THE HERD - Hour 1 - Perseverance for Pro Bowl QBs, Lamar Jackson in Baltimore coming to an end?

What a Wednesday show with Christmas around the corner and a big NFL slate coming. Pro Bowl teams dropped, and my message to kids who ask about success fits here too: there isn’t one path, so stay relentless, because all these very different quarterbacks share toughness and leadership.

On the NFC list, you’ve got Stafford finally paired with the right coach, Dak thriving without elite traits, and Herbert surviving a brutal line, while a young guy like Drake May keeps stacking wins. In the snub talk, Caleb Williams wasn’t robbed; Jared Goff has the clean case, while Caleb’s season has been uneven with jaw‑dropping finishes that keep paying off.

I was told I wasn’t special here and wouldn’t fit or win, and I hear that noise. My aim isn’t making the playoffs; it’s winning big, period.

You can hear the jet fuel, and I like that edge. Ben Johnson and Caleb aren’t a perfect schematic match, but two smart, driven guys can make it work, and he’s already excellent at the podium.

It’s easy to grin when everything breaks your way at eleven and four. Let’s see the posture when real adversity hits again.

They did have operational hiccups early and cleaned a bunch up with Ben Johnson. Greg Cosell in a few.

Cooper Flagg just put up thirty‑plus against Denver, and he plays like he wants the moment. The league doesn’t need a ‘face,’ but if he chooses it, his aggression, polish, and Duke platform make him an obvious candidate.

Breaking news from the Baltimore Sun: there are different rules for Lamar Jackson, missed practices have worn thin, and John Harbaugh sounds fatigued. With his cap number jumping, the piece even floats Miami or Vegas as destinations.

If that reporting holds, I could defend Baltimore listening, because physical quarterbacks lose some juice after the early years. The Ravens are so well‑run that taking calls from teams like Vegas or Miami would be rational.

You may need to sell high now instead of waiting until he’s older and pricier. We’ve already watched stars in the division sour; rebuilds happen fast.

There are a handful of quarterbacks you never even answer the phone on; Lamar moves from that group to the tier where you at least hear the offer.

Subplot for tomorrow: could this be Travis Kelce’s last Arrowhead game, and what do we do with Broncos‑Chiefs? I need confirmation on who’s playing.

I lean Denver; they’re ticked off and want to make a point, and Kansas City’s personnel issues don’t fix themselves overnight.

Miles Garrett is a sack away from the record and a former teammate calls him the best ever. The chase is on.

Context matters; the Browns often trail late, so pass‑rush shots are limited, and he still wrecks games. He’s in that rare air with names like Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, and Aaron Donald.

Wild thought: could Aaron Rodgers gift him one the way Favre did for Strahan? I can actually see it.

One take I won’t entertain: ‘Justin Herbert is overrated because of playoff wins.’ He’s piloting an eleven‑and‑four team with a bottom offensive line, a broken hand, and almost no run scoring, and he’s still carrying them.

He’s a competitive maniac and a flat‑out superhero right now. I’ve got an update on his physical status: he’s still a beast.

On George Pickens to Dallas, this is about talent versus foundation pieces. He’s gifted, but with CeeDee Lamb in place and Flournoy ascending, you don’t overpay or overvalue volatility; foundational means mature, consistent, quarterback‑friendly, and scheme‑proof.

A Pro Bowl nod helps the resume and the next deal, but I’ll handle that in the offseason. I value the culture here because you can’t find it everywhere.

Two first‑rounders are for foundational players you can build around for a decade. Very few earn that label; think Calvin Johnson, not just big‑play talent, and that’s the filter GMs should use when the price tag gets massive.