Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox 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 Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowhert on Fox Sports Radio.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowhert on Fox Sports Radio.

Welcome in live in Los Angeles. It's the Hurt wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. A lot going on, very exciting show. Jmac, I'm gonna do a little story. I'm gonna tell a little story. And I've told this, I think I wrote about this in one of my books, but I want to tell a little story about years and years ago. My first job out of college was in Vegas, and I sat down. I don't play video poker. I don't play poker at all, little blackjack, So I sat down. Union Plaza was the casino, and it's going to take a few minutes. So I'm in Vegas, out of college, starving, and my boss at the time, Dawn was his name, he took me to a big sales call, but he said, it's like the vice president of the casino, and he said, you're like an intern. You know, you're like fresh out of college. So you stay down here. And you know, it was noon, so I ordered a diet coke and I sat, you know, talking to the bartender, not drinking. And I sat next to a guy who had just sold ten twenty TV radio stations, a Texan Arkansas, Texas guy. He looked like the Marlborough Man, looked like he had a lot of money, white shirt, good looking, square job, his watch costs more than my car. And over the course of time, at like thirty minutes, I was just kind of like trying to start up conversation. I was very annoying, even more so than now. And I said, I asked about his life story, and he was waiting for somebody to come pick him up, and they were late, so he was just sitting there playing it and looking out at the kind of the valet. And I asked for advice. I said, you've obviously a very successful guy. Played to his vanity a little bit, and I said, give me some advice. I'm like twenty one year old kid from rural Washington now in Vegas in sales. I want to do play by play, and you know, he went on and on and on, and he talked about, you know, there's kind of two types of people, and he gave me an example. And this was at a time where a million dollars was a lot. This is like thirty five years ago, see sixty almost forty years ago. I remember it very I remember what he was wearing, very tanned, looked like he'd vacationed a lot in his life, but worked hard. And he said, you know, there's kind of two types of and do it. Test Tell somebody, uh, I just made a million dollars, and see how they react. He goes, there's two types of people. They'll be like, wow, how'd you do it? And they want to be part of something new and fun and exciting. And then half the people will go, no, you didn't, yeah right, sure, and dejectedly walk off. He goes, you don't want to be around those people. You want to be around people that want to be part of something fun and new because life's changing. And I always remember that conversation. Some people just want to go to the country club and hang out with the same guys every night and complain about life and play bridge. That's fine. I have tried to surround myself with young people, part of something new and fun. Don't be threatened by change. Don't be threatened by new join the party. Not everything new is great, but don't be negative all the time. And I think about this because I saw this last night. I sent it to my producer Ryan. The college football season preview from stub Hub shows forty two. That's not a small number. Forty two percent growth in ticket sales and college football this season, forty two percent, most of it fueled by the new matchups created by conference realignment. Aren't you kind of embarrassed? Old guy playing bridge tonight? N I l pack twelve conference realignments the end of times. I'm exhausted for you politics, sports, terrified of anything new. Smile, Embrace something that's a challenge. You could fail at pack twelve stadiums. I grew up with them. Cal against Washington State, it's empty. You know what won't be Oregon against Ohio State, Penn State, USC stadiums won't be empty. The nil Well, yeah, why not pay the players? Everybody else is getting rich? How about the employees making a little money transfer portal. Five of the last seven Heisman winners are transfers. It's not the end of the world. The guys transferring are just like you, transferring for a better job, more respect, little better pay. That's why we all transfer in life. It's just not called a portal. I'm not trying to lecture you, but the constant, perpetual negativity and fear of change. Forty two percent growth in ticket sales, mostly because of conference realignment Texas Oklahoma to the Sez, Oregon, Washington, SCUCLA to the Pack to the Big Ten. It's exhausting. New stuff is fun. Think about this, only fifth Dean college football programs. Of one hundred what thirty five Division I programs in the last decade, only fifteen made the playoffs. That's just not inclusive enough. Invite new people to an occasional party. Let your wife make the list, right, Let her invite some people you don't know, not the same old guys playing bridge. I was told the transfer portal Christian McCaffrey skipping a bowl game, the nil conference realignment, it was going to ruin the sport. I've never in my life been more excited for college football. I cannot wait. Week zero starts in what ten days? How can you not be excited about it? Oregon hosting Ohio State Penn State USC. You don't have to wait once a decade for a Rose Bowl matchup Michigan USC, like week two? How are you not excited for that? Do not?

Welcome in live in Los Angeles. It's the Hurt wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. A lot going on, very exciting show. Jmac, I'm gonna do a little story. I'm gonna tell a little story. And I've told this, I think I wrote about this in one of my books, but I want to tell a little story about years and years ago. My first job out of college was in Vegas, and I sat down. I don't play video poker. I don't play poker at all, little blackjack, So I sat down. Union Plaza was the casino, and it's going to take a few minutes. So I'm in Vegas, out of college, starving, and my boss at the time, Dawn was his name, he took me to a big sales call, but he said, it's like the vice president of the casino, and he said, you're like an intern. You know, you're like fresh out of college. So you stay down here. And you know, it was noon, so I ordered a diet coke and I sat, you know, talking to the bartender, not drinking. And I sat next to a guy who had just sold ten twenty TV radio stations, a Texan Arkansas, Texas guy. He looked like the Marlborough Man, looked like he had a lot of money, white shirt, good looking, square job, his watch costs more than my car. And over the course of time, at like thirty minutes, I was just kind of like trying to start up conversation. I was very annoying, even more so than now. And I said, I asked about his life story, and he was waiting for somebody to come pick him up, and they were late, so he was just sitting there playing it and looking out at the kind of the valet. And I asked for advice. I said, you've obviously a very successful guy. Played to his vanity a little bit, and I said, give me some advice. I'm like twenty one year old kid from rural Washington now in Vegas in sales. I want to do play by play, and you know, he went on and on and on, and he talked about, you know, there's kind of two types of people, and he gave me an example. And this was at a time where a million dollars was a lot. This is like thirty five years ago, see sixty almost forty years ago. I remember it very I remember what he was wearing, very tanned, looked like he'd vacationed a lot in his life, but worked hard. And he said, you know, there's kind of two types of and do it. Test Tell somebody, uh, I just made a million dollars, and see how they react. He goes, there's two types of people. They'll be like, wow, how'd you do it? And they want to be part of something new and fun and exciting. And then half the people will go, no, you didn't, yeah right, sure, and dejectedly walk off. He goes, you don't want to be around those people. You want to be around people that want to be part of something fun and new because life's changing. And I always remember that conversation. Some people just want to go to the country club and hang out with the same guys every night and complain about life and play bridge. That's fine. I have tried to surround myself with young people, part of something new and fun. Don't be threatened by change. Don't be threatened by new join the party. Not everything new is great, but don't be negative all the time. And I think about this because I saw this last night. I sent it to my producer Ryan. The college football season preview from stub Hub shows forty two. That's not a small number. Forty two percent growth in ticket sales and college football this season, forty two percent, most of it fueled by the new matchups created by conference realignment. Aren't you kind of embarrassed? Old guy playing bridge tonight? N I l pack twelve conference realignments the end of times. I'm exhausted for you politics, sports, terrified of anything new. Smile, Embrace something that's a challenge. You could fail at pack twelve stadiums. I grew up with them. Cal against Washington State, it's empty. You know what won't be Oregon against Ohio State, Penn State, USC stadiums won't be empty. The nil Well, yeah, why not pay the players? Everybody else is getting rich? How about the employees making a little money transfer portal. Five of the last seven Heisman winners are transfers. It's not the end of the world. The guys transferring are just like you, transferring for a better job, more respect, little better pay. That's why we all transfer in life. It's just not called a portal. I'm not trying to lecture you, but the constant, perpetual negativity and fear of change. Forty two percent growth in ticket sales, mostly because of conference realignment Texas Oklahoma to the Sez, Oregon, Washington, SCUCLA to the Pack to the Big Ten. It's exhausting. New stuff is fun. Think about this, only fifth Dean college football programs. Of one hundred what thirty five Division I programs in the last decade, only fifteen made the playoffs. That's just not inclusive enough. Invite new people to an occasional party. Let your wife make the list, right, Let her invite some people you don't know, not the same old guys playing bridge. I was told the transfer portal Christian McCaffrey skipping a bowl game, the nil conference realignment, it was going to ruin the sport. I've never in my life been more excited for college football. I cannot wait. Week zero starts in what ten days? How can you not be excited about it? Oregon hosting Ohio State Penn State USC. You don't have to wait once a decade for a Rose Bowl matchup Michigan USC, like week two? How are you not excited for that? Do not?

You know?

You know?

Mister Rogers used to have a saying, he said, whenever you're a little kid. He used to talk to kids and say, find the helpers, Like if something happens you lose your mom in a department store, find the helpers in life. Find that fifty percent of the crowd that that rich cowboy at the Union Plaza in Vegas told me about. Find the fifty percent that want to join something new and fun and different. It's a better life, it's a happier life. Not trying to lecture, but college football is going to explode this year. Join the party. Don't complain about it? All right, So there's no reason to thump our chest on this. But you know you've heard of the gold medal count, the gold medal count, how about the television official count? The ratings are in Everything exploded in Paris, with one exception, women's basketball. The ratings couldn't even beat the Tokyo Olympics that happened during COVID. The men's with fading old stars Lebron Katie Steph got twenty million viewers, overdoubled the last Olympics. And it's Lebron and Steph and Katie. It's the old guys. People couldn't get enough. Break dancing was a hit, and yet the women who won gold attendance down, ratings flat. How everything else exploded because there was a giant wave in women's college basketball and they forgot their surfboard. Not only Caitlin Clark, but Angel Reese and Caitlin should have been on this team. Women's basketball had a moment and they couldn't meet it. The reality is they got too insular. They're too loyal to the niche women's basketball media. Stop it ruffle feathers. Who cares if you leave a couple of talented, albeit not that popular players off for Caitlin Clark, Team USA left Jalen Brown off this team and Isaiah Thomas on another team and put in Christian Laitner. Isaiah still pissed about it, Get over it. They won the goal best team. Ever, probably this was a moment, and I'm not here to lecture. We won, As I say on Mondays often, you know where Colin was right.

Mister Rogers used to have a saying, he said, whenever you're a little kid. He used to talk to kids and say, find the helpers, Like if something happens you lose your mom in a department store, find the helpers in life. Find that fifty percent of the crowd that that rich cowboy at the Union Plaza in Vegas told me about. Find the fifty percent that want to join something new and fun and different. It's a better life, it's a happier life. Not trying to lecture, but college football is going to explode this year. Join the party. Don't complain about it? All right, So there's no reason to thump our chest on this. But you know you've heard of the gold medal count, the gold medal count, how about the television official count? The ratings are in Everything exploded in Paris, with one exception, women's basketball. The ratings couldn't even beat the Tokyo Olympics that happened during COVID. The men's with fading old stars Lebron Katie Steph got twenty million viewers, overdoubled the last Olympics. And it's Lebron and Steph and Katie. It's the old guys. People couldn't get enough. Break dancing was a hit, and yet the women who won gold attendance down, ratings flat. How everything else exploded because there was a giant wave in women's college basketball and they forgot their surfboard. Not only Caitlin Clark, but Angel Reese and Caitlin should have been on this team. Women's basketball had a moment and they couldn't meet it. The reality is they got too insular. They're too loyal to the niche women's basketball media. Stop it ruffle feathers. Who cares if you leave a couple of talented, albeit not that popular players off for Caitlin Clark, Team USA left Jalen Brown off this team and Isaiah Thomas on another team and put in Christian Laitner. Isaiah still pissed about it, Get over it. They won the goal best team. Ever, probably this was a moment, and I'm not here to lecture. We won, As I say on Mondays often, you know where Colin was right.

Where Colin was very right.

Where Colin was very right.

Yeah, I was very But it's no need to bang on women's basketball. This is a teaching moment. Is that you've heard of that saying a disruptor like Caitlin Clark was the disruptor. Connor McGregor kind of ended boxing. Nobody wanted to watch boxing, and Dana White lean into it. Yes, sometimes Connor was inappropriate and did dumb things, and Bryce Harper fought with teammates. But when you get these moments, here comes the wave. Grab your surf forward right it. Don't get don't get insular, don't get precious. Don't lecture us that we didn't watch the sport. Everything in Paris exploded except women's basketball. And now the Premier League starts Friday. College football ten days out. Dodgers Yankees will headline a very interesting baseball postseason, NFL preseason, and the WNBA. It'll be off the agenda. I spent all summer talking women's basketball. It's crazy. We were like, this is amazing, this is fascinating, Caitlin Clark is Taylor Swift and sneakers and now it it's over. Nobody's gonna care, so there's no reason to pound our chest or lecture. But it was a moment, it was your time. Well, we only had a few practices. Christian Leitner wasn't even in the NBA yet, this was it. Anecdotally, I watched twelve minutes of the women's team the Japan game. They had one player over six to one, and I thought they're going to cruise, and they mostly did one close game, but breakdancing exploded. This should have been. This should have been the Olympics of Katie Ledecki, Simone Biles and the women's basketball team, and it was the only thing that was flat or down from Tokyo. Caitlyn Clark now trying to drum up interest in the Yankee Booth recently over the weekend, talking about not being picked.

Yeah, I was very But it's no need to bang on women's basketball. This is a teaching moment. Is that you've heard of that saying a disruptor like Caitlin Clark was the disruptor. Connor McGregor kind of ended boxing. Nobody wanted to watch boxing, and Dana White lean into it. Yes, sometimes Connor was inappropriate and did dumb things, and Bryce Harper fought with teammates. But when you get these moments, here comes the wave. Grab your surf forward right it. Don't get don't get insular, don't get precious. Don't lecture us that we didn't watch the sport. Everything in Paris exploded except women's basketball. And now the Premier League starts Friday. College football ten days out. Dodgers Yankees will headline a very interesting baseball postseason, NFL preseason, and the WNBA. It'll be off the agenda. I spent all summer talking women's basketball. It's crazy. We were like, this is amazing, this is fascinating, Caitlin Clark is Taylor Swift and sneakers and now it it's over. Nobody's gonna care, so there's no reason to pound our chest or lecture. But it was a moment, it was your time. Well, we only had a few practices. Christian Leitner wasn't even in the NBA yet, this was it. Anecdotally, I watched twelve minutes of the women's team the Japan game. They had one player over six to one, and I thought they're going to cruise, and they mostly did one close game, but breakdancing exploded. This should have been. This should have been the Olympics of Katie Ledecki, Simone Biles and the women's basketball team, and it was the only thing that was flat or down from Tokyo. Caitlyn Clark now trying to drum up interest in the Yankee Booth recently over the weekend, talking about not being picked.

I think a time, it gives you something to work for, and obviously it's a tough turnaround. You know, I played ten games in the WNBA before they pick the roster, so that team is so talented. I think the USA on the women's side is just so dominant but it's definitely definitely something for me to work for a twenty twenty eight and obviously that's in LA so that would be a fun first opportunity for myself.

I think a time, it gives you something to work for, and obviously it's a tough turnaround. You know, I played ten games in the WNBA before they pick the roster, so that team is so talented. I think the USA on the women's side is just so dominant but it's definitely definitely something for me to work for a twenty twenty eight and obviously that's in LA so that would be a fun first opportunity for myself.

Yes, twenty twenty eight in Los Angeles, they will crush, but that's four years down the road. That's not the moment. The WNBA was just flying regular commercial flights like you and I, Caitlin arrive. They now have a two year deal for their own flights. This was it. This was the moment. They always say in real estate, it's all location. They always say in business it's all about timing. You had both Paris was the location, and the timing was now, and you left your surfboards at home. All right, we got stuff today. We got a lot of stuff. Aaron Rodgers man, he's on New York Radio yesterday, getting all prickly to the fascinating moment where he was talking about the Malaysian airliner.

Yes, twenty twenty eight in Los Angeles, they will crush, but that's four years down the road. That's not the moment. The WNBA was just flying regular commercial flights like you and I, Caitlin arrive. They now have a two year deal for their own flights. This was it. This was the moment. They always say in real estate, it's all location. They always say in business it's all about timing. You had both Paris was the location, and the timing was now, and you left your surfboards at home. All right, we got stuff today. We got a lot of stuff. Aaron Rodgers man, he's on New York Radio yesterday, getting all prickly to the fascinating moment where he was talking about the Malaysian airliner.

Weren't you weren't pining for Aaron Rodgers thoughts on the missing airliner. You weren't waiting on pins and needles for that one.

Weren't you weren't pining for Aaron Rodgers thoughts on the missing airliner. You weren't waiting on pins and needles for that one.

Colin, he's half quarterback, half podcaster.

Colin, he's half quarterback, half podcaster.

I like how you laugh about the jets and then point at me.

I like how you laugh about the jets and then point at me.

Like a look at that you Got's a fan of the Jets.

Like a look at that you Got's a fan of the Jets.

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

Now you're rooting for the Jets this year because you're a fan. I'm rooting for Aaron because I think it's better story. When Matt Stafford goes to the Rams, it's a great story if he wins. Brady goes to Tampa, better story if he wins. Let's face it, If Russell Wilson was playing great with Sean Payton, it's a better story than restarting with bow Nicks and Russell's career going to Pittsburgh. I root for quarterback play. I do it in college. I do it in pro. I like good quarterback play and what happens if you don't have good quarterback play after about four weeks, I don't have to watch your games, so I like to be engaged watch the league red zone take notes. The Jets are much better for the NFL and my content. If they're good. They've been boring and bad forever thirteen years. It's I want that one o'clock window. Like I said before, I'm rooting for the Bears. I'm rooting for Washington. I see the one o'clock window at Fox. I want those NF I know the late games will be good, the Baltimore, Kansas City Borough Josh Allen. I know, Monday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, the Fox late game. I know those are good. It's that one o'clock window watching the red zone. Like, give me some games, give me some quarterback play. And I have a feeling the NFL has engineered the Jets schedule to put Aaron on those late big TV games. They'll be at one o'clock six weeks in if they're losing these things, so I want to see it work. He was on wfa N yesterday they were doing I guess there. I don't know if the station of the morning show was at Jets camp, and he talked about the pressure of playing in Gotham.

Now you're rooting for the Jets this year because you're a fan. I'm rooting for Aaron because I think it's better story. When Matt Stafford goes to the Rams, it's a great story if he wins. Brady goes to Tampa, better story if he wins. Let's face it, If Russell Wilson was playing great with Sean Payton, it's a better story than restarting with bow Nicks and Russell's career going to Pittsburgh. I root for quarterback play. I do it in college. I do it in pro. I like good quarterback play and what happens if you don't have good quarterback play after about four weeks, I don't have to watch your games, so I like to be engaged watch the league red zone take notes. The Jets are much better for the NFL and my content. If they're good. They've been boring and bad forever thirteen years. It's I want that one o'clock window. Like I said before, I'm rooting for the Bears. I'm rooting for Washington. I see the one o'clock window at Fox. I want those NF I know the late games will be good, the Baltimore, Kansas City Borough Josh Allen. I know, Monday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, the Fox late game. I know those are good. It's that one o'clock window watching the red zone. Like, give me some games, give me some quarterback play. And I have a feeling the NFL has engineered the Jets schedule to put Aaron on those late big TV games. They'll be at one o'clock six weeks in if they're losing these things, so I want to see it work. He was on wfa N yesterday they were doing I guess there. I don't know if the station of the morning show was at Jets camp, and he talked about the pressure of playing in Gotham.

We realize that success and failure is not binary wins or losses. You know, as a mindset, it's going out there and willing to put your best on the line, and when that's not going to be good enough in a win loss matrix, Every single time I've been fortunate enough to play for two organizations that's set a standard of excellence. Not hey, let's just have a pretty good season, you know, No, let's be the best. And I think that's the less you want to play it. You don't want to play in a city where they're just so excited, you know, win a few games every year.

We realize that success and failure is not binary wins or losses. You know, as a mindset, it's going out there and willing to put your best on the line, and when that's not going to be good enough in a win loss matrix, Every single time I've been fortunate enough to play for two organizations that's set a standard of excellence. Not hey, let's just have a pretty good season, you know, No, let's be the best. And I think that's the less you want to play it. You don't want to play in a city where they're just so excited, you know, win a few games every year.

Okay, I don't want to be negative, but there is a difference between the Packers and the Jets. I would like to state that unequivocally. Okay, those are two different organizations, all right, So it's not like he's just played for two similar organizations. One is always great offensively, one has been a mnemic for a decade plus. One is always almost always over five hundred. One is almost always under five hundred. One has continuity small town America, drafts and develops brilliantly, and always has an offensive coach. The other is the Jets. So these are not similar organizations. One's got no owner, therefore Mark Murphy diligently and quietly runs the team. The other has Woody Johnson and it's a bit of a clown show, very impulsive running through gms and coaches. So it's not the same environment. Also, strangely, the Jets are one of the rare franchises that aren't good. Yet the expectations are always high. The Mets have that. Why would the Mets be good? They're never good? Right, you have to go back and talk Keith Hernandez. So, by the way, this is breaking news. This is breaking news and not good news. JJ McCarthy Vikings rookie gonna miss the entire season torn meniscus, sources tell rap sheet Ian Rapaport. Disappointing. It gives McCarthy the best chance in a long career, though is a year long repair of the torn meniscus. So bummer. Now, he wasn't going to start. He just looked very good in the opener. So it doesn't change what I think of the Vikings. I think JJ McCarthy will eventually flourish to some level with the Vikings. I do believe that, and I think Sam Darnold's going to start. I got to tell you, the Donald thing is fascinating because they really do have very offense at personnel, and the Lions and the Packers may be better, but they don't have great defenses. So we saw Baker Mayfield's career reborn, Gino Smith reborn Sam Donald could have that, but I mean Kevin O'Connell won games last year, Josh Dobbs won a game without a practice, Sam Donald, and I think it's a better roster now. They'll win games. So I'm not gonna guess on injuries. I said yesterday, I got a text from two players that don't lead me wrong very often. They were a little concerned that JJ McCarthy would miss a lot more time than I was predicting. So he's gonna miss the entire season. Torn meniscus. Twin Cities Orthopedics did the surgery and repaired it today. Yeah, I mean my take is I think they're a third or fourth place team with Sam Donald. McCarthy was a probably. You know, if you look at these quarterbacks, Caleb's going to start now, Jaden and bow Nicks should be very interesting early. But Pennix is gonna sit, McCarthy was gonna sit, and Drake may was gonna sit. So this, I mean, we kind of feel like a couple of these guys are gonna play now and they're gonna make mistakes. Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Bowt Nicks three of these quarterbacks. But there's three other guys Pennix, JJ McCarthy and Drake May that weren't gonna play. So this is a bummer. The Viking schedule, my idea of what they are and where they're going doesn't change at all. I think it's a really tough schedule early. It softens up a little later where you've got your Arizona's, your Tennessee's, your Atlanta's in Chicago again.

Okay, I don't want to be negative, but there is a difference between the Packers and the Jets. I would like to state that unequivocally. Okay, those are two different organizations, all right, So it's not like he's just played for two similar organizations. One is always great offensively, one has been a mnemic for a decade plus. One is always almost always over five hundred. One is almost always under five hundred. One has continuity small town America, drafts and develops brilliantly, and always has an offensive coach. The other is the Jets. So these are not similar organizations. One's got no owner, therefore Mark Murphy diligently and quietly runs the team. The other has Woody Johnson and it's a bit of a clown show, very impulsive running through gms and coaches. So it's not the same environment. Also, strangely, the Jets are one of the rare franchises that aren't good. Yet the expectations are always high. The Mets have that. Why would the Mets be good? They're never good? Right, you have to go back and talk Keith Hernandez. So, by the way, this is breaking news. This is breaking news and not good news. JJ McCarthy Vikings rookie gonna miss the entire season torn meniscus, sources tell rap sheet Ian Rapaport. Disappointing. It gives McCarthy the best chance in a long career, though is a year long repair of the torn meniscus. So bummer. Now, he wasn't going to start. He just looked very good in the opener. So it doesn't change what I think of the Vikings. I think JJ McCarthy will eventually flourish to some level with the Vikings. I do believe that, and I think Sam Darnold's going to start. I got to tell you, the Donald thing is fascinating because they really do have very offense at personnel, and the Lions and the Packers may be better, but they don't have great defenses. So we saw Baker Mayfield's career reborn, Gino Smith reborn Sam Donald could have that, but I mean Kevin O'Connell won games last year, Josh Dobbs won a game without a practice, Sam Donald, and I think it's a better roster now. They'll win games. So I'm not gonna guess on injuries. I said yesterday, I got a text from two players that don't lead me wrong very often. They were a little concerned that JJ McCarthy would miss a lot more time than I was predicting. So he's gonna miss the entire season. Torn meniscus. Twin Cities Orthopedics did the surgery and repaired it today. Yeah, I mean my take is I think they're a third or fourth place team with Sam Donald. McCarthy was a probably. You know, if you look at these quarterbacks, Caleb's going to start now, Jaden and bow Nicks should be very interesting early. But Pennix is gonna sit, McCarthy was gonna sit, and Drake may was gonna sit. So this, I mean, we kind of feel like a couple of these guys are gonna play now and they're gonna make mistakes. Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Bowt Nicks three of these quarterbacks. But there's three other guys Pennix, JJ McCarthy and Drake May that weren't gonna play. So this is a bummer. The Viking schedule, my idea of what they are and where they're going doesn't change at all. I think it's a really tough schedule early. It softens up a little later where you've got your Arizona's, your Tennessee's, your Atlanta's in Chicago again.

Uh.

Uh.

But I think whoever is quarterbacking for this team, Kevin O'Connell, the tall, Sean McVay, the great thing about JJ's career, and Donald, whoever is quarterbacking in Minnesota, you will get the truest version of who they are. Sam Donald could blame Woody Johnson. He could if he wanted to blame Adam Gase, blame the culture, blame Todd Bowles. There'll be no blame for Sam Donald. This is as smart an offensive coach, great left tackle, two nice weapons, a running back that can make plays happen. Like you know how sometimes you know if you fail in life, you can point fingers. That's all politics is about. It's all pointing fingers. If Sam Darnold can't get it done here, then he can't get it done in the league. He had a really bad pick six at practice yesterday and it was like Sam Darnold, he gives you one of those games. So whether it was McCarthy or not, you're gonna get a completely true version of right. It's almost like with McVeigh, he could get golf to a super Bowl. He could get Stafford there to win. That's who they are. Goff may never win a Super Bowl, but he could probably get you there a couple times. Stafford, even with an imperfect team, can win it. With McVeigh, you get the truest form of your quarterback. If you're good, you win a bunch of playoff games. If you're great, you win super Bowls. I feel like McVeigh does that and Kevin O'Connell does that as well.

But I think whoever is quarterbacking for this team, Kevin O'Connell, the tall, Sean McVay, the great thing about JJ's career, and Donald, whoever is quarterbacking in Minnesota, you will get the truest version of who they are. Sam Donald could blame Woody Johnson. He could if he wanted to blame Adam Gase, blame the culture, blame Todd Bowles. There'll be no blame for Sam Donald. This is as smart an offensive coach, great left tackle, two nice weapons, a running back that can make plays happen. Like you know how sometimes you know if you fail in life, you can point fingers. That's all politics is about. It's all pointing fingers. If Sam Darnold can't get it done here, then he can't get it done in the league. He had a really bad pick six at practice yesterday and it was like Sam Darnold, he gives you one of those games. So whether it was McCarthy or not, you're gonna get a completely true version of right. It's almost like with McVeigh, he could get golf to a super Bowl. He could get Stafford there to win. That's who they are. Goff may never win a Super Bowl, but he could probably get you there a couple times. Stafford, even with an imperfect team, can win it. With McVeigh, you get the truest form of your quarterback. If you're good, you win a bunch of playoff games. If you're great, you win super Bowls. I feel like McVeigh does that and Kevin O'Connell does that as well.

So the Vikings are now waiting for the league to rule on the Jordan Addison suspension for the offseason. DUI, yes, that could be a game two, maybe three.

So the Vikings are now waiting for the league to rule on the Jordan Addison suspension for the offseason. DUI, yes, that could be a game two, maybe three.

TJ.

TJ.

Hawkinson, I'm reading is not gonna be ready. They're great tight end for the beginning of the regular season. They don't know if he's gonna be back by week three the bye week. So now Colin, you're looking at quarterback goes down, Bajor bummer Jordan isn't gonna be suspended. That stinks and Hawkinson not ready? Is that just too much negativeness.

Hawkinson, I'm reading is not gonna be ready. They're great tight end for the beginning of the regular season. They don't know if he's gonna be back by week three the bye week. So now Colin, you're looking at quarterback goes down, Bajor bummer Jordan isn't gonna be suspended. That stinks and Hawkinson not ready? Is that just too much negativeness.

To like in preseasons? What it does? It actually does Donald and the Vikings a little favor because this schedule has some l's in it, and now there's no pressure, So Donald's gonna have a much longer runway. That's good for the entire room. So I mean, my take is that could beat the Giants, but they're probably not beating the Niners Houston or Green beat. It would have become a huge distraction with JJ McCarthy, especially if the way he's playing in preseason, it would have just hung over the franchise. Now it won't. Now Jj'll get healthy, he'll come back from this. He'll come back hopefully, and Darnald has no distraction behind him. And so I mean, I think it's not like a win for anybody that he was hurt. But what you're gonna get now is there's no question we're all in on Sam Darnald. There's no talk radio debates now. If Sam throws a couple of ugly pick sixes and he will. That's that's his reality.

To like in preseasons? What it does? It actually does Donald and the Vikings a little favor because this schedule has some l's in it, and now there's no pressure, So Donald's gonna have a much longer runway. That's good for the entire room. So I mean, my take is that could beat the Giants, but they're probably not beating the Niners Houston or Green beat. It would have become a huge distraction with JJ McCarthy, especially if the way he's playing in preseason, it would have just hung over the franchise. Now it won't. Now Jj'll get healthy, he'll come back from this. He'll come back hopefully, and Darnald has no distraction behind him. And so I mean, I think it's not like a win for anybody that he was hurt. But what you're gonna get now is there's no question we're all in on Sam Darnald. There's no talk radio debates now. If Sam throws a couple of ugly pick sixes and he will. That's that's his reality.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Hey, what's up everybody? It's me three time pro bowler Levarrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a podcast called Up on Game? What is up on Game?

Hey, what's up everybody? It's me three time pro bowler Levarrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a podcast called Up on Game? What is up on Game?

You asked, along with my fellow pro bowler t J.

You asked, along with my fellow pro bowler t J.

Hutchman and Super Bowl champion Yep, that's right, Plexico Birds. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game We're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with Me, LeVar Arrington, TJ. Houchmanzada and Plexico Birds on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from.

Hutchman and Super Bowl champion Yep, that's right, Plexico Birds. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game We're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with Me, LeVar Arrington, TJ. Houchmanzada and Plexico Birds on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from.

Albert Breer is joining us from Ravens Camp today, fourteenth Camp. He's visited. By the way, there was there's some n oh your eighteen nineteen, my bad says fourteen tier. Okay, Ravens Camp, there's some news here on Mark Andrews. Can you update us?

Albert Breer is joining us from Ravens Camp today, fourteenth Camp. He's visited. By the way, there was there's some n oh your eighteen nineteen, my bad says fourteen tier. Okay, Ravens Camp, there's some news here on Mark Andrews. Can you update us?

Yeah? So he was involved in a car accident. They don't think it's going to impact this ability to play, but it'll probably be out of practice for a couple of days. I don't think it's anything to be too concerned about. Obviously, they feel fortunate that he's okay. They examined him, he was in meetings. Yeah, it looks like everything's NB all.

Yeah? So he was involved in a car accident. They don't think it's going to impact this ability to play, but it'll probably be out of practice for a couple of days. I don't think it's anything to be too concerned about. Obviously, they feel fortunate that he's okay. They examined him, he was in meetings. Yeah, it looks like everything's NB all.

Right, Okay. JJ McCarthy out for the season. I had said earlier, tough early schedule. To me, if there's any benefit, and obviously your heart goes out to JJ McCarthy, the benefit is there'll be no distractions because if you look at the early schedule, there's some ls on this thing, and there may be a losing streak. They're not I mean, you go San Francisco, Houston, Green Bay Jets, that is a rough month. My take is they're gonna ride and die with Sam Darnold. There'll be no distractions. That was my takeaway.

Right, Okay. JJ McCarthy out for the season. I had said earlier, tough early schedule. To me, if there's any benefit, and obviously your heart goes out to JJ McCarthy, the benefit is there'll be no distractions because if you look at the early schedule, there's some ls on this thing, and there may be a losing streak. They're not I mean, you go San Francisco, Houston, Green Bay Jets, that is a rough month. My take is they're gonna ride and die with Sam Darnold. There'll be no distractions. That was my takeaway.

Your thoughts, Yeah, I think they were prepared for this. I don't think the plan was ever to force JJ McCarthy out there. One thing I do know about Kevin O'Connell was, regardless of who he drafted, you know, and they had talked about moving up for Drake May. Obviously they move up the spot to get JJ McCarthy. They were going to have a detailed plan as far as how they were going to deploy the rookie quarterback in the spring, in the summer, and what benchmarks he was gonna have to hit for them to think about putting that kid out in the field, and so to execute that sort of plan and to build some flexibility into what you're doing and when you're going to play him, you have to have a plan that you like that's an alternate to that quarterback, and they do have one in Sam Donald. They love what they saw at the end in Carolina from if you go back and you look at the fourth quarter of that Ravens Niners game from Christmas Night last year, and I know, look, I know it was a blowout, garbage time, whatever, but Donald looked like he was playing faster and looked like he was playing more decisively with Kyle Shanahan and the talent around him, and so like the feeling is some of that should transfer over with Kevin O'Connell as his coach, with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ. Hockins, and Christian Daras saw all the people that are there. They're confident that they're going to get a better version of Sam Donald, and you know, maybe this winds up being like the Baker Mayfield or Gino Smith stories, where you have guys who were highly drafted, who were really talented, who fell on their face a little bit in their first spot, picking themselves back up and being better than second time around.

Your thoughts, Yeah, I think they were prepared for this. I don't think the plan was ever to force JJ McCarthy out there. One thing I do know about Kevin O'Connell was, regardless of who he drafted, you know, and they had talked about moving up for Drake May. Obviously they move up the spot to get JJ McCarthy. They were going to have a detailed plan as far as how they were going to deploy the rookie quarterback in the spring, in the summer, and what benchmarks he was gonna have to hit for them to think about putting that kid out in the field, and so to execute that sort of plan and to build some flexibility into what you're doing and when you're going to play him, you have to have a plan that you like that's an alternate to that quarterback, and they do have one in Sam Donald. They love what they saw at the end in Carolina from if you go back and you look at the fourth quarter of that Ravens Niners game from Christmas Night last year, and I know, look, I know it was a blowout, garbage time, whatever, but Donald looked like he was playing faster and looked like he was playing more decisively with Kyle Shanahan and the talent around him, and so like the feeling is some of that should transfer over with Kevin O'Connell as his coach, with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ. Hockins, and Christian Daras saw all the people that are there. They're confident that they're going to get a better version of Sam Donald, and you know, maybe this winds up being like the Baker Mayfield or Gino Smith stories, where you have guys who were highly drafted, who were really talented, who fell on their face a little bit in their first spot, picking themselves back up and being better than second time around.

So Drake May six snaps, and I'm thinking to myself in New England, I'm thinking, listen, you got to get him snaps because because yeah, I'm I mean, is that why that is weird? Right? Like I mean Bo Nicks took like through twenty one passes, Drake May got six snaps. What's going on?

So Drake May six snaps, and I'm thinking to myself in New England, I'm thinking, listen, you got to get him snaps because because yeah, I'm I mean, is that why that is weird? Right? Like I mean Bo Nicks took like through twenty one passes, Drake May got six snaps. What's going on?

Well, Denver's getting bet bo Nick's ready to start, and know England's not doing that with Drake May. I think to their credit, they're going to prioritize his development because they felt like when they drafted and they got an enormously talented kid who just wasn't ready to play, who played for multiple offensive coordinators in college the last four years, he's really only played two full seasons, and so you know, they they looked at him as a puppy, you know, a guy who's a kid who's got great tools and who can move around really well, who's got great arm talent, but needed to be rebuilt from the waist down. And so they're going through the process of doing that and their prioritying his development at every step. And so a big piece of not putting them out there last week wasn't a lack of confidence in Drake May. It was a lack of a confidence in the second offensive line. The second offensive line had gotten beaten up in camp some by the defensive backups there, and they felt, you know, for the good of his development, that the right thing to do was to only put him out there in the first preseason game behind the first offensive line. And so when the first offensive line came off the field, he came off the field with them. Now the next step of it and allows him to sequence this this this thing is that they had a joint practice yesterday with the Eagles, and I'd expect that he's gonna play a whole lot more tomorrow night against Philly. But every step of the way, it hasn't been about getting ready to play this year. It hasn't been about you know, getting him live reps. It's been about prioritizing his development, and you know, they felt like the best thing for him to do last week, in accordance with his development, was to only plan behind that first offensive line. Again. I think he gets more extensive playing time this week.

Well, Denver's getting bet bo Nick's ready to start, and know England's not doing that with Drake May. I think to their credit, they're going to prioritize his development because they felt like when they drafted and they got an enormously talented kid who just wasn't ready to play, who played for multiple offensive coordinators in college the last four years, he's really only played two full seasons, and so you know, they they looked at him as a puppy, you know, a guy who's a kid who's got great tools and who can move around really well, who's got great arm talent, but needed to be rebuilt from the waist down. And so they're going through the process of doing that and their prioritying his development at every step. And so a big piece of not putting them out there last week wasn't a lack of confidence in Drake May. It was a lack of a confidence in the second offensive line. The second offensive line had gotten beaten up in camp some by the defensive backups there, and they felt, you know, for the good of his development, that the right thing to do was to only put him out there in the first preseason game behind the first offensive line. And so when the first offensive line came off the field, he came off the field with them. Now the next step of it and allows him to sequence this this this thing is that they had a joint practice yesterday with the Eagles, and I'd expect that he's gonna play a whole lot more tomorrow night against Philly. But every step of the way, it hasn't been about getting ready to play this year. It hasn't been about you know, getting him live reps. It's been about prioritizing his development, and you know, they felt like the best thing for him to do last week, in accordance with his development, was to only plan behind that first offensive line. Again. I think he gets more extensive playing time this week.

Brandon I Yuke, is it? I heard it was a little ug or behind the scenes that anybody wanted to acknowledge. What have you heard? I also, I you know, two thursdays ago, I was told it was really close. And then yeah, it feels like there's some animosity maybe from both sides.

Brandon I Yuke, is it? I heard it was a little ug or behind the scenes that anybody wanted to acknowledge. What have you heard? I also, I you know, two thursdays ago, I was told it was really close. And then yeah, it feels like there's some animosity maybe from both sides.

Yeah, if you want me to give you a little bit of a visual here, Colin, if this helps you out. You know, I was in Cincinnati and I saw Jamar Chase and his quote unquote hold in right, and he was engaged. He was around the younger receivers. You talk to people there, it's like he's just not practicing. He's doing everything else, like he's getting himself ready to play the season, you know. And a few days before that, I'd been in San Francisco and as a start contrast to that, where you know, during the practice, you know, Brandon Ayuk was off to the side, sitting in a golf cart and not really engage with anything. And so, you know, I'm not sure that that situation has been as I would say, harmonious as as some of the other ones there across the league. And I think everybody's been able to see that with some of the stuff that's gotten on camera. We're showing some of it here now. You know, I think the Niners really kind of got to the point in dealing with that where they wanted to drive a conclusion, and that's why they let him go out and said to him, go find a better deal. Let's see if there's a team that you want to be traded to, and we will open up talks now on trades with other teams where they've been very standoffish about that until now. They asked for the moon and the stars before the draft, and so the thought was one way or the other, this is going to drive us to a conclusion, get everybody closure on it. And you know, their bet was that Brandon and I you probably wouldn't be able to find a combination of money and opportunity to win that was better than what he had in San Francisco already. And you'd argue that's where it's at right now is that you know, he's offered over thirty million dollars by the Patriots. Didn't want to go there because they're not in a position to win. He was offered around twenty eight million dollars per year by the Steelers, and like, you add that to a team that's won, but not one at the Niners level recently. It has stability to the head coach, but doesn't have stability at quarterback. And you know, really, I think that pushed you back to the table again. There's all that water under the bridge that you're dealing with, so you do have to deal with that. But I think the fact that the Niners offer isn't far off from where the Steelers were at least gave the sides the opportunity to reopen talks, and talks really hadn't gone anywhere since May, so at least got them back to the table where they're talking again. And look, the Niners priority all along has been to keep Brandon Ayuk long term. I've said to see before, I think if all things were equal, they would treat trade Deebo Samuel before they would trade Brandon Ayuk. They want to pay him long term a broad party. I think they've gotten an opening to do it. Nothing for sure, but I think they've got an opening to do that now.

Yeah, if you want me to give you a little bit of a visual here, Colin, if this helps you out. You know, I was in Cincinnati and I saw Jamar Chase and his quote unquote hold in right, and he was engaged. He was around the younger receivers. You talk to people there, it's like he's just not practicing. He's doing everything else, like he's getting himself ready to play the season, you know. And a few days before that, I'd been in San Francisco and as a start contrast to that, where you know, during the practice, you know, Brandon Ayuk was off to the side, sitting in a golf cart and not really engage with anything. And so, you know, I'm not sure that that situation has been as I would say, harmonious as as some of the other ones there across the league. And I think everybody's been able to see that with some of the stuff that's gotten on camera. We're showing some of it here now. You know, I think the Niners really kind of got to the point in dealing with that where they wanted to drive a conclusion, and that's why they let him go out and said to him, go find a better deal. Let's see if there's a team that you want to be traded to, and we will open up talks now on trades with other teams where they've been very standoffish about that until now. They asked for the moon and the stars before the draft, and so the thought was one way or the other, this is going to drive us to a conclusion, get everybody closure on it. And you know, their bet was that Brandon and I you probably wouldn't be able to find a combination of money and opportunity to win that was better than what he had in San Francisco already. And you'd argue that's where it's at right now is that you know, he's offered over thirty million dollars by the Patriots. Didn't want to go there because they're not in a position to win. He was offered around twenty eight million dollars per year by the Steelers, and like, you add that to a team that's won, but not one at the Niners level recently. It has stability to the head coach, but doesn't have stability at quarterback. And you know, really, I think that pushed you back to the table again. There's all that water under the bridge that you're dealing with, so you do have to deal with that. But I think the fact that the Niners offer isn't far off from where the Steelers were at least gave the sides the opportunity to reopen talks, and talks really hadn't gone anywhere since May, so at least got them back to the table where they're talking again. And look, the Niners priority all along has been to keep Brandon Ayuk long term. I've said to see before, I think if all things were equal, they would treat trade Deebo Samuel before they would trade Brandon Ayuk. They want to pay him long term a broad party. I think they've gotten an opening to do it. Nothing for sure, but I think they've got an opening to do that now.

The I watched Jordan Love come out show off as whip. It's just so easy. And then I watched Aaron and the Tahus on Reddick and the You know, Aaron's talking Malaysian Airliner yesterday because he got asked it legitimate question from a producer and I'm like, oh, good god, it's a circus. I nobody. You know, green Bay now has moved on. But are you taken a little bit by how seamless I mean Brady leaves New England. Yeah, they dry up, I mean dry up. Green Bay has turned the fastest page I've ever seen. I Mean it's almost like every time something happens.

The I watched Jordan Love come out show off as whip. It's just so easy. And then I watched Aaron and the Tahus on Reddick and the You know, Aaron's talking Malaysian Airliner yesterday because he got asked it legitimate question from a producer and I'm like, oh, good god, it's a circus. I nobody. You know, green Bay now has moved on. But are you taken a little bit by how seamless I mean Brady leaves New England. Yeah, they dry up, I mean dry up. Green Bay has turned the fastest page I've ever seen. I Mean it's almost like every time something happens.

Here's the difference, though, Colin, what when did they draft the kid three years ahead of time? Yeah, that's the difference, right, He's been in the building, right, like, so you had the opportunity to develop him that way. And you know, Matt Lafleur has been really consistent with me about this, you know, as we've talked about her over the last couple of years, how he really believes in doing it this way, and because they had Aaron that that gave him the flexibility to develop Jordan Love through the system. I had a really interesting conversation with Jordan himself about it too, where it wasn't perfect last year. You know, they got off to kind of a quick start, so I think they were two and one after three games, right, and he played pretty well, and then they hit this run and it was what six seven weeks where they didn't look good. He didn't look good, and it really kind of made you think, okay, like, is this the wheels coming off for Green Bay. Jordan told me that seeing Aaron Rodgers go through full seasons allowed him to manage that a certain way and allowed him allowed for him to deal with it a certain way. And his point to me was, if going through an NFL season is hard for Aaron Rodgers, it's gonna be hard for everybody. And so getting to watch that, getting to rework a his mechanics, getting to see how an NFL team works over a three year period, and then getting put in there with a bunch of young receivers like Wix, like Reed, like Watson, like Dobbs that are literally growing up with him put him in such an advantageous position, so when things did come undone a little bit last year, he didn't think the world was coming to an end the way that a rookie might. And so I think so much of this is the ability to develop him for three years. Jordan's very talented, He's a great kid, really smart by all accounts. So he has the tools. But there are a lot of players who have those tools who don't make it because they're not in the right situation. Jordan Love was in a really great situation with a coach who was committed to developing him the right way. And I think you see the result now. And I don't think the end of last year was a fluke. I think he's gonna have a big year this year.

Here's the difference, though, Colin, what when did they draft the kid three years ahead of time? Yeah, that's the difference, right, He's been in the building, right, like, so you had the opportunity to develop him that way. And you know, Matt Lafleur has been really consistent with me about this, you know, as we've talked about her over the last couple of years, how he really believes in doing it this way, and because they had Aaron that that gave him the flexibility to develop Jordan Love through the system. I had a really interesting conversation with Jordan himself about it too, where it wasn't perfect last year. You know, they got off to kind of a quick start, so I think they were two and one after three games, right, and he played pretty well, and then they hit this run and it was what six seven weeks where they didn't look good. He didn't look good, and it really kind of made you think, okay, like, is this the wheels coming off for Green Bay. Jordan told me that seeing Aaron Rodgers go through full seasons allowed him to manage that a certain way and allowed him allowed for him to deal with it a certain way. And his point to me was, if going through an NFL season is hard for Aaron Rodgers, it's gonna be hard for everybody. And so getting to watch that, getting to rework a his mechanics, getting to see how an NFL team works over a three year period, and then getting put in there with a bunch of young receivers like Wix, like Reed, like Watson, like Dobbs that are literally growing up with him put him in such an advantageous position, so when things did come undone a little bit last year, he didn't think the world was coming to an end the way that a rookie might. And so I think so much of this is the ability to develop him for three years. Jordan's very talented, He's a great kid, really smart by all accounts. So he has the tools. But there are a lot of players who have those tools who don't make it because they're not in the right situation. Jordan Love was in a really great situation with a coach who was committed to developing him the right way. And I think you see the result now. And I don't think the end of last year was a fluke. I think he's gonna have a big year this year.

Albert Breer at the Ravens Camp Mark Andrews, Okay, that's good news. It's good senior as all was. Albert

Albert Breer at the Ravens Camp Mark Andrews, Okay, that's good news. It's good senior as all was. Albert