Best of The Herd

Here we go. It’s a Friday, I’ve been on the under and the points all week, and I woke up with two strong takes.

On MVP, I’d have gone Matt Stafford over Drake May. May’s legs and scramble volume are real, but Stafford’s tape is loaded with big-time throws, fewer self-inflicted errors, a tougher slate, and complete command at the line. The gap is experience and processing speed—he’s playing the why while a young quarterback is still sorting the what.

As for the Belichick first-ballot outrage, take a breath. Halls are museums, not morality courts. You either get the jacket or you don’t, and nobody asks decades later which ballot it was. When you’ve stacked fines, docked picks, and a pile of wins without Brady that aren’t elite, waiting one year isn’t a scandal.

Belichick changed the sport and got snubbed. He outfoxed McVay in a Super Bowl and reshaped how teams use the slot. Mona Lisa didn’t invent that.

Now to the game that’s kept me up: my head says under and take the points, but one theme tilts Seattle. They see elite run schemes every year, and they led the league in yards per rush allowed, so New England won’t live on the ground.

That forces Drake May into thirty-five plus throws behind a shaky line against a fast defense. He’s one and seven when he hits that volume, he’s taken a ton of sacks, and this postseason came with giveaways you can’t have here. New England needs a defensive score and a near-perfect plan from Josh McDaniels.

Seattle is ten and zero when they keep giveaways to one or fewer, and they usually play from ahead. I’ll go Seahawks in a low one, twenty four to twenty, still like the Pats with the points and the under because Seattle’s youth can make it weird late.

I’m with you, and I don’t even think it stays tight. If Seattle jumps in front, they squeeze the life out of the run game and make New England chase.

Fernando Mendoza joins. You had a winding road—Cal to Indiana—and you’ve been called tough and poised. When did it first click that Sundays were realistic?

I needed real development, so I graduated at Cal and went to Coach Signetti to grow as a quarterback. Mid-year, after we battled at Oregon and I handled the moment, I felt ready to bet on myself and declare.

Scouts point to your toughness—standing in and taking hits to make throws. Where’s that from?

I trust my line, stay in the pocket, and deliver because it lifts the sideline and drains a defense. Cal taught me how thin margins are—close wins and losses—so the pressure at Indiana felt familiar.

Why Signetti, and how does he coach you?

I saw how much my younger brother grew in one year under that staff and wanted that. Coach Signetti is old-school tough love—he rides the quarterbacks, keeps us grounded, and focuses on making me the best version of myself, not selling headlines.

Who’d you study to shape your game?

Tom Brady’s preparation changed how I approached the position. This year I broke down Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford in a similar play-action world—footwork, timing, and when to live for the next snap all helped my efficiency.

Your Miami game looked pro-level on tape. Did it feel like that on the field?

They had first-round edges and NFL stunts, so you have to stay ahead of the sticks. The league is a weekly fistfight with tiny margins, and that game mirrored it—third and fourth down decide everything.

What’s the one thing you must sharpen before the NFL?

Footwork and anticipation. Pro windows demand earlier triggers and subtle movement in a tight pocket instead of big escapes.

Picking a side for Sunday?

I’ll stay out of that and just work. Coach actually kicked me out of the facility to reset for the new team, so Planet Fitness has me covered to keep the pre-draft grind rolling.

Max Crosby is here. You’ve become the face of a defense, and your path wasn’t five stars. Do you still carry that edge?

Absolutely. Being a fourth-rounder fuels me. I’m chasing Defensive Player of the Year, a Super Bowl, and first-team All-Pro, and I won’t stop until I hit those levels.

You’re chipped, doubled, and teams run away from you. How do you live with that?

It’s respect. Stay calm, keep straining, and be ready for the one clean rep that flips a game. If you let frustration win, you miss your shot.

There’s been noise around the Raiders and your role in decisions. Where are you with all that?

I’ve learned to control what I can. I’m in before dawn, rehabbing and lifting, staying out of politics, and leading in the building. My family’s great, I’m healthy-minded, and the work is the message.

You saw New England in Week 1. What stuck with you?

We got a solid road win while they were new and young, and since then Vrabel, McDaniels, and Drake May have them playing disciplined, complementary ball. A bunch of my former teammates there are culture guys, and it shows.

Health check, and I hear you’ve got a collab?

I’m ahead of schedule after my eighth surgery in seven years and locked in on the best season of my life. And yeah, SAXX has a limited line with my logo and my pit bulls on it, which is pretty cool.

That’s gratitude and grind. Eight surgeries is a reminder of how violent this sport is, how fast guys heal, and how much they carry. If you ever can, get a sideline pass once—TV doesn’t capture the collisions or how tough the officials’ job is. See you Sunday.