(05:58):
round one, gets whack at Diana.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
That feels like to me, that's trouble, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I know, you mean, I don't think you're wrong. I
don't think it's it's a lock for sure. I mean,
how could it be right? You have Josh Allen in
his prime and you continue to dance, but you don't
go to the big one right, And it just seems
like they don't have the makeup that they need to
get over this hump and this has to be it.
(06:30):
And look, this is not to be defensive of Buffalo. Well,
look what Josh is working with, as you just pointed out,
Look at that Philly offense, Look at that roster compared
to Buffalo's roster, and yet Josh Allen is staying in
these games and almost winning it. I mean, if he
makes that pass there in the end zone and it's
to the right just a bit, you know it's game over.
(06:51):
And look you I don't want to question Sean McDermott,
but first of all, this is a head coach who
was against the toush Bush. Right, they run it twice yesterday,
and then on top of that, you already see the
fact that this Philly offense isn't clicking, right, They did
not have a good day, right, and to go for two.
I understand the confidence, the belief in Josh Allen and
(07:12):
your offense, but big picture, in that moment, I don't
necessarily agree that that was the right call. And I
know that's of course very easy for us to say
on Monday when when the catch isn't made. But yeah,
that is certainly going to be one of the teams
that will be keeping an eye on, depending on how
this shakes out. But you know, next week it could
be busy, you know, I know we talk about this
a lot, like I think there's like an average of
(07:34):
five head coaching openings every year. Right, So we got
the Giants, the Titians. I'm expecting at least four more
on top of that, right, So that puts us at six.
And we're not even talking about some of these teams
that are going to be dancing to the playoffs, right,
because there's always one or two head coaches out of
that group. But you know, the right owner the quarterback
shows how much success and how you can be off
(07:56):
on the right foot, Ben Johnson obviously, now that Mike Vrabel,
now that that was an off season that was Look
how we can reflect on that. Liam Collen.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yeah, these three new.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Head coaches are having spectacular seasons. I just don't think
it's going to be as exciting this offseason in terms
of the type of talented head coaches that are in
this pool.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Okay, so Mendoz is going to go to the Raiders.
They need a quarterback. I actually said, I thought when
you combine Pete Carroll, Chip Kelly and Gino Smith, I said,
I picked him for fourth. But I said they could
be a really interesting team. They could win seven games.
They could be a spoiler. Late it is a disaster.
Now the disaster turns into the number one pick. So
(08:36):
maybe everybody's brilliant and I'm not seeing the obvious stuff.
But Tom Brady's not sitting around forever. They've got you know,
Mark Davis went out and took some money from other
people who have a voice.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Could the Raiders just blow this whole thing up?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Here's what I want to see happen. Okay, So obviously
Tom Brady being part of anything in life is going
to be good for you because the guy knows how
to win. He's the best at what he does. He's
been around football and he lives it, breads it, all
of it. He's doing a lot right like he's calling games.
He has a family in Florida. He's in touch with
(09:12):
people with the Raiders. He's got his eyes and ears
on the ground there with people that are working with
the Raiders organization. I just think this offseason, I actually
want more Tom Brady. I think that's what Vegas needs.
More input from him and more of a presence. I
think that's important. Think about if you're just a Raider,
you're a young player, and Tom Brady's walking around your
(09:32):
building like how different are you behaving? How different are
you acting? It's the grown up the best at it
there and the Max Crosby situation. You know, I don't
know who made that call, but you have to figure
Tom Brady's thinking future. He's thinking about the organization as
a whole, what's best for them. Max Crosby dealing with
the knee injury going back to October. I know he's
(09:53):
a competitor and he wants to be out there. I
understand why they shut him down. But that being said,
Max Crosby is the best thing going for the Raiders.
He's setting the example, the standard. If you lose Max Crosby,
you think things are banned now in terms of the
Raiders and what they're about and what they believe in
and how he's the thing that makes that place great
and if you lose him mentally, those are my concerns.
(10:17):
So if your question is they've blown this thing up,
how could they not look at this coaching staff and
go it has to be better because what it is now,
it's just it discombobulated, right, It does it. It's not InSync.
You don't even know what the raiders are. It's December
twenty ninth. What are the raiders?
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I have no idea, Diana Russini. This next three months
for you is crazy town. So I know, like you've
got a big family here and you're very, very busy.
But we love having you on the show. You bring
great energy and insight and I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Thank you. You know, everyone always says, oh, you're so
busy in season. I love the season. It's football, right.
My job starts like January seventh, is actually when my
jobs are. It's like coaching, hiring, free agency. We're off
and running either way, though. This is this is a blast, you.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Know, Diana Rossini, Good Senia, same great great stuff.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
at noon Eastern am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS
one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 5 (11:21):
Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire
with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing
the same tired narratives down your throat.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Every day.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest
sports headlines, accurate stats.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
To help you win big at the sportsbook, and all
the best guests.
Speaker 5 (11:39):
Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with
Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Yeah, it is, Uh, there's a I don't know if
I don't know what you do if you're the Raiders.
I don't know if what you do if you're in Tampa.
I've said before the Jets thing with Aaron Glenn feels
very much. Nathaniel Hackett and Denver, Jim, Tom Sula and
San Francisco like it. Just Freddie Kitchens in Cleveland, David
Cully in Houston, You're like, it just doesn't feel right.
I could be wrong. They could give you know, the
(12:13):
Jets privately always argued, hey, we gave Sala all these years.
I think if I run a team, the best candidates
to me are Brian Flores and Robert Sala at the top.
I know they're defensive guys, but Mike McDonald and Demiko
Ryans are crushing. You don't have to be an offensive guy.
(12:33):
If you're a defensive guy, you got to be Young.
I would say Brian Flores in Minnesota love him. I
mean again, when you watch that defense, you know it's
a Flores defense. I would say the second best candidate
is Sala. Third best candidate Mike McCarthy. I don't want
to hear it. He wins a lot of games. And
(12:54):
then I would put a bunch of guys like Chris
Shula in LA in that third level. WHOA, what about
Chris Shula? Brandon Staley was under Sean McVay and had
the number one defense in the league. Everybody that touches
McVeigh looks brilliant. Raheem Morris got another job and hasn't
already done very well. You know, you can blame a
(13:15):
lot of different reasons, but like everybody with McVeigh looks magical,
you know. So I don't know what to do there.
I don't know what to do there. J Mack with
the news.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
No, no, no, this is the herd Line News.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Let's quickly revisit the Marcus Freeman staying at Notre Dame situation.
Obviously NFL teams wanted him. He did not consider any
of them. None of them are good jobs.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
I don't care what.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
People say about the Giants, Colin, that's not a great opening.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Okay, they got a lot of work to do. Freeman's
got a great set up. The quarterback was excellent. He's back.
I know they lose a couple.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
Running backs to the draft. Notre Dame will be right
back in the playoff mix next year. As you noted,
the schedule is very favorable. I will maintain that Freeman,
and you know, I have some good Notre Dame connections.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Freeman's not leaving.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
For an NFL job unless it's hardball, like, oh, Justin
Herbert is your quarterback. Yes, I'll consider that. That's when
Freeman will go. These guys don't need to take on
a rebuild. Freeman's got a lot of kids, and he's
got his family, loves the area. It's going to be
tough to pry him out of South Bend unless it's
a plumb job.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
You know, I hear this from a lot of people. Oh,
being a college coach these days, you don't have to recruit,
you just it's transactional. If your Notre Dame, your brand
gets you about half your class, another fifteen to twenty
percent you write a check for, and then you got
another twenty five percent. You go high school games. But
(14:40):
I mean, I you start looking at what I follow
USC recruiting. It's not like Lincoln Riley to a different
high school every Tuesday or every Friday night. The bottom
line is these college jobs. Now, that's why Kurt Signetti
and Kyle Whittingham, the older coaches, well they're older. You're
not at high school games too, and days a year.
(15:00):
It's very administrative. It's very Bill Belichick. I don't know
if it works or not. Bill Belichick would not have
worked in the college football ten years ago. I would
never hire a sixty six year old ten years ago.
Kyle Whittingham, Come on, Michigan recruits. Half of a class
is based on the brand of Michigan. A quarter of
the class, You're right, a check for in a quarter
(15:21):
of the class. You got to go to high school games.
So I think, Freeman, I think these top college jobs
are pretty good.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Yeah, I'm with you.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
You made an interesting point there. The older coaches, you know,
the can you teach an old dog nu tricks? Yeah,
when Nick Saban's been coaching for thirty years and then
gets upended by this nil stuff that suddenly balances things
out Yeah, it's gonna be a little challenging. He's not
gonna love it. Marcus Freeman's a young guy, Colin. These
young people adapt. My son told me a year ago, Dad,
you need a YouTube base, So I start a YouTube base.
(15:49):
I don't you think I want to get in the
weeds with that, but you got to follow the trends.
Marcus Freeman's young, he's adapted well. As you said, Notre
Dame recruits itself. I think, without a doubt he's in
a plumb spot. The only college job my Notre Dame
connections have told me to watch out for if it
comes open is Ohio State. That's the one Freeman would
consider leaving for. Obviously, that's an amazing job. People could
(16:12):
do their homework on that if they want. Next up, Colin,
let's go also to college football. That's how winning him.
Obviously going to Michigan bit of a surprise. He is
sixty six years old, and there's some concern about that,
but you know, he'd been at Utah for thirty two
years with the program, so now he's going to Michigan.
(16:32):
And obviously at Michigan they asked him about one school.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Here's what he had to say, I do now, I guess,
but physicality will be our calling card.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Yeah, we're sure you to have the place I was,
we were the most physical team in the league.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
You know, whichever league we played in, that's not going
to be any different here.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Yeah, I mean, here's my thing for the people that
push back. He is sixty six. Let's say he stays
for four years, and that's kind of how I view it.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
You will.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
He is a big ten coach. Even when he was
at Utah that the number one defense in his era.
They played Big ten level football. Utah plays a lot
of cold weather games. I've been to several. He's a
very good fit. I think. Let's say he stays four
three years. They went nine games, ten games, nine games.
That's not bottoming out like right now Michigan's in trouble.
(17:27):
I say the same with Matt campbellt at Penn State. Oh,
is he the best candidate. He's a good candidate. So
and the other thing is, again, he's in four sixty six.
Not all sixty six year olds. Nick Saban is sixty
seven or something. In me he's got great energy. So
I think in today's nil transfer portal World Michigan's got
(17:49):
great endowment. We've got a lot of lettuce, a lot
of money. This is the kind of job that I
think a sixty six year old guy in great shape
can handle. I think it's a three to a four
year gig, and I think he serves himself well, very ethical,
no nonsense. But he's not a nine year coach. That's
not what it is here. You just all a d
(18:10):
should always keep a short list in their drawer in
their office. And you know, every year you go out
and just say how you feeling, how's it going. But
if Utah with Underwood the quarterback for the next two.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Years, that was my question, dude, you're a day yes, yes,
and so you're.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Gonna get Wittingham's defense and special teams, which were great
at Utah. You've already got the magical quarterback, marsh the
wide receiver, so Michigan offensively next two years they got
NFL guys. He'll stabilized the defense, the operational functionality of
the team. I think it's a very very B plus,
(18:51):
solid higher. If Witningham was fifty six, I would consider
it an a higher. It's sixty six. Maybe it's B
plus because you don't none. None of us have the energy.
Nobody knows the energy at sixty six to fifty. If
you're the same guy.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Sometimes you like to say, like if you had a
defensive coach and it flops, you go the opposite and
get offensive. Well in this case, Sharon Moore, you know,
he's a kind of a he was in crazy town,
as you like to say stories about him, dming OnlyFans models.
Guy's a mess. You got a class act in winning him.
Who's going to clean up the program? Kind of a
mature individual.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
They need that.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
I think it's a good hire. I mean it's not
as good. I don't think it's Penn State getting Campbell.
But it's like you said, a B plus final story, Colin,
let's go to tonight's game, Monday Night Football. Not a
lot of juice here, Rams Falcons. I took the points
at eight and a half, it's down to seven. Rams
obviously cannot win the NFC West, cannot get the number
one seed.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Somebody decided to act.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
Max Crosby of the Raiders, who he thinks is the
team to beat for the Lombardi Trophy.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
And here's who he said, the Rams like I could
see them winning the Super Bowl. I think the combination
of having two legitimate number one receivers Lit Pooka and
having an all Pro slash Pro Bowl running back, having
Sean McVay one of the best offensive mines and football
and coaches in general, and then Matthew Stafford playing at
(20:10):
a level that we didn't even know he can hit
another level and he's doing that.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Yeah, I think they should be the favorite if they
you know tonight, here's the thing to remember about tonight.
If you don't think the Rams have anything to play for.
The Rams have two first round picks. You know, their
first first round pick, it's Atlanta's. The players don't no, no, no,
no no no, players don't. The coaches do right, They're
(20:38):
going to be aggressive. They're going to have an aggressive
game plan. You want to hand Atlanta a loss here
and Atlanta I think next week plays the pretty hot Saints.
Atlanta has two more losses and that eleven twelve pick
becomes an eight. Don't kid yourself, Rams. If they can
pour it on, they will. They want that Atlanta pick.
(21:01):
McVeigh does. Because McVay knows you have to an eight pick.
You can move down to eleven and still get your guy.
If you have the eleventh or twelfth pick, you're not
moving down your stand poet.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Okay, so what.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
About the opposite? What about the Falcons? Kirk Cousins is
playing for. Hey, I don't want to be a backup. Look,
I've proven some stuff. Somebody come get me and Brahie
Morris he's on the hot seat in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
I mean they were.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Supposed to be friends playoff team. They've been a disaster.
I want I think the Falcon they need this game.
Morris could be in trouble in Atlanta. They don't have
nearly the talent. They need a lot of things. They're
not beating the Rams. They Drake London sounds like he
is going to play, and we know Jon Robbinson's very good.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
Quick quick sub subplot, Colin.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
Is it crazy that like two weeks ago, the Rams
were up thirty to fourteen on Seattle in the fourth
quarter with eight minutes left, they had the number one seed,
they were eight minutes away, up sixteen points, and now
they're going to be like, what's fourteen and three thirteen pick?
Speaker 3 (21:57):
She go on the road.
Speaker 5 (21:59):
I'm just telling you, I love the Rams, but everybody
loves it Are they definitely beating the Eagles on the road,
definitely if they have to.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Are they definitely winning in Chicago?
Speaker 1 (22:12):
I think they're winning in Chicago unless it's a snowstorm.
But they run the ball, so they'll be okay.
Speaker 5 (22:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Jmack with the news.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the
Herd Line News.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Yeah. I looked this morning the Rams. We thought they're
the best team in the league. If they win tonight,
they could be number one team in the league in
most eyes. And right now there, I think they're a
six seed in the NFC. I mean, the NFC West
arguably has the three best teams any order, Niners, Hawks, Rams,
it's the Herd.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays,
and noone East. They're not a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
You know, I know I should be more empathetic, but
I never really have a problem when kickers get released.
I mean, honestly, you don't have to tackle, you don't
have the pass, you don't have to run the football,
you don't have to get hit. Just make your kicks.
You screw around at practice, just make your kicks. So
the Bills release kicker Michael Badsley from the practice squad.
(23:13):
They missed more extra points than any team, and the
Eagles blocked more kicks than any team in the league.
So that's another reason why the Buffalo Bills go for
it yesterday, Like this isn't a guarantee for us Jalen
Carter blocking kicks all year and the Eagles a bit
(23:35):
on the field the entire game. Matt Matt Hasselbeck kind
of agreed with me. I had no problem with it
for a variety of reasons. One of them is, Josh
Allen's the best athlete in the league. You're at home,
you're favored, Eagles defense is gassed, and that was a
good play call. You should have hit him. Here was
Hasselbeck on the decision.
Speaker 7 (23:53):
I bet you they thought really good about this play.
The play worked, and you know, Josh Allen, he's got
to be kicking himself. Ninety nine out of a hundred
times he makes that throw, guarantee it. It was kind
of shocking to see him not making now. He's banged up,
he's got a real bad foot injury. He maybe he
can't push off, feels the pressure, bad weather, all the stuff.
But no, I'm in favor of going for that, i'd
(24:15):
and I'd be in favor of calling the exact same
play again in the exact same situation. I'd feel good
about the quarterback making the play.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah, I know, I know I should be nicer to kickers,
but I can't be the only person that watches games.
And you know, kickers missed like Pats. And I'm like, guys,
you're not asked to do much. You gotta make those kicks.
I'm not asking you. I mean, I got guys in
the league now that drill fifty six yard field goals
with fifteen yards to spare, So you can't be missing Pat.
(24:44):
I don't care what the weather is. Get it through.
College kids can do it. You're a pro.
Speaker 6 (24:47):
Do it.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
So I'm sure the guy will get a job somewhere else.
But the Bills were a circus this year on extra
points and the Eagles block kick.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
So do it.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
For the record, And I've I don't like coaches getting
fired unless it's a complete mess. You know, I said,
Nat Hackett, you're an offensive coach. You can't figure the
clock out. This isn't gonna work. Go be an oc.
You know these guys always get other jobs. I think
the Sean McDermott issue. I had the Bills number ten
(25:20):
in my hurt hierarchy. Did you like that first half
game plan at home? Can't score until six minutes to
go in the fourth. I'm just kind of over it.
I don't think Sean's bad if the Miami Dolphins tomorrow.
Let's say that the Bills losing the playoffs first round
and the Dolphins hire Sean McDermott. I've always compared him
(25:42):
to Chuck Knox. You can look it up. Very organized,
very solid, B plus across the board. Bit conservative, doesn't
quite have a feel for offense, but a grown up, mature, smart,
clean it up. I would have no problem with Sean
McDermott getting the Miami Doll's job the Tennessee Titans shop.
(26:02):
He's a pro. But with Josh Allen, I kind of watch,
you know, I kind of watched Stafford getst McVeigh, and
you know, Aaron had McCarthy, Uh Purdy's got Shanahan Maholmes
has read Vo Nicks has Sean Payton. It feels Caleb
(26:23):
has Ben Johnson. I'm not crazy, right, it feels like
a little bit of an advantage over an older defensive coach.
Mcdermot's not that old. Here's Diana Russini on just the
Bill's situation at head coach.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
You have Josh Allen in his prime and you continue
to dance, but you don't go to the big one, right,
And it just seems like the don't have the makeup
that they need to get over this hump and this
has to be it. And look, this is not to
be defensive of Buffalo. Well look what Josh is working with,
as you just pointed out. Look at that Philly look
(27:00):
at that roster compared to Buffalo's roster, and yet Josh
Allen is staying in these games and almost winning it.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
I mean, it's.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
This league is interesting. If you go and look at
the seven playoff teams in the AFC and the seven
playoff teams in the NFC, the NFC and the AFC
have sort of flipped. For about a five year period.
We thought the top of the AFC was dominant. It
was Baltimore, it was Kansas City, it was Buffalo, and
(27:35):
then about the sixth team on you're like, well, the NFC,
they're not Super Bowl teams, but they're good teams. It's flipped.
I think the three best Super Bowl potential teams are Rams, Seahawks, Niners,
and I'd keep Philadelphia close, whereas I think the Denver,
New England, Jacksonville. You can argue Houston. Are they super
(27:57):
Bowl teams or are they conference championship team. It's Mike
Rabel's on the show tomorrow, I actually think, and it's
weird that a thirteen and three team is underrated. If
you go look at New England this year they played Buffalo,
the team everybody loves, eight quarters six of them. New
England was better, and if they met again, I'd take
New England. But what Rabel's done is remarkable because it
(28:19):
just goes to show how big ownership is. So when
Rabel took this job, everybody went, oh, this is the circus.
I had Robert Kraft, I had Drake May, and I
had Josh McDaniel's OC. It's basically the dynasty Patriots, and
instead of Belichick you have a former Patriot player, high
(28:44):
IQ guy who share some some, not all, of Belichick's principles.
He's much more player friendly, he's much more current. I mean,
Mike Vrabel is a twenty twenty five coach. Player friendly,
but demanding, doesn't pander on the show tomorrow. I think
people now are short selling New England. The most remarkable
(29:06):
thing about what Vrabel and his guys have done. One
year ago, we thought New England had the worst receiving
corps in the league. Then all of a sudden, you
look at Kyle Williams, Booty Stefan Diggs. Now I look
at him and I'm like, it's actually a it's actually
(29:26):
a really good, big play receiving corps. Then they get
Trayvon Henderson. Okay, now you have a big play running
back room Hunter, Henry Good, solid B plus tight end.
So the stuff we looked at last year, it doesn't
take long in this in this league to correct problems
one year ago, where like they have no speed, they
have no juice, they have no home run hitters. Now
(29:49):
I look at their wide receiving corps. There's three different
guys that can beat you down the field. If you
go to the NFC, Boy, this gets interesting. You know,
it's funny like, oh, Seattle can't win a Super Bowl
with Darnold, Oh really, Chicago, Caleb Williams, I don't know.
I think the top of the NFC is unbelievable. But
(30:15):
even the Rams, you don't love their special teams, and
you can beat them on the back end of that defense.
I honestly don't know what to do with Philadelphia, and
maybe I'm wrong. Maybe San Francisco with brock Purty is
the most dangerous team in the NFCY. Maybe they are.
(30:36):
Here's Ben Johnson, Bears coach on brock Purty, first time
he's faced them as head coach.
Speaker 8 (30:43):
He's a dangerous player, particularly when he can see down
down the field and have that much time.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
I agree with you.
Speaker 8 (30:50):
And then he extended the some of those plays with
his legs too, and he did a really nice shot
and we certainly didn't affect him enough.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Yeah, I thought Chicago's defensive game plan felt a little passive.
Pretty had the most time to throw he's had all
year in any game, really, the second most time he's
had to throw in his career.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Really.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
San Francisco's defense got worked, but Sala was mixing stuff
up and in key spots was super aggressive. I didn't
see that with Chicago. I didn't love what I saw.
I kind of felt like brock Purty just kind of
picked him apart. And Dennis Allen didn't dial up. I mean,
if he did, it wasn't terribly effective. That's what my
(31:35):
eyes told me. Sala's doing the most with very little.
That's why I think he and Brian Floores and Mike
McCarthy would be at the top of my higher list.
J Mack, for the record, you're a Jets fan. What
do you do with a team that's been blown out
in four straight games?
Speaker 5 (31:52):
Well, I've been waiting for you to come back to
me on this, so Colin, I have a list of
coaches in the last fifty years who started out arrably
and managed to turn things around. I do want to
say this is not a defense of Aaron Glenn. Dan Campbell,
as you noticed, started three thirteen and one two years
later was in the NFC Title Game. I know there's
some context needed. Jimmy Johnson in Dallas started out one
(32:13):
in fifteen, three years later they had a dynasty.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Zach Taylor two and fourteen.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
I don't like Zach Taylor at all, but two and
fourteen first year, two years later in the Super Bowl.
Bill Walsh two and fourteen hadn't done much prior to
San Francisco two and fourteen. Within two years was in
the Super Bowl, had a dynasty, and Chuck Nole way
back in the seventies started out one and thirteen. Four
years later, they started a dynasty. Now, I'm not saying
(32:39):
Aaron Glenn as any of those guys. I'm just saying
I don't know that I want to fire him if
I don't have a sure fire name.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
Ready, here's no vaybel like he was sitting out there
for the Patriots. There is no there isn't.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
All right, there you have it, Aaron Glenn will be
returning to the New York Jets for another sensational season
of zero interception. That doesn't even make sense. I had
to triple jack with the staff that I had to
google that about four times.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
No interceptions all season.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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