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. Here we go on a loaded Tuesday in Los Angeles, Urban Meyer talking about the Penn State game tonight, Ohio State Oregon tomorrow. Nick right in one hour our Herd hierarchy, probably our final top ten of the regular season next week. You know you're playing a bunch of backups live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Our last show of twenty twenty four. As we embark on a new year, New Year's resolutions. I have one a year. I keep it to myself. It's usually a personal thing. I don't know if I can improve, So I'm not sure what I have this year. Jamak anything out there you're gonna blurt out about getting.

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. Here we go on a loaded Tuesday in Los Angeles, Urban Meyer talking about the Penn State game tonight, Ohio State Oregon tomorrow. Nick right in one hour our Herd hierarchy, probably our final top ten of the regular season next week. You know you're playing a bunch of backups live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Our last show of twenty twenty four. As we embark on a new year, New Year's resolutions. I have one a year. I keep it to myself. It's usually a personal thing. I don't know if I can improve, So I'm not sure what I have this year. Jamak anything out there you're gonna blurt out about getting.

Better, Well, I don't need to get better since I'm great already. Yeah, yeah, started today playing basketball this morning. I may go to Vegas tonight. Just got an invite from some friends. Listen, let's get the new year started right right.

Better, Well, I don't need to get better since I'm great already. Yeah, yeah, started today playing basketball this morning. I may go to Vegas tonight. Just got an invite from some friends. Listen, let's get the new year started right right.

Start the night in Vegas. Start the year in Vegas. So I want to start. I'll get to the Detroit Lions. I'll get to them in about five ten minutes. I want to talk about Brock Purdy because there's this feeling that now, even though he has a year left on his rookie deal, that you have to pay Brock Purty. Now, oh, you got to get a discount now on this guy. And I was about two weeks ago. I'm watching all these drone videos on TikTok, all these guys in New Jersey, and it's clear that men struggle telling the difference between drones and small planes and aliens. It's also clear men have a problem deciphering the difference from like Joe Burrow, who gets whatever he wants with a bad roster, and Brock Purty, who's really good in the first half with one of the great play designers in NFL history, Kyle Shanahan. I always get left with a feeling it's a lot of empty calories and empty yards. It's one thing if you're Borrow and your O linees bad and we don't love your coach and you're always playing from behind. Brock Purty has, after Andy Reid and maybe Sean Payton, the best play designer forget play color, best play designer since you know, maybe his dad Mike Shanahan. So and you have the best tight end arguably in football, and two good receivers and you're at home and the Lions are missing eight defensive starters. But this league is about second halfs. The first half is on script. Yes, he's great off an on script, but when bo Nicks and Justin Herbert met, like a week ago, remember that game about ten days ago, fourteen days ago, bo Nicks was really good on script in the first half. Justin Herbert was great offscript. Because Justin Herbert's a lot better right now than bo Nicks. And in the second half this year, the more important half. Brock Purty has eight touchdowns and ten picks and twelve total giveaways. He's bad and trailing. In the second half, he's worse. He has a passer rating below seventy five. You know, in the non scripted half, with one of the great play designers of my life. You want to know it's not random, by the way, you want to know the top five quarterbacks right now second half passer rating, Oh what a shock. Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff and number one pick Baker Mayfield. More talented guys. There's a connection between the two. Just a big majority for all these people saying I have to pay brock Purty year early, if at all. A big chunk of his yards are after the catch, because Kittle is great after the catch and deebo is great after the catch. And the other part is how open everybody is. I swear to God, has George Kittle ever been covered on any catch in the last month. He's wide open. So to me, it's always always empty calories with brock Purty. You got to watch the games in the second half. In a tight game, two ugly picks through behind Juwan Jennings on a big third down. Yes, they miss field goals of fifty one and fifty eight yards. Why did they have to kick field goals of fifty one and fifty eight yards because he missed to Juwan Jennings or or he doesn't quite have the athletic ability that his backup Josh Dobbs had to run into the end zone. I mean, every time he throws the ball over the middle, you're holding your breath. You're not with Mahomes or Herbert. I don't fel that way with Josh Allen. I do with Brock Purdy. I don't feel that way with Jared Goff. So this idea that he's a fifty million dollar quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo won sixty nine percent of his games in San Francisco, and people, Niner fans, couldn't get him out of town fast enough. Maybe they were jealous because he was so handsome. He won sixty nine percent of his games, he got to Super Bowls. They couldn't get him out of town fast enough. They blamed him for losing the Mahomes in the Super Bowl because he missed one deep route. Perty's went in sixty four percent of his games, it seems to me. And by the way, he's also hurt again, and he's been hurt multiple times because he's a smaller athlete. I thought it was interesting when Josh Dobbs came in, who's just a remarkable kid. I think he was like a chemical engineer at Tennessee. You can give him a playbook, he can memorize it in fifteen minutes. But he ran for a touchdown because he's a super athletic kid. I don't think Brock Purty could have run for a touchdown. Dobb's a faster, more elegant athlete. So the idea that I've got a pay him fifty million and pay him early. There is a difference. I'm sorry, guys, but there is a difference between aliens and a small plane flying over your house or maybe your neighbor's drone. And there's a difference between guys who are literally tractors, you know, like they're pulling a franchise to wins, and guys that are trailers. They're mostly being pulled. Second half game on the line, playing with a lead to really ugly picks when he had to throw it over the middle. And again here here's Kyle Shannan after on his injury.

Start the night in Vegas. Start the year in Vegas. So I want to start. I'll get to the Detroit Lions. I'll get to them in about five ten minutes. I want to talk about Brock Purdy because there's this feeling that now, even though he has a year left on his rookie deal, that you have to pay Brock Purty. Now, oh, you got to get a discount now on this guy. And I was about two weeks ago. I'm watching all these drone videos on TikTok, all these guys in New Jersey, and it's clear that men struggle telling the difference between drones and small planes and aliens. It's also clear men have a problem deciphering the difference from like Joe Burrow, who gets whatever he wants with a bad roster, and Brock Purty, who's really good in the first half with one of the great play designers in NFL history, Kyle Shanahan. I always get left with a feeling it's a lot of empty calories and empty yards. It's one thing if you're Borrow and your O linees bad and we don't love your coach and you're always playing from behind. Brock Purty has, after Andy Reid and maybe Sean Payton, the best play designer forget play color, best play designer since you know, maybe his dad Mike Shanahan. So and you have the best tight end arguably in football, and two good receivers and you're at home and the Lions are missing eight defensive starters. But this league is about second halfs. The first half is on script. Yes, he's great off an on script, but when bo Nicks and Justin Herbert met, like a week ago, remember that game about ten days ago, fourteen days ago, bo Nicks was really good on script in the first half. Justin Herbert was great offscript. Because Justin Herbert's a lot better right now than bo Nicks. And in the second half this year, the more important half. Brock Purty has eight touchdowns and ten picks and twelve total giveaways. He's bad and trailing. In the second half, he's worse. He has a passer rating below seventy five. You know, in the non scripted half, with one of the great play designers of my life. You want to know it's not random, by the way, you want to know the top five quarterbacks right now second half passer rating, Oh what a shock. Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff and number one pick Baker Mayfield. More talented guys. There's a connection between the two. Just a big majority for all these people saying I have to pay brock Purty year early, if at all. A big chunk of his yards are after the catch, because Kittle is great after the catch and deebo is great after the catch. And the other part is how open everybody is. I swear to God, has George Kittle ever been covered on any catch in the last month. He's wide open. So to me, it's always always empty calories with brock Purty. You got to watch the games in the second half. In a tight game, two ugly picks through behind Juwan Jennings on a big third down. Yes, they miss field goals of fifty one and fifty eight yards. Why did they have to kick field goals of fifty one and fifty eight yards because he missed to Juwan Jennings or or he doesn't quite have the athletic ability that his backup Josh Dobbs had to run into the end zone. I mean, every time he throws the ball over the middle, you're holding your breath. You're not with Mahomes or Herbert. I don't fel that way with Josh Allen. I do with Brock Purdy. I don't feel that way with Jared Goff. So this idea that he's a fifty million dollar quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo won sixty nine percent of his games in San Francisco, and people, Niner fans, couldn't get him out of town fast enough. Maybe they were jealous because he was so handsome. He won sixty nine percent of his games, he got to Super Bowls. They couldn't get him out of town fast enough. They blamed him for losing the Mahomes in the Super Bowl because he missed one deep route. Perty's went in sixty four percent of his games, it seems to me. And by the way, he's also hurt again, and he's been hurt multiple times because he's a smaller athlete. I thought it was interesting when Josh Dobbs came in, who's just a remarkable kid. I think he was like a chemical engineer at Tennessee. You can give him a playbook, he can memorize it in fifteen minutes. But he ran for a touchdown because he's a super athletic kid. I don't think Brock Purty could have run for a touchdown. Dobb's a faster, more elegant athlete. So the idea that I've got a pay him fifty million and pay him early. There is a difference. I'm sorry, guys, but there is a difference between aliens and a small plane flying over your house or maybe your neighbor's drone. And there's a difference between guys who are literally tractors, you know, like they're pulling a franchise to wins, and guys that are trailers. They're mostly being pulled. Second half game on the line, playing with a lead to really ugly picks when he had to throw it over the middle. And again here here's Kyle Shannan after on his injury.

I know everyone when they hear about Brock's elbow and stuff, just like me, you think of elbow injury from a couple of years ago, but you know, just talking to doctors, you just got hit in the right spot, and when you get hit there, you're just your nerves go and you can't feel much, but hopefully it'll be all right.

I know everyone when they hear about Brock's elbow and stuff, just like me, you think of elbow injury from a couple of years ago, but you know, just talking to doctors, you just got hit in the right spot, and when you get hit there, you're just your nerves go and you can't feel much, but hopefully it'll be all right.

Then let's sa again. I'm going to get to the Detroit Lions after the break hierarchy. Top of the hour, Nick right, Urban Meyer. So let's talk about this whole thing about what you pay a quarterback, because we've seen with Dak. If you pay A plus money to a B to a B plus quarterback, you can't have a legitimate roster. I mean, look at the Cowboys compared to the Eagles. How many guys would even start for the Cowboys on the Eagles, right, Because you've been paying Dak overpaying him for years and years and years, and so this stuff, this is a big topic. This stuff's really important. You can overpay a wide receiver, you know, you pay him twenty, he's worth fifteen. You start overpaying a quarterback fifty eight and he's worth thirty three. One of the reasons Tampa's so good is because they're getting a deal on Baker Mayfield. They're paying him thirty three million. I take Baker over Brock thirty in a second, thirty three months. They're getting a deal it's okay for teams to occasionally get deals on quarterbacks. Two. Not everybody has to be overpaid. But a team that is underpaid Tampa with Baker, they've got a stacked roster. They got good dudes everywhere, d line wide receiver, two to good running backs. Dallas overpays their quarterback and they're stuck. So to me, there are three groups, three clubs for quarterbacks in terms of fifty million dollars plus. The first club is I'm gonna pay you what I gotta pay you. Mahomes Lamar, Josh Allen, Herbert, Stafford Burrough, GoF Love, You're great. I think you can get to a super Bowl. I'm gonna pay you what I'm gonna pay you, and I think a lot of your success is based on you and you being great. Then there's the fifty million dollar club. We can negotiate. I'm not offended if you ask for it, but I'm gonna push back a little. Jalen Hurt, Sam Darnold, Baker, and Jayden Daniels. Jayden now want a little more time Baker and Sam. Let's be honest, it's the perfect season. Jalen Hurts feels very circumstantial, best o line, unbelievable receivers. You know MVP when he had Shane Stiket. I like him. These guys can ask for fifty million. I'm not offended. Negotiate. And then there's the third club, which is if you ask for it, I'm hanging up the phone. Brock Purtty's in that one. Okay, it's nothing personal, but we're not getting to fifty and we're getting to fifty a year early. What's the market? Go to the market. So you know, it's like negotiating for a new car. You can tell me that Civic is worth one hundred grand, Well we got we got rustproofing, a sun roof, and the salesman can tell me, how about the sports package? Okay, I'll give you fifty one thousand, not one hundred thousand. I'm walking out of the dealership if you think that Civic is worth one hundred thousand dollars and it's not. Nobody's picking on brock Purty. That's another thing. Oh, this is there when you get to a quarterback because they're paid so much. Now, I mean like Mahomes signed a four hundred and fifty million dollar deal. You can make mistakes, overpaying a little bit for a Mike linebacker, or overpaying for you know, a tight end a little you're paying him thirteen, he's probably worth eight. You start overpaying a quarterback, you get to the fifth sixty million dollar club, not interested that it got you. There's only one thing that guarantees you can't win Super Bowls. Only one thing. Paying a b quarterback a plus money. Even Tom Brad Drew Brees in his prime took big money for a couple of years. Sean Payton and Drew Brees had two back to back mediocre years, restructured his deal, better deal. They end up in a Super Bowl. Tom Brady was never the highest paid quarterback. Kirk Cousins was, and Kirk Cousins, because of that, didn't have the surrounding elements. So yeah, I'm just I keep watching this thing, and I'm gonna keep going back. I feel with Brock Purty and certain quarterbacks, there's a lot of ifs ands and bututs. If this is healthy, if I have Christian, if I have a great play designer, if it's not wet, if I lead, if it's the first half, I can't pay that kind of money. I can't just won't do it. So and I'm not. I'm not like old guy yelling at clowns. Here. I'll pay it. There's like eight guys in the in the world. I'll pay whatever I gotta pay you. Then there's another half a dozen guys are close to it where we can negotiate. But paying them fifty large and having to pay them early, I'm not doing it. J MC, I know he's your guy. I know you worship at the altar of the Broxter.

Then let's sa again. I'm going to get to the Detroit Lions after the break hierarchy. Top of the hour, Nick right, Urban Meyer. So let's talk about this whole thing about what you pay a quarterback, because we've seen with Dak. If you pay A plus money to a B to a B plus quarterback, you can't have a legitimate roster. I mean, look at the Cowboys compared to the Eagles. How many guys would even start for the Cowboys on the Eagles, right, Because you've been paying Dak overpaying him for years and years and years, and so this stuff, this is a big topic. This stuff's really important. You can overpay a wide receiver, you know, you pay him twenty, he's worth fifteen. You start overpaying a quarterback fifty eight and he's worth thirty three. One of the reasons Tampa's so good is because they're getting a deal on Baker Mayfield. They're paying him thirty three million. I take Baker over Brock thirty in a second, thirty three months. They're getting a deal it's okay for teams to occasionally get deals on quarterbacks. Two. Not everybody has to be overpaid. But a team that is underpaid Tampa with Baker, they've got a stacked roster. They got good dudes everywhere, d line wide receiver, two to good running backs. Dallas overpays their quarterback and they're stuck. So to me, there are three groups, three clubs for quarterbacks in terms of fifty million dollars plus. The first club is I'm gonna pay you what I gotta pay you. Mahomes Lamar, Josh Allen, Herbert, Stafford Burrough, GoF Love, You're great. I think you can get to a super Bowl. I'm gonna pay you what I'm gonna pay you, and I think a lot of your success is based on you and you being great. Then there's the fifty million dollar club. We can negotiate. I'm not offended if you ask for it, but I'm gonna push back a little. Jalen Hurt, Sam Darnold, Baker, and Jayden Daniels. Jayden now want a little more time Baker and Sam. Let's be honest, it's the perfect season. Jalen Hurts feels very circumstantial, best o line, unbelievable receivers. You know MVP when he had Shane Stiket. I like him. These guys can ask for fifty million. I'm not offended. Negotiate. And then there's the third club, which is if you ask for it, I'm hanging up the phone. Brock Purtty's in that one. Okay, it's nothing personal, but we're not getting to fifty and we're getting to fifty a year early. What's the market? Go to the market. So you know, it's like negotiating for a new car. You can tell me that Civic is worth one hundred grand, Well we got we got rustproofing, a sun roof, and the salesman can tell me, how about the sports package? Okay, I'll give you fifty one thousand, not one hundred thousand. I'm walking out of the dealership if you think that Civic is worth one hundred thousand dollars and it's not. Nobody's picking on brock Purty. That's another thing. Oh, this is there when you get to a quarterback because they're paid so much. Now, I mean like Mahomes signed a four hundred and fifty million dollar deal. You can make mistakes, overpaying a little bit for a Mike linebacker, or overpaying for you know, a tight end a little you're paying him thirteen, he's probably worth eight. You start overpaying a quarterback, you get to the fifth sixty million dollar club, not interested that it got you. There's only one thing that guarantees you can't win Super Bowls. Only one thing. Paying a b quarterback a plus money. Even Tom Brad Drew Brees in his prime took big money for a couple of years. Sean Payton and Drew Brees had two back to back mediocre years, restructured his deal, better deal. They end up in a Super Bowl. Tom Brady was never the highest paid quarterback. Kirk Cousins was, and Kirk Cousins, because of that, didn't have the surrounding elements. So yeah, I'm just I keep watching this thing, and I'm gonna keep going back. I feel with Brock Purty and certain quarterbacks, there's a lot of ifs ands and bututs. If this is healthy, if I have Christian, if I have a great play designer, if it's not wet, if I lead, if it's the first half, I can't pay that kind of money. I can't just won't do it. So and I'm not. I'm not like old guy yelling at clowns. Here. I'll pay it. There's like eight guys in the in the world. I'll pay whatever I gotta pay you. Then there's another half a dozen guys are close to it where we can negotiate. But paying them fifty large and having to pay them early, I'm not doing it. J MC, I know he's your guy. I know you worship at the altar of the Broxter.

Boy after the positive Monday you had coming off the top rope on brock Purty to start New Year's Eve, Colin, come on, man.

Boy after the positive Monday you had coming off the top rope on brock Purty to start New Year's Eve, Colin, come on, man.

Hey, the rest of the show is flowers, rainbows, just make it sure, and birds chirping. But I have to address that. It's a serious topic. We all watch the NFL. It's got the highest ratings by a mile, and it's all centered around one position. But it's not just centered around the position. It's centered around what you pay the position.

Hey, the rest of the show is flowers, rainbows, just make it sure, and birds chirping. But I have to address that. It's a serious topic. We all watch the NFL. It's got the highest ratings by a mile, and it's all centered around one position. But it's not just centered around the position. It's centered around what you pay the position.

He had two bad throws last night on our otherwise extraordinary night. No Christian McCaffrey, no Brandon au.

He had two bad throws last night on our otherwise extraordinary night. No Christian McCaffrey, no Brandon au.

Allians, had no eight defensive starters.

Allians, had no eight defensive starters.

I just, yeah, I would move off some of those defensive starters who can't plug a hole to save their life.

I just, yeah, I would move off some of those defensive starters who can't plug a hole to save their life.

Jamir Gibbs running wild. How about listen?

Jamir Gibbs running wild. How about listen?

I had to give Dan Campbell some credit. Okay, everybody wanted to sit his guys, the game means nothing. He plays everybody are people crazy?

I had to give Dan Campbell some credit. Okay, everybody wanted to sit his guys, the game means nothing. He plays everybody are people crazy?

The game means nothing. First of all, this is the Detroit I'm gonna get into this. The idea that game didn't mean anything for Detroit. I completely push back on that. I'll talk about that coming up.

The game means nothing. First of all, this is the Detroit I'm gonna get into this. The idea that game didn't mean anything for Detroit. I completely push back on that. I'll talk about that coming up.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Noone eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Noone eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together We're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the iHeartRadio App.

Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together We're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the iHeartRadio App.

Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.

Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.

We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last twenty years and still work together. I mean that says something, right, So check us out. We like to get you involved, to take your phone calls, chop it up. As they say, I'd say, the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planetar. Be sure to check out Cavino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific, And if you miss any of the live show, just search Kovin on Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and of course on social.

We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last twenty years and still work together. I mean that says something, right, So check us out. We like to get you involved, to take your phone calls, chop it up. As they say, I'd say, the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planetar. Be sure to check out Cavino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific, And if you miss any of the live show, just search Kovin on Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and of course on social.

Media that's Covino and Rich. Here we go our number two to Tuesday, Urban Meyer Next hour, Nick right in five minutes, live in Los Angeles. It's the herd wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Jamack is strong. It's amazing whenever I can get old Jamack out of the house. You've got the kids and the pets and the family. I think I have figured out a way just to wrestle him psychologically, guilt him into joining his mentor tonight for a little poffed mentor how about one little pop tonight?

Media that's Covino and Rich. Here we go our number two to Tuesday, Urban Meyer Next hour, Nick right in five minutes, live in Los Angeles. It's the herd wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Jamack is strong. It's amazing whenever I can get old Jamack out of the house. You've got the kids and the pets and the family. I think I have figured out a way just to wrestle him psychologically, guilt him into joining his mentor tonight for a little poffed mentor how about one little pop tonight?

Ann gave you a Hall Pass for tonight.

Ann gave you a Hall Pass for tonight.

I'm gonna see Ann Thursday through Sunday night, so I'm gonna's and weekend.

I'm gonna see Ann Thursday through Sunday night, so I'm gonna's and weekend.

You know what, have you seen the movie Hall Pass?

You know what, have you seen the movie Hall Pass?

No?

No?

You got to see that Owen Owen Wilson, Yeah, and a couple other guys. It's it's a great movie. You will laugh out loud some really dirty interpret.

You got to see that Owen Owen Wilson, Yeah, and a couple other guys. It's it's a great movie. You will laugh out loud some really dirty interpret.

You're gonna consider maybe going out tonight.

You're gonna consider maybe going out tonight.

That or Hall Pass.

That or Hall Pass.

I'll watch the movie for the seventh uber be safe. Okay, all right here we do it every week at this time, the herd hierarchy.

I'll watch the movie for the seventh uber be safe. Okay, all right here we do it every week at this time, the herd hierarchy.

Let us go heard heard hierarchy.

Let us go heard heard hierarchy.

Time.

Time.

Now go the top ten NFL teams according.

Now go the top ten NFL teams according.

To College Well number ten. If they beat the Saints, they can clinch their four straight division title. I've said it. I like their personnel. Baker Mayfield leads the NFL and touchdown passes over the last two years since he joined the Bucks. They're a big play offense with excellent running backs. Jason Light's a great GM. They've always got talent. They've had good quarterback play like Brady and Baker. They can play with anybody. Five and one over their last six games, blew the Chargers out. That was a real eye opener. I don't think they can hoist a trophy, but they could certainly host a playoff game and knock off an injury riddle Detroit if possible. Bucks at ten, number nine, I'm gonna go Rams. Their offensive sluggishness in the first half is hard to explain, but their defense is really good and young, and it's getting better. They've held opponents under twenty points in three straight games. Matthew Stafford's having a very good year over his last seven games of passer rating a one oh five. They're a little puka nukua dependent, so I don't think they're a trophy team, but I have them at nine number eight. I would put the Chargers at eight because they're quarterbacks younger at can run, and I think that mobility is the difference between the two teams, justin Herbert ninety nine passer rating hyper efficient, reckless, big with mobility. That gives them a slight edge in my opinion over the Rams. Also, five of their six losses have come to good teams the Chiefs a couple of times, Ravens, Buccaneers. They're losing to the right teams. I have them an eight number seven. The Packers. I thought the Packers could hoist a trophy. But they're zero to five against the Lions, the Vikings, and the Eagles. They're eleven to zero against everybody else. So they're a bully against average to pretty good teams. They're not gonna. They're not gonna They're not gonna beat your Ravens. They're not gonna beat your Chiefs, Bills. That's not who they are. Six straight games without a giveaway, though, and I think that's coaching in Matt Lafleur. They have taken some attempts away from Jordan Love. They don't turn it over. They're kind of a power run team. I have the Packers at seven, number six, but you know, Lamar Jackson's better than Jordan Love in my opinion, so I have them at six, second largest rushing differential in a season in league history. They remain a run teams. A Flowers and Mark Andrews allows them to pass as well. But number one scoring defense, number one total defense since week eleven. You know, I love this organization. Kind of holding your breath on what they look like in the January playoffs. But the Ravens at six, number five, I thought Sam Darnold was amazing. I got him at five. They're tied for the most takeaways in the league this year at thirty one. That is the Brian Flores factor. The fact that Brian Floores isn't front and center for everybody from the Bears job to the Saints job. This defense does not have elite personnel, but they're putting up elite takeaway stacks. That's a Brian Flores factor. By the way, Sam Donald's the first quarterback in league history to win fourteen games in his first season with a new team. Even Tom Brady did not do that. Maybe Donald is better than Brady. When you think about number four. Number four Detroit stacked roster offensively, falling apart defensively. But I mean they have five games this year with forty or more points and no turnovers. I mean, pretty easy for them. They're clever, they can play power run. They're getting Montgomery back four straight games for three plus touchdown passes. I think we all know the story on them. If they were healthy, they could win the Super Bowl, but we don't trust their defense going forward. Number three Philadelphia, They're eleven to zero when Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown play the number one total defense. They allow four point eight yards of play, so that's pretty good in the NFL. And this day and age, four point eight yards of play. Their O line and D line combination is the best in the NFL. They got a great GM and they got a roster to show for it. Do I worry about the concussion. I would worry about it if it was in two weeks. I don't worry about it now. I have them at number three, Number two the Bills. The Bills have cut down on given the football away. They only have eight giveaways and they've only allowed fourteen sacks. So we always like Buffalo, but we thought, yeah, they'll beat themselves. Well, they don't beat themselves this year. They don't turn it over. I don't give you sacks, don't have a lot of negative plays, and they do it without a single thousand yard rusher or thousand yard receivers. So they are still somewhat too reliant on Josh Allen. But you know what, I like James Cook, I like Kenkaid Dawson Knox. I like their receiving corps. Coleman's getting better. I got at two, Number one, same old Chiefs, best coach best defensive coordinator, best quarterback, and arguably the best defensive lineman Chris Jones. Let's just say this, it's the same team we've seen, except I think it's a better offensive version it always since Tyreek Hill left. It's a lot of patchwork at receiver. That's so what they've been for three years now. And now they got Hollywood Brown back. They wish they had Rashid Rice, but that'll do. And Worthies become a real player and Travis Kelsey this is what they do because they play mahomes what they pay him. And they lost Tyreek Hill. This is the one unit they've tried to kind of figure out and bring in a guy for a year and move this guy over there. But you know what, third team in NFL history to go six straight games without a without a turnover, So that's very rare. So you get all the upside and not a lot of the downside. Best situational team in football and that's that's not even arguable, although I will say Detroit on third down and fourth down with Ben Johnson, you know a coach, You know a team is rolling when they go to the red zone in a congested area. Remember Andy read a couple years ago in the Super Bowl. They in the congested area, sky Moore is wide open. Like you know, you have a good offensive scheme and this is what Shanahan does. Does anybody guard George Kittle or is he just opened by twenty yards on every play? So let's bring in Nick right Coholes. First things first, he is now joining US Live. You know last week you almost complimented me on the on the top ten anything Bobby you?

To College Well number ten. If they beat the Saints, they can clinch their four straight division title. I've said it. I like their personnel. Baker Mayfield leads the NFL and touchdown passes over the last two years since he joined the Bucks. They're a big play offense with excellent running backs. Jason Light's a great GM. They've always got talent. They've had good quarterback play like Brady and Baker. They can play with anybody. Five and one over their last six games, blew the Chargers out. That was a real eye opener. I don't think they can hoist a trophy, but they could certainly host a playoff game and knock off an injury riddle Detroit if possible. Bucks at ten, number nine, I'm gonna go Rams. Their offensive sluggishness in the first half is hard to explain, but their defense is really good and young, and it's getting better. They've held opponents under twenty points in three straight games. Matthew Stafford's having a very good year over his last seven games of passer rating a one oh five. They're a little puka nukua dependent, so I don't think they're a trophy team, but I have them at nine number eight. I would put the Chargers at eight because they're quarterbacks younger at can run, and I think that mobility is the difference between the two teams, justin Herbert ninety nine passer rating hyper efficient, reckless, big with mobility. That gives them a slight edge in my opinion over the Rams. Also, five of their six losses have come to good teams the Chiefs a couple of times, Ravens, Buccaneers. They're losing to the right teams. I have them an eight number seven. The Packers. I thought the Packers could hoist a trophy. But they're zero to five against the Lions, the Vikings, and the Eagles. They're eleven to zero against everybody else. So they're a bully against average to pretty good teams. They're not gonna. They're not gonna They're not gonna beat your Ravens. They're not gonna beat your Chiefs, Bills. That's not who they are. Six straight games without a giveaway, though, and I think that's coaching in Matt Lafleur. They have taken some attempts away from Jordan Love. They don't turn it over. They're kind of a power run team. I have the Packers at seven, number six, but you know, Lamar Jackson's better than Jordan Love in my opinion, so I have them at six, second largest rushing differential in a season in league history. They remain a run teams. A Flowers and Mark Andrews allows them to pass as well. But number one scoring defense, number one total defense since week eleven. You know, I love this organization. Kind of holding your breath on what they look like in the January playoffs. But the Ravens at six, number five, I thought Sam Darnold was amazing. I got him at five. They're tied for the most takeaways in the league this year at thirty one. That is the Brian Flores factor. The fact that Brian Floores isn't front and center for everybody from the Bears job to the Saints job. This defense does not have elite personnel, but they're putting up elite takeaway stacks. That's a Brian Flores factor. By the way, Sam Donald's the first quarterback in league history to win fourteen games in his first season with a new team. Even Tom Brady did not do that. Maybe Donald is better than Brady. When you think about number four. Number four Detroit stacked roster offensively, falling apart defensively. But I mean they have five games this year with forty or more points and no turnovers. I mean, pretty easy for them. They're clever, they can play power run. They're getting Montgomery back four straight games for three plus touchdown passes. I think we all know the story on them. If they were healthy, they could win the Super Bowl, but we don't trust their defense going forward. Number three Philadelphia, They're eleven to zero when Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown play the number one total defense. They allow four point eight yards of play, so that's pretty good in the NFL. And this day and age, four point eight yards of play. Their O line and D line combination is the best in the NFL. They got a great GM and they got a roster to show for it. Do I worry about the concussion. I would worry about it if it was in two weeks. I don't worry about it now. I have them at number three, Number two the Bills. The Bills have cut down on given the football away. They only have eight giveaways and they've only allowed fourteen sacks. So we always like Buffalo, but we thought, yeah, they'll beat themselves. Well, they don't beat themselves this year. They don't turn it over. I don't give you sacks, don't have a lot of negative plays, and they do it without a single thousand yard rusher or thousand yard receivers. So they are still somewhat too reliant on Josh Allen. But you know what, I like James Cook, I like Kenkaid Dawson Knox. I like their receiving corps. Coleman's getting better. I got at two, Number one, same old Chiefs, best coach best defensive coordinator, best quarterback, and arguably the best defensive lineman Chris Jones. Let's just say this, it's the same team we've seen, except I think it's a better offensive version it always since Tyreek Hill left. It's a lot of patchwork at receiver. That's so what they've been for three years now. And now they got Hollywood Brown back. They wish they had Rashid Rice, but that'll do. And Worthies become a real player and Travis Kelsey this is what they do because they play mahomes what they pay him. And they lost Tyreek Hill. This is the one unit they've tried to kind of figure out and bring in a guy for a year and move this guy over there. But you know what, third team in NFL history to go six straight games without a without a turnover, So that's very rare. So you get all the upside and not a lot of the downside. Best situational team in football and that's that's not even arguable, although I will say Detroit on third down and fourth down with Ben Johnson, you know a coach, You know a team is rolling when they go to the red zone in a congested area. Remember Andy read a couple years ago in the Super Bowl. They in the congested area, sky Moore is wide open. Like you know, you have a good offensive scheme and this is what Shanahan does. Does anybody guard George Kittle or is he just opened by twenty yards on every play? So let's bring in Nick right Coholes. First things first, he is now joining US Live. You know last week you almost complimented me on the on the top ten anything Bobby you?

This week?

This week?

Lion's too high. Lions are going to lose to the Vikings on Sunday, and after they could lose their first playoff game. Defense is just to it's past the point of no return.

Lion's too high. Lions are going to lose to the Vikings on Sunday, and after they could lose their first playoff game. Defense is just to it's past the point of no return.

And I think I like a.

And I think I like a.

Ton of what Dan Campbell has done and has brought to that organization. He's obviously a very good head coach. Not taking anything away from him. However, his decision to play as guys last night was objectively a mistake. You are now in one of the highest leverage regular season games. Ever, as far as it's impact on who can win the Super Bowl, one seed or five seed will be determined Sunday night in Game two seventy two, and you had a choice, have my banged up and most important players have a bye week or have my entire team on short rest having played Monday night, And he chose the ladder rather than the former, and I think it's a mistake, and so I love who they are. Offensively, golf has been sensational. The running game hasn't really been hurt by Montgomery being out because Gibbs is so good. I give them full credit, but that Niners team has struggled to look like that offensively all year, and Jill Purdy gave the game away the Niners seam wheres moving the ball up and down the field. I think Sam Darnold's going to do the same thing. And then in round one they'll either be facing the Rams or the Bucks, either.

Ton of what Dan Campbell has done and has brought to that organization. He's obviously a very good head coach. Not taking anything away from him. However, his decision to play as guys last night was objectively a mistake. You are now in one of the highest leverage regular season games. Ever, as far as it's impact on who can win the Super Bowl, one seed or five seed will be determined Sunday night in Game two seventy two, and you had a choice, have my banged up and most important players have a bye week or have my entire team on short rest having played Monday night, And he chose the ladder rather than the former, and I think it's a mistake, and so I love who they are. Offensively, golf has been sensational. The running game hasn't really been hurt by Montgomery being out because Gibbs is so good. I give them full credit, but that Niners team has struggled to look like that offensively all year, and Jill Purdy gave the game away the Niners seam wheres moving the ball up and down the field. I think Sam Darnold's going to do the same thing. And then in round one they'll either be facing the Rams or the Bucks, either.

Of whom can move the ball. By the way, the Bucks beating them this year.

Of whom can move the ball. By the way, the Bucks beating them this year.

The Rams took them to overtime this year, and that's when the team was whole and healthy. So I think Detroit's had an awesome season that unfortunately is going to end quickly because of all the defensive injuries. And I think Dan playing the players last night was a big mistake.

The Rams took them to overtime this year, and that's when the team was whole and healthy. So I think Detroit's had an awesome season that unfortunately is going to end quickly because of all the defensive injuries. And I think Dan playing the players last night was a big mistake.

I tend to see myself as an ambassador of goodwill. Glass half full Colin optimist. Every morning I get labeled as a mean rock Purty guy. But to me, first half a script, second half is talent. Rock Purty is now a bad second half quarterback, and I'm supposed to pay him early and fifty million. I don't understand it. What am I seeing that nobody else is. I mean, you and I were both very hesitant on the Dak deal, and we're right. I mean, I don't think Perty's as good as Dak. Now what do you make of this idea that you have to pay him early?

I tend to see myself as an ambassador of goodwill. Glass half full Colin optimist. Every morning I get labeled as a mean rock Purty guy. But to me, first half a script, second half is talent. Rock Purty is now a bad second half quarterback, and I'm supposed to pay him early and fifty million. I don't understand it. What am I seeing that nobody else is. I mean, you and I were both very hesitant on the Dak deal, and we're right. I mean, I don't think Perty's as good as Dak. Now what do you make of this idea that you have to pay him early?

No, it's at this point, it'd be insane at this especially with him, and I understand, we hope, and it looks like that injury last night is not us very significant one. But it's a reminder that this is an undersized player who has suffered, you know, one major injury in his career, has been banged up a few other times in a relatively small career sample, and all year long. Last year you and I said, listen, you can't deny the production. I do question how much of it is coaching talent and circumstances, and what would he look like in a league average situation. And amazingly he got dropped into a league average situation this year, and now they're six and ten. He wants this is the third straight week Colin people act like this was season from hell.

No, it's at this point, it'd be insane at this especially with him, and I understand, we hope, and it looks like that injury last night is not us very significant one. But it's a reminder that this is an undersized player who has suffered, you know, one major injury in his career, has been banged up a few other times in a relatively small career sample, and all year long. Last year you and I said, listen, you can't deny the production. I do question how much of it is coaching talent and circumstances, and what would he look like in a league average situation. And amazingly he got dropped into a league average situation this year, and now they're six and ten. He wants this is the third straight week Colin people act like this was season from hell.

It wasn't. Didn't start that way.

It wasn't. Didn't start that way.

They were four and four going into the by After the buye they beat Tampa, their best win of the year, they were a game out of first place, and then the last three weeks, starting with the playoffs on the line against the Rams, down three fourth quarter infield goal range, late throws, the game losing pick last week when they'd already been eliminated from the playoffs, but still he's playing down five two minute warning on the other side of the plus side of the fifty chance to go win the game. Pick last night, leading the game throws, after playing awesome for the first half, awesome throws a terrible interception, and then once again fourth quarter down less than seven chance to win the game or at least go take the lead, probably too early to.

They were four and four going into the by After the buye they beat Tampa, their best win of the year, they were a game out of first place, and then the last three weeks, starting with the playoffs on the line against the Rams, down three fourth quarter infield goal range, late throws, the game losing pick last week when they'd already been eliminated from the playoffs, but still he's playing down five two minute warning on the other side of the plus side of the fifty chance to go win the game. Pick last night, leading the game throws, after playing awesome for the first half, awesome throws a terrible interception, and then once again fourth quarter down less than seven chance to win the game or at least go take the lead, probably too early to.

Win the game. Pick. He is who we thought he was, and I think the Niners know it too. So I don't know that the Niners.

Win the game. Pick. He is who we thought he was, and I think the Niners know it too. So I don't know that the Niners.

Are gonna, you know, offer your guys Sam Darnold a huge deal. I don't know that they're going to spend a ton of money at the quarterback position. Here's what I could see them doing, telling Brock Purdy, yet, listen, you're under contract and you did not have a good year three, so we're not going to pay you after year three. And oh, by the way, as it happens, Kyle Shanahan's long lost love Kirk Cousins is going to come play for a million bucks as well.

Are gonna, you know, offer your guys Sam Darnold a huge deal. I don't know that they're going to spend a ton of money at the quarterback position. Here's what I could see them doing, telling Brock Purdy, yet, listen, you're under contract and you did not have a good year three, so we're not going to pay you after year three. And oh, by the way, as it happens, Kyle Shanahan's long lost love Kirk Cousins is going to come play for a million bucks as well.

Don't worry, He's just going to back you up.

Don't worry, He's just going to back you up.

We'll see.

We'll see.

So yeah, I think the idea of Brock Purty getting the Tua or Trevor deal, even if he has accomplished more than both of those players, went out in the window this past month.

So yeah, I think the idea of Brock Purty getting the Tua or Trevor deal, even if he has accomplished more than both of those players, went out in the window this past month.

So I showed this earlier. It's easy to blame Mike McCarthy, but I showed this earlier. We have a graphic. I said, if you take the two best rosters in the NFC, I won't even count the AFC. I'll just go NFC. And I put the Lions and Eagles best players just offense, because it's an offensive league, even the Chiefs. At some point you have to it's hard to make stops. Sure, And I put it on the screen there and only two Cowboys would be considered. Zach Martin is now old, injured and very expensive. I'd pass because the two other guards are great, and Ceedee Lamb is not omor On Saint Brown as a slot or AJ Brown is an X receiver and we're blaming McCarthy. So maybe you could squeeze in Cede Lamb.

So I showed this earlier. It's easy to blame Mike McCarthy, but I showed this earlier. We have a graphic. I said, if you take the two best rosters in the NFC, I won't even count the AFC. I'll just go NFC. And I put the Lions and Eagles best players just offense, because it's an offensive league, even the Chiefs. At some point you have to it's hard to make stops. Sure, And I put it on the screen there and only two Cowboys would be considered. Zach Martin is now old, injured and very expensive. I'd pass because the two other guards are great, and Ceedee Lamb is not omor On Saint Brown as a slot or AJ Brown is an X receiver and we're blaming McCarthy. So maybe you could squeeze in Cede Lamb.

But my take is Ceedee Lamb in over a Monross Saint Brown. But aside from that, I agree with everything that you got there. Go ahead, And that's an upstairs problem. That's a scout problem, that's a general manager problem. Andy Reid is not beating the Eagles and Lions with that in an offensive league. Why not keep Mike McCarthy.

But my take is Ceedee Lamb in over a Monross Saint Brown. But aside from that, I agree with everything that you got there. Go ahead, And that's an upstairs problem. That's a scout problem, that's a general manager problem. Andy Reid is not beating the Eagles and Lions with that in an offensive league. Why not keep Mike McCarthy.

Well, I think your points well taken.

Well, I think your points well taken.

But the reason I have two significant reasons I wouldn't keep Mike McCarthy. One is I think tangible, and one is more kind of intangible. The tangible one is this, you have to make some type of seismic change, and it's the only one you can. You just signed the quarterback. There's only there's really only three major moves a team can make. One is front office change. Well, in Dallas, front office is ownership. So that is status quo. Another is quarterback. Well, in Dallas, they just re signed the quarterback to the biggest deal in NFL history. This past offseason hasn't even kicked in yet, so that can't change.

But the reason I have two significant reasons I wouldn't keep Mike McCarthy. One is I think tangible, and one is more kind of intangible. The tangible one is this, you have to make some type of seismic change, and it's the only one you can. You just signed the quarterback. There's only there's really only three major moves a team can make. One is front office change. Well, in Dallas, front office is ownership. So that is status quo. Another is quarterback. Well, in Dallas, they just re signed the quarterback to the biggest deal in NFL history. This past offseason hasn't even kicked in yet, so that can't change.

The other is head coach.

The other is head coach.

And I so even if Mike McCarthy is not the culprits here, it's the only chance they have at really shaking things up. So I would go try to get Mike Rabel, who with a quarterback worse than Dak Prescott, made a conference title game and then after that they won eleven and five, twelve and five, and he was the one seed with Ryan Tannehill.

And I so even if Mike McCarthy is not the culprits here, it's the only chance they have at really shaking things up. So I would go try to get Mike Rabel, who with a quarterback worse than Dak Prescott, made a conference title game and then after that they won eleven and five, twelve and five, and he was the one seed with Ryan Tannehill.

I would go try to do that.

I would go try to do that.

The other reason I would move on from McCarthy is it's very weird how we kind of do the coaching math, which is, let's say Dak never got hurt, and this Cowboys team was, right now, a twelve and four team, you know that was locked into the wildcart, right, and then they lost their first playoff game. Everyone would say you have to fire McCarthy because, like and so now that was the standard going into this year was can't fall flat on your face in the playoffs, Yeah, because they were so bad, never even got a chance to see him in the playoffs. So now it's like the McCarthy expectation clock has fully reset to where next year, this year, they're sub five hundred if he keeps his job. Next year if they go ten and seven and get the seven of the playoffs. So we're like, hey, Improvement, definitely keep his job, and we're just back to where we thought we were this year, like in twenty twenty six. So I, even if I don't think he's done a terrible job, I have to change something significant. I can't change the front office, I can't change the quarterback, so I might have to change coach.

The other reason I would move on from McCarthy is it's very weird how we kind of do the coaching math, which is, let's say Dak never got hurt, and this Cowboys team was, right now, a twelve and four team, you know that was locked into the wildcart, right, and then they lost their first playoff game. Everyone would say you have to fire McCarthy because, like and so now that was the standard going into this year was can't fall flat on your face in the playoffs, Yeah, because they were so bad, never even got a chance to see him in the playoffs. So now it's like the McCarthy expectation clock has fully reset to where next year, this year, they're sub five hundred if he keeps his job. Next year if they go ten and seven and get the seven of the playoffs. So we're like, hey, Improvement, definitely keep his job, and we're just back to where we thought we were this year, like in twenty twenty six. So I, even if I don't think he's done a terrible job, I have to change something significant. I can't change the front office, I can't change the quarterback, so I might have to change coach.

So you know that when you and I believe in something like you for years, believe that the Buffalo Bills would beat themselves, and America attacks you, it's hard not to when you're proven right, to just not explode with joy and remind.

So you know that when you and I believe in something like you for years, believe that the Buffalo Bills would beat themselves, and America attacks you, it's hard not to when you're proven right, to just not explode with joy and remind.

You, especially when you're a tax for relentlessly called a hater, called all these things, and then you're just showing proven right.

You, especially when you're a tax for relentlessly called a hater, called all these things, and then you're just showing proven right.

Yeah, so go ahead.

Yeah, so go ahead.

For six years, I was mocked, ridiculed, and it was hurtful, and I kept saying Sam Darnold can play the Panthers and the Jets are dysfunctional, and so I'm trying not to have confirmation bias. But he may be having one of the great seasons in the last decade. Now, I'm not denying Kevin O'Connell the receiving crew, but I think about this, Nick. The Vikings have never gotten a ring, and it matters. If they were the Packers, you could say, hey, we know quarterbacks, We'll let him go. We're gonna go with JJ McCarthy because they got rings and they've proven they can do that. Vikings don't Super Bowl losers like the Bills. How do you let Sam leave? How do you let the greatest year ever for a Vikings quarterback walk out the door?

For six years, I was mocked, ridiculed, and it was hurtful, and I kept saying Sam Darnold can play the Panthers and the Jets are dysfunctional, and so I'm trying not to have confirmation bias. But he may be having one of the great seasons in the last decade. Now, I'm not denying Kevin O'Connell the receiving crew, but I think about this, Nick. The Vikings have never gotten a ring, and it matters. If they were the Packers, you could say, hey, we know quarterbacks, We'll let him go. We're gonna go with JJ McCarthy because they got rings and they've proven they can do that. Vikings don't Super Bowl losers like the Bills. How do you let Sam leave? How do you let the greatest year ever for a Vikings quarterback walk out the door?

So I at this point, barring a true collapse, and by collapse, I mean they lose in Week eighteen and then just look awful in the first playoff game, I don't think they'll let him leave.

So I at this point, barring a true collapse, and by collapse, I mean they lose in Week eighteen and then just look awful in the first playoff game, I don't think they'll let him leave.

Now.

Now.

I don't know that they'll do what I'm sure he would like them to do, which is give him a real contract. And I don't think he would accept the Geno or the Baker contract, which leaves us with the always unfair to the player. But the NFL will never get rid of it franchise tag to me, we are we are moving rapidly down that path. Now listen, if they make the super Bowl, then I think, which by the way, I think they can do. I think they're going to be the one seed and they can make the super Bowl, then we talk long term contract.

I don't know that they'll do what I'm sure he would like them to do, which is give him a real contract. And I don't think he would accept the Geno or the Baker contract, which leaves us with the always unfair to the player. But the NFL will never get rid of it franchise tag to me, we are we are moving rapidly down that path. Now listen, if they make the super Bowl, then I think, which by the way, I think they can do. I think they're going to be the one seed and they can make the super Bowl, then we talk long term contract.

But if this playoff run ends the way I think.

But if this playoff run ends the way I think.

Vegas thinks it will, which is in either the divisional round or the conference championship round, I think Sam Darnold gets franchise tag one year, forty two million dollars. And you tell JJ McCarthy, hey, it's a good thing we drafted you at twenty years old because you're still be young when you finally get to.

Vegas thinks it will, which is in either the divisional round or the conference championship round, I think Sam Darnold gets franchise tag one year, forty two million dollars. And you tell JJ McCarthy, hey, it's a good thing we drafted you at twenty years old because you're still be young when you finally get to.

Play, and we figure that out.

Play, and we figure that out.

The part that I.

The part that I.

And I saw you do this yesterday.

And I saw you do this yesterday.

This is what I want to say about Donald and kind of a media criticism at large. I think NFL media and I'm included in that, we do the MVP discussion really poorly, which is we started so early that by week ten or eleven, it's almost like, hey, here are the three or four eligible parties for MVP of the league, and then it's an argument amongst them. Sam Donald two weeks ago, had the play of his life to beat Seattle and stepped up in the pocket past Justin Jefferson a brilliant game to keep Minnesota live for the one seed. Sam Donald last week played a nearly perfect game of football, made the one mistake with the pick, responded immediately with a great drive to keep Minnesota life for the one seat. If you put his numbers up to honestly any quarterback in the league, Lamar Jackson included, it's not like it's a ten to eight round. And other than Lamar, he compares favorably to just about every quarterback that we're discussing for this. If they beat Detroit and the Vikings are fifteen and two and this guy's numbers are what they are, it is a reasonable take to say Sam Darnold should be League MVP in the same vein that, Hey, I still don't know how it happened, but rich Gannon was a league and it should be like there are some guys that don't have this, Like, look at those numbers, and everyone talks about that. You know, Lamar's having one of the greatest seasons ever, and by the way, he is, but those numbers are similar and obviously his numbers are far superior to Josh's.

This is what I want to say about Donald and kind of a media criticism at large. I think NFL media and I'm included in that, we do the MVP discussion really poorly, which is we started so early that by week ten or eleven, it's almost like, hey, here are the three or four eligible parties for MVP of the league, and then it's an argument amongst them. Sam Donald two weeks ago, had the play of his life to beat Seattle and stepped up in the pocket past Justin Jefferson a brilliant game to keep Minnesota live for the one seed. Sam Donald last week played a nearly perfect game of football, made the one mistake with the pick, responded immediately with a great drive to keep Minnesota life for the one seat. If you put his numbers up to honestly any quarterback in the league, Lamar Jackson included, it's not like it's a ten to eight round. And other than Lamar, he compares favorably to just about every quarterback that we're discussing for this. If they beat Detroit and the Vikings are fifteen and two and this guy's numbers are what they are, it is a reasonable take to say Sam Darnold should be League MVP in the same vein that, Hey, I still don't know how it happened, but rich Gannon was a league and it should be like there are some guys that don't have this, Like, look at those numbers, and everyone talks about that. You know, Lamar's having one of the greatest seasons ever, and by the way, he is, but those numbers are similar and obviously his numbers are far superior to Josh's.

So I just I think it's you.

So I just I think it's you.

If you were to all of a sudden, dude, the Sam Donald should be MVP, people will just say, ah, Colin, you're a Sam Donald homer, which you, by the way, are. However, if it were a fair argument, if the Vikings win fifteen games when they were projected to win six, and it's because he has forty four hundred yards, thirty eight touchdowns and is on a heater at the end of the year, that's got to count for something.

If you were to all of a sudden, dude, the Sam Donald should be MVP, people will just say, ah, Colin, you're a Sam Donald homer, which you, by the way, are. However, if it were a fair argument, if the Vikings win fifteen games when they were projected to win six, and it's because he has forty four hundred yards, thirty eight touchdowns and is on a heater at the end of the year, that's got to count for something.

Yeah, I think you even have to consider that Baltimore and Buffalo have better rosters than Sam Donald. Sam Donald has the better receiving corps, but so do. I mean, let Joe Burrell's got a receiving corps that's remarkable. He may not make the playoffs, probably won't. So yeah, it's one of those things where I just know the Bills not beating Kansas City has been your thing Donald. I can't quit him, and I will say this well, as I've aged, it does make me happy. I always feel like I've been lucky, I've landed with good bosses. I think it's a shame I think it's really cool that Baker and Sam and I like Baker, have both landed with a great offensive mind. And it just shows that if you keep your head down, you grind, eventually you'll find your king maker. That's kind of my take.

Yeah, I think you even have to consider that Baltimore and Buffalo have better rosters than Sam Donald. Sam Donald has the better receiving corps, but so do. I mean, let Joe Burrell's got a receiving corps that's remarkable. He may not make the playoffs, probably won't. So yeah, it's one of those things where I just know the Bills not beating Kansas City has been your thing Donald. I can't quit him, and I will say this well, as I've aged, it does make me happy. I always feel like I've been lucky, I've landed with good bosses. I think it's a shame I think it's really cool that Baker and Sam and I like Baker, have both landed with a great offensive mind. And it just shows that if you keep your head down, you grind, eventually you'll find your king maker. That's kind of my take.

Yeah, I think that's very wise words.

Yeah, I think that's very wise words.

But you did just there maybe accidentally put into the universe. And I know you like Baker, and I know you two have you know, you know, come to terms after what was a rocky beginning of your relationship. You did just put out into the sports ether the Nightmare Cowherd scenario, which is Bucks Vikings round one and Bake show.

But you did just there maybe accidentally put into the universe. And I know you like Baker, and I know you two have you know, you know, come to terms after what was a rocky beginning of your relationship. You did just put out into the sports ether the Nightmare Cowherd scenario, which is Bucks Vikings round one and Bake show.

Kicks Arnold right out of the playoffs.

Kicks Arnold right out of the playoffs.

That is a four or five that we could see in the Vikings lose on Sunday night and Baker is planting his flag midfield at Tampa and Sam is sad you don't want to deal with that, and that is a friend.

That is a four or five that we could see in the Vikings lose on Sunday night and Baker is planting his flag midfield at Tampa and Sam is sad you don't want to deal with that, and that is a friend.

I can hear the cough coming, the chest congestion coming. I'm a little sick for that.

I can hear the cough coming, the chest congestion coming. I'm a little sick for that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Absolutely, make first things first, good seeing you, buddy, that would you know? I Baker Mayfield somebody asked him recently about me, and he said, we're frenemies. Is that I offered him a job at my company. I said, I think you'd be a great podcaster. I told you, I think he could be one of the great college football guys of all time. I think he's really, really talented. And I am happy because I feel I've had the good fortune over thirty years of doing this as I've not always had great bosses, but I've had a couple of really good ones. And there's only so much you can do justin Herbert, There's only so much you can do on just sheer talent. You eventually need a kingmaker. You eventually need somebody that can get you to a place that you can't get by yourself, because none of us can get there. So it does make me happy that Baker go great GM in Tampa. Mike Evans really good running game. I mean, they've got like three running backs I like. And it's like Baker and Sam are both proving keep your head down, grind at it, keep working your butt off. You will eventually get a great boss. You will eventually get one.

Absolutely, make first things first, good seeing you, buddy, that would you know? I Baker Mayfield somebody asked him recently about me, and he said, we're frenemies. Is that I offered him a job at my company. I said, I think you'd be a great podcaster. I told you, I think he could be one of the great college football guys of all time. I think he's really, really talented. And I am happy because I feel I've had the good fortune over thirty years of doing this as I've not always had great bosses, but I've had a couple of really good ones. And there's only so much you can do justin Herbert, There's only so much you can do on just sheer talent. You eventually need a kingmaker. You eventually need somebody that can get you to a place that you can't get by yourself, because none of us can get there. So it does make me happy that Baker go great GM in Tampa. Mike Evans really good running game. I mean, they've got like three running backs I like. And it's like Baker and Sam are both proving keep your head down, grind at it, keep working your butt off. You will eventually get a great boss. You will eventually get one.

I mean that's crazy.

I mean that's crazy.

So Baker basically at the option of the a podcaster or one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFC, and he decided to be like a good quarterback. I mean, honestly, you look at the NFC, he's up there. Oh there's no I mean, like everybody loves Jared Goff.

So Baker basically at the option of the a podcaster or one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFC, and he decided to be like a good quarterback. I mean, honestly, you look at the NFC, he's up there. Oh there's no I mean, like everybody loves Jared Goff.

I get it.

I get it.

If we switch golf and Baker.

If we switch golf and Baker.

That Baker goes to the Lions, that Golf goes to well, no, no, they're they're I mean it's Jalen Hurts in the NFC is Jayden Daniels.

That Baker goes to the Lions, that Golf goes to well, no, no, they're they're I mean it's Jalen Hurts in the NFC is Jayden Daniels.

I think. I think golf is less reckless and a better so it's a prettier deep ball. But Bake I said this when I was criticizing Baker. Oh yeah, he's one of the twenty best quarterbacks in the world, even it is low point.

I think. I think golf is less reckless and a better so it's a prettier deep ball. But Bake I said this when I was criticizing Baker. Oh yeah, he's one of the twenty best quarterbacks in the world, even it is low point.

Well, that's not saying much.

Well, that's not saying much.

I mean, well, by the way, Aaron Rodgers is about eighteenth right now, and the Jets are going to bring him Backarris.

I mean, well, by the way, Aaron Rodgers is about eighteenth right now, and the Jets are going to bring him Backarris.

Colin eighteenth, Dak or Aaron Rodgers next year?

Colin eighteenth, Dak or Aaron Rodgers next year?

Who you got?

Who you got?

Well, I don't have to pay Aaron as much, so I would take Aaron for me.

Well, I don't have to pay Aaron as much, so I would take Aaron for me.

You're paying with the headaches.

You're paying with the headaches.

Yeah, but I call the nonsense. There's no nonsense with Dak. He's getting hurt a lot, and every time he gets hurt and comes out he's less of a player. Listen, I've come to terms with Aaron.

Yeah, but I call the nonsense. There's no nonsense with Dak. He's getting hurt a lot, and every time he gets hurt and comes out he's less of a player. Listen, I've come to terms with Aaron.

Are you a Brock Party or Aaron Rodgers next year?

Are you a Brock Party or Aaron Rodgers next year?

Because well, Brock Purty is free, so I take Brock. I mean, if you're.

Because well, Brock Purty is free, so I take Brock. I mean, if you're.

Free, I'm long. He's not free for long man. You know, big year for Brock. He's in a contract year, so were you?

Free, I'm long. He's not free for long man. You know, big year for Brock. He's in a contract year, so were you?

Souch.

Souch.

Let's get a lot of interesting stuff happening.

Let's get a lot of interesting stuff happening.

I'm being franchise tagged.

I'm being franchise tagged.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon eastern non a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon eastern non a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

I've called him the Bill Parcells of college football. I've always said it's much more difficult to rebuild quickly at multiple places than to build a great power. That's nothing against Nick Saban or any coach that's done that, but Urban Meyer, Bowling, Green, Utah, Florida obviously, and Ohio State. So what a pleasure to have US Sports kind of the voice of college football with Joel Klatt and others. So let's just Nick Saban said this week he goes you Buckeye fans got to get therapy on Michigan and I looked at it. Ohio State's forty four and four against everybody else in one and four against Michigan. Is it fair to say right now and it's been reversed Michigan's in the Buckeyes head a little bit.

I've called him the Bill Parcells of college football. I've always said it's much more difficult to rebuild quickly at multiple places than to build a great power. That's nothing against Nick Saban or any coach that's done that, but Urban Meyer, Bowling, Green, Utah, Florida obviously, and Ohio State. So what a pleasure to have US Sports kind of the voice of college football with Joel Klatt and others. So let's just Nick Saban said this week he goes you Buckeye fans got to get therapy on Michigan and I looked at it. Ohio State's forty four and four against everybody else in one and four against Michigan. Is it fair to say right now and it's been reversed Michigan's in the Buckeyes head a little bit.

It's very fair.

It's very fair.

Obviously, it's happened in the last four years after a dominant run, and it's got to get you know, it's got to get changed. And I hear people say that there's too much emphasis on the game, and that's you know, I grew up in right outside Cleveland, Ohio the game. I grew up in the ten year War with Bow and Woody. So that's the way it is that Ohio State and it will never change. So when someone says they need to back off that game, I'm like, they don't have to back up off the game.

Obviously, it's happened in the last four years after a dominant run, and it's got to get you know, it's got to get changed. And I hear people say that there's too much emphasis on the game, and that's you know, I grew up in right outside Cleveland, Ohio the game. I grew up in the ten year War with Bow and Woody. So that's the way it is that Ohio State and it will never change. So when someone says they need to back off that game, I'm like, they don't have to back up off the game.

Just gonna win that game.

Just gonna win that game.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

People say that when they lose it. When they win it, nobody says that. I think Oregon's the fastest team in college football, But in my life I don't remember a mediocre to below average defensive team winning a Natty. I think it comes down to I love the Texas defense, the Buckeye defense. Penn State's defense, Notre Dames defense. I don't and I love Oregon and I said they're gonna Oregon's gonna beat them. I said this before the season. They're gonna be Ohio State at Opson. They're going to lose in a rematch. I just question Oregon's defense. They'll score, but I watched Penn State do it. I watched the Ohio State, I watched Boise State. What do you make of Oregon's defense is a personnel issue.

People say that when they lose it. When they win it, nobody says that. I think Oregon's the fastest team in college football, But in my life I don't remember a mediocre to below average defensive team winning a Natty. I think it comes down to I love the Texas defense, the Buckeye defense. Penn State's defense, Notre Dames defense. I don't and I love Oregon and I said they're gonna Oregon's gonna beat them. I said this before the season. They're gonna be Ohio State at Opson. They're going to lose in a rematch. I just question Oregon's defense. They'll score, but I watched Penn State do it. I watched the Ohio State, I watched Boise State. What do you make of Oregon's defense is a personnel issue.

Why I love their coordinator, toash To Lapois was actually all my staff one time, and I think he's one of the great motivators. I love their defensive line. But you know what they got exposed against Penn State. I'm actually going to talk on the Big Ten Network about that briefly, that the Q run game exposed them in Ohio State's not done a lot of Q run game. If I'm watching that, Chip Kelly and that staff watching what Penn State did with a non dual threat player and Drew Aller, they ripped them up and down the field a little bit with the Q run game. And then Pribila came in playing the Q run game. It's an equalizer, it's where you read a defender for it's spread option. So you're going to read a defensive end and you put you know, you people have to make judgments and you equate numbers. You can't load the box because you're always reading one defender. And they did that with Drew Aller, drewe Eller. Will Howard's an excellent runner, so I would anticipate I would see some of that. Going back to Oregon's defense, though, I got a little more confidence Oregon's defense. You watch them in some of those games. They had ten sax agons Washington. The defensive line plays with great effort. I really admire their coordinator. I think they'll play better in this game against a hot state.