January 2, 2026 • 37 mins
Colin Cowherd reacts to all of the quarterfinal matchups from the College Football Playoff. He starts with Indiana’s dominant win over Alabama and why the rise of the Hoosiers football team is great news for college football fans everywhere. He also discusses Miami’s shocking upset of Ohio State and why people should be taking notice of the Hurricanes as serious national championship contenders.
Colin shares his Blazing 5 picks for week 18 of the NFL season:
Seahawks at 49ers
Browns at Bengals
Lions at Bears
Cardinals at Rams
Ravens at Steelers
Plus, former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III joins the show to tell Colin why Ohio State came up short of winning back-to-back championships.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
We go. It is a Friday.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Wow Wow, what a day yesterday in college football, Major
major NFL games This weekend Hawks Niners, Steelers Ravens one
hour from now our final regular season blazing fives.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I like it last week, Dogs this week.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Favorites Wherever you may be, however you may be listening.
Happy New Year to those tuning in listening, whatever platform
it is. Well, I have nothing against Alabama football. That
was a glorious beat down yesterday, was it not? In
the Rose Bowl, Indiana sent a sport wide message the
(01:12):
SEC dominance is over. The Hoosiers pushed around the Crimson
Tide for three and a half hours. The new reality
is Bama can't run the football and Georgia can't stop
any good offense. It's Miami Indiana, at least for this year.
Who are the new bullies on the block and the
harsh truth to all you traditionalists, of which I am
(01:35):
not one. You are and you were wrong, dead wrong.
Conference realignment, nil transfer portal. What a glorious new world
we live in. It's more even, it's more unpredictable. Alabama
can't stack a roster, either can Georgia or LSU. There
(01:57):
are more paths to via bill. Now, we had a
fifteen year run on this sport, maybe twenty we're at.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
This time of the year.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
It was Georgia, it was Ohio, stay, it was Alabama,
it was Clemson.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
You choose that, give.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Me more Miami, Indiana, Oregon? Oh myth, I mean I
love it. In fact, to put a stamp on it.
In the last three years, the Big Ten four and
oh head to head against the SEC. We sort of
predicted it a couple of years ago. We said, there's
(02:37):
a lot of money in those Big ten schools, there's
a lot of money in those cold weather legendary universities.
It's going to start pouring in now. Everybody can pay
players the SEC. Georgia's defense, come on, he can't stop
a good offense. Alabama got pushed around by Indiana. People
(02:58):
often ask is the America can dream possible? Damn straight,
It's called Indiana. Who's your football? From pathetic to powerful,
awful to awe inspiring, doormat to dominance, great coach, the
right boosters, remarkable quarterback, they play real defense. Is Indian
of the best tackling team that you've seen in recent years?
(03:21):
I mean they were a dog with flees my entire life.
Even in the league Corso days, everybody loved them. They
weren't very good, but I watched Indiana. You just change uniforms.
This is a better college football. This is a much
much better college football. Not because Alabama got housed. Because
(03:45):
Ole Miss is now representing the South, not Michigan or
Ohio State or Penn State. Indiana's representing the Midwest. Impossible
not to root for unless you're playing them. We still
have a West Coast power. We still have an SEC.
I don't know the Mendoza line. By the way, if
he's not the number one pick, I don't even understand football.
(04:07):
Fourteen of sixteen, three touchdowns, no picks, And I don't
know how you don't love Fernando Mendoza in postgame interviews.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
First of all, my team and I want to give
all the goor to God. What historic venue, the Rosebult
one of the best venues in all of sports. It's
just a great conglomerate of individuals coming together and really
forming complimentary football. Coach Snig has hit on us no complacency,
and especially when you have a bye, it's tough to
get in the rhythm of football. But once we got
our few on the ground, we knew that we're gonna
(04:40):
stick together and come out with this w.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I mean, I know what you're saying in a little
cringey I don't know. I don't want my quarterbacks to
be cool. That was Johnny manziel I like that number
one pick. Congratulations Raiders, try not to screw it up
all right. I want to talk about Miami beating Ohio
State because, again on a macro level, the best part
(05:06):
of the NFL to me is that we really don't
know who the best football team is right now. We
may not know until two and a half minutes left
at the Super Bowl, and that's what college football is becoming.
I think Indiana is the best team, but maybe it's
all miss the Buckeyes. Last season, they lost at Oregon,
they lost to Michigan. They were the best team in
the end. And this year the Hurricanes, yeah, they lost
(05:28):
to Louisville in mid October. It no longer wrecks your
season in the old system, if you were ranked like
ninth in like week nine or ten, get ready for
the Citrus Bowl season.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Over, No Natty, not anymore.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
I watched Miami play Pittsburgh in like week thirteen fourteen,
beat him thirty eight to seven. I came on the
next day, I'm like, whoa, Yeah, Notre Dame can't get in.
Miami's getting like really good and bullying people. In fact,
Indiana is the only team in the country six and
oho against ranked teams. But it took a while to
(06:03):
figure that out, and they were almost left out because
they lost to an eight and four Louisville team that's
won a lot of games over the last six or
seven years. College football today, and all the old timers
push back. It's a little bit more like the NFL.
You're allowed to stub your toe more than once. You
(06:26):
can lose even at home to arrival Ohio State last year.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
But you can get in. You can grow.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Just like people mistakes when you're fourteen or twenty four
shouldn't be punitive, mostly for life, and I mean the
Steelers in the Ravens play Sunny Night. You talk about
flawed teams, I can't wait to watch the winner gets
into the playoffs. That's not a weakness, it's a strength
of the NFL. Miami, the Hurricanes are precisely what right
(07:00):
about the new system is that the candidate pool is
broad for a very long, long period. You have to
beat good teams. Miami is six and zero against ranked teams.
We're gonna count every game. But you can lose to
louisvill You can lose in conference. It's okay, those weird
(07:22):
conference games mid season. These kids are going to class.
There's only twenty hours a week you can practice. All
these teams are flawed. Michigan. Last year, Ohio States, a
twenty point favorite, loses to rival Michigan. That point foward.
They bulldoze people. It takes a while, and we know
this in the NFL. We thought the Rams were the
best team three weeks ago. I hope they beat Arizona Sunday.
(07:46):
You don't know until you know. And it used to
be like week eight, Week nine, Week ten, you're like, well,
maybe we'll get to the Fiesta Bowl, maybe the Citrus Bowl. Alamomoble,
It's not the way it works anymore. Super Mario, oh
Chrystal ball after that lost to Louisville. Just like in life,
it's a lesson. He took a negative, he made it positive.
(08:09):
He embraced the team, he didn't bark. He said, we
need to be relentless, and that's exactly what they were
in their win over Ohio State. And here's Super Mario after.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
We don't think we have arrived by any stretch, but
we certainly think we're getting better. And when you play
a team like that, that's been the number one defense
in the country the entire year. You have to after
they converted the third and eighteen and then the touchdown
drive at the end and then to you know, finish
it off with an interception. Those are all Those are
great counter punches. Those are just really like left hooks
(08:42):
to the body into the head. Those are great, great
counterpunches by our team.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
I think Indiana is going to I think meet Miami
in the National Championship, But like the NFL, I'm not sure.
I think Indiana buy a field goals, probably the best
team in the country, but Miami, who stumbled mid season,
has not lost to a ranked team, won a road
(09:09):
game against A and M. And I mean they didn't
just beat Ohio State, they beat up Ohio State. So
I love where we're at in this sport. Give me
more of Indiana all missing a shootout Oregon that's always entertaining,
and the canes kynees row was good for college football,
(09:33):
got a personality jmck that was I'd like to say
it's crazy, but it's not. After watching last year where
Ohio State loses a huge favorite of Michigan, You're like,
is Ryan Day going to get fired? And they just
I mean, they just rolled through people until this year
when they lost to Indiana, and they lost to Miami.
By the way, Ohio State lost to two teams that
(09:53):
had a similarity, great defensive fronts that pressure the quarterback
and push you around. Dana is a tough team. First
of all, they're so well coached to make no mistakes,
and they run the ball so they're very physical, and
then they have the best quarterback by a stretch in
college football.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Indiana's going to be a tough.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
Out, very tough.
Speaker 6 (10:14):
I was blown away by the Trinidad Chamberliss story last while.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
I mean, I can't stop reading about this kid.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
A year ago, he's playing, you know, Division two, winning
a national championship.
Speaker 7 (10:23):
Now he's doing unbelievable stuff.
Speaker 6 (10:25):
I don't even have like a comparison for him in
the in the NFL, I was thinking Johnny Manzel, like
he's running around doing wacky stuff and.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
It all works.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah, I said, I don't know. It was week eight
or nine. I remember either going to acts or going
on the show, and I said, I get Dak Prescott vibes,
A little smaller Dak Prescott vibes. Where now Dak moved
very very well in college and wasn't as big and
bulky as he is now. He didn't have a very
good old line a Mississippi State. I get little Dak vibes.
Speaker 7 (10:53):
But he's going to be up against it against this
Miami front.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
Oh, a little bit of a different beast.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Yeah, George, what happened to the Georgia defense college? This
is Georgia defense.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
It's all in the NFL.
Speaker 6 (11:04):
I saw no pass rush, I mean, and anytime they blitzed,
he's out running guys.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
That was a fun game last night. Oh, it was
a Great Game last night.
Speaker 8 (11:10):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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Speaker 7 (11:20):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. 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.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Throat every day.
Speaker 7 (11:32):
Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest
sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at
the sportsbook, and all the best guests. 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 2 (11:53):
Ah, welcome back. It is a Friday at this hour
or two.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I'm telling you this new College Ball Worlds got me
all geeked up. Miami Hurricanes, Braby, the swag is back,
Trinidad Chamblers, Oregon in their amazing uniforms, and then there's Indiana.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
This is crazy.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Had so much fun yesterday. I don't know what my
New Year's resolution is gonna be. I don't think eating
four giant chicken Enchiladas was on my bingo card.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
But that's what I did yesterday.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I just ate all day and am gloriously happy for it.
So last week we took all dogs. I don't do
that a lot, at least this year, and we were
two and three. Let's end our blazing five. We've had
a good year, fifty eight point three percent. Let's end
it on a strong note. Here we go, Let's blaze
(12:51):
it up.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Sir it up.
Speaker 8 (12:52):
It's Collins blazon fuck Seahawks at forty nine.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Ers, winner gets the number one seed. I like Seattle
minus one and a half half. They've won ten of
their last eleven games. They're only lost two points on
the road against the Rams. They've been a great road team.
Sam Darnold five and one against his former teams. I
like the more athletic, younger, deeper roster JSN back to
back one hundred yard games against the Niners. Secondary. We
(13:18):
know Seattle on the road is really good, almost better
than they are at home. San Francisco is one to
three against the Rams, Texans and Jags this season. Second
game on short rest defense, it's just not very good.
I mean, you saw Caleb Williams tear it apart. I
think Seattle controls a lot of the time of possession
(13:40):
and wins close. I'll swallow the point and a half.
Seahawks win on the road as they often do. Twenty
seven to twenty.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Three Browns and Fingals.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
I've been taking the Bengals recently a lot, and I
like him here. They're coming off back to back twenty
points twenty point dominating wins. They've scored thirty plus points
in for their last five games. Burrow's always been good
in December and January, go back to when he started.
And the offense is not turning the ball over back
to back games.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Burrow and the Bengals give them credit.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
They don't have anything to play for, but they're playing
like they do and the Browns offense is turnover prone.
Shador Sanders seven picks over his last three games. Judkins
is out in Joco and Fan and the tight ends
who are good are all banged up. Shador Sanders against
Burrow fields like a major, major disadvantage. I like the
(14:33):
Bengals to win and cover. Thirty eight to twenty one
Lions at Bears. I'll take the Bears minus two and
a half at home. Caleb Williams, even going back to
last year, has always been good at Soldier Field. They've
won six straight home games. Number three rushing offense, and
the Lions cannot stop the run. They have allowed one
(14:54):
hundred and fifty plus rushing yards in three straight games.
This matchup favors Chicago again. Caleb at home even last year,
is a little bit more comfortable Detroit. What are they
playing for? Twenty third ranked defense. I like Chicago's ability
to run the football consistently setting up some big plays
(15:17):
down the field for the Bears. Take the Bears to
win and cover. Twenty eight to twenty four. Cardinals had rams.
Sean McVay has ticked off rams to win and cover.
It's a get right spot for LA lost to Atlanta,
and Sean McVay said after, Yeah, the starters will play.
(15:38):
They've outgained opponents in six straight games. They're twelve and
one this year when they have one or fewer giveaways
in Arizona's defense is atrocious. Cardinals have lost eight straight.
Five losses have been blowout losses since Week ten. Arizona's
got the worst scoring defense. So again, when Stafford's under
(16:00):
he's one quarterback. When Stafford is comfortable he rolls. I
think Sean McVay would pour it on if he could.
Thirty one twenty they win and cover the spread. Ravens
at Steelers, here's my one underdog. I think it's close.
I'm gonna take Pittsburgh to cover the spread. Ten of
(16:22):
the last eleven meetings with these two teams have been
one score games, Pittsburgh nine to two in the last eleven.
They're plus eleven in turnover margin. Pittsburgh does not turn
the ball over. Baltimore I think is better, but they
do nine giveaways over their last five games have the Ravens,
(16:43):
and that's like second worst in the league. So Baltimore's
got the talent. Baltimore I think is better. Dereck Henry
has never been great against Pittsburgh. Rokwan Smith, Kyle Vanni,
Ronnie Stanley kind of banged up. I think it's your
classic Steeler Ravens game. I wouldn't be shocked if the
Steelers don't have a defensive touchdown. Baltimore's got the better offense.
(17:06):
I think they win late. I'm taking the hook Baltimore
twenty one to twenty, but I'm taking the points. Jmack
observation thoughts. I don't take a lot of favorites last week,
I have most of the year. The Rams generally I
(17:27):
would not take them, but McVeigh after the Falcons loss,
was in no mood to let us starter's rest.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I think they pull it on.
Speaker 7 (17:38):
Yeah, I like your Rams case. I'm going to be
backing them based on hearing that. I am curious this
Lions Bears game. Very interesting revenge spot for the Bears.
Remember they got.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Smoked by thirty in Detroit earlier this year.
Speaker 6 (17:50):
But Dan Campbellton his guys don't pack it in and
mail it in week eighteen one two three can coon.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
He doesn't operate like that.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
I don't know what to make of that game, so
I'm staying off it otherwise, you know, other than San Frana,
I like everything.
Speaker 5 (18:03):
I know that.
Speaker 8 (18:04):
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays
and Neon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
All right, here we go, RG three Robert Griffin the
Third is joining us live.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I love that it can do.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
NFL in college, so I gotta start with this because
that we both love college. But what's great to see again?
Happy holidays, Happy New Year to your beautiful family. I
gotta tell you is I love Miami and I'm gonna
throw this at you. So Ohio States last two games,
Ryan Day takes over the play calling. They score ten
(18:37):
and fourteen. And I think Ryan's a great coach, but
I think it's very difficult to suddenly pivot against the
two best defenses you play.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
I don't know the run game, the O line.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
I think some of it is Robert and and I
like Ryan, but I think some of it is that's
a weird transition when you face two great defenses.
Speaker 9 (18:58):
Yeah, Colin, your one hundred percent right, It's a very
weird transition, especially when you haven't been doing it the
entire season. So you know, you see some of these teams,
you know, Ole Miss, you know what Charlie Weist Junior,
you know, allowing him to continue to coach through the playoff,
Oregon will Stein. If you're really trying to win the
big one, you don't want to make that drastic of
a switch at the last second when your head coach
(19:19):
has been mostly focused on managing the team, managing all
these agents with nil and the transfer portal open, and
now all of a sudden, hey, we want you to
call plays that you haven't.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
You haven't done this all season and in a number
of seasons.
Speaker 9 (19:32):
That's why I think you know Brian Hartline, you know,
being the new coach in South Florida, it would have
been great if he could have continued on for Ohio
State to really have a real shot at making this happen.
They didn't in Miami took advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
What do you make Fernando Mendoza? I know it's college,
but what do you make as a pro prospect? He's
a little corny after games, but I got to tell
you size matters.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
He's big.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
His receiving core is Becker cashes everything. I love Mendoza.
You know, I'm a old school I like my quarterbacks,
you know, to be more formal and traditional and kind
of you know, thank you and please, And I know,
what do you make of him? No?
Speaker 9 (20:17):
I love Fernando Mendoza because Bannana Mendoza knows who he is.
And I've seen some of the memes of like he
sounds like Chad GBT when you ask him.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
A question after a game. It's funny. It really is funny.
Speaker 9 (20:29):
But the thing I love about him is he's going
to process he's going to do it well, and he's
going to do what his team needs him to do.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Goes in this game, goes fourteen to sixty. He doesn't
throw the football very much.
Speaker 9 (20:38):
Why because Kayln Black and Roman Himby went off and
the offensive line control the line of scrimmage and they
literally ran over Alabama. So I love Fernando. I think
he's the first round pick. I think he's a top
ten pick. I think coaches are going to love him.
He's a big kid. Like you said, size does matter,
but he can make every throw on the field, and
he's not afraid of the big moments.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
So when you have a rookie.
Speaker 9 (20:59):
Quarterback coming in and those coaches are like art, is
he gonna do what I ask him to do? Can
he make plays that maybe aren't there? With his arm,
talent and with his ability to think? And he can
do all those things. And if he gets in a
great situation with weapons around him, that's where I think
he can truly truly excel. Is he a guy that's
gonna save a franchise because he's, you know, super dynamic,
off schedule play type guy. No, but if you work
(21:22):
with him and put the right guys around him, he
can win you a Super Bowl. So I really do
like Brenana Mendoz and I think with him and Kurse
Signetti have done at Indiana is one of the best
turnarounds I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
You know, it's interesting, Robert, with the transfer portals it is,
it takes a while to bring in eleven new guys
nine starters. Like I watched Miami louse Louisville. I didn't
watch the whole game, but I watch it in the moment.
To me, when I bought into Miami was when they
(21:53):
beat Pitt and I'm like, warm Weather team goes to
Pitt and I'm like, oh yeah, thirty eight seven. I
was like, And then I went that day and I
started looking at common opponents with Notre Dame and I'm like, no,
they're different, They're they're different. I think Miami matches up
with Indiana. I mean, what do you make about that?
Because I think Indiana and Miami just feel like that
(22:15):
is it's destined. To me, I've watched Indiana go to
Austin and really roll Oregon. What do you make of
this Miami story this year, how they lost a Louisville
and SMU and we're just kind of found themselves.
Speaker 9 (22:31):
Yeah, I think your point of about Miami it really
became something for me when they decided we're not going
to be the Carson Beck led Miami Hurricanes. Right, they
paid them a bunch of money reports of four million
dollar contract, and you know, early in the year it
was like, all right, Carson, go throw us to a
(22:53):
national championship. And I think Mario Christaball and their staff realized, like, Okay,
that's not going to be our our recipe for success,
not that Carson Beck can't do it, but the way
our team is built and how we're built at the
skill positions and in the trenches is really what's going
to lead this team to success.
Speaker 5 (23:10):
And I think that's really any of us.
Speaker 9 (23:12):
You get a brand new toy, you want to play
at the brand new tour, and you want to make
that tour the feature. But sometimes you got to go
back to the trenches, which is where football has always won.
And that's where Baying and Mesidor and these guys up
front make me believe that college football is more like.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
The NFL than it's ever been.
Speaker 9 (23:29):
Colin, you got to be able to win up front,
just like every level right, But you got to have
closers on the outside. And the teams that have closers
on the outside are the ones that we're seeing playing
in the college football semifinals, or they just have elite
quarterback play. So I think Miami made the decision right
in the middle of the year to be like, you
know what, Yes, we paid our quarterback a lot of money,
(23:49):
but this is how we're going to win, and we
just need him to make five throws a game to
win us a game and not turn the football over.
And I think Carson Becks has accepted that challenge and
done a great job for them down the stretch. I'm
happy for Miami third place ACC team in the collage
of balls and semifinals. You know, you know how I
feel about conference.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
Bias, So I think they're there, are there?
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Yeah, there are three teams in here who could be great.
I don't think Old Miss is one of them. I
don't think they're good enough defensively. I just I just
love Trinidad Chambliss. I just love him. I get a
little dak vibes. I don't think they're good enough defensively.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Is that fair? That Ole Miss?
Speaker 1 (24:27):
It just I don't think they can make big stops
in big spots in this, in this going forward, or
do you see it differently.
Speaker 9 (24:34):
I think it's fair because Georgia put thirty four on them,
and Georgia hasn't been this juggernaut of an offense all
year long. Even though I respect the guys that they have,
especially the the moxie of Gunner Stockton, But when you
look at Trinidad Chambliss, you see these types of plays,
but he's also making the on schedule throw. Yeah, you
know the heat check touchdown that he threw after the
(24:58):
interception that really kind of, you know, blew the game
out for them and had them more of a situation
where they felt like they could win.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
This guy's story is incredible.
Speaker 9 (25:06):
You know, D two national champion at Fair State, zero
star recruit coming out of high school and then he's
not even the starter coming into this season. Starter goes down,
he steps in, never looks back. So I just think
this whole you know, we love stories Colin he in
college football, his story is phenomenal. The fact that Lane
Kitten isn't there anymore and Ole Miss is in the
(25:27):
college football semi final with the coaching staff that that
Lane Kevin put together is just fascinating.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
If they win the national championship, there's gonna be a
movie made about this. Right now, me and you we
should direct that movie. This is it's phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Man.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Yeah, I said earlier.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
He's from a big rapids Michigan, and it can't be
that big because I've never heard of it, and my
wife's from Michigan.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
So I love the kid's story. It's amazing. Okay.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
So you know I said to most, I mean at
least me when I was twenty years old. You know,
you got your cars breaking down. I don't love your boss.
It's hard to be twenty and a lot of quarterbacking
in this league at twenty, you usually don't get Andy
Reider Sean Payton. You get into an organization where the
GM loved you and the coach didn't. There's politics, there's
an impulsive well you know this. So Sam Donald.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Goes to New York. He's twenty, he's a good looking kid.
He's in New York. He's a quarterback for an NFL team.
He gets sick. You know, half the people in the building.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Aren't sure about him, and I'm like, this is just
a twenty year old kid.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
I find it.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I think he's really special, but I understand all the
reckless talk as somebody who's played the position. I look
at him and I'm thinking, nobody can win in New York.
I looked at him at Carolina winning record. They loved
him in San Francisco, they love him in Minnesota, they
love him in Seattle. Nobody or do you see him
as a there's limitations he is reckless.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
How do you view Donald?
Speaker 9 (26:57):
Wow, I've used Sam Donald as a classic case of
an organization failing a young quarterback. I've always felt this
way Colin, that, you know, because of my own experience
and what I've seen.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
In NFL history.
Speaker 9 (27:09):
If you don't believe in a quarterback, holy you know,
head coach, GM, owner, don't draft look at Look at
New Orleans, right.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
The owner loves Tyler Shuck.
Speaker 9 (27:21):
The GM loves Tyler Shuck, and the head coach Kela
Morrett loves Tyler Shuck.
Speaker 5 (27:27):
So what do they do.
Speaker 9 (27:28):
They allow him to make mistakes, and they allow him
to play confidently so he can play himself out of
a rut. And now Tyler Shuck is looking like one
of the best rookie quarterbacks out there. Especially when lost wise,
I know wins on a quarterback staff, but yeah, when
law Park, he's playing at a really, really high level.
When you watch the tape I called his game against
the Carolina Panthers where they won and he came back,
(27:49):
you know, late in the game to lead them to victory.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
He's confident.
Speaker 9 (27:53):
Sam Darnold has one of the most special arms I've
ever seen.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
And I've known him since high school.
Speaker 9 (27:58):
You know, I went to an All Star game with
him and helped coach them, and he was talented way
back then. So when you look at what he's been
through in his career, every quarterback now this myth that man,
he can do it by himself. It's just not true
unless you're just a physical specimen like Cam Newton was
in twenty fifteen when he won MVP and led his
(28:19):
team to the Super Bowl. But even then he still
had Louke Keigley on defense and he had Greg Olsen
on offense right Steve Smith a wide receiver. So like
quarterbacks today, Colin have to have guys around them. Sam
Donald having Jackson Smith and jig with this season, you
know last year having Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
At wide receiver.
Speaker 9 (28:40):
That makes dividends for a QB to the point where
you hear this game manager versus game changer conversation throw
that you know, ish out the window. That doesn't make
any sense anymore. Every quarterback has to have guys around.
Jalen Hurts has two number one wide receivers and number
one tied En wi Is, Patrick Mahomes and the chief
go so much recently, Well, they don't have a true
(29:03):
game breaking number one tight end anymore because Travis Kelce
is older and they don't have Tyreek Hill. It's just
tough sledding for quarterbacks in this league with how good
the defensive rush is and how good the dbs are
now to not have number one type receivers and number
one type weapons that were tight end and running back.
So I think Sam Donald has that now, and that's
(29:24):
why you're seeing me excel. And I think that the
Seahawks aren't getting the credit they deserve, and it's because
of Sam Donald. No one believes that he can get
it done in the playoffs. And I wouldn't say that's
not fair, because life isn't fair. We know that otherwise
we probably will both be doing some other things that
we wanted to do or whatever, even though we're enjoying
what we're doing. I think Sam Donald at the end
(29:44):
of the day has to prove in the playoffs by
winning and going on a run that his talent is
exactly what we see. And I believe in the young man.
So I don't think he's limited. I think he's just
the right amount of reckless with the right guys around him.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
So the enigma of the season has been Baltimore More
and Lamar Jackson. And I said this the other day
and people are like, whoa, whoa, whoah. I said, Listen,
in my life, there's always six quarterbacks that if you're
the GM, you don't even take a call. It doesn't
matter if somebody offers you three number ones. You don't
(30:16):
take a call on Mahomes, Josh Allen. I wouldn't take
one on Caleb or Drake May. I'm just not the call.
I'm not I wouldn't take one on c J. Stroud
or Herbert. That's my six and I'm just not taking
a call.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Then there are guys Joe Burrow and Lamar.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
I'm not going to initiate the call, but maybe injuries expense,
I'll take a call.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Probably won't move them, but I'll.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Take a phone call on Jalen Hurts or Joe Burrow
because Burrow's one more injury away from.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
We get a draft the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
So this whole year for Lamar is he's twenty nine,
He's missed seventeen starts, he's cap hit his monstrous and
all of a sudden this year RG three Rgt. Robert Griffin,
he wasn't as fast. What am I to do with Lamar?
I know he's great, but is it possible at twenty
nine that he has slightly moved out of his prime?
(31:17):
You watched him, It doesn't feel the same. What is
it with Art Well? What is it with Lamar this year?
Speaker 7 (31:22):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Man? What?
Speaker 5 (31:24):
Okay?
Speaker 9 (31:24):
First of all, I think when you look at Joe Burrow,
Joe Burrow's actually come out.
Speaker 5 (31:28):
And said, like I do, I don't know if I
love the game anymore.
Speaker 9 (31:30):
And I think that that's a different conversation. Lamar has
never come out and said anything like that. So I
think Baltimore Ravens fans would burn the city to the
ground if the Ravens traded Kamar tacks. And I mean
that wholeheartedly, and having been there and knowing how he is.
I did read the article that came out that was
bashing him. You know, I thought it was bush league
(31:51):
to make those statements. And Coach Harball, you know that
the John Harball that I know, you know, the greatest
coach I ever played for in the NFL. And I
wasn't even a starter for the Ravens. I was the backup.
But watching him operate the way he handled that when
it came to the press and he talked and he
defended Lamar and he said, our relationship is great. If
you want to know what I think, asked me that question,
and that to me, it kills it in the locker room.
(32:13):
And that's what's the most important thing here. If Lamar
Jackson had lost the locker room, this would be a
real conversation. But I've got great relationships in that locker
room still to this day.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
They love Lamar.
Speaker 9 (32:23):
Yeah, they'd love for him to stay healthy and stay
on the field. Are they going to be more confident
with Lamar out there in this game against the Steelers,
with which is basically a playing game. Yeah, They're going
to be much more confident with him at QB because
he's their guy. The city loves him, and I've heard
the rumors of Miami may be coming and trying to
snag him, because that's where you are, Yeah, And who
(32:43):
wouldn't want to play at home? First of all, he
would take a monstrous offer for the Ravens to get
rid of him. GM Eric DaCosta has no interest in
trading Lamar Jackson, and I think for him, Lamar is
motivated in different ways than people realize. And the fact
that he has been a little bit injury prone the
last couple of seasons, and the fact that people are saying, oh,
(33:04):
he's lost his step and he can't do this, and
he can't do that. He kind of in a lot
of ways reminds me of Michael Vick, because when I
was growing up, Mike, when somebody said he couldn't throw,
he'd go throw for three hundred and fifty yards. Right
when someone said, ah, he lost a step, he'd go
run for one point fifty. And that's kind of what
I see from Lamar Jackson in the way that he
is motivated. He is somewhat motivated to prove people wrong,
(33:26):
but also to prove himself right. So I don't think
they trade him. I think he goes out and he
plays well in this game against the Steelers, and he
kind of forces Mike Tomlin to either have to.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
Take a TV job or for the Steelers.
Speaker 9 (33:38):
To realize that what they have in Mike Tomlin is
greater and maybe they're not appreciating him as well. But
I'm definitely rocking with the Ravens in this game. And
I think Lamar Jazs is going to prove all those
daughters wrong.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Yeah, listen, these stories come out. I mean, the guy
in Baltimore that works for the Sun is a long
time beat reporter and I'm like, what am I to
make of that story? And so I think it's fascinating.
I think your depth of knowledge in the organization. I
have said this before about Lamar is that I would
and I felt this way about Lway and Denver. There
(34:12):
are certain quarterbacks that play for a franchise, but they
don't necessarily feel like the city. They're just really good players,
they play forever whatever. I mean, I love Brady, but
Brady would go vacation over in Europe, He'd hang out
in New York. I didn't feel like he felt like Boston.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
He was just great.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Yeah, he's Hollywood you.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Know, Yeah, there is no quarterback in the league that
feels I bet that's more popular within the city the
area codes of the city than Lamar Jackson. I think
he's the most popular quarterback. If you did a poll
every team in the league. Maybe Mahomes is up there
because of his success. So when you were there, do
you believe that to be true?
Speaker 5 (34:51):
No, it's one hundred percent true. And he is the city. Like,
let's be real.
Speaker 9 (34:55):
You go to Baltimore, and you know when I got
drafted to Washington and they call it chocolate city. Okay,
well they've Washington, DC, it's chocolate city, then god dag
Baltimore must be dark chocolate.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
City or something.
Speaker 9 (35:06):
So when you look at the city and how they operate,
how rugged the city is, how tough the city is,
Lamar Jackson embodies all those things. And when he comes
in the number one thing the Ravens did his rookie
year when I was there, I was there with Lamar
for three seasons, you know, blessing honor to be able
to mentor him and see him go win MVPs and
really take over that team and the city from Super
(35:29):
Bowl champions to Bowl MVP. Joe Flacco. They never tried
to change Lamar. They never tried to change the way
he talked. They never tried to change the way he were,
his hair, they never tried to change the way that
he dressed. They allowed Lamar Jackson to be Lamar Jackson. I,
for one, in my career, didn't have that same experience.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
But what I loved was that this is who we drafted,
This is.
Speaker 9 (35:51):
Who we want you to be. We want you to
be Lamar Jackson that embodies the city.
Speaker 5 (35:56):
The city. You cling to that, and he is like
his jersey.
Speaker 9 (36:00):
The sales are crazy, and it's because he has never
changed who he is to try to fit into something.
The Raven said, you know what, We're not going to
put a square peg in a round hole. We're going
to allow you to go be fully who you are.
And that's why he's been so successful for so yes.
Is he playful? Does he lead in a different way?
(36:20):
Hunting percent, But that locker room would die for him
because they know that he's got their back.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Robert great stuff.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
On a Friday, It's going to be glorious College football yesterday,
excellent weekend. Seahawks and the Niners, Bucks Panthers, Raven Steelers
mean a lot.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Great Saniors Olds my man. Happy holidays.
Speaker 5 (36:42):
Appreciate you, brother, thanks for having me on you the
best come.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
Blessed college football, pro football. He knows them both. I'm
going to name today. You know how j mac Time
magazine has their person of the Year. I'm naming my
person of the Year in the NFL. Don't go anywhere.
I'm very excited.
Speaker 7 (37:01):
Person of the Year of the NFL. Can I get
a guess or two?
Speaker 2 (37:06):
No, no guesses. It's brock perty did he make the file?
Nobody from the Jets.
Speaker 7 (37:11):
We can eliminate them, obviously.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
That should be fun, all right, it's the hurt
Thanks for listening to 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 Sportsradio dot com,
or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app
by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening
to the Herd podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
We go. It is a Friday.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Wow Wow, what a day yesterday in college football, Major
major NFL games This weekend Hawks Niners, Steelers Ravens one
hour from now our final regular season blazing fives.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I like it last week, Dogs this week.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Favorites Wherever you may be, however you may be listening.
Happy New Year to those tuning in listening, whatever platform
it is. Well, I have nothing against Alabama football. That
was a glorious beat down yesterday, was it not? In
the Rose Bowl, Indiana sent a sport wide message the
(01:12):
SEC dominance is over. The Hoosiers pushed around the Crimson
Tide for three and a half hours. The new reality
is Bama can't run the football and Georgia can't stop
any good offense. It's Miami Indiana, at least for this year.
Who are the new bullies on the block and the
harsh truth to all you traditionalists, of which I am
(01:35):
not one. You are and you were wrong, dead wrong.
Conference realignment, nil transfer portal. What a glorious new world
we live in. It's more even, it's more unpredictable. Alabama
can't stack a roster, either can Georgia or LSU. There
(01:57):
are more paths to via bill. Now, we had a
fifteen year run on this sport, maybe twenty we're at.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
This time of the year.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
It was Georgia, it was Ohio, stay, it was Alabama,
it was Clemson.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
You choose that, give.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Me more Miami, Indiana, Oregon? Oh myth, I mean I
love it. In fact, to put a stamp on it.
In the last three years, the Big Ten four and
oh head to head against the SEC. We sort of
predicted it a couple of years ago. We said, there's
(02:37):
a lot of money in those Big ten schools, there's
a lot of money in those cold weather legendary universities.
It's going to start pouring in now. Everybody can pay
players the SEC. Georgia's defense, come on, he can't stop
a good offense. Alabama got pushed around by Indiana. People
(02:58):
often ask is the America can dream possible? Damn straight,
It's called Indiana. Who's your football? From pathetic to powerful,
awful to awe inspiring, doormat to dominance, great coach, the
right boosters, remarkable quarterback, they play real defense. Is Indian
of the best tackling team that you've seen in recent years?
(03:21):
I mean they were a dog with flees my entire life.
Even in the league Corso days, everybody loved them. They
weren't very good, but I watched Indiana. You just change uniforms.
This is a better college football. This is a much
much better college football. Not because Alabama got housed. Because
(03:45):
Ole Miss is now representing the South, not Michigan or
Ohio State or Penn State. Indiana's representing the Midwest. Impossible
not to root for unless you're playing them. We still
have a West Coast power. We still have an SEC.
I don't know the Mendoza line. By the way, if
he's not the number one pick, I don't even understand football.
(04:07):
Fourteen of sixteen, three touchdowns, no picks, And I don't
know how you don't love Fernando Mendoza in postgame interviews.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
First of all, my team and I want to give
all the goor to God. What historic venue, the Rosebult
one of the best venues in all of sports. It's
just a great conglomerate of individuals coming together and really
forming complimentary football. Coach Snig has hit on us no complacency,
and especially when you have a bye, it's tough to
get in the rhythm of football. But once we got
our few on the ground, we knew that we're gonna
(04:40):
stick together and come out with this w.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I mean, I know what you're saying in a little
cringey I don't know. I don't want my quarterbacks to
be cool. That was Johnny manziel I like that number
one pick. Congratulations Raiders, try not to screw it up
all right. I want to talk about Miami beating Ohio
State because, again on a macro level, the best part
(05:06):
of the NFL to me is that we really don't
know who the best football team is right now. We
may not know until two and a half minutes left
at the Super Bowl, and that's what college football is becoming.
I think Indiana is the best team, but maybe it's
all miss the Buckeyes. Last season, they lost at Oregon,
they lost to Michigan. They were the best team in
the end. And this year the Hurricanes, yeah, they lost
(05:28):
to Louisville in mid October. It no longer wrecks your
season in the old system, if you were ranked like
ninth in like week nine or ten, get ready for
the Citrus Bowl season.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Over, No Natty, not anymore.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
I watched Miami play Pittsburgh in like week thirteen fourteen,
beat him thirty eight to seven. I came on the
next day, I'm like, whoa, Yeah, Notre Dame can't get in.
Miami's getting like really good and bullying people. In fact,
Indiana is the only team in the country six and
oho against ranked teams. But it took a while to
(06:03):
figure that out, and they were almost left out because
they lost to an eight and four Louisville team that's
won a lot of games over the last six or
seven years. College football today, and all the old timers
push back. It's a little bit more like the NFL.
You're allowed to stub your toe more than once. You
(06:26):
can lose even at home to arrival Ohio State last year.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
But you can get in. You can grow.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Just like people mistakes when you're fourteen or twenty four
shouldn't be punitive, mostly for life, and I mean the
Steelers in the Ravens play Sunny Night. You talk about
flawed teams, I can't wait to watch the winner gets
into the playoffs. That's not a weakness, it's a strength
of the NFL. Miami, the Hurricanes are precisely what right
(07:00):
about the new system is that the candidate pool is
broad for a very long, long period. You have to
beat good teams. Miami is six and zero against ranked teams.
We're gonna count every game. But you can lose to
louisvill You can lose in conference. It's okay, those weird
(07:22):
conference games mid season. These kids are going to class.
There's only twenty hours a week you can practice. All
these teams are flawed. Michigan. Last year, Ohio States, a
twenty point favorite, loses to rival Michigan. That point foward.
They bulldoze people. It takes a while, and we know
this in the NFL. We thought the Rams were the
best team three weeks ago. I hope they beat Arizona Sunday.
(07:46):
You don't know until you know. And it used to
be like week eight, Week nine, Week ten, you're like, well,
maybe we'll get to the Fiesta Bowl, maybe the Citrus Bowl. Alamomoble,
It's not the way it works anymore. Super Mario, oh
Chrystal ball after that lost to Louisville. Just like in life,
it's a lesson. He took a negative, he made it positive.
(08:09):
He embraced the team, he didn't bark. He said, we
need to be relentless, and that's exactly what they were
in their win over Ohio State. And here's Super Mario after.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
We don't think we have arrived by any stretch, but
we certainly think we're getting better. And when you play
a team like that, that's been the number one defense
in the country the entire year. You have to after
they converted the third and eighteen and then the touchdown
drive at the end and then to you know, finish
it off with an interception. Those are all Those are
great counter punches. Those are just really like left hooks
(08:42):
to the body into the head. Those are great, great
counterpunches by our team.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
I think Indiana is going to I think meet Miami
in the National Championship, But like the NFL, I'm not sure.
I think Indiana buy a field goals, probably the best
team in the country, but Miami, who stumbled mid season,
has not lost to a ranked team, won a road
(09:09):
game against A and M. And I mean they didn't
just beat Ohio State, they beat up Ohio State. So
I love where we're at in this sport. Give me
more of Indiana all missing a shootout Oregon that's always entertaining,
and the canes kynees row was good for college football,
(09:33):
got a personality jmck that was I'd like to say
it's crazy, but it's not. After watching last year where
Ohio State loses a huge favorite of Michigan, You're like,
is Ryan Day going to get fired? And they just
I mean, they just rolled through people until this year
when they lost to Indiana, and they lost to Miami.
By the way, Ohio State lost to two teams that
(09:53):
had a similarity, great defensive fronts that pressure the quarterback
and push you around. Dana is a tough team. First
of all, they're so well coached to make no mistakes,
and they run the ball so they're very physical, and
then they have the best quarterback by a stretch in
college football.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Indiana's going to be a tough.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
Out, very tough.
Speaker 6 (10:14):
I was blown away by the Trinidad Chamberliss story last while.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
I mean, I can't stop reading about this kid.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
A year ago, he's playing, you know, Division two, winning
a national championship.
Speaker 7 (10:23):
Now he's doing unbelievable stuff.
Speaker 6 (10:25):
I don't even have like a comparison for him in
the in the NFL, I was thinking Johnny Manzel, like
he's running around doing wacky stuff and.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
It all works.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah, I said, I don't know. It was week eight
or nine. I remember either going to acts or going
on the show, and I said, I get Dak Prescott vibes,
A little smaller Dak Prescott vibes. Where now Dak moved
very very well in college and wasn't as big and
bulky as he is now. He didn't have a very
good old line a Mississippi State. I get little Dak vibes.
Speaker 7 (10:53):
But he's going to be up against it against this
Miami front.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
Oh, a little bit of a different beast.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Yeah, George, what happened to the Georgia defense college? This
is Georgia defense.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
It's all in the NFL.
Speaker 6 (11:04):
I saw no pass rush, I mean, and anytime they blitzed,
he's out running guys.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
That was a fun game last night. Oh, it was
a Great Game last night.
Speaker 8 (11:10):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Easter nin a em Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 7 (11:20):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. 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.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Throat every day.
Speaker 7 (11:32):
Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest
sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at
the sportsbook, and all the best guests. 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 2 (11:53):
Ah, welcome back. It is a Friday at this hour
or two.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I'm telling you this new College Ball Worlds got me
all geeked up. Miami Hurricanes, Braby, the swag is back,
Trinidad Chamblers, Oregon in their amazing uniforms, and then there's Indiana.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
This is crazy.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Had so much fun yesterday. I don't know what my
New Year's resolution is gonna be. I don't think eating
four giant chicken Enchiladas was on my bingo card.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
But that's what I did yesterday.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I just ate all day and am gloriously happy for it.
So last week we took all dogs. I don't do
that a lot, at least this year, and we were
two and three. Let's end our blazing five. We've had
a good year, fifty eight point three percent. Let's end
it on a strong note. Here we go, Let's blaze
(12:51):
it up.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Sir it up.
Speaker 8 (12:52):
It's Collins blazon fuck Seahawks at forty nine.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Ers, winner gets the number one seed. I like Seattle
minus one and a half half. They've won ten of
their last eleven games. They're only lost two points on
the road against the Rams. They've been a great road team.
Sam Darnold five and one against his former teams. I
like the more athletic, younger, deeper roster JSN back to
back one hundred yard games against the Niners. Secondary. We
(13:18):
know Seattle on the road is really good, almost better
than they are at home. San Francisco is one to
three against the Rams, Texans and Jags this season. Second
game on short rest defense, it's just not very good.
I mean, you saw Caleb Williams tear it apart. I
think Seattle controls a lot of the time of possession
(13:40):
and wins close. I'll swallow the point and a half.
Seahawks win on the road as they often do. Twenty
seven to twenty.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Three Browns and Fingals.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
I've been taking the Bengals recently a lot, and I
like him here. They're coming off back to back twenty
points twenty point dominating wins. They've scored thirty plus points
in for their last five games. Burrow's always been good
in December and January, go back to when he started.
And the offense is not turning the ball over back
to back games.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Burrow and the Bengals give them credit.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
They don't have anything to play for, but they're playing
like they do and the Browns offense is turnover prone.
Shador Sanders seven picks over his last three games. Judkins
is out in Joco and Fan and the tight ends
who are good are all banged up. Shador Sanders against
Burrow fields like a major, major disadvantage. I like the
(14:33):
Bengals to win and cover. Thirty eight to twenty one
Lions at Bears. I'll take the Bears minus two and
a half at home. Caleb Williams, even going back to
last year, has always been good at Soldier Field. They've
won six straight home games. Number three rushing offense, and
the Lions cannot stop the run. They have allowed one
(14:54):
hundred and fifty plus rushing yards in three straight games.
This matchup favors Chicago again. Caleb at home even last year,
is a little bit more comfortable Detroit. What are they
playing for? Twenty third ranked defense. I like Chicago's ability
to run the football consistently setting up some big plays
(15:17):
down the field for the Bears. Take the Bears to
win and cover. Twenty eight to twenty four. Cardinals had rams.
Sean McVay has ticked off rams to win and cover.
It's a get right spot for LA lost to Atlanta,
and Sean McVay said after, Yeah, the starters will play.
(15:38):
They've outgained opponents in six straight games. They're twelve and
one this year when they have one or fewer giveaways
in Arizona's defense is atrocious. Cardinals have lost eight straight.
Five losses have been blowout losses since Week ten. Arizona's
got the worst scoring defense. So again, when Stafford's under
(16:00):
he's one quarterback. When Stafford is comfortable he rolls. I
think Sean McVay would pour it on if he could.
Thirty one twenty they win and cover the spread. Ravens
at Steelers, here's my one underdog. I think it's close.
I'm gonna take Pittsburgh to cover the spread. Ten of
(16:22):
the last eleven meetings with these two teams have been
one score games, Pittsburgh nine to two in the last eleven.
They're plus eleven in turnover margin. Pittsburgh does not turn
the ball over. Baltimore I think is better, but they
do nine giveaways over their last five games have the Ravens,
(16:43):
and that's like second worst in the league. So Baltimore's
got the talent. Baltimore I think is better. Dereck Henry
has never been great against Pittsburgh. Rokwan Smith, Kyle Vanni,
Ronnie Stanley kind of banged up. I think it's your
classic Steeler Ravens game. I wouldn't be shocked if the
Steelers don't have a defensive touchdown. Baltimore's got the better offense.
(17:06):
I think they win late. I'm taking the hook Baltimore
twenty one to twenty, but I'm taking the points. Jmack
observation thoughts. I don't take a lot of favorites last week,
I have most of the year. The Rams generally I
(17:27):
would not take them, but McVeigh after the Falcons loss,
was in no mood to let us starter's rest.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
I think they pull it on.
Speaker 7 (17:38):
Yeah, I like your Rams case. I'm going to be
backing them based on hearing that. I am curious this
Lions Bears game. Very interesting revenge spot for the Bears.
Remember they got.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Smoked by thirty in Detroit earlier this year.
Speaker 6 (17:50):
But Dan Campbellton his guys don't pack it in and
mail it in week eighteen one two three can coon.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
He doesn't operate like that.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
I don't know what to make of that game, so
I'm staying off it otherwise, you know, other than San Frana,
I like everything.
Speaker 5 (18:03):
I know that.
Speaker 8 (18:04):
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays
and Neon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
All right, here we go, RG three Robert Griffin the
Third is joining us live.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I love that it can do.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
NFL in college, so I gotta start with this because
that we both love college. But what's great to see again?
Happy holidays, Happy New Year to your beautiful family. I
gotta tell you is I love Miami and I'm gonna
throw this at you. So Ohio States last two games,
Ryan Day takes over the play calling. They score ten
(18:37):
and fourteen. And I think Ryan's a great coach, but
I think it's very difficult to suddenly pivot against the
two best defenses you play.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
I don't know the run game, the O line.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
I think some of it is Robert and and I
like Ryan, but I think some of it is that's
a weird transition when you face two great defenses.
Speaker 9 (18:58):
Yeah, Colin, your one hundred percent right, It's a very
weird transition, especially when you haven't been doing it the
entire season. So you know, you see some of these teams,
you know, Ole Miss, you know what Charlie Weist Junior,
you know, allowing him to continue to coach through the playoff,
Oregon will Stein. If you're really trying to win the
big one, you don't want to make that drastic of
a switch at the last second when your head coach
(19:19):
has been mostly focused on managing the team, managing all
these agents with nil and the transfer portal open, and
now all of a sudden, hey, we want you to
call plays that you haven't.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
You haven't done this all season and in a number
of seasons.
Speaker 9 (19:32):
That's why I think you know Brian Hartline, you know,
being the new coach in South Florida, it would have
been great if he could have continued on for Ohio
State to really have a real shot at making this happen.
They didn't in Miami took advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
What do you make Fernando Mendoza? I know it's college,
but what do you make as a pro prospect? He's
a little corny after games, but I got to tell
you size matters.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
He's big.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
His receiving core is Becker cashes everything. I love Mendoza.
You know, I'm a old school I like my quarterbacks,
you know, to be more formal and traditional and kind
of you know, thank you and please, And I know,
what do you make of him? No?
Speaker 9 (20:17):
I love Fernando Mendoza because Bannana Mendoza knows who he is.
And I've seen some of the memes of like he
sounds like Chad GBT when you ask him.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
A question after a game. It's funny. It really is funny.
Speaker 9 (20:29):
But the thing I love about him is he's going
to process he's going to do it well, and he's
going to do what his team needs him to do.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Goes in this game, goes fourteen to sixty. He doesn't
throw the football very much.
Speaker 9 (20:38):
Why because Kayln Black and Roman Himby went off and
the offensive line control the line of scrimmage and they
literally ran over Alabama. So I love Fernando. I think
he's the first round pick. I think he's a top
ten pick. I think coaches are going to love him.
He's a big kid. Like you said, size does matter,
but he can make every throw on the field, and
he's not afraid of the big moments.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
So when you have a rookie.
Speaker 9 (20:59):
Quarterback coming in and those coaches are like art, is
he gonna do what I ask him to do? Can
he make plays that maybe aren't there? With his arm,
talent and with his ability to think? And he can
do all those things. And if he gets in a
great situation with weapons around him, that's where I think
he can truly truly excel. Is he a guy that's
gonna save a franchise because he's, you know, super dynamic,
off schedule play type guy. No, but if you work
(21:22):
with him and put the right guys around him, he
can win you a Super Bowl. So I really do
like Brenana Mendoz and I think with him and Kurse
Signetti have done at Indiana is one of the best
turnarounds I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
You know, it's interesting, Robert, with the transfer portals it is,
it takes a while to bring in eleven new guys
nine starters. Like I watched Miami louse Louisville. I didn't
watch the whole game, but I watch it in the moment.
To me, when I bought into Miami was when they
(21:53):
beat Pitt and I'm like, warm Weather team goes to
Pitt and I'm like, oh yeah, thirty eight seven. I
was like, And then I went that day and I
started looking at common opponents with Notre Dame and I'm like, no,
they're different, They're they're different. I think Miami matches up
with Indiana. I mean, what do you make about that?
Because I think Indiana and Miami just feel like that
(22:15):
is it's destined. To me, I've watched Indiana go to
Austin and really roll Oregon. What do you make of
this Miami story this year, how they lost a Louisville
and SMU and we're just kind of found themselves.
Speaker 9 (22:31):
Yeah, I think your point of about Miami it really
became something for me when they decided we're not going
to be the Carson Beck led Miami Hurricanes. Right, they
paid them a bunch of money reports of four million
dollar contract, and you know, early in the year it
was like, all right, Carson, go throw us to a
(22:53):
national championship. And I think Mario Christaball and their staff realized, like, Okay,
that's not going to be our our recipe for success,
not that Carson Beck can't do it, but the way
our team is built and how we're built at the
skill positions and in the trenches is really what's going
to lead this team to success.
Speaker 5 (23:10):
And I think that's really any of us.
Speaker 9 (23:12):
You get a brand new toy, you want to play
at the brand new tour, and you want to make
that tour the feature. But sometimes you got to go
back to the trenches, which is where football has always won.
And that's where Baying and Mesidor and these guys up
front make me believe that college football is more like.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
The NFL than it's ever been.
Speaker 9 (23:29):
Colin, you got to be able to win up front,
just like every level right, But you got to have
closers on the outside. And the teams that have closers
on the outside are the ones that we're seeing playing
in the college football semifinals, or they just have elite
quarterback play. So I think Miami made the decision right
in the middle of the year to be like, you
know what, Yes, we paid our quarterback a lot of money,
(23:49):
but this is how we're going to win, and we
just need him to make five throws a game to
win us a game and not turn the football over.
And I think Carson Becks has accepted that challenge and
done a great job for them down the stretch. I'm
happy for Miami third place ACC team in the collage
of balls and semifinals. You know, you know how I
feel about conference.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
Bias, So I think they're there, are there?
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Yeah, there are three teams in here who could be great.
I don't think Old Miss is one of them. I
don't think they're good enough defensively. I just I just
love Trinidad Chambliss. I just love him. I get a
little dak vibes. I don't think they're good enough defensively.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Is that fair? That Ole Miss?
Speaker 1 (24:27):
It just I don't think they can make big stops
in big spots in this, in this going forward, or
do you see it differently.
Speaker 9 (24:34):
I think it's fair because Georgia put thirty four on them,
and Georgia hasn't been this juggernaut of an offense all
year long. Even though I respect the guys that they have,
especially the the moxie of Gunner Stockton, But when you
look at Trinidad Chambliss, you see these types of plays,
but he's also making the on schedule throw. Yeah, you
know the heat check touchdown that he threw after the
(24:58):
interception that really kind of, you know, blew the game
out for them and had them more of a situation
where they felt like they could win.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
This guy's story is incredible.
Speaker 9 (25:06):
You know, D two national champion at Fair State, zero
star recruit coming out of high school and then he's
not even the starter coming into this season. Starter goes down,
he steps in, never looks back. So I just think
this whole you know, we love stories Colin he in
college football, his story is phenomenal. The fact that Lane
Kitten isn't there anymore and Ole Miss is in the
(25:27):
college football semi final with the coaching staff that that
Lane Kevin put together is just fascinating.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
If they win the national championship, there's gonna be a
movie made about this. Right now, me and you we
should direct that movie. This is it's phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Man.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Yeah, I said earlier.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
He's from a big rapids Michigan, and it can't be
that big because I've never heard of it, and my
wife's from Michigan.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
So I love the kid's story. It's amazing. Okay.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
So you know I said to most, I mean at
least me when I was twenty years old. You know,
you got your cars breaking down. I don't love your boss.
It's hard to be twenty and a lot of quarterbacking
in this league at twenty, you usually don't get Andy
Reider Sean Payton. You get into an organization where the
GM loved you and the coach didn't. There's politics, there's
an impulsive well you know this. So Sam Donald.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Goes to New York. He's twenty, he's a good looking kid.
He's in New York. He's a quarterback for an NFL team.
He gets sick. You know, half the people in the building.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Aren't sure about him, and I'm like, this is just
a twenty year old kid.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
I find it.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I think he's really special, but I understand all the
reckless talk as somebody who's played the position. I look
at him and I'm thinking, nobody can win in New York.
I looked at him at Carolina winning record. They loved
him in San Francisco, they love him in Minnesota, they
love him in Seattle. Nobody or do you see him
as a there's limitations he is reckless.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
How do you view Donald?
Speaker 9 (26:57):
Wow, I've used Sam Donald as a classic case of
an organization failing a young quarterback. I've always felt this
way Colin, that, you know, because of my own experience
and what I've seen.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
In NFL history.
Speaker 9 (27:09):
If you don't believe in a quarterback, holy you know,
head coach, GM, owner, don't draft look at Look at
New Orleans, right.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
The owner loves Tyler Shuck.
Speaker 9 (27:21):
The GM loves Tyler Shuck, and the head coach Kela
Morrett loves Tyler Shuck.
Speaker 5 (27:27):
So what do they do.
Speaker 9 (27:28):
They allow him to make mistakes, and they allow him
to play confidently so he can play himself out of
a rut. And now Tyler Shuck is looking like one
of the best rookie quarterbacks out there. Especially when lost wise,
I know wins on a quarterback staff, but yeah, when
law Park, he's playing at a really, really high level.
When you watch the tape I called his game against
the Carolina Panthers where they won and he came back,
(27:49):
you know, late in the game to lead them to victory.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
He's confident.
Speaker 9 (27:53):
Sam Darnold has one of the most special arms I've
ever seen.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
And I've known him since high school.
Speaker 9 (27:58):
You know, I went to an All Star game with
him and helped coach them, and he was talented way
back then. So when you look at what he's been
through in his career, every quarterback now this myth that man,
he can do it by himself. It's just not true
unless you're just a physical specimen like Cam Newton was
in twenty fifteen when he won MVP and led his
(28:19):
team to the Super Bowl. But even then he still
had Louke Keigley on defense and he had Greg Olsen
on offense right Steve Smith a wide receiver. So like
quarterbacks today, Colin have to have guys around them. Sam
Donald having Jackson Smith and jig with this season, you
know last year having Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
At wide receiver.
Speaker 9 (28:40):
That makes dividends for a QB to the point where
you hear this game manager versus game changer conversation throw
that you know, ish out the window. That doesn't make
any sense anymore. Every quarterback has to have guys around.
Jalen Hurts has two number one wide receivers and number
one tied En wi Is, Patrick Mahomes and the chief
go so much recently, Well, they don't have a true
(29:03):
game breaking number one tight end anymore because Travis Kelce
is older and they don't have Tyreek Hill. It's just
tough sledding for quarterbacks in this league with how good
the defensive rush is and how good the dbs are
now to not have number one type receivers and number
one type weapons that were tight end and running back.
So I think Sam Donald has that now, and that's
(29:24):
why you're seeing me excel. And I think that the
Seahawks aren't getting the credit they deserve, and it's because
of Sam Donald. No one believes that he can get
it done in the playoffs. And I wouldn't say that's
not fair, because life isn't fair. We know that otherwise
we probably will both be doing some other things that
we wanted to do or whatever, even though we're enjoying
what we're doing. I think Sam Donald at the end
(29:44):
of the day has to prove in the playoffs by
winning and going on a run that his talent is
exactly what we see. And I believe in the young man.
So I don't think he's limited. I think he's just
the right amount of reckless with the right guys around him.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
So the enigma of the season has been Baltimore More
and Lamar Jackson. And I said this the other day
and people are like, whoa, whoa, whoah. I said, Listen,
in my life, there's always six quarterbacks that if you're
the GM, you don't even take a call. It doesn't
matter if somebody offers you three number ones. You don't
(30:16):
take a call on Mahomes, Josh Allen. I wouldn't take
one on Caleb or Drake May. I'm just not the call.
I'm not I wouldn't take one on c J. Stroud
or Herbert. That's my six and I'm just not taking
a call.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Then there are guys Joe Burrow and Lamar.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
I'm not going to initiate the call, but maybe injuries expense,
I'll take a call.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Probably won't move them, but I'll.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Take a phone call on Jalen Hurts or Joe Burrow
because Burrow's one more injury away from.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
We get a draft the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
So this whole year for Lamar is he's twenty nine,
He's missed seventeen starts, he's cap hit his monstrous and
all of a sudden this year RG three Rgt. Robert Griffin,
he wasn't as fast. What am I to do with Lamar?
I know he's great, but is it possible at twenty
nine that he has slightly moved out of his prime?
(31:17):
You watched him, It doesn't feel the same. What is
it with Art Well? What is it with Lamar this year?
Speaker 7 (31:22):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Man? What?
Speaker 5 (31:24):
Okay?
Speaker 9 (31:24):
First of all, I think when you look at Joe Burrow,
Joe Burrow's actually come out.
Speaker 5 (31:28):
And said, like I do, I don't know if I
love the game anymore.
Speaker 9 (31:30):
And I think that that's a different conversation. Lamar has
never come out and said anything like that. So I
think Baltimore Ravens fans would burn the city to the
ground if the Ravens traded Kamar tacks. And I mean
that wholeheartedly, and having been there and knowing how he is.
I did read the article that came out that was
bashing him. You know, I thought it was bush league
(31:51):
to make those statements. And Coach Harball, you know that
the John Harball that I know, you know, the greatest
coach I ever played for in the NFL. And I
wasn't even a starter for the Ravens. I was the backup.
But watching him operate the way he handled that when
it came to the press and he talked and he
defended Lamar and he said, our relationship is great. If
you want to know what I think, asked me that question,
and that to me, it kills it in the locker room.
(32:13):
And that's what's the most important thing here. If Lamar
Jackson had lost the locker room, this would be a
real conversation. But I've got great relationships in that locker
room still to this day.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
They love Lamar.
Speaker 9 (32:23):
Yeah, they'd love for him to stay healthy and stay
on the field. Are they going to be more confident
with Lamar out there in this game against the Steelers,
with which is basically a playing game. Yeah, They're going
to be much more confident with him at QB because
he's their guy. The city loves him, and I've heard
the rumors of Miami may be coming and trying to
snag him, because that's where you are, Yeah, And who
(32:43):
wouldn't want to play at home? First of all, he
would take a monstrous offer for the Ravens to get
rid of him. GM Eric DaCosta has no interest in
trading Lamar Jackson, and I think for him, Lamar is
motivated in different ways than people realize. And the fact
that he has been a little bit injury prone the
last couple of seasons, and the fact that people are saying, oh,
(33:04):
he's lost his step and he can't do this, and
he can't do that. He kind of in a lot
of ways reminds me of Michael Vick, because when I
was growing up, Mike, when somebody said he couldn't throw,
he'd go throw for three hundred and fifty yards. Right
when someone said, ah, he lost a step, he'd go
run for one point fifty. And that's kind of what
I see from Lamar Jackson in the way that he
is motivated. He is somewhat motivated to prove people wrong,
(33:26):
but also to prove himself right. So I don't think
they trade him. I think he goes out and he
plays well in this game against the Steelers, and he
kind of forces Mike Tomlin to either have to.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
Take a TV job or for the Steelers.
Speaker 9 (33:38):
To realize that what they have in Mike Tomlin is
greater and maybe they're not appreciating him as well. But
I'm definitely rocking with the Ravens in this game. And
I think Lamar Jazs is going to prove all those
daughters wrong.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Yeah, listen, these stories come out. I mean, the guy
in Baltimore that works for the Sun is a long
time beat reporter and I'm like, what am I to
make of that story? And so I think it's fascinating.
I think your depth of knowledge in the organization. I
have said this before about Lamar is that I would
and I felt this way about Lway and Denver. There
(34:12):
are certain quarterbacks that play for a franchise, but they
don't necessarily feel like the city. They're just really good players,
they play forever whatever. I mean, I love Brady, but
Brady would go vacation over in Europe, He'd hang out
in New York. I didn't feel like he felt like Boston.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
He was just great.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Yeah, he's Hollywood you.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Know, Yeah, there is no quarterback in the league that
feels I bet that's more popular within the city the
area codes of the city than Lamar Jackson. I think
he's the most popular quarterback. If you did a poll
every team in the league. Maybe Mahomes is up there
because of his success. So when you were there, do
you believe that to be true?
Speaker 5 (34:51):
No, it's one hundred percent true. And he is the city. Like,
let's be real.
Speaker 9 (34:55):
You go to Baltimore, and you know when I got
drafted to Washington and they call it chocolate city. Okay,
well they've Washington, DC, it's chocolate city, then god dag
Baltimore must be dark chocolate.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
City or something.
Speaker 9 (35:06):
So when you look at the city and how they operate,
how rugged the city is, how tough the city is,
Lamar Jackson embodies all those things. And when he comes
in the number one thing the Ravens did his rookie
year when I was there, I was there with Lamar
for three seasons, you know, blessing honor to be able
to mentor him and see him go win MVPs and
really take over that team and the city from Super
(35:29):
Bowl champions to Bowl MVP. Joe Flacco. They never tried
to change Lamar. They never tried to change the way
he talked. They never tried to change the way he were,
his hair, they never tried to change the way that
he dressed. They allowed Lamar Jackson to be Lamar Jackson. I,
for one, in my career, didn't have that same experience.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
But what I loved was that this is who we drafted,
This is.
Speaker 9 (35:51):
Who we want you to be. We want you to
be Lamar Jackson that embodies the city.
Speaker 5 (35:56):
The city. You cling to that, and he is like
his jersey.
Speaker 9 (36:00):
The sales are crazy, and it's because he has never
changed who he is to try to fit into something.
The Raven said, you know what, We're not going to
put a square peg in a round hole. We're going
to allow you to go be fully who you are.
And that's why he's been so successful for so yes.
Is he playful? Does he lead in a different way?
(36:20):
Hunting percent, But that locker room would die for him
because they know that he's got their back.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
Robert great stuff.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
On a Friday, It's going to be glorious College football yesterday,
excellent weekend. Seahawks and the Niners, Bucks Panthers, Raven Steelers
mean a lot.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Great Saniors Olds my man. Happy holidays.
Speaker 5 (36:42):
Appreciate you, brother, thanks for having me on you the
best come.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
Blessed college football, pro football. He knows them both. I'm
going to name today. You know how j mac Time
magazine has their person of the Year. I'm naming my
person of the Year in the NFL. Don't go anywhere.
I'm very excited.
Speaker 7 (37:01):
Person of the Year of the NFL. Can I get
a guess or two?
Speaker 2 (37:06):
No, no guesses. It's brock perty did he make the file?
Nobody from the Jets.
Speaker 7 (37:11):
We can eliminate them, obviously.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
That should be fun, all right, it's the hurt
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Colin Cowherd
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