Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts - Jim Harbaugh’s Mind Games, Bears A Playoff Team? NFL’s Xmas Day Takeover, Who Wins The NBA West?

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sorts of news going on. So Jmac on our show today that heard FS one brought up a really interesting point. He's very good at this because he's got a lot of contacts with agents and stuff.

a college player. But you could move up to five with the Chargers and probably get JJ McCarthy, because we don't believe unless the Giants move up spots to go to Arizona spot, it really is very nobody. Chicago's not given up their pick. I don't think Washington's given up their pick.

If he's projected to be nine, ten, eleven, twelve. And all Harbaugh is doing is saying, oh, this guy's great. He wants you to spend more to get his fifth pick, and I thought, yeah, that's exactly what he's doing right.

takes two to tango. Teams often say, hey, we wanted to move back or we wanted to move forward. We couldn't get a yes on the other end of the line. What if quarterbacks and teams trade either the Patriots take a guy or trade back, and the Giants and the Vikings take three to four what happens to the Chargers

if they get stuck there? Because I have a hard time Colin envisioning them, and I know these wide receivers are viewed very highly, and I know they just got rid of to google Jim Harbos's history and his GM just came from the Ravens. They would much more be inclined to take a lineman that's more of their style high in the draft. But they already have a left tackle googling Alt He's only played on the left side. I think it's a little rich for the Oregon State

guy who's more of a right tackle. Potentially. Yeah, they already have two defensive linemen, but you could always take a defensive lineman. I don't think there's a guy viewed as a number five overall pick in this draft at that spot.

fourth round. That's what Jim wants to do. He wants to get big. You know, George Young, the legendary Giants GM used to always say, when in doubt, go big heart. That's how Harbaugh and Baltimore and the Harbaugh's draft they just go big a lot.

Caleb Drake May one and two? Do we agree with that?

player ever in Peyton mannings the top five quarterback. He was around those guys in Denver and then New England, so prototypical, and the one guy that he completely whiffed on with the group was Trey Lance. So I wonder if they're more inclined. I heard Drake may forever, but then when I saw that, I don't think that's just getting thrown around, because if JJ could go four, what the hell's the difference of taking him too, If people like him at four or five, it's not crazy to

think someone would like him at two. Write the same pick.

Jerald Everett. I've got to be honest. I did not a year ago. I did not trust Ryan Polls, the GM of the Bears. But I've got new information. The other thing they're doing, which the Steelers aren't. The Steelers and the Bears are defined defensively. They're cultures. I mean, outside of Bradshawn Ben and some talented receivers, it's a defensive culture. He is saying, No, that's not what we're

gonna do here. We're gonna spend money on offense. That's what the Rams do, what the Browns are doing, that's what the Chiefs are doing. It's the opposite of the Steelers. So I find over the last two weeks when he went and got Keenan DeAndre Swift, good pass catching running back, twenty five year old kid, good player, not a great player, good player. And then Gerald Everett with Cole Kamett, those

are functional, smart players. I've got to be honest. Between Caleb, who I really like, between these offensive pieces, I almost feel like I've got new information. I think the Bears got the GM right. How is he viewed inside the league?

end play. I mean that pick at the high at the beginning of the second round is very, very valuable. But that Carolina Panther trade, I mean truly was a game changer. And if Caleb he does not have to become Patrick Mahomes, if he just as a top ten NFL quarterback, which would be probably the best quarterback in the history of the franchise, it would change their franchise forever. And he took advantage of a team and an owner

who was desperate and cleaned up right. And he also added one of their best players who was under contract in Dj Moore. Because my first thought last year when they traded for Sweat, I'm like, God, that's a little much. Well, then they immediately got him, they started winning games, their defense was better, so their draft pick actually ended up not as bad. They got him under contract, Like, actually, that aged pretty well. I had to kind of eat that.

I was like, well, that's not as crazy as it looked. So yeah, when you work for Andy and Veitch and John Dorsey, he was around a lot of high level people for a while, and I think it's fair. I'm sure you would agree, and you've done this just like most people. Every human being makes bad business decisions, right, most peoples are not public. As a GM, every move you make is very public, right, So you're gonna have bad ones, but it doesn't have to define you if

your great moves are awesome. Joe Douglass has had some really good moves for the Jets, but his quarterback moves so far have just not worked out, and it's going

to ultimately get him fired if they don't work. So, if you figure out the quarterback situation, which they are primed to do in Chicago, all these other kind of they're not even antler moves because they were kind of big, have a chance to If DJ Morris is in the Pro Bowl for a couple of years and Sweat's a pro bowler, I mean we're gonna be talking about this guy like a top ten and if he can get the Bears as a winning operation. Now, as a GM,

you're also very dependent on your head coach. There is no great general manager that doesn't either have a good de great head coach. So you don't once the season starts, you're not implementing anything. You're not with the player, you're not doing anything. Really, Chris very Chris gets the second.

definitely Eberflus. So if this doesn't work out, you get another one. You gotta get it right because if he gets it right with Caleb and the players, he could be viewed as an elite guy. But if he doesn't, a lot like the quarterback position just because you have a good quarterback. If your coach isn't good enough, you're gonna be in trouble. I think the pressure on iber Flu's Sirianni and McCarthy because of their markets, because I mean it's the Cowboys. He has no years left on

his contract. They almost fired Siriani like two months ago. Those guys are going to be in their own little stratosphere and the way we talk about it. But I think eber Flus that the pressure starts immediately because of their roster, because of the talent, and because they have a quarterback that we've been talking. It happened in Jacksonville, right part of Urban Meyer. Obviously there was a lot going on, but like you got handed, Trevor Lawrence, So

to me, the pressure gets multiplied by like ten. You know that Frank Reich, all of a sudden, we draft this guy at number one, we trade our franchise. I gotta fire you. It's not where that adds an element of pressure with the high quarterback pick, or it makes you Demiko get the guy right, like god Di, Miko's a shooting rocket ship. Now he might he would have been probably saw it. He would have figured out because Miko's pretty special, but I don't know. I mean, Eflues

looks like he's changed. His look feels a little younger.

take a player. Imagine if they get that right. So they have this really talented roster on paper already, and they had Caleb Williams and player X. If that guy becomes an immediate impact player. You know, we're talking about this team as a wild card.

considered elite start Day one players be very productive. So I do think the Bears are in a good spot. I Jalen Johnson, the corner, Montese Whatt defensive line. I would think if they've got two receivers. Now, my take was their offensive moves in free agency signaled that that number nine pick is going to go defense. They got to get Ibra flu something right. You can't just keep

saying I got receivers, I got tight ends. And for the record, I think they probably they probably need I mean, if you look at that position, there's a verse from Florida State. They could probably use another rush end.

on that roster is not really debatable. It's top five to six in the NFL that the Lions roster, and like most people, it's hard to bet against the Packers if Jordan Love is going to be a good player. So it's it's like it's going to be easy for them right that they're playing. And if Minnesota is just a credible operation with a lot of good talented players, it's going to be a challenge. And even if Caleb

is really good, it's the NFL is hard. I mean, Peyton Manning set a record for interceptions this rookie year. So it's it's just the pressure that comes along with it. Now, Caleb, like you know a lot of guys in recent memory, has been under the spotlight. He's used to it, he's used to getting paid, so the money shouldn't overwhelm them. But there's when's last time the Bears had this much pressure slash interest probably fifteen plus years ago.

a little more now. Part of it is as an offensive coordinator, you're not going to force him to do things he doesn't want to do, but you also have to kind of find a middle ground. So I'm fascinated. I like you said, Ryan Poles, I give him an a plus for about the last twelve months, he's been kicking ass to take a name. All right.

Disney for a ride. They got about eighty billion dollars for a movie business that wasn't worth anything, and the twenty billion dollars for the regional sports network that was worth a nickel about a year later. But the NFL has now scheduled another Christmas Day game. So there was always sort of a gentleman's agreement in sports. You know, you get Opening Day in baseball and the NBA gets Christmas Day, and then you know the NFL is going

to dominate certain things in the fall. Now, for the record, I've always believed, and I've thought this forever, that the NBA would be much better served starting two days after the Monday after Thanksgiving, the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, Monday Tuesday

is football talk from the weekend. Then Wednesday's a dead day, and that sports calendar NBA starts a month later, plays into early July because those it's wide open and then so I've always thought the NBA has got their schedule, they should just move it a month later on both ends beginning and end. But it is interesting now kind of the pitbull attack mantra of the NFL. I think they see weakness. I think they see Steph and Lebron getting older. And I think that Marketing Day on Christmas

was a real thing. It was an introduction as we're all home to the NBA. They put the biggest games, the biggest starts, and it was sort of their free marketing day. And I think the NFL had, not that they were getting huge ratings, but they were the biggest regular season game. And I think the NFL sees weakness. I think they watched the NBA during BLM and COVID, you know, lose some viewers for you know, maybe positioning

marketing on that stumble a little. Perhaps you can see some ratings erosion there.

about that joke. And then and now the NBA, both professional and collegiate basketball at this point in this country, seem to be moving towards we really love your postseason and the rest of it, take it or leave it, yep. So I think it is bad for the NBA in that regard. I also think, and this is where we might disagree long term, I think this is a massive strategic error by the NFL. And here's why. I think one of the secrets to the NFL's success it is all of us, and I don't mean media. We are

in a different spot because it's literally our job. But everyone that loves football has convinced all of their loved ones, spouses, children, whatever, who don't love football that the games are unmissable like it is. I don't know about you. I think most of your listeners at this point they don't even get shipped from their significant others. When my team is playing a NFL game. They know I am out of commission. I am watching. It is mandatory. I'm not going to

a wedding, correct. We will. We won't schedule our own events, We won't. You know what I mean. No one's gonna ask me to take my kid to the birthday party. That no the okay. So here's why I think it's a mistake. It's the same reason I thought that putting on Christmas Eve that Bill's Chargers game on an app was a mistake. Because it's Christmas Eve and it's on an app and people are just gonna miss it, and the moment it starts being and Christmas Day, they put

a Raiders game at one pm Christmas. Those fans are on the West coast, that's ten am. That's Christmas morning, So there were a lot of Raider fans who just missed the game. Here's why it matters. Now your significant other or your kid or whomever says you can miss, you missed the other. It was fine, you watched it later,

you caught up it. As soon as it becomes if the if the inventory becomes so ubiquitous, and that you put it on days where people are going to miss, and Christmas people are gonna miss some Thursday right then all of a sudden, it's like, oh, you don't have to watch every game. You thought you did, but you don't. And even if you still think you do, your wife or your significant other, it's like, you do not have to watch every game. I know it because we were

at Aunt Margaret's house on Christmas. Even you didn't watch and you were fine. So I think long term, I think it's a mistake. I'm the only person that thinks this. I understand the ratings are going to be massive, but I think there has been a I think all of us, especially as they've added the seventeenth game, like I whisper, I don't want my kids to hear it, so they don't like to hear it, like I cover the sport. I could probably miss a game or two and be okay.

But they don't think that. They're like, no, it's daddy's watching football. Don't bother him Daddy's I'm like, yes, it's worked, but all of a sudden, you put games on Christmas, they're gonna be missed. Like now, I watched the Chiefs. It was my team played at one BM on Christmas. And that's the other thing that was also the worst, dude, that was the Raiders game. Yeah, just a disaster. I mean, we haven't didn't lose sense, by the way, super Bowl champions,

but uh, I didn't like it. I didn't love it. Yeah, because here's the difference. NBA is watched passively, Yes, even on Christmas, Like even the Christmas Day games, it's in the background, right, it's on, and then oh it's close with five minutes of them sit down and watch. I don't know how to watch football passively. I can't come in and out of the room and be like that's just not how my brain works with football. So I just don't. I don't And it's on a Wednesday. I

don't know. I don't love the Christmas Day thing. I like the rule changes the NFL did. I'm not just trying to bang on the league. I think the Christmas Day thing's a little greedy. I don't love it, and I think it's short sighted.

to happen, they'll add a second bye week. Well, the season will end, the staff will go dark for a week, everybody gets vacation, we'll come back, we'll be right into free agency in the final twenty games of the NBA season. So for me, I'm like, oh, it's great, I get rid of two dead weeks of sports talk. But you know, one of the things, like, for instance, college basketball is a prime example. I can absolutely be fascinated with something for three weeks and nothing more. And I think it's

it's the sports brain. Like college basketball. This next weekend, Gonzaga Perdue will not miss it. These big games this weekend will not miss it. I don't think the quality of college basketball is great, but I like the Marti grass field that the annual party.

is not good. No, but it is entertaining. But you're right, I feel totally fine parachuting in Yes, like the I don't pretend to act like I'm a college basketball expert. I'm not. And I came into the tournament. I'm like, ah, I used to live in Houston. I like the coach. I'll root for them, and other than that, I'll root for underdogs because it's fun. I'll root against Yukon because it'll cause Wild's pain and then that'll just be it,

like you know, and then I'm into it. And the women's game has stars that I that I'm into, But I don't need to have a year long investment. That's right. I just don't. Can I throw a pretty ridiculous but I believe it's correct. NBA takeout absolutely, I love these Okay, so right now, if you had to pick a team to win the West, you would pick who.

round one. And here's why. If you have to beat them, no matter what, if the assumption is no one's gonna beat them for you, Okay, you're gonna have to beat them. You want them in round two when you just went six or seven with Minnesota or OKAC and they swept whoever they were playing. You want them in round three when the games are every other day, or you want them in round one when there's two or three days between games. At times, yep, Lebron and ad can both

play forty four minutes. You are as fresh as you're going to be at any point, and try to knock them off when they you know what I mean, right before they have really hit their stride. So again, I think the Lakers in a series against Denver are like fifteen percent. And it's not like if they got them in round one they'd be fifty. But I think that fifteen percent might go up to a round two. I

truly believe, Listen. I don't think they could beat them in the guy every other day because you need Lebron to play too much, Adida play too much, right, but round one would be an intriguing spot where you could just play Lebron and ad like the whole game. I'd be like, you have two days off.

I mean outside of Lebron in the first round. Nobody sweeps anybody. So what's happening is you're making revenue, but you really lessen the chances of the Warriors. Instead, Steph is carrying the Warriors. Now he has to go six games in the first two playoffser if it was three and they steal what Steph.

borrowed time with these guys historic we've been. I don't borrow time with Lebron, but we are on borrowed time with these guys, and folks don't realize it, Like because Lebron has won a title at and finals MVP at thirty five and then was in the conference finals at thirty eight, that's not the history. That's not There is no precedent for that. Those guys are not supposed to still be carrying their rosters. And by the Durant thing man,

this is an unbelievable stat. Durant's first eleven years in the league goulling, he played forty nine conference finals or NBA Finals games. One ninety nine minutes in the conference finals of the NBA Finals. So in Durant's first eleven seasons, six years he was in the second to last series of the year, and three years he was in the

last one. In the six years he has played since then, he has played eleven minutes in the conference finals in NBA Finals, Kevin Durant, in his thirties has played eleven minutes past round two. Hey, which is a damn shame, but it is wild that it has happened.

any Lebron has left all d Wade crazy, Kyrie. He's left untalented Cleveland. If Kyrie would have stayed, and Kevin Love he would have stayed in Cleveland. Lebron has left because of a His exit strategies were usually I can't win.

It was the leaving plus being like, I'm going to go from the lowest maintenance, most reliable wingman superstar in Steph Curry to the highest maintenance, least reliable one in Steph Kurry in Kyrie Irving, Like going from that to that is what the And then the Phoenix thing, like Phoenix built poorly. They just they you know, the roster never made sense, but it is. Listen, Katie's no longer

a true MVP candidate. He's closer to the tenth best player in the league than the best player in fair you know what I mean, which is but for him too in the last six years, not make it out around two is one of the wildest things ever for a player of his caliber to not get those his whole twenties NBA postseason great Series moments. He was a part of it. He was a part of the tapestry. And now he hasn't played, you know, a really big He's played, in my opinion, in the last six years.

One huge game, Game seven against Giannis round and that was round two, and that was the game where he stepped on the line where he hit what he thought was the game winner and stepped on the line and then I'll losing overtime. And that's it. Other than that, it's getting worked in round one or going out and round it's it sucks. It's not what I and I'm not like killing him for it. I don't think it's because he's like not a great player, but it is a I don't have that, you know, I don't have

it in front of me. But it feels a little like the last you know, half decade of Marino, or maybe eight years of Marino, where it's like it's not like there were a bunch of deep you know, I know, you didn't win a ring, but you had deep playoff runs. It's like, no, there's you know what I mean A lot of years where it's just like you lost in the loud card round, you lost in round two, you've missed the playoffs, you lost in the wild card round.