Overview of THE HERD — Hour 1
Colin Cowherd opens Hour 1 by previewing tonight’s Spurs-Knicks NBA Finals matchup, arguing that the series is a major win for the league because it features two teams built in very different ways and centers on Victor Wembanyama versus New York’s veteran core. The hour then shifts heavily into NFL talk, especially the buzz around a possible Aaron Donald return to the Rams after the Myles Garrett acquisition, followed by a live interview with Rams GM Les Snead about the team’s aggressive roster-building approach. The segment closes with other league notes, including the Eagles’ A.J. Brown situation and Drake London’s new extension in Atlanta.
Spurs vs. Knicks: NBA Finals Preview
Why this Finals matters
- Cowherd frames the matchup as a huge moment for the NBA:
- The Knicks could win their first title in 53 years.
- Or Wembanyama could begin becoming the league’s next defining superstar.
- He argues the NBA is healthiest when its best player is also its biggest star.
Why he likes the Spurs
- He picks the Spurs in 6 or 7 games, citing:
- Wembanyama as the best overall player.
- Home-court advantage.
- The Spurs’ battle-tested path to the Finals.
- A major Knicks concern: Mitchell Robinson’s broken finger and his importance as the one defender who can physically match up with Wemby.
- A striking stat he highlights: when Wemby plays just 15 minutes, the Spurs have been excellent since February 1.
What makes Wemby special
- Cowherd praises Wemby’s blend of:
- Dominance
- Humor
- Intelligence
- Competitive drive
- He likes that Wemby clearly cares about winning at every stage, from the regular season to the playoffs.
- Wemby’s quote about the spotlight:
- He says it doesn’t motivate him much because “only 20,000 people fit in the arena.”
Style clash: Knicks vs. Spurs
- Cowherd likes the series because the teams were built completely differently:
- Spurs: draft-and-develop model.
- Knicks: trades, free agency, and big veteran additions.
- He also likes that neither team is overly dependent on the three-point shot.
- He compares the matchup to classic stylistic Finals like Celtics-Lakers: different identities, high level of talent, and strong chance for close games.
Aaron Donald Return Buzz and Rams Outlook
The possibility of Donald coming back
- Cowherd reacts strongly to reports that Aaron Donald is “flirting” with a return.
- His argument:
- Donald retired at 32 and is only 35 now.
- He has not had major injuries.
- He still looks like he’s working out constantly, not relaxing on a beach.
- He believes Donald would still be elite if he returned.
Why it would matter for the Rams
- Cowherd says the Rams’ defensive line would become historically loaded if Donald came back:
- Byron Young
- Myles Garrett
- Puna Ford
- Braden Fiske
- Kobie Turner
- He calls it potentially the greatest defensive line collection ever assembled.
Les Snead’s take
- Snead explains the Rams did not originally plan for the Garrett move, but pursued it over several weeks.
- He says the Jared Verse ask was the hardest part of the deal, but the Rams eventually had to make a difficult decision.
- On Donald, Snead says:
- Donald would only return if he truly believed he could help the Rams at a high level.
- Donald is “wired” differently and has never seemed fully done.
- Snead also emphasizes that the Rams’ success is still future-oriented:
- Big moves help, but nothing is guaranteed.
- The team still has to “earn” its season.
Other NFL Storylines
Rams hype vs. reality
- Cowherd and Jay Mack discuss how dangerous it is to declare a team a Super Bowl winner in June.
- They agree the Rams look loaded, but NFL seasons are unpredictable and injuries can change everything.
- Cowherd still likes the Rams’ chances and says their floor and ceiling are both high.
Eagles and A.J. Brown
- The conversation turns to A.J. Brown’s situation in Philadelphia.
- Jordan Mailata’s “thank God it’s over” soundbite is treated as a sign of locker-room relief.
- Cowherd argues the Eagles are still fine offensively and that the real issue is usually coordinator/quarterback cohesion, not receiver talent.
Drake London’s extension
- The Falcons give Drake London a huge four-year, $141 million extension.
- Cowherd praises London as a strong player who has produced even through unstable quarterback situations.
- He notes Atlanta’s volatility makes them hard to bet on, but he likes London’s ability and consistency.
Notable Quotes and Takeaways
Key Cowherd themes
- “The NBA is at its best when the best player is the biggest star.”
- “Styles make fights.”
- “If Aaron Donald came back, he’d still be elite.”
- “Both teams are working authentically and at a very high level.”
Main takeaways
- The Finals are framed as a league-defining event because of Wembanyama, the Knicks’ drought, and the clash of team-building philosophies.
- Donald’s possible return is one of the biggest offseason talking points because of what he could mean for an already-loaded Rams roster.
- Les Snead’s interview reinforces the Rams’ reputation for bold, opportunistic roster moves.
- The hour is a mix of Finals drama, NFL roster speculation, and broader league-building philosophy.