THE HERD - Hour 3 - Matt Hasselbeck stops by The Herd

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck joins the show to dissect the 2026 NFL schedule releases, focusing on player perspectives, travel fatigue, field conditions, and strategic scheduling decisions. Hasselbeck shares personal insights from his playing days, emphasizing how field quality in international games like Tokyo’s Tokyo Dome fell short of NFL standards, and how coaching philosophies—especially Mike Holmgren’s disciplined practices—impact player longevity and performance. The conversation turns to specific team schedules, with Hasselbeck expressing concern over the 49ers' brutal late-season stretch and the Broncos' punishing opening six games, which he suspects may be intentional. He also weighs in on the Raiders’ development plan for rookie Fernando Mendoza, advocating for a patient, mentorship-driven approach akin to Tom Brady’s rise behind Drew Bledsoe. The episode also touches on broader themes like team culture, accountability in the NBA (highlighting Miles Turner’s criticism of Doc Rivers and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s behavior), and the psychological toll of high-stakes scheduling. Cowherd and Hasselbeck debate team performance projections, with strong opinions on the Bengals’ favorable schedule and the Colts’ grim outlook.