Reaction to Buccaneers-Seahawks, Broncos-Eagles, Cowboys-Jets, Raiders-Colts | Colin Cowherd NFL

Reaction to Buccaneers-Seahawks, Broncos-Eagles, Cowboys-Jets, Raiders-Colts | Colin Cowherd NFL

Welcome to the official YouTube channel for the Colin Coward podcast. Go on, hit that subscribe button if you’re new so you don’t miss any of our great football content this season. This episode is presented by Uber Eats. When football makes you hungry, order Uber Eats. I do every weekend. All right, time to look at this weekend’s tastiest matchup and this week’s Sunday Night Food brought to you by Uber Eats, a company I use all the time. Well, because games are played on Mondays, a couple of them, and Thursdays, you don’t always get the greatest Sunday slate. Um, but some of the games today were fantastic. Tampa Bay 38, walk-off field goal to win it over Seattle 35. It looked like young Brady and Payton Manning. Uh, I don’t remember a game like that. Um, Darnold’s always been a little more athletic than Baker. had a couple of all-timers. Baker just kept they couldn’t stop him. You know, Seattle’s defense has really shut down a lot of good offenses uh in the last couple years, especially at the end of last year. Baker had no problem with it. Ibuka had no problem with it. I guess my takeaway from this game was if these two met in the NFC Championship, I wouldn’t be shocked. I mean, it’s an offensive league. I would not be shocked. I don’t think tonight was a mirage. I think those are really good quarterbacks and really good teams full of excellent young players. And by the way, John John Middlev, two of the best GMs. These rosters have dudes everywhere. Yeah, totally agree. Uh I mean, at one point in time, Colin, it was 21-21. They were 39 of 45 for 450 yards and three touchdowns. Like this is But it just kept going on. I mean, they made play after play outside the construct of the play, right? both of them scrambling around. We know Darnold, I mean, Baker now is a mobile, you know, behind the line of scrimmage keep. They were fantastic. That that was as entertaining of a game watching these two guys that have clearly resurrected their career now for a couple years. That was awesome. I mean, those guys I I know Sam, you know, the lasting image will be of him throwing the interception, but that was on Todd BS called an incredible blitz. You saw in the slow motion replay, it wasn’t a bad pass. He got hit and the ball went in the wrong direction. Both those guys couldn’t miss. They they felt like a you know Steph Curry when every time he shot you just think the ball’s going to hit nothing but net with both quarterbacks. I mean that draft pick I one thing I was taught a long time ago is at the time they drafted him. You’re like well they got Mike Evans and Chris Godwin’s coming back. They got Aton. They got multiple running backs. Why do they need a weapon? Because a position of strength can become a position of weakness with an injury or two. Look at the Chargers. best offensive line in the league. Now you’re looking like who are these guys playing tackle for him? Injuries happen. I mean, this guy I I don’t want to say saving their season, but you know, Godwin’s been out and then he comes back and then Evans gets hurt and this guy find me a better rookie right now in the NFL than he’s been fantastic. Remember a couple years ago, of course you do, Atlanta drafted uh Robinson, Bejian Robinson, the running back and I had a GM say, “He’s Leanian Tomlinson. There’s no flaw. good teammate, good blocker, everything. Ibuka, because he wasn’t like a 43 guy, uh, doesn’t go in the top, you know, seven or eight. But I had an executive in the league say he’s a flawless receiver. Routes, teammate, toughness, catch, hands, he’s like there’s just no flaw. But he’ll drop because he’s not huge and he’s not, you know, he doesn’t have a unicorn body type and he’s not a complete burner. He is just a great football player. I mean, he is open. He doesn’t drop it. He runs great. He runs 10-year veteran routes. And Seattle’s secondary is good. Seattle’s defense is good. And they torched it today. I I would say the same thing about JSN. Also happened to be an Ohio State guy. I mean, I I looking at the numbers right now, they combined for 15 catches, almost 300 yards, and multiple touchdowns. But both those guys are good examples, right? Neither of them would go in the top 10 cuz they’re not quite big enough. They’re more slot receivers. Like, no, they can do everything. They can play inside, they can play outside, you know what they do? They get open every single play. Elite players, elite character guys, like you said, elite teammates and sometimes at wide receiver, right? And you’ve been on this for decades, the little diva-ish. These guys are rare breeds. I mean, these these guys are wired like quarterbacks or safeties or Well, you know why, John? I think a lot of it, John, is because when you are as big as DK Metaf, he was that big in the seventh grade. He was the biggest, strongest kid, and everybody was in all of them. Whereas Jackson Smith and Jigba make Ibuka, they weren’t the biggest kids. They weren’t the fastest kids. They got there because they had a lot of talent and they worked their ass off to become great receivers. And I think some Mike Evans is the rare big, strong guy, but super humble, hardworking Keenan Allen, but Keenan’s not a burner either. A lot of times the Antonio Browns, the DK Metaf, the guys that just are have been gifted, the fastest kid in every class, Tyreek Hill was probably the fastest kid in the fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade, and you know it things come easy for you. So a lot of these great receivers like Larry Fitzgerald, you can just see the work ethic, you know, like Puka Nua, fifth round guy, Omaron St. Brown. Look at the best receivers right now in the league. Puka, Amaran St. Brown. These two rookies, it’s a lot of guys that are talented, but they’re you’d view them as classic overachievers. None of them are burners. None of them outside of Mike Evans um are, you know, don’t walk into a room and inspire awe. They’re just dudes who got some genetic gifts, work super hard, and it’s just, you know, it’s just like you go find a great attorney. He had smart parents, you know, he didn’t have dummies as parents, but the truth is he put the effort in because there’s a million attorneys, right? You got to fight through it. So, I just watched JSN and I I just look at to me, you really have to be careful when drafting wide receivers. I mean, I saw another running back drop the ball at the goal line today, Arizona Tennessee. Like, you watch Arizona Tennessee today, there’s talent on the field, but just not just errors and fumbles. And Kyler Murray at one point left the game. I’m not even sure he got hit. Like moods and I just watched Tampa and I watch Seattle and I see great GMs and a lot of good character guys and a lot of tough guys and a lot of redemption stories. That was so much fun. I I I also think it’s a uh if you’re a defensive coach out there, like an assistant or a coordinator, it shows you obviously these offensive coordinators have taken over the league and rightfully so, the quarterback’s really important, but Todd BS is an old school like a safety from the 80s, right? Who has become, you know, he he was Bruce Aren’s right-hand man for a long time. He got some experience with the Jets. Like, he’s a really good coach and he’s an excellent defensive coordinator. I’ve been saying for years, Mike McDonald is basically Kyle or Shawn. He just happens to call defense. If he was an offensive coordinator, we would speak about him no differently than we do Kevin Oonnell. That’s right. He’s a defensive guy and you saw today those guys have empowered their quarterback. They’re I mean Todd’s probably one of the great uh blitz callers in in league history. You know, Spags has turned into one. Jim Johnson forever. It’s a skill and and that call that won them the game because that was a game and even for a split second when they had tied the game I went Todd’s gonna allow them to go for two and it turned out it was just Baker holding it up hoping they would give I think Todd called you know the field goal kicker on but that’s another thing I mean in a in a day and age when these field goals are kind of getting blocked their field goal kicker in Tampa I don’t know if the guy’s missed I mean he he’s game winner after game winner pretty nails also when the guy hit the round on essentially the game-winning run. Probably could have got a couple more yards, but you talk about coaching clearly told him in the huddle, if you break this, it’s an outbreaking run. If you get near the sideline, whether it’s a first down or not, get to the ground, right? We have seen in college and the pros sometimes guys like they have a, you know, brain fart, they they go out of bound, they save the team a timeout. So, it’s just just a highlevel operation. I’m with you that game I think Seattle’s going nowhere. I mean, the 49ers are 4-1, but half their team’s on injured reserve. Tampa, I mean, this Tampa 49er game next week, you know, Tampa now has to fly. I mean, what time are they going to get out of their 7:00 Pacific Standard Time? They won’t get home till the middle of the night. The 49ers have this long break. They’re missing a ton of players. Uh, that’s that’s a huge win for them, though. I mean, that’s a that’s a mess. Go on the road to Seattle and think about this. Todd Bull struggled with the Jets. Darnold disaster with the Jets. Devonte Adams, disaster with the Jets. Aaron Rodgers, much better version of Aaron Rodgers. It’s a cesspool. And we’ll get into the Jets loss today, which may have been like rich cot level bad. Think about people aren’t only leaving the Jets and winning. They’re flourishing. They lead their division. They’re MVP candidates. That is a bad organization. I remember when Todd BS was with the Jets, you know, and people would always rip him. He he was a little like Carl Derell UCLA the first year. He didn’t even know he didn’t have much of a persona on the sideline. He got lost within the sideline. You couldn’t find him. But Todd was always so smart and so thoughtful and he was just one of those guys like he didn’t want, you know, he was the opposite of Rex Ryan. Like he didn’t want any attention. But over the course of your life, if you do good work and you just keep your head down, a lot of people get fired. It doesn’t mean anything. You’ll be rewarded. Todd Bulls was too good not to succeed in this league. Same with Sam. And look at, you know, I I think you brought up the two GMs. You know, Mike’s gonna have a long career. Came from the Ravens, but Todd, imagine if he would have got a second opportunity with the Carolina Panthers or some of these franchises, but he got Jason Light, who anyone in the league will tell you is easily one of the best GMs. Just a highlevel, humble guy who’s seen it all, worked for everyone that mattered in the league over the last 20 years. and their team like they have had so many injuries and you watch them play. I mean offensively they’re missing their starting running back and their Hall of Fame wide receiver. How many points did they just I mean they they scored 38 points. I mean that’s on the road against Seattle. Wow. What a Seattle is a Sam Darnold fumble and a Sam Darnold pick and both times he like either bumped into a teammate or had somebody bump into him or Seattle could be an undefeated team. So, this game is Seattle’s a really good team. They’re the second youngest offense in the league. So, if you’re a Seahawk fan, you got some good years ahead. You know, it’s it’s also I don’t know. I mean, I wouldn’t worry about drafting a quarterback if I’m Seattle. I think they found I mean, Darnold’s still young. He’s still totally when he when he was drafted by the Jets, he was 21. I think he’s 27 or 28 now. You got four more five more peak years. Yeah. To to me, I mean, I’m sure we’ll talk about college. I you look around the the landscape of college football. It doesn’t look like a lot of uh Joe Burroughs coming into the league here. I would say this though, sometimes there’s a win-win. Fit matters. Like I’m way better off as a podcaster than I was local radio when we had ties to the team. It’s not Kubak like they hire Kubiaak and they get rid of Ryan Grub. Well, Ty Simpson and Alabama are rolling, right? and Ryan Grub’s much better fit for college and they get Kubak who’s more of a runheavy great for Sam and it’s just worked out for both parties right Kubak last year fired as well sometimes in football you just get with the right person Sam now look at Sam now we we talk about the Jets for three straight years Kyle Kyle embraces him embraces him changes the way we talk about him then he gets his opportunity with Kevin now he’s in Seattle I I mean just flourishing same thing with Baker Mayfield he goes to Tampa. Uh, gets around Jason Light, gets around a high Mike Evans and just a more low-key environment. I I’ve been there. I’ve never lived there like you, but it’s an easier place to just kind of ease into things. Yeah. And Baker, the the media in Tampa’s more supportive. Baker’s one of those guys that sometimes if he feels like he has to overcome the GM and the coach that he he tries too hard. He’s very composed now. He’s got a support system. He’s happily married. Baker does has nothing to prove. Everybody knows he’s good. He’s playing with a very controlled chip on his shoulder, but it’s a good chip on his shoulder. I agree. It it’s it’s it’s like he doesn’t have to prove anything. Everybody loves him in Tampa. And in Cleveland, he and Hugh Jackson battled and then Freddy Kitchens and then the GM and and then the media was on his ass because the Cleveland media is, you know, it’s it’s it’s bitter. It’s it’s and I don’t blame them. Tampa’s got trophies. They don’t. So, I think it’s and I, you know, people I know they find this hard to believe, but I root for young people to succeed. One of my favorite part of the volume is watching young people uh at my age, you’re young. Um I think it’s great for Baker. It makes me very happy that he’s kicking butt. That was this week’s Sunday Night Food brought to you by Uber Eats. When football makes you hungry, get game day deals on Uber Eats. I do every week. The official ondemand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now. I just did. Okay, another game. So, I had picked the Broncos on my Blazing Five. I think I went two and three today. By the way, I had the over on Arizona Tennessee. It should have gone over in the second quarter. Those teams are horrific. Um, I took the Broncos to beat Philadelphia. They did 217. It was like two games. For the record, all Philadelphia games are two games. Yeah, just pick your half. So, Philadelphia led 17 to3. Bo Nicks was stymied by Vic Fangio. just but again these are long games and you know Philadelphia runs into these walls where they’re just a punt factory and they you know they’re they’re very dependent on a big play over the top. Saquon’s numbers have been reduced significantly. So you’ll get your chance to beat Philadelphia because they’ll go into a they’ll go into a punt punt punt situation. Sure enough, we get to the fourth quarter, playing from behind and Shawn Peyton’s play calling. Bo Nick Knicks hit on a couple of big throws. They have some crevices in the run game and they come back to win a game. So, let’s start with Philadelphia. I mean, John, they are incapable of playing a full solid game of offense. They’re either really uh impressive or or awful. There’s no in between. To me, it’s got to be a coordinator. It’s not personnel. The O line has regressed badly. These guys are all in their prime except Lane Johnson, who’s older. They’re all in their prime. To me, there’s a coordinator issue. Well, I thought Romo and Nance, especially Tony, mentioned it a couple times like Sirani is not the one under heat around here. It’s it’s this Kevin Patula that’s his buddy for about 15 years, but they finally through the first what 60 70% of this game, they were feeding Devonte Smith. They hit AJ Brown. They had an opportunity for for a nail in the coffin moment in this game. It was 17-3. They clearly had schemed up this play to AJ Brown and he’s wide open and Jaylen had hit a couple deep bombs throughout the game. So when he let it rip, you went, “Oh, this thing.” Cuz he’s a good when his deep ball’s working, it it looks great. Ball game. And it flew right over his head. And then they had the punt and then it kind of flipped from there. That that cuz 243 the g the game is over cuz like you said, Bo Knicks was horrendous. I mean, I I as someone that I bet on the Broncos to win the division. Had high hopes for them like a lot of people, I bought into everything Shawn Payeyton was saying. And you’re watching him. He’s missing these deep balls. They have big play schemes and he missed them and then I don’t I don’t know if maybe he just kind of took a deep breath but then he hit a couple plays to Sutton, hit some back shoulder throws. Yeah. And obviously, you know, the game-winning drive, he hit Sutton over the middle on a big third down. He used his feet a couple times and Tony kept saying it’s almost like, you know, if you’re missing jump shots, get to the line, get fouled. Yeah, you’re a really good athlete. I think Fangio had said during the week like kind of reminds me of Baker Mayfield and Tony’s like he’s a way better athlete than Baker Mayfield. Like he can really run like just run a little bit but I think he wants to prove that he can throw but his arm in terms of accuracy is just kind of been off and then he just got into a rhythm and uh obviously then Philly just hit the skids and you could tell you could feel it on television. I’ve watched a lot of games there live. it got tight and the whole building kind of went silent because they’ve seen this song and dance and like you said they can go through a quarter where they’re clearly one of the most talented teams in the league where they look horrendous and you’re just you know and Fangio’s defense you can’t you know in this day and age with the rules it’s hard to have just 60 minutes of playing like 85 pairs. It doesn’t work that way. No. And they weren’t very good again when you get them into a third and four or a third and five and they can’t do the tush push. They weren’t very good on third down. Once again, did we even see the twist push today? I don’t know if we did. I don’t know. They were two and ntch third down, 45 yds rushing, huge time of possession. I mean, it felt like in the fourth quarter, Denver had the ball the entire fourth quarter. And I wrote that down. 30 to 22 minute time disadvantage, but in the fourth quarter, Bonix had two drives for touchdowns, 15 points in 5 1/2 minutes. Um, oh, that was a big sideline throw to Courtland Sutton. Uh, then there was that, uh, Zack Bond late hit that kind of sealed it. I mean, it at some point Philadelphia that last drive, John, they were reduced to begging for PI calls. Yeah. On the Hail Mary and the ball down to the two-y line. So, you can kind of tell from their body language. They know they’re struggling. They’re And you know, it’s just like anything else in life. I don’t care if it’s a relationship or a football game or an offense, it gets into your head and then you start doubting your play calling and then then you start forcing the ball to certain players like but I I go back to Sirriani is not a scheme guy. He’s more in the Dan Campbell culture builder alpha male and so he he’s very dependent on who his OC is. Remember when he first got to Philly as you know he called plays. It was a disaster. hands it off to Stiken heater. Stiken leaves Brian Johnson disaster. Then he brings in Kell Moore. They write the ship. Kellen exits. Now you got the new guy. So he’s very depend. Andy Reed’s not. Shanahan’s not. Although Shanahan’s defense has been very dependent on the right coordinator. Solid now is dealing with kids and Fred Warner is outstanding. So, I just look at Philly and to me it’s it’s one thing you could argue that Saquon Barkley’s got fatigue from all the carries, but when an offensive line regresses like it has, to me that’s coordinator. Yeah. I mean, they’ve had injury, too. I mean, Dickerson got hurt today. I I just think, you know, Jaylen is I I think clearly establishing himself as a pretty streaky player, right? He he just happened to have two of the great games in Super Bowls. one of them he won and he could have easily he could easily be two and 0 against Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid and he’s played fantastic in them but like through the course of a season he’s just a very you don’t know what you’re getting series to series you don’t and that’s where it’s like is there a huge drop off between Kell Moore and this guy hard to tell but like Kell had been an offensive coordinator for a long time and coach from Dak to Herbert like he just had way more experience this guy never called plays in the NFL he’ been a lifetime position ition coach. Even if he’d been around the Eagles the whole time and been on the staff, there’s a big difference than giving suggestions and making the decisions, right? I mean, that’s why do the Eagles feel pretty good about their defense. I don’t know. They have a Hall of Fame defensive coordinator who’s been who’s 65 years old and been doing it for decades. So, I I I also think they got an elephant in the room. Last year, Brandon Graham kind of let the cat out of the bag and he tried to walk it back, but how often do you see a guy he’s 35 years old, Brandon Graham’s got multiple kids. like this guy isn’t just an immature young guy saying something stupid. He knew what he was saying because it was the truth. They tried to walk it back. This year’s gotten weird. They clearly tried to force feed him the ball, which I I I’d force feed him the ball, too. But like it’s not in the like you watch the Vikings with Justin Jefferson. He’s just their best player and they just give him the ball a lot because he’s a great player. Jamar Chase that’s usually the AJ Brown thing kind of feel it’s weird because they they got all these other options but they know that he can be obviously a little fickle with his emotions you know and it’s it’s hard for him to hold him in because at this point in time he’s on like his fourth contract so he’s made an ungodly amount of money he’s a Super Bowl champ he’s an allp pro like he’s he’s checked all the now it’s just like he just wants the ball he’s just a he’s just an emotional receiver what now what did Brandon I remember Brandon Graham came out they don’t they don’t like each other essentially their relationship is fractured. Jaylen and AJ Brown because part of it part of when they traded for him was like these guys are really good buddies. They’ve known each other and then something happened and it was like well it’s life. You get as you grow up maybe your relationships aren’t as tight and you just deal with it and they win the Super Bowl, whatever. But then this year it feels like immediately it gets a little weird and and AJ brings it back to the surface. Can’t even hide it. And you know part of it is Jaylen which is a good quality. He’s like unemotional even even today like with with the no time left on that final drive. It’s just this guy’s unfaced. I mean sometimes I wish I had like his emotional stability. I mean I I get angry just podcasting he’s just he’s just a flatliner and I I wonder sometimes in football like some of our best quarterbacks can be a little emotional and Jaylen just has none. Today’s show is brought to you by our new presenting sponsor Hard Rock Bet. They’re a great partner. October baseball is here, baby. The pressure is higher, the moments are bigger. One swing can change everything. Hard Rock Bet lets you get in on every pitch. So, if you’re a new customer, you place a $5 bet. If it hits, a $5 bet hits, you not only get your winnings, but also 150 bucks in extra bonus bets. Plus, every day this week on Hard Rock Bet, you can get a profit boost for a playoff baseball parlay. There are new promos every day. boost your same game parlay or your SGP max so your bet pays extra winnings. So if you want to see what everybody else is betting on tonight, who’s going to homer top picks or parlays across any sport, the Hard Rock Bet app literally shows you easy. Cool. Another reason, download the Hard Rock Bet app. Takes you 90 seconds. Tap discover and you can see trending picks and parlays at any time. Download the Hard Rock Bet app, make your first deposit, have fun. Yeah. No, I mean, I was told this by somebody who would know that’s very connected to that locker room and they said Jaylen’s not the most popular eagle. Players love emotional guys. I mean, I remember years ago half the league thought Westbrook was better than Steph Curry. Steph Curry’s married. He’s quiet. He’s not cool. You know, his shoe looks like something a pharmacist would wear. Westbrook’s cool. He’s athletic. He’s got the music. He’s got the game. And I Jaylen’s one of those guys. He’s got an all female like management team. He’s not, you know, he’s not going to hire one of your buddies. He’s not He’s not one of the guys. It’s like the old Joe Deaggio with the Yankees. It was like Joe Deaggio just wasn’t one of the guys. He was brilliant. Not everybody wants to go out and hit it and be wild every night. Like they just Jaylen’s very reserved, very mature, very focused, and he has a life beyond football. And I and I and I love guys like that. But um and AJ, you know, I I get it. When you got a trophy and you got the bag, you you’re looking for legacy. He wants to be a Hall of Famer. So, I kind of defend him that way, you know, and and part of being an all-time great quarterback because Jaylen has the opportunity. He’s already been to a couple Super Bowls, he’s won one, like he’s going to be a starter for a long time, is like by the end of Payton and especially Tom, how could they relate to anybody yet, you never have met anyone that has been in a locker room with Tom over the course of like the last decade of his career that wasn’t like, “Yeah, he was the easiest guy to deal with. He was great. anything I needed. He was always he could bal he wasn’t going out and drinking beers with him anymore or hanging, but he knew exactly how to be a great and I’ve heard the same thing about Pton Manning or Philip Rivers is a good example. Had like had had like seven kids with three years to go in his career. I know multiple people that played with him that said that I would have ran through a wall for his family, let alone the guy. Like there is a skill to be able to and listen when you get topped by Sabin like that doesn’t really matter. You just kind of do what he says. Then you get to the NFL and maybe it’s just an attribute that Jaylen’s really going to have to focus on just moving forward because it’s clearly not his personality, which listen, our personality is our personality. But at that position, especially if you’re not going to be like Patrick Mahomes, how does Patrick Mahomes relate to an undrafted free agent rookie? He can’t anymore. He’s worth $500 million. But ask anyone with the Chiefs, he does, right? Yeah. And Josh Allen now at this point, married to some Holly like that. You you have to do that. Lamar Jackson. I I’ve known people that have coached there that just said, “People love this guy in the locker room.” Yeah. He’s not hanging out with them all. So, it is the onus is on the player at that position. You’ve said this forever. Not about any of the other positions. You can act like however you want as a corner, wide receiver, not a quarterback. So, sometimes you got to go above and beyond and just kind of almost fake it, you know, to be friends with a guy. Yeah. And Jaylen’s pretty stoic, you know, that’s his personality. Okay. Um um I’m reticent to talk about the Jets, but Dallas beats the Jets 37 to22. Um I always judge I don’t think it was that close either when I Oh god, it felt like 47 to3. It was awful. I mean, it was 23-3 at half and it wasn’t that close. No. So, um the best drive of the day for the Jets, I think, was the first one where they settled for a field goal. It was like 11 plays. Um, you know, my takeaway has always been when a coach is hired, what’s his side of the ball like? Their defense is bad and it’s gotten worse every week. It feels like um I mean the second half was a seven on seven drill. It It looked like one of those seven college drills where you take a really good quarterback, you know, in high school or college and he just boom boom boom. Dak was terrific. Dak’s having his best year as a pro because he’s having to carry a team. This isn’t the Zeke top O line in the league, Amari Cooper. That’s not what this is. Without CD Lamb, John, I’m not sure they have a definitive number two. Their tight end’s probably a two to a three on most teams. Their running backs are absolutely twos. The O line still in a semi-rebuild. Tyler Smith’s great, but this is not this is not a an elite head coach. It’s not an elite O line. It’s not an elite roster. I’ve I’ve been blown away by Dak. I I’ve never thought this highly of Dak. I think again like Jaylen Herz, mature, head down, not highly emotional, an adult. Do I want to pay him what I’m paying him? Well, you know what? Right now, Dak’s worth his contract. He’s worth it. Yeah. Could be the MVP. You know, I I I think what really puts the Jets into perspective is probably no one uh had a bigger question mark next to their name as a coach than Brian Shottenheimer. And you just said how you’re defined as a coach, especially on a team that’s not great. What does your side of the ball look like? Well, he’s the offensive play caller. And they’ve been awesome all year long. And now they’ve lost one of the highest paid and best wide receivers in the league for several games. And like you said, George Pickkins is a two and you know, Ferguson’s solid. I mean, this isn’t Michael Irvin and Emtt Smith walking through the door and the offensive line is definitely a question mark and the offense like it’s Listen, Brian Shottenheimer’s kind of throwing it back to back in the day when he was declining head coaching interviews. Like pretty good offensive coordinator. I kind of know what I’m doing and I’ve been blown away. Hey, I mean their team, they got very, you know, the Packers got very lucky a week ago that that ball didn’t bounce in the air instead of hit the ground or the Cowboys would be what, uh, three and one right now or I mean they I guess they were two and two. They would be they’d be three and two like they would be just good. Like there’s be no disputing like they’re just a solid like they could could they win nine games. And also the weather in the Northeast and the North is beautiful. I was in Chicago over the week and Chicago was like 80°. So, it’s a good time to have a good quarterback in this league because you’re not dealing, you know, we’re we’re about four or five weeks out from getting ugly. Dallas is built for good weather. They’re built for domes. Um they don’t have a number one receiver without CD, but they’ve got enough guys. You know, it’s funny. I was watching Justin Fields. He’s never seen the field particularly well. And they don’t this coaching staff hasn’t figured out that listen, just just use his legs. Just run him. Not the sevenstep drops don’t work with him. I mean, multiple and and the Jets pass pro is awful. They can’t pass protect at all. It’s gotten worse. Again, the Jets are getting worse every week. I was reading a couple of the Jets beat reporters and they’re like, “Okay, I’ve covered 300 games. This is rich coight. I mean, this is how bad this team is.” And we’re at week five. I mean, it’s not like that they’re, you know, everybody’s beat up, but Justin Fields has had three defensive head coaches and he’s just not good enough. you know, if you give him McVey, maybe he would have gotten a second decent contract, but he’s just, you know, he’s the classic athlete, not a quarterback. So, but the fact that he was with Pittsburgh who couldn’t run the ball, struggled with their offensive line, but last year, I think he was, was he 4-2 or he had he had a pretty good record early, and you looked at Justin and you’re like, “Oh, he could get her contract.” Pittsburgh got rid of him. Pittsburgh went with old Aaron Rogers because if you go back and if you remember Justin’s numbers in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin replaced him with Russell Wilson. We were all like Justin’s actually extrapolate those numbers out. He’d be like a, you know, 910 win quarterback. Well, Pittsburgh move off moves off him. It shows you the difference between a Steeler team last year that struggled offensively and how bad the coaching and the infrastructure is with the Jets cuz Fields looks completely over his skis. Now it’s time for this week’s redeemed team member brought to you by Hulu’s Chad Powers. This week it’s Jerry Newheel son of Rick. He’s the OC for the UCLA Bruins. They hadn’t led for one second all season entering Saturday’s game against heavily favored Penn State. In Jerry’s first game as a play caller, the Bruins scored 42 points, upset the Nitney Lions, and carried New Heisle off the field. It was probably the biggest UCLA win in half a decade. Go Bruins. Chad Powers is now streaming with new episodes Tuesdays on Hulu and Hulu on Disney Plus for bundle subscribers. Terms apply. Yeah, I mean I I get that maybe they were bidding against some other I thought giving him two years and $40 million and 30 guaranteed based on his history was pretty insane. Like to me he felt like a one year $7 million quarterback just to kind of get you through your year one as a coach. I I do believe though they came in like I I understood extending Garrett Wilson. Garrett Wilson’s a starter on a team. You know, we’ve seen good wide receivers on shitty teams. It it’s hard to play when no one gets you the quarterback has or gets you quarterback gets you the ball. Sas Gardner, if you just ask people around the league or just watch football, to me, is living off a reputation from several years ago. And as a wise man told me in the league said, “You know what changed last year, John? Why he had such a bad season? They they started not allowing him to just commit pass interference every play. He is not Deion Sanders or Revas in terms of a foot athlete. He is a long corner like Richard Sherman.” Well, Richard Sherman is a physical player like a linebacker. one of the great hitting and tackling corners in league history. Saus doesn’t want to tackle and has elite ball skills. Sauce does not either. They gave him $100 million, Colin. They they had never even coached him. So, they came in, they had some sexy names, and now you’re kind of stuck with a guy like that. Not making any plays. Does nothing for your team. It’s not like he’s a winning player. And there’s no quart like there’s not a savior coming in this draft. It looks like uh you’re an unwatchable team like that. That’s when the Saints, they they’ve been bad. I’ve watched the Saints three or four times. They’re they’re actually kind of entertaining. Spencer Rattler is kind of getting there. Kell Moore can call some plays. You’re like, “Okay, listen. We’re not that talented. At least our head coach brings something to the table.” Aaron Glenn, I have a lot of respect for what he did last year with the Lions. I I would say this about the Jets, and I’d even throw the Raiders in there with my guy Spyitech and Pete Carroll. There are a couple franchises that are just hard to overcome. They’ve been taking down everyone for a long time now. and maybe these guys, you know, Brady and and kind of that crew in in Vegas, it is not an overnight fix. And there is an ethos and just like a culture that is permeated through the building and the walls and I the Jets and the Raiders, it’s hard to shake because guys leave you, they excel. You bring guys in, they get worse. You bring incredible coaches or young energy, it still looks the same. And I’m watching the Jets and the Raiders and I just go, “God, these teams are just they’re terrible.” I mean, they they they feel like they have no hope. Uh the rosters are bad. Uh yeah, I just I the Cowboys I mean, when Dak Prescott’s looking like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning in his prime against you with no CD Lamb, I mean, that’s this is a pretty low point. I mean, I and and the Giants now feels like they’re not very good again. You know, Dark gave them a little hope. It’s like, God, the New York teams, the Yankees are getting killed. This is You better hope Mike Brown coach up the Knicks, you know. Yeah, it’s it’s interesting. The one franchise in New York that isn’t impatient, that um doesn’t blow it up is the Yankees. It’s also easily the most successful franchise and all they get is heat from their fans. And you know, Cashman’s been there 30 years. Um you know, I think eight years for Aaron Boone, but their take is, you know, the upstairs sets the lineup. It’s analytics. The Yankees don’t make moves. are patient to a fault. The truth is, if Garrett Cole was healthy, they they’d have a chance to get, you know, to the American League Championship Series. They just I’m not sure they have the pitching. They’ve gotten boxed in back-to-back games by Toronto. Um yeah, so you know, New York is its own animal. I I want to talk about the Colts beat the Raiders. This was my favorite pick of the week. Uh got this one 40-6 Colts beat the Raiders. I will die on this hill. I think the Colts have a top six roster in the league. I love their offensive line. I think they have stars. I don’t care if it’s Pitman, Warren. Uh Jonathan Taylor’s outstanding. He just doesn’t he’s not a you know, Saquon Barkley is, you know, you get these running backs who stylistically they pop. And Jonathan Taylor was always just a speed guy out of college. He wasn’t shifty. He was like uh-oh, like track guy just uhoh. um behind that offensive line. I swear to God, John, like it’s just he three yards before he gets touched. I don’t know what Pete Carol’s fascination. That’s nine picks and six games for Gino in his last six games. I think it’s something like that. Six touchdowns and nine picks this year. Six touchdowns, nine picks for Gino. That that is the Gino comeback story is over. It’s the opposite of what Pete Carol likes. He is so much about clean football. will run the game, run the ball. Um, I think the Raiders are just a big work in progress. When Colton Miller gets hurt, O line, it’s just one of the worst five in the league. But you look at the Colts, I mean, the Chiefs will probably beat the Jags tomorrow. I don’t know. I I look at the Colts like I look at Tampa. Now, Baker is better than Daniel Jones, but coaches who some people started doubting, you know, like Stiken with Anthony Richardson. Oh, Stikens lost his magic. But that Tampa roster when healthy, that Colts roster, I know they’re a middle of the country flyover country. I think the Colts are good. I really do. DJ had a pass, a touchdown where he rolled out and everyone’s going to be it’s the Raiders. It’s not about the opponent where he was just on the move, guy in the back of the end zone. He split it through a defender. You know, I’ve always compared him to Alex Smith. He’s got a better arm than Alex Smith. No question. His arm actually is better than I thought. And sometimes it just takes you with a credible offense to really get to see that arm talent. It’s pretty You watch Baker and Sam, you’re like, “These guys can sling it.” You’re watching Daniel Jones in 2025. I would have said forever he’s got a average to below average arm. Like his arm is more than strong enough. He’s not Josh Allen, but it’s he’s he’saving that thing in there. And he’s a big guy to to me. The Warren pick looks fantastic. He has been easily one of the best rookies in the league. Uh I mean obviously the Raiders are bad, but I I would say the Colts I I think the Colts can win a playoff game. I mean I think the Colts can be a factor in the AFC, especially now it’s it’s definitely opening more up, right? They are the most efficient offense in the league. They went eight for 10 on third down. So they they become an incredibly efficient offense, John. They had the ball only 26 minutes. They scored 40 points. No offense in this league is more efficient. I know going into the Rams game, Daniel Jones is 20 of 29. So, it’s like we look at Baker and Sam, I mean, it’s really the story this year is the story of redemption. I mean, Baker leads his division. Sam’s great. Daniel Jones. It’s it it’s I I do I do wonder if you got Shane Stiken over Cocktails and Ballard if they knew like when they truly was it a week into training camp? It’s not This isn’t even a close competition. Did Did they know before training camp just basically? Oh, I think they did. I think they did. I had Listen, I I was talking to Steve Kim about a year ago and we were out and I said, “What do you make of Anthony Richardson?” And Steve Steve said, “Man, Colin,” he said, “you you got to be able to hit those layups in the flat.” And he said, “You know, I I I looked at some of the film and he’s like, you know, if anybody can do it, Shane Stiken can fix it.” But Kim and I were talking about it. He just said, you know, if if you have to work on that stuff, if you’re spending a lot of practice time on that stuff, it’s really hard. And and because, you know, generally with with with Baker, you’re you’re dealing with high-end stuff. Baker solved all that stuff. With Baker, it’s it can be concepts and defense. You’re not worried about the layup stuff. So, um, and then I talked to somebody else, a GM, an active GM in the league. And he echoed what what, uh, Steve Kima told me. It’s just like gosh, if you’re struggling with the the the underneath stuff, you know, you’re spending a lot of time on that. You have to spend so much time on that to get that right. Well, then you’re not you’re not really that’s elementary stuff in the league. You’re not dealing with a second and third and fourth level stuff. You also can’t call a game that you want to call in the NFL. I remember I got off the phone with this GM in the league and my take was, well, God, if if I don’t trust a guy to throw it downfield, I can’t call the same game. I just eliminated 35% of the playbook. So, I think with Daniel Jones, you can use the whole playbook. That’s the difference. Isn’t it crazy? You know, the redemption season, even watching Carson Wentz with Kevin O’Connell, it’s like he actually doesn’t look that terrible, you know? I mean, it’s like this it the power of some of these offensive coordinators that also cuz what do usually offensive coordinators or head coaches have? Pretty good skilled guys around them, right? Kevin Oonnell, they got a pretty loaded roster. uh you know Shane Stiken, they’ve invested some picks and some money into the offensive skill guys, right? You play for Shanahan, you play for McVey, you play for Laflur, like they emphasize that side of the ball in terms of people, you know, the the the wide receivers, the running backs, the tight ends, these guys look a lot better than some of the franchise that failed them. I mean, you go back to the Giants. I mean, Daniel Jones was horrendous. I I I get asked a lot like is this going to if Daniel Jones I mean is in the MVP conversation this team wins 13 or 14 games clearly the Giants aren’t what are they going to win five games and listen it was time for a breakup I didn’t blame them it was not working but this is one of those things like oh ultimately Saquon Barkley is much better with a great offensive line but if I’m you know the Giants ownership I I I pay my head coach who’s the play caller I know he’s kind of bounced around being the play caller but he’s an offensive guy Yeah. To fix that position and this guy, we had this guy. Hell, we paid this guy and then I he goes to another offensive coordinator who’s the head coach. And looks like Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield. How’s that possible? You know, how can that happen? This guy is going to get I mean, Shane Syen and Chris Valor are going to get contract extensions, I would imagine, before the playoffs start. It’s going that well. I mean, the other thing is um and we have, you know, it’s the elephant in the room. Sports fans love a comeback. So, the underdog that kind of defies the odds. So, uh that’s the story of Green River Whiskey. Uh in 1918, their distillery burned to the ground. 40,000 barrels of bourbon gone. Uh most would have quit and uh they rebuilt from the ground up on the original site in Owensboro, Kentucky. And today, they’re producing some of the great bourbons and rye whisies in the game. Uh Kentucky straight bourbon, weeded, foolproof rye. Uh it’s it’s a lineup built on resilience. So, if you love a good comeback in sports or in your glass, Green River’s got you covered. Head on over to green riverwhis.com to learn more. Try some arm for yourself and always uh please drink responsibly. There’s been multiple reports that have surfaced the last couple of years. Chris Ballard in the front office, Jim Ersce had relapsed into some really problematic behavior and this stuff. Um, you know, I think Chris Ballard would never will never ever say it. Maybe to his wife. There was I I think it it was exhausting and energy sapping for the entire organization to deal with an owner who was beloved in the community but was going through some really tumultuous personal times. And so, and I said this at the time when he passed away, two things can be true. You can love somebody and and be brokenhearted, but you also think to yourself, they’ll be it’ll be a less chaotic organization upstairs. And I think Battler’s really good. I think Stiken’s really good. I mean, the last several years, go look at the last two or three drafts. They’ve had great players in the first round fall to them like like remember the draft where everybody I think Ballard got the first defensive player taken in the draft, the UCLA edge, who was the best pass rusher in the league, fell to him at like 15th and he was laughing about it. They had a camera on him. It’s like we just got the best pass rush. We didn’t even move up. And then Warren, you know, is available. So I I I think my take is problems are always upstairs. Number one, The Athletic, the subscription service about two weeks ago, I talked about it on my show. They had the best 10 front offices in the league based on GMs and coaches and and it might as well have been the top 10 teams in the league is the this college football. This is why Bellich check struggling. College football is about talent recruiting. If you can recruit, you can hide a lot of problems. The NFL is about upstairs and a great scheming coach. Solid’s a very good schemer. Suddenly Fred Warner and a bunch of dudes look great. And and I and I and I so I think if you have Ballard upstairs and Shane Stiken scheming and the coach and the quarterback is capable, you’re going to win the AFC South. It’s not a very good division. Yeah. I also think, you know, e, everyone in the NFL goes through adversity. You get an injury. You know, something happens. Hell, coaches I’ve saw get, you know, get sick, get cancer. Who knows? All sorts of crazy stuff happens. I I would say Andrew Luck randomly retiring when no one saw coming is one of the most traumatic events just like in life. There are certain things that are that are easier to come back from. That event had ripple effects on the franchise for a long long time. And most teams could not have overcome that. And they they’ve tried. They actually kind of they have not been embarrassing, but they finally found like they’ve been bandating it. Philip Rivers to Matt Ryan and they finally found a younger player. You know, the thing with Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan like it was over for those guys, right? And then they took the swing on Anthony Richardson who’s just not a good player, right? So they got Daniel Jones who I I think were honestly on one of the great runs. I remember being around the Raiders a lot and they talked about Jim Plunkett. I mean one of the craziest redemption stories of all time, right? High pickisman droy and then wins the Super Bowl. But that for a long period of time didn’t really happen in the NFL. It was a lot of paid Mannings and Eli Mannings and Rothllessberers like Philip Rivers. You were drafted high Carson Palmer and you were good, you know, and if you stunk you were just bad. And now we got these guys who were just really bad, went through great who are just thriving. And we got these mid round to late round picks kicking ass and taking names. I mean, look at M. Jones who just kind of all of a sudden this guy’s terrible to just had one of the great Thursday night performances in league history. So it’s just it’s a time it’s a great time to be a quarterback with some talent because you’re going to get an opportunity. And by the way, the Saints beat the Giants 2614. Jackson Dart um was 26 to 40, couple hundred yards. Um Giants first two drives were really good and then and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this, they had five straight possessions with turnovers and the Saints went on a 23 un unanswered point run. Um I wrote a couple thing now. Malik Neighbors wasn’t there. Tyrone Tracy the running back for the Giants. So they’re they’re not great to begin with. They didn’t have a lot of their juice. Um, and next week the Giants now play Thursday against the Eagles off a loss. So, you know, they’re one and four is one and five. Um, but you know, I watched Spencer Rattler and I’ve been I’ve been doing this this year. I’ve been watching because it’s supposed to be a strong quarterback draft. We’ll get into that. It’s not as strong as we thought, but Rattler was good on third down, 20 of 30. He’s always had a nice arm. That’s never been a question. He’s he he I don’t know if it’s a power arm, but it’s a it’s a I would say he’s kind of an easy thrower, but I watched Spencer Rattler today and I’m not sure the Saints draft a quarterback. I’m not sure they do. What What do you make of it? Yeah, I mean I mean they just drafted the guy that’s like 40 years old, the rookie, and Spencer Rattler beat him out pretty easily, I would imagine. So, listen, I I’ve been I’ve been really impressed with the Saints on offense. They they are good on offense. Yeah, they it’s defensively they don’t have much talent and most weeks they have no chance to stop anybody like you said. I mean they cause five turnovers. Some of them are like punched out of Scataboo’s hands. Like that’s not happening most weeks. But their offense has not been the problem. I I I I don’t think Listen, I watched a lot of football on Saturday most weeks like you do. I I do not see a lot of saviors coming into the league next year. So I who knows I mean I this draft is pretty open. It doesn’t feel even like that potent of a draft. So, I think a lot of these quarterbacks that are on bad teams are going to continue to get to play. And if you need an answer at that spot, you’re in some trouble because it, you know, you better hope to hit, you know, strike oil in the third or fourth round with one of these random guys. But for every Dak Prescott and Brock Pury, most guys are like Tyler Shuck. They get drafted in the second, third round. You never see anything of them. Yeah. you you the history of the league is not a bunch of third rounders thriving in the NFL. No. No. It’s People always I’ve heard this before. Oh, it’s such a coin flip. No. Your best your best offensive tackles, your best defensive tackles, your best quarterbacks are all overwhelmingly first round guys. Um I mean Jaylen Herz, Drew Brees, there are occasional guys that drop to the, you know, top of the second, but I mean there’s a reason we all know what round Tom Brady was drafted in. you know, there’s a reason we know that Dak went in the fourth round. Like, there’s a reason because it doesn’t happen very often. Um, you know, there’s a couple of college things I wanted to talk about with you. Um, because again, I didn’t think one of the downsides to the NFL being quarterback reliant. If you don’t have a quarterback, you’re out of it by week five. I mean, the Jets and the Giants are out of it. It’s it’s over. They’re just they can’t compete. Uh the other thing is when you have so many games like I think these dual Monday night football games are ridiculous. Nobody likes it. Well, it also takes another game out of the Sunday rotation. So, you know, again, if you’d have put Rams Ner today in a late window along with the Seahawks Buccaneers, you’d had one of the great late windows in recent memory, right? What What’s the business sense behind the double header? Cuz they’re clearly doing it. Are they just I don’t get it. Now, Amazon just paid a billion dollars for very few games. So, I get that. I understand Amazon. You want to get a streamer in, but it takes a really, they usually put a pretty good game up. So, Amazon gives you that money. Amazon’s like, “We’ll do it, but we want winning teams.” Remember when they first started Thursdays, and the Thursday games mostly sucked. And then kind of quietly, Fox did it for about a year. Remember that? Fox did it for a very brief time. got outbid eventually by Amazon, but Fox did it for about a year and the games got better. And you know, the reason I think it got better under Fox, this is my guess, is I watched the Fox schedule for about a year. I forget how long Fox had it. It wasn’t very long, but you started seeing division matchups, which are easier because the teams don’t have to travel as far and they’re built-in rivalries. So, Ravens, Steelers, or Bucks Falcons, it’s not as disruptive the team, right? So that then the NFL looked at it and thought, you know, this this whole thing we did on Fox, it kind of makes sense. Like don’t have multiple time zone differences on these short week games, which is how it started. And then Amazon’s like, okay, we like we like the way you’re doing it now. Um, and we want more good games. So they’re putting pretty interesting games. If you go to these Thursday games, there’s always at least one star quarterback. So you take Matt Stafford out of Sunday. Well, okay, Matt Stafford’s great. And you know, then you do a dual Monday. Okay. Well, you take really good quarterbacks out of Sunday. So, I mean today, I mean, it’s there were three or four games I wanted to watch and I mean like and there was a half of the lineup. I mean, Minnesota, Cleveland, uh, you know, Cincinnati, Detroit, Arizona, Tennessee, either it was a mismatch or it’s lopsided. So, I don’t like it at all. Um, I thought Saturday was once again fascinating. So, there was always this kind of feeling. The SEC would always say, “Hey, man, the reason this is such a great conference. Anybody can beat anybody.” Well, UCLA beat Penn State 4237. So, I don’t hear SEC fans saying, you know, they look at the Big 10 as weakness. Well, you used to always pat yourself on the back cuz the eight seed would beat the number two seed. And my takeaway was I’ve always been a um a James Franklin supporter, but this is one of the things that makes the Big 10 tough in the SEC. Everybody’s in the same time zone. You’re asking Oregon to go all the way cross country and now you’re asking Penn State to go all the way cross country. I watched Washington play Maryland. Okay, Washington was asleep in the first half. didn’t wake up until the late third quarter and then the offense looked great, but they just got beat up by Ohio State. Had to travel 3,000 miles and then I’m watching UCLA and Penn State. Penn State didn’t wake up until midway through the third. You’re asking these college kids, you’re you’re traveling cross country. You don’t travel nearly as well as the NFL does. You don’t stay in the kind of hotels. You don’t bring in 26 trainers. I mean, the NFL now travels, John, as you know. I mean, it’s it’s like staying at the Ritz Carlton going to a spa 6 hours a day. So, I I think what makes the Big 10 problematic for these coastal teams is you’re going to get some of these games in the middle of the season off a huge Oregon game. Penn State cross country was just no juice. That was my take on it. Football season’s here and if you want to go to an NFL or college football game, Game Time is the place for you. The Game Time app just gives you the advantage back to you, the fans. It’s a hack for unlocking amazing tickets and experiences in a few taps. I love it. Easy to use. The game time guarantee means you can trust you’ll get a 100% authentic tickets on time and at the best price, 100%. So, they even let you preview your seat on the app. That’s special. Plus, fees roll is included. So, what you see is what you pay every time. Take the guesswork out of buying professional football tickets with Game Time. Just download the Game Time app, create an account. If you use the code Colin, C L I N, 20 bucks off your first purchase. Terms apply again. Create an account, redeem code C L I N, 20 bucks off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go download the Game Time app today. Yeah. Well, I think it’s twofold. One, I I think Penn State had treated that Oregon game like their Super Bowl. that was going to be a season defining game because if we beat this team, we finally get that, you know, kind of monkey off our back. We beat a top team who’s not as good as they had been in theory because they’re much younger. We should win this game. It’s at night and then they lose. So, the way they had built the schedule leading into that game was a joke, right? They were playing FIU Nevada and then they lose that game in dramatic fashion. Almost felt like they had checked out. So you show up long cross country against my my guy Tim Skipper, Fresno State guy that takes over for Deshawn Foster. Yeah. Who’s Tim Skipper’s brother is the running back coach for the Bills. His dad’s a longtime NFL coach is going to bring them juice. Jerry Newheisle, who’s been at UCLA as a player and a coach forever. They just kind of had a [ __ ] it mentality. Yeah. And they unleash Nico as a runner. And Penn State’s just coming off this game that was their Super Bowl, lost it. And let’s face it, no chance they had a great week of practice. I I don’t believe that for a second, which I understand cuz when you build something up, anything with young kids with 22 year olds. Yeah. So then all of a sudden they were down. If that game was six quarters, Penn State would have came back and won the game, right? But they they were down and then all of a sudden their quarterback’s pretty overrated, right? I mean that’s I mean it wasn’t his fault they lost the game. The defense was But you know what, John? There there when I watch Drew Aller, there’s not a lot of juice to it. There’s he doesn’t have a lot of He doesn’t have great instincts. He’s not inspiring. He doesn’t have tons of energy. He’s just a big strong kid. But when I that was a game where you sort of needed your quarterback say, “Fellas, get on my back. We’re not Nico was doing that. Nico was doing that. Running guys over. It was just a fan of football.” Oh, and I I grew up actually a pretty big UCLA fan. My my cousin was a walk-on there in the in the late 90s and early 2000s. That had to be the coolest UCLA moment in football in 10 15 years. Well, remember when they came back beat&m? Yep. Remember they came back at halftime. Similarly, not a lot of fans in the stands and they beat Texas A&M in a it was like 4441. It was just wild football game. But um I don’t know. I like James Franklin, but I think he’s a great energy guy and a great recruiter, but I think it’s over after that moment. I mean, it’s it’s one thing to lose to Oregon, which it sucks because he’s lost that game a lot, but you know, they lose in overtime. They’re clearly right there. They were just in the final four, but you can’t lose to UCLA as a 20. That that is, you know, I think USC losing to Harbaugh and Stanford was more out of left field, right? That was in the peak of the Harbaugh, the dynasty. Stanford was an embarrassment. I think they had just been 1-1. Tovita Pritchard, they were 40 point underdogs. This might even be crazier though because of the hype that was around this team. Even though they had just lost to Oregon, I mean, I didn’t think maybe they would cover because it was 25 points. But if you said, “What would you guess the score? 45 to 25 or something.” Yeah, Colin, Penn State, Jim Nolles, the guy that they took from Ohio State is the highest paid defensive coordinator in the country. That’s what Penn State just paid the defensive coordinator to come. UCLA had scored 57 points to start the season. They just scored 42. They scored 57 points. Nico had become kind of a running joke. Like he left all this money at Tennessee to come to this bad program. And you talk about inspiring like how many runs he’s just running over guys. He looked like Cam Newton meets Lamar Jackson. He he was if he had played like that over the course early on against with UCLA, I they clearly would have been in more games. I mean, uh, it was just to me there was the human element, too. I mean, I I I love Tim Skipper. I’ve known him forever. But that the seeing Rick Newheisel, who had coached at UCLA, watching his son who had played there and now, you know, as an assistant coach calling plays, Jerry Newheel found out he was calling plays like Tuesday night. You know, it’s been very two practices. Yeah. It’s been very chaotic in that program. Uh just I mean the coaching staff probably includes like seven total coaches right now. What a I mean the Rose Bowl it feels like they’ve sold signage all over the place cuz they know people won’t show up. The whole thing’s boarded off. Remember those old Raider games and like 20 years ago that would used to be blacked out. They Mount Davis was all tarped off. That’s what the Rose Bowl feels like. I if if buyouts did not exist, I I would say if you told me James Franklin was fired this morning, uh I I would have believed you. But obviously the buyouts, the 50 million. It it does feel like it’s at the point in time like I I saw someone comparing it to Calipari. You know, Calipari eventually just kind of leaves. You know, James Franklin is kind of like John Harbaugh. Like if if this John No one thinks John Harbaugh or when people say is it was a time for Mike Tomlin, these guys are bad coaches. You put James Franklin at one Florida, he’d be fine. He’d win. Was he is he is he Sabin or Kirby? No. But like maybe it’s just run its course. He’s been there 12 years and and the resume speaks for itself. Last year was his opportunity and Aller throws that ball across his body and they lose to Notre Dame or else they’re in the national championship. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. And I I think the Calipari um comp is is spoton is that, you know, John could still coach, but when you’re a d when you’re a dominating recruiter, the expectations ramp up because that stuff’s now so transparent. There’s so many sites and fans get so worked up, the expectations ramp up. You know, Mark F always told me that. He goes, “The great thing about Gonzaga,” he goes, “I can get three star recruits.” He goes, “If I went to UCLA and I recruited the exact same class I did at Gonzaga, I’d get heat.” And he goes, “Yeah, but that’s our system. It works for our system and our players and we keep getting to, you know, the tournament and winning games.” You go to these big schools, fans pay attention to that recruiting and they go crazy when you get it and but then you got to win all these games. Chris Peterson’s a great example, right? the team he had at Boise, if he had at UCLA or he had at Washington, they would have loved crushed, but they would have hated the they would have loved the team, but they would have hated the classes as the kids were coming. That’s right. They’d be like, “Kell Moore, we don’t want this guy as our quarterback. We want Arch Manning.” Um, one more college topic. Uh, Florida beat Texas. Billy Napier, every every time you think he’s done, he he pulls one out. They beat Texas and Arch Manning 29 to 21. So, listen, they have four new offensive linemen at Texas. The pass protection’s not great, but I got to tell you, I I sat there and watched Arch Manning, he holds on to the ball way too long, and he doesn’t have a great instinctive feel. It when I watched him this weekend, there were a couple moments, John, where I thought the game was in his head, like he like double pumped on stuff or um he looked almost mechanical. He was afraid to take big shot down the field. And I, you know, it it’s I don’t want to be too harsh. Um, I’m not sure Arch Manning, you know, there were some when he came out that said he went to a small school, he dominated average competition, but I’ve I’ve not really seen I mean, he’s got a great he moves well, he’s got the body, he’s got the name, but there is something to be said about he’s still young about there’s an it. you know, some guys just they you get them the ball and there’s a confidence and there’s an it. Um this this Texas team, you know, Sarkc for all the criticism, you know, he wins a lot of games. Yeah. They’re not a good football team now. Well, I I think if you go back 15, 20 years ago, a guy like Arch gets several seasons. Uh, I I think in the day and age where you’re paying so much money to individual players, I I I think his spot’s in major jeopardy in 2026. You just pay too much for the roster to leave it in the chance of seems like a good guy. Uh, obviously his uncles are legends. Like this isn’t Pton or Eli’s son. This is Cooper’s. Yeah. And if you remove He threw a beautiful like deep bomb for a touchdown. You remove that play. I thought he was mostly atrocious yesterday. Yes. Yeah. And this is they played Florida, you know, they didn’t just play, you know, Georgia, Alabama, so they still&m looks excellent. And, you know, Elco is known now with Sabin retiring right there with Kirby as like the best defensive coordinator in the in the in the country. So, it this could get even weirder and it’s like, well, the kind of a transition year. There are no transition years anymore with the top programs with the money. Ask Oregon. We’re in a transition year. We bought it and we’re moving and we I mean Oregon had to replace they had to replace 11 offensive starters Oregon and they’re great. Yeah. So, to me, I would say I I would say Arch’s position is in major jeopardy in 2026 because their their mentality, wouldn’t you agree with the amount of money you’re paying for a roster and a coaching staff and the transfer portal now is to compete for national championships every single year and you don’t get like a three-year runway like Al the Drew Aller experience that this is his third year. Pretty rare, but by his second year, you know, they were in the basically the final four. I don’t know that Arch is getting a second year, you know, and I bet there would be some people that said, “Well, what if we had transitioned last year?” I mean, there are people in Penn State saying, “We shouldn’t have let the backup go to Missouri. We should have gone with that guy over Drew Aller.” But these are the type questions you ask when you’re at the top programs and you have access to all the sweet players, right? So, I if they go eight and four and he continues to look like this, I I just don’t see him as a quarterback in 2026. I I I really don’t. And that that’s just how this thing works. It’s because you basically can cut a guy slashmove on from a guy, force him out. Remember a couple years ago uh at at uh Ohio State when they basically blamed it all on Kyle McCord. It’s different because McCord’s last name is not Manning. But again, like this pretty cutthroat now. I mean, that’s you hear these Lane Keifin. It’s become very transactional. You either get it done or you’re done. And they’re like Kyle McCord, they blamed everything on Kyle McCord for losing to Michigan. Ironically, they lost to Michigan again. Now, granted that they won the national championship, Will Howard, but they just kind of force you out. It’s not like Arch other people would want him, I’m sure, but he his arm talent. There was a throw that Lagway made a deep bomb down the middle and you just god the physical attributes on this kid are just are eye opening. And then you watch Arch, you know, you said he was a good runner. They ran a couple like quarterback powers for him. He’s okay. I mean, he’s not Cam Newton or Lamar Jackson. So, his athleticism, he can’t just take over that way. He’s like Drew Aller. He can move a little bit and he can bust off some runs, but I wouldn’t call him a runner. And then watching the arm, he misses a lot of layups, too. And that’s that’s part of the problem. So, the layups and Sark’s getting guys open. Yeah, Sark’s always gotten guys open. And he not only misses layups, but when you watch him sometimes, you’re not quite sure he’s got the right arm angle or the mechanics. Like, some of it looks bad. It just doesn’t look right. It’s It’s, you know, again, Dante Moore can spin it. He can miss and you’re like, you know, like Sam Darnold could throw a pick and you still like the delivery. You like the velocity. Like I don’t know. I just I look at if if his name was Arch Moff and he was just a five-star normal quarterback, not famous last name. Is he benched right now? Yeah. You know, I I mean I agree. All of our odds are presented by Hard Rock Bet, a new and great partner at the volume. Let’s talk Monday Night Football. Uh Kansas City minus three and a half at Jacksonville. So Jacksonville is probably the weakest home field advantage in the league. I don’t trust them in big spots. And Trevor Lawrence is always good for a bad pick. I think I think I would take Kansas City in this. Um, you know, it’s one thing to say Kansas City just came off this impressive win over Baltimore, but we watched Baltimore get housed today at home by Houston. So, I I don’t I don’t think it was a big win for Kansas City. I think by the third quarter it, you know, they were on cruise control, but my takeaway is adding Xavier Worthy opens up the underneath routes for them. I think I’d probably take Kansas City to cover, but because they don’t have a run game, if they do lead, it is hard for Kansas City to eat the clock up and kind of just squeeze you to death, you know. Um, which gives Jacksonville a chance for a back door cover, but their home field’s not much of a home field. I’ll take the Chiefs by a touchdown. What say you? Yeah, I I’m in complete agreement here. I think Kansas City’s got a little I mean when you have the success they do almost like the Kevin Durant Warriors like they need extra motivation sometimes the it’s not just the slow start kind of woke them up but now the Chargers have all these injuries that they’re not going to look the same missing their tackles. Yeah, Chargers are a mess. The the Broncos are clearly still figuring it out. You got the Ravens now imploding. It’s you think Kansas City’s losing sleep over Aaron Rogers. So the AFC the Bills, they played them a million times. They beat them every time that mattered in the playoffs. They’re not intimidated to go to Buffalo. I think Kansas City now looks at the AFC, goes, “God, we just win a couple games. We’re right back in it. This is still our conference.” I think the Denver win helps the Chief side. They watch that game and they’re all in their hotel room tonight in Jacksonville going, “Guys, forget the Chargers and the Raiders. We got to keep up with Denver.” So, here’s the thing. Jacksonville’s defense is clearly pretty good. Like, that unit is solid. The Trevor Lawrence thing, I don’t see. I I wanted to believe a couple years ago. I’m completely out. You got Brian Thomas is having a weird year. He’s banged up. Travis Hunter has been just like MIA. It’s just not really working out for what they give him. I I I just I love Spags in this spot against Trevor Lawrence. Liam Cohen’s good offensive coordinator. Trevor Lawrence. Even last week against Robert Salah wasn’t that good. To me, this got like a 20-10 type feel. Kind of ugly. That’s how the Chiefs like to play. Yep. [Music]

Colin Cowherd is joined by ‘3 & Out’ host John Middlekauff to react to Week 5 in the NFL. They start off talking about Baker Mayfield & Tampa Bay Bucs winning against Sam Darnold & Seattle Seahawks. Next they hit Denver Broncos win at Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys destroyed the Jets but does that put Dak Prescott in the MVP conversation? They also react to Raiders-Colts & Giants-Saints and hit why this week’s slate wasn’t the best. They move to College Football and talk about UCLA’s upset win over Penn State and Florida beating Texas. Are Drew Allar & Arch Manning overrated? Lastly the give their predictions for Chiefs-Jaguars on Monday Night Football.

Chad Powers is now streaming with new episodes Tuesdays, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers. Terms apply.

TIMELINE
0:00:00 Intro
0:00:25 Bucs-Seahawks
0:13:33 Broncos-Eagles
0:26:19 Cowboys-Jets
0:35:19 Raiders-Colts
0:46:21 Giants-Saints
0:51:42 Penn State-UCLA
1:00:30 Texas-Florida
1:05:55 Chiefs-Jaguars

All lines provided by @hardrockbet

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