
Colin Cowherd doesn't think Rams will win NFC West
But while the Rams kept most of their roster intact for 2025, the Herd's Colin Cowherd isn't too confident in L.A.'s ability to repeat as division champions. He picked the Seattle Seahawks to win the NFC West and put the Rams at No. 2.
His biggest worries stem from the offensive line. Left tackle Alaric Jackson is still dealing with blood clots, while right tackle Rob Havenstein is 33 and could be playing his last NFL season.
It doesn't help, either, that Matthew Stafford is still not practicing with a back injury. Cowherd still has the Rams making the playoffs as the No. 7 seed, but that doesn't inspire much confidence for a team that was a few plays away from the NFC Championship game a year ago and went toe-to-toe with the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Will Taylor Swift be at Travis Kelce's preseason game vs. Seahawks?
It's getting to be that time again. Travis Kelce continues to play NFL games in 2025, and his girlfriend Taylor Swift has had some time to cheer him on at Kansas City Chiefs games. She was there a few last season, including playoff games and -- of course -- the Super Bowl. MORE: Photos of Taylor Swift going through all the emotions for Chiefs-Texans So the question is: will she be there for the Chiefs' second preseason matchup on Friday between the Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks? Given that it's a preseason game and that it's on the road -- remember, Swift didn't attend road games last season -- it's probably a no for this one, even though they were together for the epic New Heights podcast we all loved. But we'll see!


USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Michigan receives massive fine from NCAA for Connor Stalions violations
The NCAA has announced the penalties for the Michigan football program due to the Connor Stalions sign-stealing case. And while at first glance they might seem relatively light, the actual fines are going to be massive. First, let's mention the show-cause orders. Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions will be kept away from the football program for ten and eight years, respectively. That might not seem like a big deal--neither is currently affiliated with the program--but there are downsides to not being able to bring back a recent National Championship-winning coach for recruiting or alumni services. Also, Denard Robinson will not be allowed back with the program for at least three years. The NCAA determined that it would not suffice for Sherrone Moore, who deleted text messages that could have been relevant to the investigation, to only be suspended for the two games Michigan self-disciplined him for. He will also be suspended for a third game. However, the NCAA is not making him take that suspension in the 2025 season, and he can use it to sit out a cupcake game in 2026. There are also relatively minor recruiting penalties. The big one, though, are the fines. The NCAA didn't simply levy a basic number for the fines. So when people see the top line amount of just $50,000, this might seem like a slap on the wrist. However, the other financial penalties are staggering. Let's break them down: First, the scholarships. Looking at Michigan's data for athletic scholarships and doing some rough math, 85 football scholarships (though now up to 105 are allowed) should average to about $6 million. So 10% of that is another $600,000 in fines. And the other two fines are even bigger. 10% of Michigan's football budget is absolutely massive. The numbers aren't public yet, but coaching salaries alone are well over $20 million. The total athletic budget is about $250 million (last year), and football is probably somewhere in the $65-85 million range. 10% of that is looking at around $6.5-8.5 million. Lastly, the postseason revenue. This number isn't fixed, and it depends on several factors. The Big Ten splits up all of its bowl revenue evenly between conference members (some newer members don't get a full share yet). Last year, between College Football Playoff bonuses and base contracts, the total number was over $160 million, or about $10 million per full-share school. In the Playoff era (before expansion), the yearly number could vary anywhere from $5-10 million. So Michigan losing two years of postseason revenue could by itself cost $20 million. All in all, the Wolverines are probably looking at well over $30 million in total fines. No wins were vacated, but this will be the largest fine in college athletics history--by a significant margin.


Newsweek
10 minutes ago
- Newsweek
ESPN Analyst Stirs Debate Over JJ McCarthy, Vikings Super Bowl Chances
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Following their impressive 14-3 season last year, the Minnesota Vikings have a high bar to live up to in 2025. While most of their roster was kept intact, the Vikings' biggest wild card just happens to play the most important position. J.J. McCarthy is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in college football history, but he's still an unproven commodity in the NFL, and he has big shoes to fill after Sam Darnold revived his career with a monster 4,319-yard, 35-touchdown season that he parlayed into a $100 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Most analysts agree that the Vikings will only go as far in 2025 as McCarthy can take them, which ESPN analyst and former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum believes is pretty far. More NFL: Odell Beckham Jr. Sparks Steelers Rumors With Aaron Rodgers Comments J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 9, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 9, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota."Absolutely [the Vikings are Super Bowl contenders]," Tannenbaum said Friday on "Get Up." "I'm going to go with the combination of Kevin O'Connell, J.J. McCarthy and Brian Flores — that's going to be really hard to beat. I agree, there's going to be some growing pains on defense, but they'll still bring pressure. I can't wait for that opening-night game in Chicago. "But what J.J. McCarthy can do — he's a full-field quarterback. And again, Justin Jefferson, if he's not the best receiver, outside of Ja'Marr Chase — he probably is. But when you have difference-makers like they do, I know Addison is going to miss a couple of games, but you can put their roster up against almost anybody with what should be a really good, young, emerging quarterback." Tannebaum's comments appeared to spark a debate on social media, bringing about a mixed bag of reactions. "Tannebaum is the king of hot takes Vikings roster is stacked but jj is not doing what Sam Darnold did last season," one fan wrote. "So a qb that has never taken an nfl snap has a better chance at a Super Bowl than other QBs and teams lmao talk about click bait takes," another agreed. "I need them to realize who the QB is. He has done absolutely NOTHING in the NFL. College was okay. The Bears should run through them in game one," a third fan chimed in. "Ur right he won't choke in the Playoffs like Darnold did. @jjmccarthy09 will lead the @Vikings MUCH farther!" one user argued. "The hype is real," another user replied. More NFL: Chiefs Get Major Update on Rashee Rice's Looming Suspension .@RealTannenbaum says the Vikings are Super Bowl contenders 👀 "You could put their roster up against almost anybody." — Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 15, 2025 McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee last preseason. He made his long-awaited return in Minnesota's 20-10 win over the Houston Texans in its preseason opener last week, completing 4 of 7 passes for 30 yards and shaking off the year-long rust. Though he only played a handful of plays, O'Connell raved about what he saw from his second-year QB. "I love the fact that we were able to hit an explosive play in the pass game," O'Connell said, via ESPN. "I love the fact that we converted some third downs. I love the fact that on the fourth down, he used his legs to 'steal one.' And I think there's just a level of composure and poise to how he ran the show. That was exactly what I was looking for —and now we go back to work." Though there is quite a bit of pressure on McCarthy to step in and perform right away, the 22-year-old has one of the best supporting casts in the NFL. Running back Aaron Jones ranked ninth in the league in rushing last season (1,138 yards), while Jefferson ranked second in receiving (1,533 yards), and two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson is among the best at his position when healthy. More NFL: Taylor Swift Reveals Hilarious Xavier Worthy Draft Story on Travis Kelce's Podcast