Summary of THE HERD – HOUR 1 – Dodgers Are SAVING Baseball, LeBron Still Face Of The League

Overview of The Herd Hour 1

In this hour, Colin Cowherd argues that the Dodgers are helping drive baseball, not ruining it, makes the case that LeBron James is still the NBA’s biggest force, and breaks down why quarterback contracts, aging rosters, and front-office decisions matter more than raw star power. He also weighs in on Aaron Rodgers, Caleb Williams, Lamar Jackson, and the SEC vs. Big Ten debate in college football.

Dodgers, MLB, and the “Baseball Is Ruined” Narrative

Colin pushes back hard on the idea that the Dodgers’ spending and aggressiveness are bad for baseball.

Main points

• The Dodgers are the sport’s villain/engine, similar to how the Yankees used to be under George Steinbrenner.
• Their success is not just about money:
  • elite front office
  • strong player development
  • top-tier farm system
• He argues teams like the Dodgers and Yankees spend similarly, but only the Dodgers are truly feared because they are better run.
• The Dodgers are acting aggressively because they can see their title window closing:
  • Mookie Betts is declining
  • Freddie Freeman is older
  • Ohtani is hurt again
  • Glasnow and Snell are talented but injury-prone
  • Muncy and Teoscar Hernández are past their peaks

Colin’s broader MLB take

• He does not think MLB is headed for a lockout.
• His reasoning:
  • the business is booming
  • owners won’t want to interrupt revenue
  • media often overreacts with “doomsday” narratives

Related takeaway

• Colin says the Dodgers are brand-building and maximizing their current window, not “ruining” the sport.

LeBron James Still Drives the NBA

Colin argues that LeBron James remains one of the most influential players in league history, even at 41 and in his 24th season.

Main points

• LeBron still drives:
  • TV interest
  • social engagement
  • jersey sales
  • discussion around the league
• He cites LeBron’s ability to keep generating massive attention despite:
  • more criticism than ever
  • more platforms for that criticism
  • more league-wide competition for attention
• Colin contrasts LeBron with Michael Jordan:
  • Jordan was the better shoe salesman
  • LeBron is the more influential player
• He uses the point to say brand power matters in sports and entertainment.

Key idea

• Older stars can still be league-defining brands if they remain relevant and compelling.

NFL: Quarterbacks, Contracts, and Team Building

A major theme of the hour was that cap hits matter and that expensive quarterbacks can limit a team’s ceiling.

Baker Mayfield

• Colin says Baker is a legitimate franchise quarterback, but:
  • he’s not being offered a new deal
  • his cap hits have risen sharply
  • that makes a Super Bowl-level roster harder to build around him
• Baker admitted on the air that he feels disrespected and undervalued.

Sam Darnold

• Colin uses Darnold as another example of the same principle:
  • talented quarterback
  • but a high cap hit can squeeze the roster
• His point: once quarterbacks become expensive, teams often lose the depth needed to contend.

Core takeaway

• Colin prefers team-friendly contracts and efficient roster building over paying quarterbacks at the top of the market unless they’re truly transcendent.

Steelers, Aaron Rodgers, and Mike McCarthy

Colin and John Middlekauff discussed Aaron Rodgers’ reunion with Mike McCarthy and whether Rodgers should play preseason snaps.

Main points

• Rodgers has taken very few preseason snaps since 2018.
• Colin thinks it makes sense to protect an older quarterback in August.
• He believes the Rodgers-McCarthy reunion may actually help the Steelers’ offense:
  • it could bring stability
  • Rodgers seems more at peace personally
  • the relationship may be healthier now than it was in Green Bay
• Colin sees the Steelers as having a higher floor than many expect.

Caleb Williams and the Bears

The hour also touched on Caleb Williams, with praise from a Bears teammate and Colin’s own evaluation.

Main points

• Caleb’s arm talent and playmaking are elite.
• Colin compares his type of talent to quarterbacks like:
  • Josh Allen
  • Dan Marino
  • John Elway
• The concern is not the ceiling — it’s consistency on the “easy” throws:
  • dump-offs
  • touch passes
  • routine completions
• If Caleb improves the basics, Colin believes he can become an MVP-level quarterback.

Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s Transition

Colin discussed Lamar Jackson working more under center in Baltimore’s new offense.

Main points

• Lamar has historically been primarily a shotgun quarterback.
• The Ravens are trying to create a more balanced attack.
• Colin sees Baltimore as a wait-and-see team because:
  • new coaches
  • new play-caller
  • a key transition in offensive structure
• His warning: if Lamar has an uneven year, the Ravens could be more vulnerable than people think.

Browns Dark-Horse Talk

Colin briefly floated Cleveland as a wild-card contender.

Why he mentioned them

• strong recent drafting
• belief that the roster is better than outsiders think
• optimism around the young pieces

Tone

• He presented it as a somewhat wild thought, but still said he could see a surprise Browns playoff push.

College Football: Big Ten vs. SEC

Colin spent a good portion of the hour arguing that the Big Ten is currently outperforming the SEC.

Key points

• He praised Kurt Cignetti for being outspoken and refreshing.
• Colin likes coaches who are confident and willing to say things that stir debate.
• He argued the Big Ten has been better recently in playoff performance and overall strength.
• He believes the Big Ten is pulling away from the SEC, not the other way around.

His current college football “championship bubble”

Teams he thinks can realistically win it all:

• Ohio State
• Indiana
• Oregon
• Miami
• Notre Dame

Teams he views as viable but with tougher paths:

• Texas
• Georgia
• USC

Big-picture view

• The SEC still has talent, but Colin says the top of college football is shifting north and west.

Notable Quotes and Themes

Themes

• Brand matters
• Front office quality matters more than payroll alone
• Cap structure can make or break contenders
• Do not overreact to every sports “crisis”
• Villains and stars drive attention

Standout ideas

• The Dodgers are saving baseball by making it compelling.
• LeBron is still the league’s most powerful brand.
• High quarterback salaries often reduce a team’s chances to win big.
• The Big Ten’s recent results deserve more respect.

Bottom Line

This hour was built around Colin’s core philosophy: sports are driven by stars, smart organizations, and compelling narratives. The Dodgers and LeBron are valuable because they dominate attention. Meanwhile, the NFL and college football sections focused on how structure, coaching, and economics often matter more than hype.