Transcript

Colin Cowherd & Nick Wright Super Bowl DEBATE: Seahawks-Patriots + Steelers, Bills, Joe Brady | HERD

From The Herd with Colin Cowherd · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 1 h 6 min · 12,271 words · 135 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Colin Cowherd & Nick Wright Super Bowl DEBATE: Seahawks-Patriots + Steelers, Bills, Joe Brady | HERD", an episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd published January 27, 2026 (1 h 6 min, about 12,271 words). It mentions 20 people, works and ideas, including Colin Cowherd, NFL, Super Bowl, Ian Brady, Josh Allen.

What this episode is about

Colin Cowherd and Nick Wright engage in a debate about the implications of the Buffalo Bills hiring Joe Brady as their offensive coordinator and evaluate current NFL coaching changes. They discuss the inherent risks and potential benefits of prioritizing familiarity in coaching hires, questioning whether Brady can match the effectiveness of head coach Sean McDermott, while highlighting the trend of teams seeking innovative offensive minds.

Key takeaways

  • Hiring Joe Brady feels like a cozy blanket, but is it just masking deeper issues in Buffalo?
  • The Bills' 'fresh voice' approach could be a classic case of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
  • When team dynamics matter more than strategy, is hiring familiarity really the solution? Look at McDermott's tenure.
  • Sam Darnold's Super Bowl win proves great coaching trumps all—so why did the Bills settle for familiarity?
  • In the NFL, being the hot coordinator doesn't guarantee success; sometimes, 'obvious' upgrades are the safest bet.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 10:00: Ian Brady, Super Bowl, Sam Darnold, Colin Cowherd
  2. – 20:00: Super Bowl, Shawn Peyton, Drake May, Mike McCarthy
  3. – 30:00: Super Bowl, Mike McCarthy, Seattle Seahawks, Mike Vrabel
  4. – 40:00: Mike McCarthy, Ian Brady, Josh Allen, Super Bowl
  5. – 50:00: Super Bowl, Josh Allen, Mike McCarthy, Sam Darnold
  6. – 1:00:00: Ian Brady, Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy
  7. – 1:06:20: Ian Brady, Super Bowl, Mike McCarthy

Notable quotes from "Colin Cowherd & Nick Wright Super Bowl DEBATE: Seahawks-Patriots + Steelers, Bills, Joe Brady | HERD"

  • Welcome to the Herd's official YouTube channel. Make sure to like and subscribe. Don't forget to check out the Colin Coward podcast, all of our NFL instant reactions, and more football.
    about NFL · at
  • Joe Brady is hired because he makes them comfortable and he's worked with Josh Allen. And I'm not saying it's not going to work. with Josh Allen, it's like Mahomes, you're going to win some.
    about Ian Brady · at
  • Yeah. Well, I'm happy that Sam Darnold made the Super Bowl and that he played his best game as a pro, probably in the biggest spot. I know it feels I'm happy for you, buddy. I'm happy for.
    about Super Bowl · at
  • Show on turf. I said this yesterday, New England's a five-point dog. Everybody thinks Seattle's going to crush him. I think New England and Vrabel, he is going to sell them on…
    about New England Patriots · at
  • Think they win. If the Pats O line has the issues it has had in every round of the playoffs, I think Seattle wins and maybe it could get I don't want to say it could get ugly…
    about Seattle Seahawks · at
  • McCarthy has coached the Packers, the Cowboys, and now the Steelers.
    about Mike McCarthy · at
  • Okay, I want to end with this. I listen, I have a long history with Sam Darnold and believing in him. Okay, but that said, I think he gets an I think he get there's a reasonable opinion, and I always felt this with Andrew Luck.
    about Colin Cowherd · at
  • Rams needed him the most. Like this is the recipe for a Seahawks team to win the Super Bowl because Sam Darnold can do that. And as long as he protects the football and they protect him up front, it's it's hard to pick against the Seahawks.
    about Sam Darnold · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Colin Cowherd — Person · Host / main speaker · 3 mentions · first at
    Leads the segment’s arguments about coaching hires (Brady, McCarthy), QB economics (Allen/Lamar vs. Darnold), and broader league trends; also interacts with guests Nick Wright and RG3.
  • Ian Brady — Person · Referenced coach / central hiring topic · 12 mentions · first at
    Discussed as the Buffalo Bills' newly hired head coach (described as their OC hire moving into HC), framed as a 'comfort' hire tied to Josh Allen and continuity vs. a splashy outside candidate.
  • Josh Allen — Person · Referenced star quarterback / decision driver · 8 mentions · first at
    Used as the lens for evaluating Buffalo’s coaching decision—continuity, salary-cap constraints, and whether a comfort hire maximizes Super Bowl odds with an expensive franchise QB.
    Joe Brady is hired because he makes them comfortable and he's worked with Josh Allen. And I'm not saying it's not going to work. with Josh Allen, it's like Mahomes, you're going to win some.
  • Mike McCarthy — Person · Referenced coach / major hiring storyline · 12 mentions · first at
    Discussed as hired by the Steelers (per transcript), with debate about his reputation vs. résumé, emotional press conference, and implications for Pittsburgh’s offensive direction and Aaron Rodgers.
  • Sam Darnold — Person · Referenced quarterback / narrative case study · 8 mentions · first at
    Used as the key example for roster-building theory: a team-friendly QB contract + strong roster can outperform teams paying top-of-market QB money; also discussed as having a career-defining playoff run.
  • Shawn Peyton — Person · Referenced coach / comparison point · 5 mentions · first at
    Used as an example of an 'obvious upgrade' coaching change and later debated for fourth-down decision-making and game-planning (weather/forecast) in a playoff context.
    This to start last hour. There are certain hires in the NFL that are absolutely obvious. When the Broncos went from Nat Hackett to Shawn Payeyton, you knew, I knew that was…
  • Aaron Rodgers — Person · Referenced quarterback / roster domino · 3 mentions · first at
    Discussed as the key variable for the Steelers under McCarthy—whether Rodgers would reunite with his former coach and how that affects Pittsburgh’s competitiveness.
    Maybe for a year. McCarthy and Aaron, kind of sew that thing up a little bit. I think Aaron's the best quarterback available on the market. If they reach for Tai Simpson, who…
  • Mike Vrabel — Person · Referenced coach / exemplar of 'obvious' hire · 2 mentions · first at
    Cited as the archetype of a clear coaching upgrade and later praised for modern coaching traits (analytics, situational football, clock management) and leadership style.
    Going to win some games if the coaching is competent. But the golden rule is most of the time when you see Vrabel replacing Gerrod Mayo, Payton Nat Hackett, you can see the obvious stuff that's going to work. And then you get this.
  • Lamar Jackson — Person · Referenced quarterback / contract comparator · 3 mentions · first at
    Used to illustrate the difficulty of building Super Bowl rosters while paying top-of-market QB contracts; discussed as seeking a new, record-setting deal.
    Of the quarterback and I do wonder what this means for Josh and Lamar, especially because I think Lamar is going to try and he deserves it to become the highest paid player in league history this off season. I think that's really tough.
  • Drake May — Person · Referenced quarterback / Super Bowl matchup figure · 3 mentions · first at
    Discussed as the Patriots’ QB whose postseason performance has been uneven; framed as capable of a breakout game, with protection (O-line) as the swing factor.
    Trent Dilford did in route to his Super Bowl. So like that part of it, but I know how good Drake May is. I know that he can pop off for a huge game. My you 12 days out gut…
  • Ben Johnson — Person · Referenced coach candidate / 'hot coordinator' archetype · 4 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as the prototypical hot offensive coordinator and a 'major upgrade' type of hire, contrasted with the Bills choosing a comfort/continuity option.
    Really hot coordinator that everybody Mike McDonald wants. Jesse Mentor qualifies as that this cycle. Jesse Mentor like Ben Johnson's been the hottest young coach on the market…
  • Jesse Mentor — Person · Referenced coach candidate (likely Jesse Minter) / market comparison · 2 mentions · first at
    Cited as a top coaching-cycle candidate similar to Ben Johnson; used to contrast 'hot hire' logic with Buffalo’s choice. (Name appears to be a transcript misspelling of Jesse Minter.)
    Mentor like Ben Johnson's been the hottest young coach on the market for two or three years. My guess is Jesse Mentor Baltimore is going to win a lot of games. Ben Johnson…

Companies & orgs

  • Buffalo Bills — Company · Business focus · 3 mentions · first at
    Discussed in the context of hiring a new offensive coordinator and their performance in the NFL.
    Doesn't mean he won't be a good head coach, but it is weird and it does make me feel like the Bills are not the best run operation and maybe McDermott was covering up more than we thought.
  • Seattle Seahawks — Company · Business focus · 3 mentions · first at
    Discussed in the context of their performance and strategy in the NFL.
  • Pittsburgh Steelers — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at
    Discussed in the context of their coaching hire and team strategy.
    A. I don't know. and B. I don't think so. That's not to say it's not going to work. But the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy. Why? Mike is a Pittsburgh guy and it makes him comfortable.
  • New England Patriots — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at
    Discussed in the context of their performance and strategy in the NFL.
  • Tennessee Titans — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at
    Discussed in the context of potential coaching hires and team strategy.
    Think this was yesterday, you said the Titans are your pick to be keep an eye on them. If they get Dable and Salah, I will choose them as the New York Giants one, Tennessee 2…

Concepts & topics

  • NFL — Concept · Core topic · 1 mention · first at
    Central theme of the episode, discussing teams, coaches, and strategies within the league.

Places & events

  • Super Bowl — Event · Key argument · 19 mentions · first at
    Discussed as the ultimate goal for NFL teams and players, with analysis of past and potential future games.

Media & podcasts

  • First Things First — Media · Referenced work · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as a show hosted by Nick Wright, who is a guest on the podcast.
    Quarterback hasn't played well once this postseason. No question. And so I am I get a little annoyed when some of the Pats apologists, fans, co-hosts of First Things First…

Full transcript with timestamps

Welcome to the Herd's official YouTube channel. Make sure to like and subscribe. Don't forget to check out the Colin Coward podcast, all of our NFL instant reactions, and more football content. Welcome in. It is hour two, Nick, right around the corner. We have a lot to talk about today. The Buffalo Bills have officially hired their offensive coordinator, Joe Brady. He's a young guy. He'd interviewed for a couple of jobs. I, you know, we I talked about this to start last hour. There are certain hires in the NFL that are absolutely obvious. When the Broncos went from Nat Hackett to Shawn Payeyton, you knew, I knew that was going to be an upgrade. When the Chargers went Brandon Staley to Jim Harbaugh, you knew and I knew that was an absolute upgrade. You know, sometimes when you've got a young hot shot coach, McVey, Mike McDonald, Demo Ryan's, Ben Johnson, it's very very promising, right? You you

you Ben Johnson had been the hot coordinator for years. Matt Eber flu was struggling. The league had pivoted to an offensive league. But my takeaway on this hire is whenever you hire like for instance Kevin Stfansky in Cleveland got fired. But it was it did feel like they they kind of Stfansky came in Ivy League graduate. This is going to work better than the previous guys. Freddy Kitchens, Greg Williams. Ask yourself this, is Joe Brady a better coach than Shawn McDermott? A. I don't know. and B. I don't think so. That's not to say it's not going to work. But the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy. Why? Mike is a Pittsburgh guy and it makes him comfortable.

Joe Brady is hired because he makes them comfortable and he's worked with Josh Allen. And I'm not saying it's not going to work. I mean, with Josh Allen, it's like Mahomes, you're going to win some games, right? Like, it's just you're going to win some games if the coaching is competent. But the the the golden rule is most of the time when you see Vrabel replacing Gerrod Mayo, Payton Nat Hackett, you can see the obvious stuff that's going to work. And then you get this really hot coordinator that everybody Mike McDonald wants. Jesse Mentor qualifies as that this cycle. Jesse Mentor like Ben Johnson's been the hottest young coach on the market for two or three years. My guess is Jesse Mentor Baltimore is going to win a lot of games. Ben Johnson, Chicago, we all felt like major upgrade. So even if you haven't been a head coach, are you the hot coach on the cycle? And my take here is I I don't know he's a better coach than

Shawn McDermott. Maybe he is. I don't know. Nick Wright, I know he's got a strong opinion. Host of First Things First is joining us live. Yeah, it's um I mean I I it's one of those

I mean what do you feel? So I don't I don't get it at all in the context of that press conference last week with Pagoula and here's why two points were made by the Bills owner seemingly unrelated to each other but totally related to this specific hire. Point one, the team. I wasn't planning on firing Shawn McDermott, but when I saw the utter devastation in the locker room, I felt like the team needed a fresh voice.

Yeah. Like that they the they just too many devastating losses, right? And you can argue with that logic or not, but that's what he said the reasoning for it was. So to me that screams you're bringing in someone from the outside. Someone who is not scarred from the devastating losses that has not had a hand in the devastating losses. So that's the first point that to me makes this odd. The other seemingly unrelated point is oddly about Keon Coleman. When the owner of the team jumps in, he's like, "Let me be very clear. Keon, who's still on the roster, was not our GM's pick. He was the coaching staff's pick and putting being like th those dope screwed that up. Who on the coaching staff, Colin, do you think would have the loudest say on which wide receiver to pick, the defensiveminded head coach or the offensive coordinator? It's Joe Brady. So I the the one like driveby in the press conference was on Keon Coleman

where they laid it at the feet of the coaching staff which I think means Joe Brady even though they were trying to put it on McDermott but why would Mcder have a super strong opinion about which receiver to take it'd be the coordinator and the other one was the team just needed a deep cleansing bath after a half decade of playoff defeats but they bring in the same guy. Again, that doesn't mean he won't be a good head coach, but it is weird and it does make me feel like the Bills are not the best run operation and maybe McDermott was covering up more than we thought.

Yeah. Well, you know, I'm happy that Sam Darnold made the Super Bowl and that he played his best game as a pro, probably in the biggest spot. I know it feels

I'm happy for you, buddy. I'm happy for you. You were the only one. No one can say no one saw this coming. No one believed in him. We all have to say no one saw this coming except for Coward. No one believed in him except for K. Like you're the one guy. So congrats. But go ahead. Um I I I will say this um that I never knew if Sam was good enough to win a Super Bowl. I always argued he's way too good not to win games. Like I'm I'm I'm not saying you know I mean it's funny in that quarterback draft class Lamar Allen Baker Darnold and I said this what we learned this year Nick hire the best or hottest young coach in the coaching market Payton Mike McDonald either do that that'll get you that that helps win your division win game. Secondly, if you have a star quarterback, it's got to be team friendly. Darnold has been last two years a star, team friendly. Stafford pretty team friendly. And so everybody

thinks this is sort of a oneoff. And my take is Joe Brady and Josh Allen at 56 million. Lamar Jackson wants a new contract. Could I not argue that this Darnold thing is not a one-off? is that if you look at their roster full of kids they don't pay, Sam Darnold is gonna make more Super Bowls going forward than Lamar and Josh Allen.

More going forward is very interesting. Well, he's already the only one to make one. And it is Listen, there have been three quarterback classes ever, Colin, where you had at least three quarterbacks from those classes win 50 or more games. 83 with Elway, Marino, Jim Kelly. That quarterback class made 10 Super Bowls. Wow.

04 with Eli Rivers and Big Ben. That quarterback class made five Super Bowls. Rivers obviously didn't. And 2018 where four guys have won 50 plus games. Baker, Josh, Lamar, and Sam. And Sam is now the only one to make the Super Bowl. And going into the year, Colin, I picked it end up being dead wrong. Baker to be the one to make the Super Bowl based on a lot of the same logic. He is going to give you franchise level quarterback play at a at a good but not overwhelming salary and you're going to be able to have all this talent. We know the cleanest path to the Super Bowl over the last 20 years is the one the Patriots are writing right now. get a draft a quarterback, get him up to franchise quarterback level while on the rookie contract. Yeah.

After that, it gets tricky. Yeah. And it does look like that the second best path might be get a guy who had been cast aside, get him back up to a level or a level he's never been, pay him more than a rookie, but not what the top guys make. I mean there it's a short list of guys who were making franchise quarterback salaries and made Super Bowls much less multiple. Mahomes obviously did it number of times. Stafford his first year in s in Los Angeles did it. Um I think Brady one of his years in New England but it's not a lot of instances when Burrow made it he wasn't making any money. It asks a lot of the quarterback and I do wonder what this means for Josh and Lamar, especially because I think Lamar is going to try and he deserves it to become the highest paid player in league history this off season. I think that's really tough.

Yeah. Um, I said the one thing we know to be true is coaches in these big games, especially when there's time off before the big game, they love to try to motivate their players. When Miami played the national championship against Indiana, and I mean, I I said on the air, Miami has heard now for over a week, you have no chance to beat Indiana. I said, they're going to play with their hair on fire. They got more NFL players. They're going to bloody Indiana's lip. It's going to be a good game. The first quarter, they literally bloodied the lip of Mendoza. They were late hitting. You could tell their whole thing was you don't think we belong here. So Brady's run, the Dynasty started as a 14-point dog

in a to the to a much more popular team that was more fun to watch. Greatest show on turf. I said this yesterday, New England's a five-point dog. Everybody thinks Seattle's going to crush him. I think New England and Vrabel, he is going to sell them on this for two weeks is that everybody wanted McVey first, Seattle second, and nobody cared about the AFC. I think the Super Bowl is a field goal Super Bowl. I think it's going to be incredibly well coached. I think it's go either way. I'm in the minority. Where are you on it?

Well, listen, I agree with you that I I think New England obviously could can win and I I feel like Vrabel would have had more legitimate, you know, everybody, nobody's picking us ammunition had they been playing the Rams, even if the point spread was a half point smaller because there would have been a general sentiment of, oh, we know Stafford and McVey can do it. I think it's t I think what's going to be tough to sell the Pats players on nobody believes in us is even though it has not played out this postseason, most people believe the Patriots have the better quarterback in the game. And the people who don't pick Seattle are going to say as great as he was in the NFC Championship game, I don't know if I trust Sam Darnold. That's not necessarily how I feel about it, but I just think it's going to be hard to sell the true nobody believes in us story for the Pats. What I find so interesting and

why the Pats are scary is they have gotten to this game and their quarterback hasn't played well once this postseason. No question. And so I I am I I get a little annoyed when some of the Pats apologists, fans, co-hosts of First Things First, Kevin Wilds, not naming names, you know, talk about, man, look at these great defenses we've had to go through. That is impressive, beating the Chargers, the Texans, and the Broncos. Yeah. But those great defenses have looked like great defenses to the tune of Drake May putting up identical numbers in route to the playoffs as Trent Dilford did in route to his his Super Bowl. So like that part of it, but I know how good Drake May is. I know that he can pop off for a huge game. My you 12 days out uh gut feeling on this game is if the Pats O line holds up, I think they win. If the Pats O line has the issues it has had in every round of the playoffs, I think Seattle wins and

maybe it could get I don't want to say it could get ugly, but he could we've seen Drake maybe loose with the ball. I I know Will Campbell didn't allow a sack this past week. He has struggled every game since coming back from injury. I think that Seattle Dline has been their not so secret weapon all year and that to me is the matchup that'll decide it. But I also do like for the Pat side of it that they Vrabel has been in Super Bowls but hasn't coached in them. Had the Rams won. McVey and Stafford have been there. They know the rhythm. They know all of it. It's Mike McDonald is a Super Bowl rookie as well. So there's not the edge there. So, I think that helps the Pats more so than if the Rams had won.

So, um I'm I'm going to lay this out because I think we're both I am I have always said I prefer manalytics over analytics, but I do buy that in baseball, for instance, uh strikeouts don't matter. Just don't hit ground balls. I do believe that over the course of a regular season, three-point shots are better than two. Although, when you get to the playoffs, I think it becomes get a basket, get a stop more than the regular season. And in the NFL, I am a go for it guy. So, I'm just going to lay this out. We like Shawn McVey more than Shawn Payeyton. Not me personally, but the the the market Payton's cockier.

I do. Yeah. I'm one of them. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, if Boone Knicks would have been playing, I have no problem going for it. The Jarrett Stadm factor is why I don't like it, nor do I like him rolling out. But just think about this. It's at home. You have a top two offensive line. You're not dealing with crowd O line. And to be honest with you, Shawn Peyton's one of the best play callers in the game. You have great confidence. I didn't like it because of the play call, putting it in a backup quarterback to make an athletic play. Bo Nicks doesn't get it. I'm much better with it.

You're at home with a dominant O line. Here's what's interesting. McVey as a fourth and four on the loudest road stadium in the league against a better defense with a quarterback who's arguably the least athletic in the league. So if you don't get it off the snap, there is no second play. There's no Caleb Williams here. Whatever's dialed up is the play you get. And everybody universally is I love what McVey did on fourth and four on the road. Better defense, immobile quarterback. And my take is in both of them if Bonix is healthy, I was good going for it. But we is it possible that se the Rams going for it. They'd stopped him on the previous drive. The Rams going for it wasn't as sure a thing as I'm being told it is.

Well, so I'll do Rams and then Broncos. Okay. I I would have gone for it in the Rams spot without a doubt. And because I would have been worried about if I kick the field goal is what ended up happening going to happen where Seattle is able to pick up the three first downs they have to and I never touch the ball again and I you know they put the ball in the MVP's hands and to Seattle's credit on both third down and fourth down they were not able to throw the ball to Puka to Devonte to either of their tight ends, to Kiran Williams. Th those passes went to a fifth and a six string receiver cuz Seattle covered them so well. Credit to them. So, I didn't have a problem with McVey going for it there. I think McVey does have some game management issues. Um, he's a great coach. Nobody's perfect.

My biggest Shawn Payeyton issue is this, and I don't know that it has been emphasized enough. No matter who your quarterback is, it is Shawn Payton's job to know better than I know, better than you know, better than Nance and Romo know what's the forecast for the next hour. And that was not I understand that we the viewer was caught off guard at how bad that storm got, but when you have all week to prepare when everybody knows the country was going through a very, you know, a winter storm, you have to have factored in is it, you know, what is the possibility that come the second half, this game's going to be a blizzard? And does that make a 10 lead more than otherwise? And so I thought that that was I thought Payton and STDM both made one grievous error. I thought that was it for Payton. And for Stidum that when it's third and four, if you're on the border of field goal range,

yeah, the difference between a sack and an incompletion is a big deal. try to avoid the sack, maybe make a mistake. When he fumbled the ball, trying to turn a sack into an incompletion, a sack and an incompletion are identical things when you're on your own 20 yardd line. You're punting. So like, STDM's got to know a sack is fine. Throwing the ball away, it saves us eight yards. Who gives a damn? We're punting anyway. So those and those two mistakes plus a blocked field goal and all of a sudden the Pats are back in the Super Bowl.

Yeah. The um we'll end with this. Uh I called them the Pittsburgh Sters most of this year. It just feels like the league has pivoted to offense. They still pay the most for defense. They're kind of tonedeaf to offense. Everybody in the playoffs, you know, AFC had a 20-year-old quarterback. They got a 42y old quarterback. and they hire Mike McCarthy. He is not an awful coach. In fact, my guess is he'll turn the franchise into offensive friendly more than where they're at now. What was your reaction to the hire? It feels like he he makes them comfortable. Nobody loves Pittsburgh more than Pittsburgh and he makes them comfortable. Is that fair?

Yeah, I think it's fair. Listen, I this is not the hire I would have made. I would have gone young, offensiveminded, big swing, whether it's the skillhouse kid, and I I might be mispronouncing his name, the kid from the Rams who's interviewing, wait a couple weeks for Clint Kubak and say, "Hey, we're the Pittsburgh Steelers. You have a long leash here. It's we're going it's okay if we take a giant step back next year and then draft a quarterback and then develop them." That's the path I would have taken. However, while I'm saying that, I understand the defense, the people that like the hire be like, "So, hold on. Let me get this clear. The reason you don't like the hire is because you think with McCarthy, we'll win nine or 10 games and without him, we would have won three or four." And you think that's better. And my answer to that is, yeah, basically, like, yes. I think that the Steelers

bottoming out briefly to then come up would be best for them long term. But we have four coaches, Colin, uh, in John Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin, Shawn Payeyton, Mike McCarthy, who all win between 61 and 63% of their games, who all have 10, 11, or 12 playoff wins, except for Tomlin, who I think has eight, who all coached Hall of Fame quarterbacks and have won Super Bowl. Harbaugh's considered the was the hottest coach on the market. Shawn Peyton's a genius. Tomlin, everyone thinks he'll get any job if he wants to take one. And then McCarthy's considered a bit of a bozo.

So, I just think maybe he has bad PR because he has the si similar resumes of these other guys. And we're like, yeah, but he had Aaron Rogers and it's like, yeah, and Shawn Peyton had Drew Brees and Harbaugh had Lamar Jackson and Tomlin had Big Ben and we don't hold that against them.

All that said, I wouldn't have hired him. I'd have hired Clint Kubak or somebody young to take roll the dice, but I don't think it's a disaster.

Yeah, I I think it's it's really funny and it's true. If you look at the resume with with, you know, the Shawn Payton and and and and John Harbaugh, somebody posted it on the internet, it's the same thing. One of them's got a way better image. And that's just the reality. Sometimes if Mike McCarthy, because he has coached the Packers and the Cowboys, we've often had huge viewership numbers for his losses, right? When the Packers lose, it's the number one rated game. When the Cowboys, and I think a lot of it is he is, it's like coaching Duke basketball or Notre Dame football, you whether you're good or not, it's embellished to some degree because your games are so notable. It's like Aaron Boon for the Yankees is a bomb. It's like if he was coaching in Kansas City, you wouldn't remember. You know, you'd be happy with the results.

Wow. Well, listen, drive by on the Royals, who by the way have won a World Series far more recently than the Yankees, but that's neither here nor there. Just very quickly, I just add to that, I also think when McCarthy was losing playoff games with Rogers, the only loud national media voice that was like,

Aaron Rogers, maybe he isn't the greatest quarterback ever to live was you. And everyone else just put it all at McCarthy's feet. By the time Matt Laflur was losing playoff games with Rogers,

the Bloom was off the rose a bit and some of those losses went at Rogers feet and Laflur's, you know, not so much.

And so I do think that some of those really tough playoff losses he suffered early, most of us, myself included, were like, "Well, it's obviously not Aaron Rogers fault. Look at how talented he is." And so it stuck to him in a way it wouldn't have to other coaches. That's kind of the last point on that. and apologize for the Royals shot. That was unnecessary.

I mean, I don't know. I making the two World Series back-to-back years, winning one of them. The Yankees haven't been to one since I think since was w president first year of Obama. It's been quite some time. I mean, the Royals pretty good franchise when you look at it. Talk to you later, Colin.

Nick, right? Yeah, there there is there is something, you know, when I hear certain people getting criticized like, you know, and I throw Aaron Boon out there. It's like, you know, when you when you manage the Yankees, you know, people watch the Yankees. I mean, a great example is the Dodger skipper. You know, Dave Roberts has now won back-to-back World Series and literally pulled every lever brilliantly in a game seven. But when you're the Dodgers manager and you have that payroll, you know, just we watch the games. I mean, think about this.

McCarthy has coached the Packers, the Cowboys, and now the Steelers. There's an argument. They're the three most iconic brands in the sport. So, every bad clock management moment we watched. I mean, how many Jags games did you watch? Was Liam Cohen perfect on the clock this year? Probably not. You didn't watch the games, right? So, it is very true. Mike McCarthy's resume looks a lot like Tomlin's. It looks a lot like John Harbaugh, but we view it differently. And that's, you know, a little bit the way the world works. It's the herd.

the uh yeah, I was just thinking about this that we're going into a Super Bowl and this is obviously a very physical game, but the Seattle Seahawks have their entire roster except one running back and they play physical football. They're healthy. and the New England Patriots, very physical team. They're healthy. Where are all the injured, missing starters? Few years ago, there was a it was like four or five years ago, there was such a major push back uh mostly by the other network, but you know, it was uh oh, these Thursday games are too brutal. And so I literally called two players in the NFL, an older player and like a you know, a 28-year-old player and like a 38 year old, an older player, and I said, "What's the skinny on that?" And the player said, "You get a second by- week and it's the easiest week of practice all year and you're usually playing somebody in your region. So, it's a it's

a you don't really practice is the easiest and you get like extra time. Players players actually like it. You get the same check and you get a second buy." And so, this idea that oh, it's just too strenuous for a violent league. the Super Bowl between Seattle, one of the most physical teams in the league. They'll be missing one player of note, Zack Charbanet, good running back, but Walker is their go-to running back, and New England is overwhelmingly healthy as well. In the end, this league has made a lot of changes to enhance safety, much less hitting. Players can adapt and modified helmets. Um, you just don't hit as much as you used to. Uh you there's a lot of you you can't hit certain players in certain spots. Uh and I'm not saying it's not a a you know a a brutal game of regulated violence, but once again we get to a Super Bowl and you know 98% of the rosters are healthy and ready to go and they're going to get

you know plenty of time rest before we get the Super Bowl. Uh it's a darn it's a darn good league. Well run. Um, you know, I was thinking about, you know, when Mike Vrabel got hired, I don't mind older coaches if they think young. Andy Reid is 67. His play design, his play calling, the culture he's built is youthful. He's 67. He feels like he's 47, right? Like he just is a young coach. Vrabel's 50, but he feels like he's one of these 38-y olds. He's very much on clock management. Very very good situational football. Excellent on analytics. Vrabel is 50. He doesn't he doesn't coach like an older coach. And then you you'll check 73. It feels 73. Tonedeaf offense.

Only wants to coach certain guys. And that's not a shot at Bill. He has said that. So you know I I just look at Vrabel as one of those guys. We all know, you know, the Ben Johnson's and the McVey and the Shanahan and the young guys, but Vrabel is one of these guys that is aging really well. He is a young 50 and I just the way he relates to players. He's always talking about analytics and situational football. Drew Brees yesterday talked about Ves.

I remember Vel as a player. Um, man, hard-nosed, tough, love confrontation. Like, he was just one of those players. I see a side to him. I I I don't want to say like a softer side because that's not the way to say it, but it's a side of him that has become such an unbelievable like teacher and and and motivator of men, but in a way that is like so caring and thoughtful, but also just so wrapped up in like identity and who we are and what our standard is. And so to me, that's the the epitome of what they've done by going on the road.

Yeah. I mean, there's certain things that travel well. So, New England was the best road team in the league. Seattle was second. And it's defensive coaches, which is rare. We would expect Mike McDonald, the younger coach. He is going to be generationally great with the players. But you start getting into the 50s, the first number's five, and sometimes like you you want to coach certain guys and not other guy. Verbel is just one of those guys that's going to age really really well. He's not about being right. He's about getting it right. He's so good on the clock. He's so good with situational football.

He really likes his players. I love that tunnel stuff. I think it's just I think it's fantastic. And you know, there is that balance of loving your players but holding accountable your players. And there's stories about Vrabel walked in when he got there and he went into the locker room and the showers and there were towels on the floor and he's like, "Don't clean them. Ring them out and do not clean those towels." You can do both. be very demanding on your players and be absolutely pro player. I think that's the model. You know, there there was a story about Cooper Cup this week that he didn't feel loved by the Rams and you're always going to get some of that. Mike Silver wrote a story where, you know, the Rams Cooper Cup felt the Rams were poisoning the waters with Cooper Cup.

They didn't want him to go to other teams. And my takeaway is you got your feelings hurt because in the story buried in the story is actually a line where nobody from the Rams called Cooper Cup, right? And Cooper Cup got his feelings hurt. Plus, they had drafted Puka Nakua who was taking over the league. So, they didn't need him. They had Kairen Williams, they had Puka Nua, they had drafted tight ends, they had they had all these elements. So, but again, it is a hard balance. There was a story this week that makes it look like the Rams don't care for their players.

Well, they've moved off Jaylen Ramsey. They've moved off Todd Gurley. They've moved off Von Miller. They've moved off all sorts of players and haven't poisoned the waters. The truth is Cooper Cups got hurt. Couldn't stay healthy. They drafted Puga Nikkua. He became less valuable. He played nine games, then 12 games, then 12 games. His yards went down three or four straight years. He just wasn't as valuable. And athletes are very prideful. They get their feelings hurt. They always think they have more in the tank than they do. So, it's the first time I've heard a Ram player, and they've moved off. I mean, they've been right. They moved off Todd Gurley. Two years later, Zippo. Uh, you know, when the Rams move off players, it it it it's it's considered a very tough on players, but it's pro player. So, when I read the Cooper Cup story, I'm like, that doesn't sound like the Rams.

And then I went into the story, in fact, there was a line in the story uh by Mike Silver. I'm not I'm not doubting that Cooper Cup feels that way, but there's a line, quote, "After the Rams cut cup last March, he was stunned. Nobody in the organization, the most powerful people, never called to thank him for his time with the franchise. He has his feelings hurt. I get it. I understand. He's bitter. Doesn't sound like the Rams though that I know. Host of Out of Pocket, RG3's podcast, Fox Sports NFL, eight years in the NFL, the Heisman Trophy winner. Mike McCarthy just had a very emotional press conference. He got, you know, they say you can't go home again. It looked like he was a very happy guy. So, let's talk to uh it's official today. Joe Brady uh now I think he may be the youngest coach in the league with Josh Allen. He's not the hot coach on the market. He doesn't have a huge resume. He's in the

building. Um so, it's interesting. Both the Steelers and the Bills hired somebody they were comfortable with. That doesn't always make the best coach. So, let's start with Brady in Buffalo. What is your take on that?

Yeah, Colin. I think when you look at Joe Brady in Buffalo, the Bills are admitting to us in in real time that they don't think that the issue is physical there. They think it's psychological. So, they wanted to bring in someone with a new voice, but also give Josh Allen the the stable ecosystem around the offense that he has been running and has found extreme success in. You look at Brady, you look at Pton Manning, you look at Drew Brees, all the greats in this game, they consistently have the same offense for 10, 15, 20 years. And I think Josh Allen just has to not play his worst game in the biggest game of the year. And the Buffalo Bills can continue to to eliminate the self-inflicted wounds, build a better defense around him, and get some offensive weapons to help him go and really achieve the dream of winning a Super Bowl. But there's a trend right now in the NFL hiring cycle and you were spot on. It's it's more

about comfortability and less about just all the crazy offensive minds that are going to draw up all the crazy great plays and have your locker room falling apart. So McCarthy, listen, Pittsburgh fans didn't love the news, but after he cries at the press conference, very emotional. It'll it'll probably I mean, let's be honest, for the next 48 hours, people are going to be on the Mike McCarthy train in Pittsburgh. He loves the city, and I totally get it. It's when somebody loves you, you love them back. That's the reality. How do you feel about the move?

Yeah, I mean, I'm with the fans before the press conference. Um, hiring Mike McCarthy, uh, is to me just about making sure that the Steelers don't bottom out. Uh, you're coming off a Mike Tomlin who had 19 straight years without a losing record, a losing season, should I say. So Mike McCarthy at a minimum should be able to continue that trend, but it doesn't scream to the fan base or really to the locker room. Hey, we're here to win a Super Bowl right now. It it does feel like the Steelers are 100% fine with just winning enough games, staying relevant. Uh because Mike Tomlin, when he walks out the door, you kind of feel like that Steeler identity walks out the door with him. Yeah,

that was the biggest issue I had with with Mike McCarthy in Dallas. They just didn't have an identity or their identity was what it's always been with Jerry Jones. So, he didn't make a difference there. I'm happy for him that that he's excited to be to be home, but I don't think it's a move that makes the fan base just get invigorated with a ton of energy.

All right, let's we have some McCarthy sound. Robert, we'll play this. Play the sound we have on McCarthy. You know, often times coaches and players, you know, you put on new team colors and it takes it takes a minute to feel comfortable in those new colors. Uh, but to be blessed beyond any measure one day to put on the colors you wore since you brought home, I apologize. I understand and embrace the responsibility, the privilege, and the weight that comes with this stewardship. Uh, this city, this franchise, this fan base.

uh means the world to me because Pittsburgh is my world and uh it's it's just awesome to be back here.

That's about as emotional as you get for a head coach, is it not? So, I mean, again, I think that outpouring of emotion enders him to the city and it's kind of like let's ride. But I think I feel the kind of the same way is I will say this, could I argue this? The best thing about McCarthy, this organization has been leaning defense since it the 70s and it's like finally McCarthy. I mean, Robert, it's ridiculous. They've led the NFL in defensive spending four straight years.

Could I argue McCarthy will at least pivot the organization to spending more money on offense?

Yeah, Colin, I agree with you. I think he will. And when you listen to that sound, it's like, man, it's really hard to hate to hate the move,

right? But but I but I still understand the lack of excitement around it. But there's one thing that McCarthy is going to do and that is they're going to put up points. They're going to be a top 10 offense. Uh they're going to spend money in that regard. And I think the biggest question you have to ask, which everyone's already asking, what what is Aaron Rogers going to do? Right. This is a guy that many might say kind of got McCarthy out of Green Bay.

Yeah. So would he decide to stay another year to stay in Pittsburgh with his old coach to give it one more hurrah? Otherwise, you're working with Will Howard and as you said, a somewhat weak quarterback class this year in the draft. So it it's a difficult situation for Mike, but they do, you know, they got DK Metaf there. They've got some weapons that they can, you know, really get the ball around on offense, but if you don't have a quarterback, it doesn't matter. Well, as a former quarterback, um I want to ask you about Shawn Peyton going for it on fourth and one. And I want to ask you about Shawn McVey doing the same. Uh the analytics said, uh Shawn should have kicked a field goal, but it wasn't like 9010. It was kind of close. And the analytics said McVey should have gone for what he did, but it was like 48% win percentage to 38. So again, I I tend to be like uh offensive coaches, they want they they've got

their play calls and they're like they trust their guys and it's easier to trust Stafford than Jared Stidom. Did either one of those bother you or were you okay with both?

Um I think they both bothered me. Uh Colin and and I'm pro fourth down. I'm just anti-ego. And right now the problem isn't like coaches going for it on fourth down. think it's the the discourse around going for it on fourth down is almost looked at like a personality trait. All right. Like if you if you don't go for it on fourth down, you know, you got some in you. Like there's an old phrase, Colin, of like mama ain't raised. No.

Right. Everyone knows how to finish that phrase. But this is not the time to sing it in my opinion. When you're in games like the AFC Championship and the NFC Championship, which are routinely decided by one score,

right? And you have to take the points. Take the points. It's It's all about momentum. I know there's some people that believe momentum is a is a myth. I don't I know if I'm on a drive and we're up seven nothing and we kick a field goal to go up 10 to nothing, my defense is feeling better. My coordinator's feeling better about what he's calling and the fans in the stands are also getting more into the game because now we have a two-score lead. So I I look at Shawn Payton's decision and it just felt like it's premature. Don't make a decision because you're worried about what's going to happen two quarters later. I know the analytics on his said to kick the field goal. And then for Shawn McVey, uh I know Sean like Shawn was my coordinator in Washington. His mindset is he would rather, you know, die on the sword going for it than to kick a field goal and hope that his defense is going to get him the ball

back. But they went for it, didn't get it, and then got the ball back with 25 seconds. Now imagine if they kick that field goal, they still get the ball back with 25 seconds and all they need is a field goal to win the game.

Well, the other thing is, you know, the other thing, Robert, is Stafford had struggled on like third down. He was 0 for six in the game. So, they had moved the ball well, but a lot of it was first and second down play calling. They picked up a lot of first downs. Um, you know, it's again, I I love Payton and McVey, but I I also said this, it's fourth and one in Denver with a great O line

and it's a home game in Seattle. It's fourth and four. You're not only on the road, Seattle, their defensive line's better than your own line. The other thing is it's not fourth and one, it's fourth and four. And to be in the end zone in Seattle,

you cannot hear yourself think in the end zone. So, you know, it's it's it's it's tough. Okay, I want to end with this. I listen, I have a long history with Sam Darnold and believing in him. Okay, but that said, um I think he gets an I think he get there's a reasonable opinion, and I always felt this with Andrew Luck. They're both a little reckless, but I also think Payton Manning threw picks and Eli Manning threw picks and Matt Stafford through picks, right? Oh, yeah. I mean really Mahomes and Aaron Rogers are rare. You get the upside with very few picks. That's very rare.

Right. Right. Before Sam's resurgence, how did you view It's easy now to say I always knew before that game with the Rams. Did you think he would have the game of his career?

Um I did not think that Sam Donner was going to play the way he played against the Rams. Okay.

I don't I don't think anyone thought that. And if they did, they're lying to you. Now, I also didn't think that he was going to bottom out, Colin. Uh, I think what we realized last year with Sam Donn was if you put him in a situation where he has weapons around him, a really good defense, a strong offensive line, he can make every throw you can possibly imagine. And the under, you know, talked about thing with Sam Donald is his ability to make off-sc.

Yeah. like he can run, he can throw on the run, he he's a dynamic athlete and I think that's why he's been able to have the resurgence that he has. It's it's obviously his confidence, right? That's a big difference maker. His decision making in these last two playoff games where he was turnover free was massive for Seattle. And he's got the number one scoring defense in the NFL. All right, when he was with the Jets 2019, I think he went seven and six as a starter. They had the 16th ranked defense. So, the way I look at Sam Donald is when you have a guy that has elite traits. I've I've heard you talk about this before with Sam, when you watch him throw the football, it just looks different.

Yeah. He has elite traits. So, now if you put a guy with elite traits who has mobility and he's got weapons around him, Jackson Smith and Jigba is the best receiver.

Oh my. Unbelie He is. I mean, he literally never slows down into rate, into break, out of break, during break. Same speed. The car never shifts down ever.

So you put these guys around him and then the defense that they have, you know, Tariq Woolen had the mistake in the game, but then came back and they shut down Puka and Devonte Adams there at the end of the game when when the Rams needed him the most. Like this is the recipe for a Seahawks team to win the Super Bowl because Sam Darnold can do that. And as long as he protects the football and they protect him up front, I mean, it's it's hard to pick against the Seahawks. Robert, great seeing you as always, my man. Great work.

Appreciate you, brother. God bless. All right. He's been great for us. Uh RG3, Robert Griffin, the third um host of Out of Pocket with RG3 is his podcast. So, Mike McCarthy, very emotional, got a dream job and when you get those kind, not many people in life get their dream job. So, I think McCarthy's hiring there was a real push back in Pittsburgh media and fans. My take is today, that was such an emotional press conference, everybody today in Pittsburgh is going to be like, "Hey, let's ride with it. He's our guy.

He's a Pittsburgh guy and Pittsburgh loves Pittsburgh." You know what I mean? They lean into Pittsburgh. It's the herd. RG3 last hour. Jac with the news. NO, NO, NO. TURN

ON THE NEWS. THIS is the herd line news. All right, let's start with the best quarterback in the NFL this season, Matthew Stafford. Colin, it was a tough ending for the Rams quarterback as they fell just short against the Seahawks. He led the league in passing yards and touchdowns. I mean, I think smart people think he's going to be the MVP slightly over Drake May. However, there's of course chatter. Is Stafford going to retire? He's old. He said he's still taking time to consider it. Here is the sound.

There'll be a lot that goes into it. You know, it's a you know, a physical, a mental and emotional decision, a personal and a, you know, a family decision as well. So, when I'm ready to figure that out, I'll be ready to figure that out. That that moment isn't right now. Um, I have so much more time, I feel like, to reflect on just the people and the the season that we just had. Uh, I want to appreciate that and give it the the time that it deserves before I start thinking personally about what uh what's next for me and and my family.

I think this is one of the most fascinating parts of next year. So, Stafford gave the Rams a team friendly deal. It was very team friendly and then he gets the MVP. Okay,

they're not getting that deal. And by the way, it's a bad quarterback space. Now, there's those speculating they're going to go after CJ Stra with Houston, but is Houston going to give up CJ Stout in a bad quarterback class? Not yet.

Yeah. So, my take is they rolled the dice. Stafford bet on himself. Remember Joe Flacco did that won a Super Bowl and got rich. So, you know, Stafford's like, "Okay, I'll take a team friendly deal." and he went 52 touchdowns, nine picks. So, my take is Stafford will come back, but he's going to want more money. And they also have a Devonte Adams issue. Even if they let him go, it's a $15 million cap hit with Devonte Adams. So, one of the great gifts of this Rams team is they have a star quarterback who makes a lot of money. Not Josh Allen, a lot of money, but they've drafted so well. Well, they've been able to maneuver around the cap and get a Nate Land man and, you know, go and pick some pieces with Devonte Adams. Well, now Stafford is going to sign a deal if he stays and he's going to get paid really, really good money. So, they're still about a year away from having to pay all these young defensive guys, but they that's

why my take is they're not going to give up a lot of picks and go get Tai Simpson. They've got to go draft

like they have to get a right tackle. They'll save money on Havenstein. They'll probably move off one of their older tight ends. They'll probably move off a Devonte Adams. They probably have to move off either a safety or a corner. It's a fascinating year because Matt Stafford betted himself. He's not taken another super Ram team friendly deal. I can't believe he would do that.

Yeah, I I I think he's definitely coming back. I would get I would assume like you that they'll probably restructure his deal. I think Dvonte's coming back. However, you know, you start your offseason work. I'm not the Super Bowl. Whatever. I'm more into these offseason moves. Colin, I got four names for you who are contract extension eligible on the Rams. There are four starters. Kobe Turner, defensive end, he's good. Byron Young, outside linebacker, edge rusher, he's good. Steve Aila, left guard, he's good. And then the big one, Puka Nakua, is eligible for an extension.

I I don't know if all four of those guys are back. I I would say three for sure. You can't lose Puka. I I I I feel

Puna Ford has been so good that they move off Kobe Turner because they've got verse they have so much talent on the defensive front. I could see them moving off Young or Turner. Not that they're not great. They'll have a big market.

So I could because Puna Ford's been great and Jared Verse and the Fris from uh Florida State. I mean they've all been they've drafted so well up front. I could see movement there. I think they're going to keep that offensive guard. He's outstanding. Yeah,

they drafted him high. He has delivered for them. Puka, they're obviously they would give an extension to

um our buddy Daniel Jeremiah did his mock draft and he had Mai Lemon, your guy from USC, going to the Rams in the teens. They got two first round picks. Rams are sitting pretty, Colin. I'm just telling you, they're off seasonason. Like, there's some teams that are messy. Rams look really good. They just have to figure out who these guys to bring back. If they get Mai Lemon plus Devonte and Puka with Kairen and Blake Cororm, I mean, who's got a better offense than that? I mean, that's ridiculous. I think Stafford is coming back. I think Rams, would you agree? Super Bowl favorites going into next season.

Short list, two or three teams. Yeah. Yeah. All right, let's move on to the next story, and that's the Denver Broncos. Tough ending with the loss at home to the Patriots, but interestingly, Russell Wilson, remember that dead money? um that comes off the books this off season and left tackle Garrett BS expects Denver to be a popular destination in free agency.

People want to come to Denver. I mean, I I I'll be shocked to see how many free agencies want to come here. Um we got a young team, we got a quarterback, we got the best O line football. I don't care what anyone says, we do. That's just reality.

He's great. Great player. Um I saw him once in an airport in Salt Lake City. He looks like a left tackle.

Large individual. Let me tell you something, man. like that. The man upstairs does not make a lot of Garrett Bulls. That is an offensive tackle. Uh, no, I think Denver has always been a city that I mean, Payton Manning played there

and then stayed there. Like there's a lot of pro athletes that love living in Colorado and and Denver and I think they're going to be good for a long time. I think Bo Nicks proved even to you in the critics, Bo Nicks proved he's pretty darn good. me. Me I I Bon is fine, but I think you're the one who was trying to sell me on Boulder being this, you know, cosmopolitan town. It's like basically the Paris of the Midwest or something. Is I've never been I've never been to downtown Denver.

Colorado is a beautiful state, lot to do, very recreational. So, I'm just digging into their off season. They're in really good shape. I mean, Chiefs fans, they're up against it this offseason, but Denver uh Bulls is on to something. They're going to be a destination. I I don't know if you're with me, but I feel like offensive skill position, running back, tight end, receiver, they could use a bump up. They don't have a like a like Courtland Sutton, you like him,

but he's not elite. He's not like a top five, top seven wide receiver. Pro Bowler's a pro bowler.

Shador Sanders is a pro bowler. Come on, bro. Like the running game's fine. I feel like they're one offensive piece away. Um, and I believe in Pton. They're gonna be good next year. Final story, Colin. This is spicy and I'm a little salty if those two go together. Brian Dable is reportedly going to take the Tennessee Titans OC job.

Wow. If he does not get the Raiders head coaching job. Now, this you earlier, I think this was yesterday, you said the Titans are your pick to be keep an eye on them. If they get Dable and Salah, I will choose them as the New York Giants one, Tennessee 2 as the double your win total teams. Absolutely. If this that would be a home run.

You beat me to it, man. I I I like Tennessee this year. I was a year early. But you are are going to be right with Salah and Dable. I mean, listen, people are way down on Cam Ward. By the way, Cam Ward could have been the Pro Bowl guy over Shadur Sanders. He just doesn't have a big Instagram following. Cam Ward had a fine rookie season. Not amazing.

He's fine. He Listen, man. This Dable Hire would be huge. Colin, that that division all of a sudden is kind of good. Houston made the playoffs. Jacksonville made the playoffs. Uh the Colts were at one point, I think. Just ask yourself this.

Sam Darnold, since he left the Jets, doesn't that make you understand that maybe it's the Jets?

Well, Robert Salah is with the Jets. He is going to Buffalo and if they win a chance to be tied for first, they fire him. He was obviously the best coach on the staff and they circled the drain. I don't think people and then he goes to San Francisco and I think both of us agreed what he did with the Niners defense is hard to explain. No BSA, no Fred Warner, they moved off Hunga Green law, a bunch of kids and were until the end of the year when they just fell apart physically were outstanding beat Philadelphia. I think the Salah hire is the one hire that people have.

Maybe it's because Harbaugh is getting so much attention and the Bills job and the Ravens job get so much attention. I I I think Tennessee they they got their guy

big time. Uh just to clear something up, okay, and it's not just you. A lot of national guys have been taking shots. Well, Darnell was with the Jets. He had no chance. I mean, come on. I'm just going to remind people he threw 35 touchdowns for the Vikings last year. Okay? Okay. He had 4,000 yards passing and the Vikings who went 14 and three said, "Sammy, thank you. Enjoy wherever you want to go." So, it's not like just the Jets screwed up on Sam D. The Vikings had a guy and just said, "We're good."

All right, if that's how you feel. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news

and thanks for stopping by. So, uh, Mike McCarthy, very emotional presser today in Pittsburgh. Uh then there was the inevitable question about the quarterback position and somebody he once coached that ended very poorly, Aaron Rodgers. And uh not sure Mike quite knew what to say.

I'm not asking this from any other perspective except your own personal preference. Uh in your best case scenario, do you want Aaron Rogers back as your quarterback next year?

That he that's nice the way he asked that, right? That was slick. Um but I mean, definitely. I mean, I don't see why you wouldn't, but you know, I think just like anything, you know, knowing Aaron long enough going through seasons, you know, I think when players, you know, you know, to see to see Mel Blunt here, I mean, when guys are up that stage of their career, they need to step away and decompress it. That that's I think that's very important. And I have spoken to Aaron and um so that's really where, you know, that's really where we are there.

Um, yeah, I I don't think that's an easy situation. It, you know, don't burn bridges, everything circles back. Um, I think for a year, you know, you kind of heal that wound maybe for a year. McCarthy and Aaron, uh, kind of sew that thing up a little bit. I think Aaron's the best quarterback available on the market. If they reach for Tai Simpson, who depending on the front office you talk to, Tai Simpson, I mean, they already reached for a first round pick and Kenny Picket. That didn't work at all. So, if I could do Aaron Rogers for one more year and kind of shift the tone and the personnel, get a little younger on defense, start spending more money on offense, but I I mean, to me, and I don't know what that relationship is now, Aaron has said publicly and Mike has said publicly last year, it's fine.

Water under the bridge, it's no big deal. Uh, so if they're being forthright and honest, uh, I for a year, I'd do it. I thought Aaron played really well. I I've said before, I thought he was comeback player of the year. I'd have no problem signing Aaron to a two-year deal. Uh give him a little more money this year, second year of the deal. Give the Steelers a little and Aaron some wiggle room to get out of it. But I have no problem with it. Again, this is not a quarterback market with six guys. It's one star in Fernando Mendoza, Tai Simpson. And right now, today, Aaron Rodgers is a lot better than Tai Simpson's rookie year. I mean that that I go back and look at the numbers. Aaron played really well considering down the stretch they didn't have DK Metaf for a couple of key games. So I think it works at least for a year. Why not? Jay Mack with the news.

NO. TURN ON THE NEWS. This is the herd line news. Big news of the day is Joe Brady, the OC in Buffalo, is going to be taking over as the head coach. Buffalo fans seem positive on the uh hire. I I don't think it's a splashy one. He's 36 years old, which is crazy. I mean, Colin, where were you at 36? Were you in Tampa at 36? I know. I was just goofing around on the internet starting a website. Um I I can't believe being an NFL head coach. We'll see how it goes in Buffalo for Joe Brady.

Well, he's done some college. He's done some pro. He knows the organization. Um you know, Josh Allen probably had a say. I listen if you're Josh Allen, he was sitting in on interviews. Yeah, him and Lamar are gonna definitely have

Well, I think if you're I mean, let's let's look at it fairly through Josh Allen's eyes. Josh Allen's had great years with Joe Brady. So, and Josh Allen's probably thinking he won't mess with the offense, I mean, only thing Josh Allen's missing, he'll be a Hall of Famer. He He's rich beyond his wildest dreams. The only thing he doesn't have is a ring. Well, there's no guarantee you'd get a ring with Jesse Mentor. There's no guarantee you'd get a ring with John Harbaugh. There's no guarantees that Stfansky would get you a ring. So Josh Allen's like, "Well, if there's no guarantee, I'm not getting Shawn Payeyton as a head coach. I'm not getting Andy Reid in his prime. I'm not getting Shawn McVey. So if I'm not getting that Josh Allen's like, well, I I'm familiar with this guy. I don't have to learn a new offense." So I get Josh and I think Josh Allen did have a say. I don't know if it was the final say, but

he had a say. And again, if you're not giving me Shawn McVey or Kyle Shanahan or Andy Reid or Shawn Payeyton, well then then give me comfort. I mean, you don't know if he's Jesse Mter may have come to Buffalo or Kevin Stfansky and, you know, an inch better than Joe Brady or not. So, I get the star players saying, "Listen, I've checked almost every box except one, and I think the chances of getting there with this guy are not any worse than anybody else that was currently on the market. I mean, John Harbaugh is a guaranteed success in New York. Tell me, I think Jesse Miner will work in Baltimore. There's no guarantees with any of these other hires really.

All right, let's move to Mike McDaniel. He has officially been hired as the Chargers offensive coordinator. I think it's the best hire of the off seasonason. Um, interestingly, Jim Harbaugh um, hired him, which everybody thinks was a smart move. McDaniel was then introduced at his press conference call, and this has an SNL feel, SNL skit feel to it. Here we go.

All right. What's up? Um, not really an opening statement guy. Um, but I will open with this statement. I'm fired up to be here. Family's fired up to be here. and shoot from the hip with whatever questions you got.

I think so confident. He's got the puffy jacket out here in LA. Come on. He and Harbaugh are different cats. Totally. But so what I mean I I I mean listen, remember when Shawn McVey hired Wade Phillips for a year? Totally different guys. I don't think that I mean

I mean you got Ben Johnson's a young hot shot. You got Dennis Allens as defensive coordinator who got fired twice as a head coach. He's kind of limping around the league and he puts his arm around him and says, "You know what? Dennis has been around the league. He knows it." So, I I don't really have a problem going out and getting a personality opposite of you. I mean, the culture is created by the head coach. I like young, smart offensive coordinators, risktakers, and I think you and I both agree. You can say what you want about Mike McDaniel as a head coach. He made two a pro bowler, got to the playoffs twice in the AFC when Mahomes, Lamar, and Burrow and all these guys were in their prime. Mike McDaniel is an offensive coordinator.

And I agree with you, that is the one guarantee in the two guarantees in the coaching cycle. Harbaugh is going to make the Giants better and Mike McDaniel is going to work absolutely with Justin Herbert. Those two things I absolutely believe are true.

Yeah, I this is going to be a home run. It's early obviously offseason. I'm starting to dig into the Chargers. They're they're in good shape this off seasonason. Okay. And they get their bookend tackles back. You looking for an AFC winner next year? I think Chargers definitely top three roster, quarterback, coaching staff. Just got to stay healthy and they should be right there in the AFC Championship next year. I I like a lot about this team. Final story. Let's talk about the Lakers. You got them up close and personal last night in Shy Town. Luca was cooking. Rui Hachimura, by the way, was awesome. Nine of 11, 23 points.

But Luca was just masterful. Listen, man. I know everybody loves him some SGA, but Luca Donuch, I mean, come on. With Jokic out, Luca is the best player in the league. It's not close. Everybody around him better.

He's the best offensive player in the league. Oh, that's a no question. I mean, the step back threes, he had eight threes last night. And there it looks like he's doing it in slow motion and yet nobody can stop him. I'm such a fan. Um,

what are the what's the net rating on the Bulls defense? because Chicago don't have that don't have that handy right now, Colin.

In the first half, the the first quarter to a half, the Bulls barely had a pulse defensively. So, a lot of those threes were like practice threes. So,

see the the problem with the Bulls is they continually are in the middle, right? So, they're never drafting top five. And if you don't draft top five, you're not getting a superstar unless you nail a Jokic or one of these guys.

Well, you know, people always talk about the advantages. um that the NFL has over the NBA. There are fewer games, so the games mean more. Do you know the biggest advantage the NFL has over the NBA is that in the NFL you can go from awful to the Super Bowl. Patriots are another example because you get 7 to 8 to 9 to 10 players in the draft. Many are grown men ready to contribute because you have to stay in college minimum three years. So, I mean, the Patriots this year have like five rookies who are huge. I mean, the Seahawks are the second young youngest team in the league. They got a bunch of kids. In the NBA, you get like two picks. One's a second rounder who at best is at the end of your bench and maybe let's say even if you're a bad team and get the fifth pick, he's a good player, but he's one year in college than the he's 19 20 years old. He's not close to changing outcomes of games. So even Webby came

into the league were like best prospect ever. Game restrictions, minute restrictions, got injured. Chad Holgren, great player. Minute restrictions, got banged up. So the the advantage the NFL has over the NBA, when you're bad in the NBA, you they're limited on the trades you can make. That salaries have to match up. When you're bad in the N How long have the Wizards been bad? forever. Forever. The Commanders were bad. They get a new owner. The next year they're in the conference championship. You can't do that in the NBA. And so the NFL is a league of hope. And the NBA feels like a league of hopeless

for teams like Chicago. Yeah. If you get a top elite, look at all how the all the best teams are built right through the draft. Look at what the Spurs did quickly. Drafting WBY, drafting C. Jokic, Jamal Murray, all the best teams. I know the Lakers are unique because they trade for Shaq.

The Spurs. Yeah. Since drafting Wemby 40 games under 500. Well, he missed a lot of time with the blood clots. I you you can't you know I know they did trade for dear Fox, but the Celtics Tatum and Brown through the draft. Uh you look at the Pacers Hallebertton through the draft. You've got to nail that top 10 pick just like you got to nail a quarterback in the NFL.

Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news.

Yeah, it it it is interesting though watching LeBron last night. I had said this at the top of the hour. He came out and played a really good first quarter uh first half. Really good. And you know, it reminds me of Tom Brady. Tom Brady didn't retire cuz he couldn't play. Tom Brady probably was tired of the off seasons. And you know, it's grueling the practice, the intensity. you don't have much of a life outside of about three weeks in the offseason, maybe six weeks. You know, Aaron Rogers goes and hides. That's fine. That's not really Brady's personality. He's a grindery as a as a broadcaster, as a player. So, you have to really commit to the off season. And and with LeBron, it's not about LeBron not loving basketball or not being what are his numbers this year? Watching him last night in the first half. Now, he can't do it for 40 minutes anymore, but when LeBron, he's in Chicago, LeBron knows

New York, Chicago, you know, the last time Chicago's get us gets to see him, it's a soldout game. LeBron knows he can put on a little bit of a show, he was the best player along with Luke on the floor and he still look at his body. He can still bully his way to 20 points a game. He's still a brilliant passer and great ball handler. So just watching him play last night, it's like LeBron could get 20 for another four years because he is so physically strong and the league is young and it frankly it's young and skinny and LeBron's just so physically powerful that I watched him last night.

My guy's in his 40s. LeBron in four years from now could give you 18 points. He couldn't give you 40 minutes. He could get you 18 points. So um LeBron right now is averaging 226 and six. one of the five players in the league averaging those numbers. 20 points in the first half last night and and one of the best dunks he's had in the last couple years. So, you know, you sit and watch him and you're like, I mean, he's still there are so many young the NBA now's got so many young players and so many players that just can't physically match up with LeBron and he still beats guys off the dribble. It's very much Brady. Brady retired because of personal stuff. LeBron may just retire because like the, you know, Lakers have new owners. They're not going to give him a big extension, but Brady could have been a top six quarterback two years ago and LeBron is still bullying his way to 20 point halves.

Bulls aren't very good defensively, but you get the point. Nick Wright, RG3, stopped by Mike McCarthy. Listen, when people cry at a press conference, you know, it's hard not to root for them. So, if Aaron Rogers comes back, I'll say it right now, they'll win 10 games. They're not going to win any playoff games. Kansas City's going to get Mahomes some help. And I I think a really interesting story is what's Lamar going to do? Lamar wants to be the highest paid quarterback. Good luck. Not saying he doesn't deserve it. Stafford's going to want more money.

Good luck. You're going to have to move off some of these really, really high-end Rams players. See you tomorrow.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Colin Cowherd & Nick Wright Super Bowl DEBATE: Seahawks-Patriots + Steelers, Bills, Joe Brady | HERD"?

Colin Cowherd (Host), Nick Wright (Guest), RG3 (Robert Griffin III) (Guest).

What is "Colin Cowherd & Nick Wright Super Bowl DEBATE: Seahawks-Patriots + Steelers, Bills, Joe Brady | HERD" about?

Colin Cowherd and Nick Wright engage in a debate about the implications of the Buffalo Bills hiring Joe Brady as their offensive coordinator and evaluate current NFL coaching changes. They discuss the inherent risks and potential benefits of prioritizing familiarity in coaching hires, questioning whether Brady can match the effectiveness of head coach Sean McDermott, while highlighting the trend…

What is mentioned in this The Herd with Colin Cowherd episode?

20 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Colin Cowherd, NFL, Super Bowl, Ian Brady, Josh Allen, Mike McCarthy. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Colin Cowherd & Nick Wright Super Bowl DEBATE: Seahawks-Patriots + Steelers, Bills, Joe Brady | HERD"?

The episode runs 1 h 6 min; the transcript is about 12,271 words in 135 timestamped sections.

More from The Herd with Colin Cowherd

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 29, 2026.