3 & Out - NFL Offseason Mailbag: State of the Denver Broncos, Justin Herbert’s Offseason, Eagles won A.J. Brown trade?
The Herd with Colin Cowherd dives into a high-octane NFL offseason mailbag, tackling everything from the Denver Broncos' Bo Nix to Justin Herbert's music video romance. Cowherd argues that the NFL's playoff expansion is unlikely, calling 44% of teams making the postseason 'unacceptable' compared to the NBA's model. He delivers a blistering critique of the NBA's tanking culture, blaming commissioner Adam Silver for enabling teams to 'suck on purpose' and calling him a 'stiff' who lacks passion for the game. The episode's most controversial take? The Patriots' legacy is underappreciated, with Cowherd defending Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame snub as 'one of the craziest NFL stories of my life.' He also breaks down the Eagles' A.J. Brown trade as a masterstroke, emphasizing the value of four years of elite production. Amid the chaos, Cowherd delivers a raw, personal reflection on the mental health of retired athletes, using Claude Lemieux's passing as a catalyst to question whether teams truly support players beyond their playing days.
The NFL's current 14-team playoff format (44% of teams) is unsustainable and should be capped at seven teams.
Adam Silver is failing as NBA commissioner by tolerating tanking, which undermines the league's entertainment value.
The Eagles' A.J. Brown trade was a win-win: they got a first-round pick and four years of elite production.
Bo Nix's early struggles are unfair given the 'chosen one' expectations placed on first-round QBs.
Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame snub is a national disgrace and reflects the NFL's resentment of sustained success.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The NFL's Playoff Expansion Debate
Cowherd argues against expanding the NFL playoffs, calling the current 44% qualification rate unacceptable compared to the NBA's model. He emphasizes that the regular season must matter and questions the logic of nearly half the league making the postseason.
The NBA's Tanking Epidemic
“You can't have teams try to suck over and over and keep getting top picks. Right? And that's separate of what the Mavs, how lucky they got with Cooper Flagg, which they kind of deserve because the Luka thing. But regardless, you can't have just a team every single year getting the first or second pick.”
NIL's Impact on College Football
Cowherd discusses how NIL has erased traditional college football identities like 'Tight End U' and 'DBU,' making it harder for teams to build reputations around specific positions. He highlights the historic draft stat: no FCS player was drafted in the first three rounds for the first time ever.
The Patriots' Legacy and Belichick's Hall of Fame Snub
“The resentment and anger toward him. He's not exactly... Smiles, cuddles and Mr. Welcoming. I get it. But you walk up and down those halls in Canton, a lot of red flags. A lot of red flags. This is a business. Did you win or you lose? Did you make plays or you didn't? It's a pretty black and white business.”
Bo Nix's Rise and the Denver Broncos' Future
Cowherd analyzes Bo Nix's performance, arguing that he's being unfairly criticized due to inflated expectations. He praises Sean Payton's confidence in Nix and emphasizes that health and wins are the only metrics that matter for the Broncos.
“The resentment and anger toward him. He's not exactly... Smiles, cuddles and Mr. Welcoming. I get it. But you walk up and down those halls in Canton, a lot of red flags. A lot of red flags. This is a business. Did you win or you lose? Did you make plays or you didn't? It's a pretty black and white business.”
“You couldn't have teams try to suck over and over and keep getting top picks. Right? And that's separate of what the Mavs, how lucky they got with Cooper Flagg, which they kind of deserve because the Luka thing. But regardless, you can't have just a team every single year getting the first or second pick.”
“So once you start doing well post -career, even if you got some demons inside, you're going to need someone to push you to get some help unless you're willing to get it for yourself.”
Host
colin cowherd
person
bo nix
person
bill belichick
person
a-j brown
person
adam silver
person
nba lottery
other
claud lemioux
person
hard rock bet
brand
quince
brand
julian edelman
person
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