Overview of THE HERD - Hour 1
This hour of The Herd (Colin Cowherd) focuses on three big sports storylines: Victor Wembanyama’s transcendent early-season performances and MVP case, Fernando Mendoza’s pro day and projection as a franchise quarterback for the Raiders, and broader league-level debates (NBA MVP race, Celtics/Lakers updates, Bills offseason moves, and the impact of NIL in college basketball). The host mixes statistical highlights, historical comparisons, personnel evaluation, and cultural takes about leadership and team-building.
Key topics discussed
- Victor Wembanyama’s recent dominance and MVP candidacy
- Fernando Mendoza’s pro day, leadership profile, and fit with the Raiders
- NBA notes: Celtics blowout, Lakers vs Thunder matchup, MVP debates (Wemby, Luka, SGA)
- NFL personnel: Raiders reportedly pursuing Kirk Cousins as mentor; evaluation of Bills’ DJ Moore trade
- College basketball: NIL and transfer portal effects on talent distribution and player financial literacy
Victor Wembanyama — what was said
- Game highlight: 41 points and 18 rebounds in 29 minutes; referenced multiple 40+ / 15+ performances in under 30 minutes over the season.
- Historical/comparative framing:
- Compared to Shohei Ohtani as a multi-dimensional “disruptor” (i.e., elite at multiple facets of the game).
- Compared to greats (Jordan, LeBron, Kareem) to underscore how Wemby is changing the calculus of basketball.
- Key metrics mentioned: 26–1 record in last 27 games, +433 plus/minus when he's on the floor (as cited by the host), frequent multi-category impact (points, rebounds, blocks, threes).
- Narrative: Host celebrates Wemby’s hunger for MVP, his rapid mastery of both ends of the court, and predicts voters who ignore him will look silly if he continues to blow up in playoffs.
Fernando Mendoza & the Raiders
- Pro day details: Host says Mendoza ran a perfect pro day, demonstrated leadership (even calling routes publicly so receivers displayed route-tree competence).
- Player profile emphasized:
- Compared qualitatively to Peyton Manning for football IQ, self-awareness, and leadership.
- Physical traits noted (roughly 6'5", 236 lbs) and touted accuracy and red-zone efficiency (claimed: 39 TDs, 0 INTs in the red zone over two years).
- Organizational impact:
- Host predicts Mendoza will immediately create culture change in Las Vegas and should be treated as a franchise QB.
- Debate previewed: reports that Raiders might sign Kirk Cousins (mentor) and whether Cousins would start. Host prefers Mendoza to play immediately but acknowledges value of veteran mentorship; others think pairing Cousins and Mendoza is stylistically sensible.
- Personnel/OL priority: reiteration that protecting a newly drafted QB (upgrading the offensive line) should be an early priority.
NBA roundup & award discussion
- Celtics: Dominant win with 53 first-quarter points; Tatum and Brown strong; Celtics framed as the top team in the East.
- Lakers: Tonight’s big matchup at Thunder; Lou Williams believes Lakers are title contenders. Host notes Lakers’ offensive strength but defensive mediocrity, and how that makes their games intriguing.
- MVP race: Wembanyama vs Luka (and criticism of SGA being favored). Host emphasizes team success and narrative weight matter for awards but pushes Wemby as a leading candidate given his impact.
NFL & Bills trade commentary
- DJ Moore acquisition by the Buffalo Bills sparked industry criticism; host defends the Bills and GM Brandon Beane.
- Main argument: cold-weather playoff environments favor catch-and-run, possession, tight ends and run-heavy schemes; Moore’s skillset and Joe Brady familiarity are valuable. Context of Moore’s perceived “regression” attributed to dysfunctional Carolina offenses/coaching rather than player decline.
College basketball, NIL, and transfer portal
- Host supports NIL and the portal overall:
- Claims NIL has broadened competitiveness (examples: Indiana, Texas Tech, Miami) and improved the quality of college basketball (more NBA-level talent staying in college).
- Argues NIL provides young athletes with financial literacy and modest earnings that can educate them responsibly.
- Caveat: Not perfect — needs more regulation/guardrails — but net positive, analogous to automated strike-calling tech (ABS) in baseball: not perfect, but an overall improvement.
Notable quotes / soundbites
- “He’s a walking, talking UAP.” — on Wembanyama’s otherworldly athletic profile.
- “This is Otani.” — comparing Wembanyama’s two-way impact to Shohei Ohtani in baseball.
- “Peyton Manning… leadership is not cool. It’s hard.” — on what teams should want from a franchise QB.
- “If you don’t vote him MVP, you’re going to look kind of silly.” — regarding Wembanyama and the playoffs.
- On NIL: “It’s like a parent giving you just enough money to get in a little trouble… and giving you great financial literacy.”
Main takeaways
- Victor Wembanyama is being positioned as a generational, multi-dimensional talent whose statistical and on/off impact justify early MVP consideration.
- Fernando Mendoza is framed as the prototypical franchise QB — smart, accountable, and a potential immediate culture-changer in Las Vegas; how the Raiders handle mentorship (Kirk Cousins) and the offensive line will determine early success.
- The NBA landscape is fluid: Boston looks strong in the East, Lakers remain dangerous offensively, and the MVP narrative remains contested.
- The Bills’ roster moves (DJ Moore) should be contextualized by scheme and weather concerns; criticism of the trade overlooks system and coach fit.
- NIL and the transfer portal have materially improved college basketball’s talent level and given players financial literacy — imperfect but beneficial.
What to watch next (action items)
- Follow Wembanyama’s playoff minutes and performances — host predicts big playoff stat lines that will cement MVP claims.
- Watch Raiders offseason moves: whether they sign/insert Kirk Cousins, and how they prioritize offensive-line upgrades after drafting a QB.
- Tune into Lakers vs Thunder and Celtics playoff positioning to see postseason matchup implications.
- Track Bills usage of DJ Moore under Joe Brady and January/February performance in cold-weather conditions.
- For college hoops fans: monitor how NIL-driven rosters shape March matchups — more NBA-level talent on campus could alter traditional brackets.