January 22, 2026 • 31 mins
Gerry Dulac joins Mark to talk about the Steelers coaching search
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Mark Mann Show.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
The sky is red, and I don't understand you can
call eight three three four one two wxdx eight three
three four one two wxdx. We got calls on the fifteens.
Up next, Like I said, Jari and goal tonight for Edmonton.
He's back from injury and has lost two of three since.
His numbers are okay since he got to Edmonton, but
(00:22):
he's not solved the problem.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
It short, don't look that way. So far.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
McDavid is insanely good, always has been. All he needs
is a cup, but he might not get one, even
though that well, certainly.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
At one point it seemed unthinkable.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
He got eighty five points in fifty one games and
he didn't even start the season off so good.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
That's tied for the scoring lead with Nate Dogg.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
No goals in six six games for McDavid, though, only
seven points in that stretch. That might not bode well.
He might explode McDavid. Listen to this number. McDavid has
thirty four points in seventeen games against Pittsburgh. Let me
do the math, carry the four. Yeah, that's two points
per game. He gets amped obviously to play against it.
(01:09):
And I get it. You come at the King and
McDavid don't miss. But he still needs that cup to
be top five. If he gets one, he is period.
If he doesn't, he might be.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
But he might not be.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
By the way, I'd like hockey calls for the calls
at the fifteenth segment, because everything that's been said about
the friggin coaching search has already been said. Now we
just wait and see what the freak happens. We will
have some insight though, at three point thirty, when Dulak
joins me because he says the Steelers were mega impressed
by Shieldhouse in their virtual interview. Anyway, you look at
(01:46):
the matchup tonight at Edmonton, I'm not talking about the teams.
I'm talking about McDavid versus Crosby. You got the mega
fast cheat code in McDavid against the guy who knows
how to play hockey better than anybody ever, the legs
against the brain. I guess you could say, but each
guy got ample of the other two. If McDavid and
(02:09):
Sid played for New York and LA, then make movies
about it. But they're in Edmonton and Pittsburgh and don't
play against each other often enough, and McDavid ain't ovi.
McDavid ain't ovi. Goals are better. Ovie's a bond villain
turn lovable in his old age, and McDavid's a sourpuss.
He's not likable now. In the last ten meetings between
(02:32):
the Oilers and Penguins, it ain't gone real good. It
ain't gone real good. Edmonton is nine and one, Pittsburgh
is won eight and one. Sid has two goals and
five assists and he's minus fourteen.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yuch.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
McDavid has eight goals and sixteen assists and he's plus
twenty three. Uh, that's not all on Sid, but you
get the idea. Edmonton won at Pittsburgh in December six
to four, a game although Edmonton came out, took control
and the Penguins kept climbing back but never got there.
McDavid with two and two in that game, Sid with
(03:09):
just one helper. So we got the Penguins at Edmonton tonight.
Sid versus McDavid dry sidle one play he's on. He's
in Germany on a family matter, and I just bit
my tongue really badly. I might need stitches here. All
the action right here on one oh five nine, the
X uh We talked yesterday about Joey's speculation that the
(03:31):
Penguins could get Jason Robertson from Dallas the great winger
and restricted free agency or via trade because Dallas doesn't
have the cap to sign Robertson beyond his current contract
in Pittsburgh. Does Pittsburgh definitely does. It's intriguing. What do
you do? Do you make that trade at this year's deadline?
You make that trade at this year's deadline, I'm still
(03:52):
not sure you win playoff series, but you make the
playoffs for sure, and you might win playoff series. What
would it take to get him in a trade? Like
I said, he's a restricted free agent in seasons end.
That is when you make the trade. You got him
and you sign him right then and there, or you
could do a sign and trade with Dallas. But if
(04:12):
he gets to restricted free agency, I don't know if
Pittsburgh's gonna make the best offer or be the most
attractive place to go. Robertson's gonna get seven or eight
years at eleven or twelve million per year. He can
only get eight years with Dallas, seven tops with anybody else.
The Penguins could squing it and making a move like
this has always been part of the dupest plan, you know,
(04:36):
just this segment and what I did with Tom in
the first hour. I love talking about hockey and the Penguins,
F the Steelers, F that coaching search.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I don't care at all.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
And it's gonna just run back to the same old
season they've had for the last nine because that's.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What they want.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
And you're too dumb to figure it out. And that's
not fear to you. You're just dumb in general. This
is just one example that you can't figure out. But
I love talking about hockey and the Penguins. I could
do it the whole show, So chime in now if
you like. Uh eight three three four one two wxdx
eight three three four one two wxdx. By the way,
(05:11):
this note because I've been talking about the series on
HBO Max, which a lot of people are calling the
gay Hockey Series, but it's more than that.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
It's really good.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Uh Ovechkin and the other Russians on the Washington Capitals
declined to take part well, mostly declined in the Caps
Pride night. So I guess the gay hockey craze is over.
I guess ov isn't watching heated rivalry now. Now when
I say didn't participate, OV did sign stuff to raise money,
but he didn't use the Pride tape, the rainbow tape.
(05:42):
And that's okay, that's okay. Everybody should believe and do
as they want. Belief systems are not one size fits all.
I got to be honest, like I'm baring my soul
on today's show.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I used to have.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I mean, I'm sixty five. When you're younger, you just
in my era. It's inexcusable, but you had some degree
of homophobia. You just did it. It was we weren't
as enlightened then as now, and I've totally grown out
of that. The point is I would use rainbow tape,
probably to tape a bella danger's ankles together. Well, no,
(06:16):
that would actually impede the Let me think about where
that tape would would serve best. No, I'm kidding as
far as you know.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Another topic we already early in the show talked about
Tom's gonna come up with with people I've unreasonably disrespected
on the show. If you want to chime in about that,
you can call an now a three three four one
two WXDX. You know what else we're gonna talk about.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I'm depressed just doing the t's.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Those aspca ads cordied animals that show cordy to animals.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I don't want to see cruartity to animals.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I'll feed them, i'll pet them, I'll try to help
them find a home. But I don't know if depression
is the best way to get me to contribute money.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
That said I did at worked one five nine the X.
Yeah what you said the ex at one nine.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I feel like today's show's been really great. I'm opening
them up. I'm sharing. I have considered. I've talked about
using pride tape to tape abella dangerous ankles together.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
That wouldn't work.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
You know what I've seen used very effectively with Gina Linn,
who's an old timey uh X rated girl. She she
used to cofort with the flyers, so you know she's
just the worst.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
But uh she was.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
The first person I ever saw get handcuffed to the
floor like using these velvet handcuffs like like her put
her hands right to the floor, which that did open
up possibilities.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Okay, we got calls on the fifteens.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
You know what I'm still curious about with the Steelers
before I take some calls here.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
They need to keep Andy Widel.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
He interviewed for that GM job in a Kabali said
that was for next year.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
He's not interviewing for a job for next year.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
He is more likely he goes somewhere next to I
don't know, but I don't think the Falcons brought him
in to talk to him just to kill the time
of day.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
And he's very highly regarded anyway.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Let's go to Lou Lou, you're only double M Lou.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
You're on the air. Okay. We'll go to Brian. Brian,
you're on the air. Why isn't this working? Okay? Let's
try Phil, Phil, you're on the air. Okay.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Our calls aren't working, so somebody needs to come in
here and fix that immediately.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
We got three calls on. I can't take him.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
What the friggin' frick, What the friggin' frig Well, that's okay.
I'll just do endless monologues until I freaking vomit on air.
We got the conference championship game Sunday. Oops, nope, already
did that monologue. The peng was could get Robertson from Dallas. Oops, No,
already did that monologue. Crosby versus McDavid is a mega
(09:06):
fast cheat code versus the guy who knows how to
play hockey better.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Than anybody ever?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Oops, No, already did that monologue? Did the heated rivalry monologue?
Teas the ASPCA monologue. I guess I could just start
repeating stuff over and over again. You know, let's get
ahead here, since I can't take calls for some reason, Tom,
(09:30):
can we get this Stuart Skinner SoundBite. Stuart Skinner played
a good game at Calgary last night. But the peng
was played very good defensively limited what Calgary did in
terms of good chances, and Skinner handled the rest. Yet,
Jack Sain and Ivany blancin shots, you had him getting
two apples and being named the third star.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Do we have that yet?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
No? Okay, okay, anyway, here's Stuart Skinner after the game.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I mean, I saw a lot of composure, really simple plays.
We were able to make some really good passes just
to get those one. So a huge credit to the
d in front of me, the block shots, the sacrifices
in the front of me. I mean, it's all around
really solid game by the guys in front.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Yeah, he's right.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
And the big thing with with doing a good enough
job without Latang and Carlson is that the first pass
by the D was always there.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
The breakout.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
That's what you miss with Latang and Carlson out the
blocks and stuff like that. I mean, Latangan Carlson do
some of that, not a ton, certainly not Carlson. But
all the D did last night was the best they
could and that turned out to be good enough and
really a little more. Do we have the Orlowski SoundBite,
(10:53):
We'll do it on the We'll do the whole show
on the friggin fly if the equipment isn't up to snuff.
I still can't believe that the Steelers have a nineteen
person coaching staff, which is too small, but Tampa Bay
is a twenty eight person coaching staff, which is way
too big. Tampa got two women, though Steelers ain't got
(11:14):
no women. Steelers sexist organization. There should be a rooney
role for women. Actually they're not sexist, but that just
seemed like something funny to say to fill time. Okay,
here's that Dan Orlowski SoundBite, and he really lays it
on the line that the Steelers shouldn't hire McCarthy and
bring Rogers back.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
Hiring Mike McCarthy and bringing Aaron back would be the
worst decision Pittsburgh cool. And that's not an indictment on
each of them or either of them individually. Mike McCarthy's
a really good coach, obviously, Aaron one of the all
time greats. What are we doing Pittsburgh To hire Mike
McCarthy and bring Aaron back is going to place you
(11:54):
quite literally in the same position you're in right now
in January of.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Twenty twenty seven. You're gonna I said this when they made.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
The moves last year. They're in the worst possible place.
You just reiterated that, Chefty, because they're gonna be good
enough to win nine or ten games, and they're not
gonna be bad enough to finally get a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Or Losskeet.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
It's like you're reading my mind and quoting what it's
thinking for batim, and I've said it for how long
you win nine or ten games, you still don't get
that quarterback. They won ten games this year, They're not
gonna get that quarterback. You need to get that quarterback.
What don't people understand why don't people see the value
in four and thirteen?
Speaker 1 (12:39):
And I'll tell you why.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
You want a season where every game means something so
you can tailgates and revel in. We never have a
losing season. We always play meaningful games, and meaningful games
are fun. But ask them in New England how much
fun they're having right now, totally directly because they a
couple of four and thirteen seasons.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Ask New England fans.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
That they're enjoying taking several steps forward because they took
a bunch of steps backwards, not many, and not more
than they're taking forward right now by going four and thirteen.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Who's having more fun right now?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Because when you do what the Steelers do, which is
to try to scrape through and get to a winning
season and make every game mean something, there's a pretty
low ceiling on the fun. There might be a pretty
high floor, but there's a pretty low ceiling. And Orlowski's right,
I'm glad somebody on ESPN said it out loud that
it would be a horrible move. I mean, McCarthy's sixty two,
(13:42):
Rogers is forty three, and he's gonna make the Steelers
jump through hoops till he decides like he did last year.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
But it's all about Rogers and he weren't that good anyway.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
We quoted those stats yesterday from Mike the Fable and
his article The Athletic.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Then against the eight.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Top ten defenses the Steelers play, Rogers was crap. That's
the reader's dies for. I could quote numbers, but Rogers
was crap. I think that was what seven touchdowns against
six picks and against the other teams he was seventeen
touchdowns against two picks because they weren't no good on defense.
(14:22):
Add it all together, Rogers looks pretty good, but he
just wasn't pretty good. Okay, I've weathered the storm of
malfunctioning equipment. Jerry do light Next one oh five to nine,
It's the Woodie Showies Show Week one. Things at six
frecocious and full of wonderment.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
One nine d X Rob King here for the latest
in the Steelers hunt.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
For the Steelers coaching search goes on and on on
and on. It's heaven and Hell joining me out to
talk about it, and he'll he had some great insight
earlier in the day from the Post Cazette of Steelers
Beat reporter Jerry do Jerry, you reported the Steelers really
like their virtual inner you with Shieldhass, the passing game
coordinator with the L A.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Rams. Can you expand on that, Yeah, Mark, Well.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
They were very impressed with him, and obviously you know
that he's a sharp guy, probably has a good plan,
you know, what he wants to do, probably very definitive.
And I say that because about his interview, because the
(15:28):
same and I'm not correlating the two that's exactly going
to happen, But I always remember that being said to
me about Mike Tomlin in two thousand and seven when
that process was going on. It was one of the
first things, kind of out of the blue before any
of that happened, that the exact words to me, where
you know, who was very impressive? Who's that? That Mike Tomlin?
(15:52):
And that always stuck with me, and and he got hired.
And again I'm not saying that's going to happen, but
when I hear that, that means that gets their attention.
And so he is young, he's never well he's not
that young relative to who they've hired in the past,
but he's never called a play you know, he's a
passing game coordinator only been in the league two years
(16:15):
and so that might be a bit of a hindrance.
But one of the things they find out or want
to find out any second interviews, and you know, I'm
going to assume Mark that you know, one of those
two guys, if not both of them, will get a
second interview after Sunday. Chris Shula the Rams defensive Cordia
(16:35):
a big other. But one of the things they always
ask the guys the second time when they start getting
into it a little bit more in depth, is Okay,
who are you going to bring to your coaching staff.
And while they might not be able to guarantee certain guys, look,
those guys know they're going to be asked that, and
so they you know, they're looking at that. They have
to be prepared for that. And I think with Shielhaus
(16:57):
that's going to be a big deal because as a
young guy, to me, uh, you know, his defensive coordinator,
you know, or depending what he wants to do offensively,
you have to have veteran coaches when you when you're
a young guy coming in, and that's what Mike Tomlin had.
Now he was told to keep those guys, but you know,
Bruce Arians, Dick lebou Ray Horton, Keith Butler. You need
(17:23):
veteran coaches when you're a young guy like that, and
so that's going to be part of the process too.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
But he was.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
He was an impressive interview, and I think you could
see that's why other teams had wanted to talk to
him and and you know, continue to have maybe talked
to him because he you know, he's that way when
you when you talk to him. Everybody says that about him.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Now, now, Jerry, what about the notion and this is
quite fanciful on my part, bit of hiring Schuele as
the head coach in Shieldhouse as the offensive coordinator. That
way he gets that OC job before someday taking the
jump the head coaches.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Is that even a possibility? It seems like it might
be expensive.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Uh yeah, yeah, Mark, you know, either way, it's going
to be expensive to go hire a coordinator, an offensive coordinator,
someone who would command more money than than Shoe House.
But I guess it's a possibility, and it sounds like
a really good one. But I don't know, I don't
know how feasible that is, But yeah, I think that
(18:28):
that'd be a pretty cool package deal if you think
Chris Schule is your guy. And and to be honest, Mark,
I can't tell you whether he is or he isn't.
He certainly is in that is in that discussion because
of what other people think of him, and and and
everything else, and the Steelers like him obviously, But I
don't know that that anything like that is even that
(18:50):
has reached that point. But I do think, I do
think when they conduct these interviews, you know, they they're
they're talking to him as a head coach for head
coaching interviews. But that doesn't mean that that, you know,
possibility could exist. Even let's just say, for argument's sake,
with Mike McCarthy. So you bring in a young coach
(19:10):
and then you say, you know, ask Mike, look, we're
hiring this guy, would you consider being the offensive coordinator
or whatever the case may be. You know, that of
course is within a realm of possibility, but I'm not
saying that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Well, you mentioned Mike McCarthy, and to me, Jerry, it
feels like McCarthy's going to be the guy just because
he's reliable. You know exactly what you're getting, and that
way they can run it back. I don't think Art
has any interest in, like he said, wasting a season.
And if you do draft the quarterback, McCarthy is a
very good quarterbacks guy.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Well yes, but again that goes that's going to your coordinator.
Believe me, Mark, they want to hire the person who
they think is the right person for the job. That's
always the way they've been. That's the way Dan Rooney
was and that's the way Art the second is. And
so I don't don't want to say it's not going
to be about x's and o's. That's what your coordinators
are for. You need a guy that they like, that
(20:06):
they feel can get up in front of that room
and command the player's attention, who's a sharp guy, and
who can relate to them and relate to you know,
whether you know the rest of the people, as they quote,
face of the organization. That's what they look for. And
so that's first and foremost is what he is. They're
(20:27):
not looking to hire an x as and o's guy.
They're not looking to hire a guy who just say, Wow,
his defenses are really good. He would be a good
head coach. No, that's where other people.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
They want a CEO right here. They want a guy
who can.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Administrate, they mark, they want a leader of men. That's
what they're looking for. Somebody who can relate and communicate
with the guys and get their attention and get them
to listen to them. That's who they're looking for. And
so again, it may not be a strong ex as
and O's guys, I mean, whose stats don't jump out
at you. But you know, and there are guys like
(21:01):
that there. You know, some guys are great coordinators and
not good head coaches, and other guys are really good
head coaches who weren't great coordinators.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
We're talking to Jerry Doulak. He brought to us by
bud Light, easy to drink, easy to enjoy.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Jerry. Uh, would they really bring Aaron Rodgers back?
Speaker 2 (21:18):
You hear that the players and I guess we could
bet on who it is are campaigning for him to
come back.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I mean, I just feel like, first off, he'd make
you wait for him to decide for how many more months?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And I don't think he played that good. I think
if you take a.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Unbiased look back without really without thinking about what a
big name Rodgers is, he did Okay, but no better.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Well, Mark, I think I think he did better than okay,
and he certainly did better than people expected. But to
your point, he was brought in to win a playoff game, Mark,
and not just make the playoffs, to win a playoff game,
and it didn't happen. So why would you run that
back now? And the other thing too, One thing I
learned a long time ago is that they don't care
(22:03):
what the players think. They never have, they never will.
They don't listen to the players, you know, And and
all those years where people said, oh, Ben wants a
tall receiver, Ben wants this, Ben wants that. Ben knows
darn well, they don't listen to him, and so they're
not going to listen to some other player. Hey, we'd
like Aaron back. I don't expect him to be back, Mark,
(22:24):
I'm not saying he won't be, but I'd be more
surprised if he were back than if he wasn't back.
And so you know the fact that what I saw
that you know that report too, that the players like
him at all. And that's fine, But if the Steelers
don't believe that's the best way, then they don't care
what the players think. And again, when you bring him
(22:45):
in to win a playoff game and it doesn't happen
at age forty two, and they don't want to keep
this revolving door going, why would you bring him back?
Why would you bring that?
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Jerry?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
You're preaching the choir. I would definitely not bring him back.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
That said, if you don't want to keep the revolving
door going, who's the quarterback going to be?
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Well? Again, but here's well Mark. They know I don't
mean the revolving door necessarily next year, I mean going forward,
and they know they can't keep this up and at
some point they have to stop it. And that is
their intention. Now again I'm not saying it's going to happen,
because you can't predict how everything's going to go in
the draft and what they can do. How much of
(23:24):
a move can they make. That is their intention. Whether
they're able to pull it off, we'll see, because they
know they can't continue five different starting quarterbacks in five years.
That has to change.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, I mean, but I think it's going to continue
for one more year. I don't think you're gonna go
with Howard. I don't think you're gonna go with Rudolph.
I don't want to bring back Rogers. I just I
don't see them having laid any groundwork for beyond right now, Jerry.
That's always been my complaint about the Steelers for the
last just about a decade. They never think past the
next year, not even past.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
The next game, right and Mark, that's right, And that's
because they always feel their you know, that they're playoff team,
and that, you know, for a team that who espouses
publicly the goal that we want to win the Super Bowl.
That's all we care about, you know anymore, they're just
trying to stop the playoff bleeding, if you will. And
(24:16):
you know that that whole mentality has to change. And
now that you know they're moving on from a new coach,
then it's time to change all that, change all that.
And so bringing Aaron Rodgers back. And I like Aaron,
and I thought he was much better than I thought
he would be. I don't really think that's in their
plans now. Again, just like with drafting a quarterback in
(24:39):
the first round. We'll see how it all plays out,
but I don't I don't think it's in their plans
to bring Aaron Rodgers back.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Well, what what's your hunts? Jerry.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I I don't want to put you on a spot,
but who would be your best bet right now to
be the coach? And it's worth noting Chris Shuley is
the betting favorite in Vegas.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Of course he is, and he's everybody's betting favorite. And
that started, you know, a month or so ago, when
in today's ay and age, Mark, with social media and
all the you know, all the twenty four to seven
news on ESPN and NFL network, you know all these candidates.
There's no there's no surprise Chuck Knowle anymore, you know,
(25:16):
even even going back to Coward, even Mike Tarmlin, those
names weren't circulated then like they are now, and so
quite naturally, he is a betting favorite. And I don't
want to say it's not going to be him because
I don't know that. Mark. I'm I will say this too.
Do not rule out Anthony Weaver. I will tell you that.
(25:38):
And if you ask me, the guy they should hire
is Sean McDermott. But I don't think, I don't. They're
not even going to talk to him, they Mark. It's
surprising to me that nobody is talking to him. And
he said he wanted to steal coach that that that's
and I know some of the jobs have been feeled,
but what only four the ten surprised?
Speaker 2 (25:58):
They did talk to Stefanski, I mean Daniel, I mean
they're they're they're passing up. I don't want to call
him big names because none of them ever wont anything.
But but you know, why don't you talk to those guys?
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Mark? I didn't think Stefanski. I'll tell you a small story.
Uh back in after Bill Kauer stepped down, uh the
big popular rumor, and my friend Tony Grossie, I remember
him calling me. He thought, he thought and the people
in Cleveland thought Bill Cower would be perfect. Bill Cower
will take this job. He played here, he coached there.
(26:31):
Bill Kwer once told me he would never take the
Cleveland job because he coached he because out of respect
to the roone he's in the Steelers, he would never
do that. And so you know, maybe Stefanski wouldn't even
consider that for maybe the same reasons. I'm not going
to sit here and talk about his loyalty to Browns
or especially that nut job of an owner they have,
(26:51):
But maybe that was part of it. Maybe Stefanski thought,
I'm not going to go within the division and coach.
So yes, Kevin Stefanski is a good coach, but that
may have been a part in their decision. And whatnot
to even talk to them.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Is Brian Flores still in the mix?
Speaker 2 (27:09):
He re upped with Minnesota, but he hasn't out if
he's offered a head coaching.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
D Yeah, Mark, because you know, I mean, like McCarthy,
he came in and met with the Steelers. You know, again,
I can't sit here and tell you that he's not,
but you know, his reputation for what happened in Miami
White coach has to hurt him. I just can't imagine.
(27:34):
I don't want to say I can't imagine. I don't
foresee them doing that and wanting to go down that road.
And Mark, to me, if the Steelers didn't bring him
on as a senior defensive assistant in twenty twenty two,
he might still be sitting out there unemployed. But I
think when the Steelers did that, that kind of softened
a lot of people's stance about that we want to
(27:54):
take a chance on this guy. And I think the
Steelers kind of broke the ice with that, and I
think that's how he got back in the league. To
be perfectly honest, I don't know that, but I kind
of suspect that. And so but anyway, he you know,
his reputation for when he was the head coach in
Miami is not good for everything. The way it was
going down and the way it shook out. I just
(28:16):
don't know that that's going to happen. Uh.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
You mentioned, uh Anthony Weaver a moment ago. We just
talked about Brian Flores. How much does the Rooney rule
figure in with with Art wanting to be like his
dad maintain a lot of the things he did, and
it is the Rooney rule.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
I don't think that influences who they hire. Mark. Obviously,
they're following the protocol every team has to. Again, they
will hire, uh, the right guy. And I know two
of the guys that they that they like and are
impressed with are guys who you know are minority candidates,
(28:54):
and that's Shiel House and Anthony Weaver. I mean, Anthony
Weaver is going to be the first play of first
candidate who had a virtual interview and right now the
only one to have a second interview to meet with
the Steelers. So obviously they like the guy, and I
don't think you know usually because you have to meet
with two minority candidates in person, and I know he
(29:16):
would check that box along with Brian Flores. But that
doesn't mean they're just checking that box because if they
talked to Nate Schulhouse, he is a minority candidate as well,
so they would be checking that box beyond the minimum requirements.
But I know those are two guys that they like,
(29:37):
but I don't Again, I don't think the person they
hire is going to be hired just because of the
run girl.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Jerry. How long is this going to go on?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
And I'm not saying it should be rushed, but it
already seems like it's been going on for about six months.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Mark, I expect it to be done by the end
of next week. And I say that because for several reasons.
You know, they did eighty virtual interviews, they've only done
one follow up, and Brian Floyes doesn't count, Mark, because
even though he talked to them, that was more just
kind of they already know Flores. That was more about hey,
when can you come in or you're willing to talk Bob,
But that wasn't a virtual interview, and they've even said
(30:14):
that quietly. So so of those eight guys, though, only
one more has come back in. And I was told
last week that there would be a couple more candidates,
but if there are, I haven't heard them. And maybe
there are, but I haven't heard of any. But to
answer your question, I think it's going to be done
by the end of next week. Mark. And I say
(30:34):
that because the Super Bowl. The NFL does not like
to have announcements during the week of Super Bowl. So
I don't think the Steelers are going to wait till
after the super Bowl, which would be February ninth. I mean,
because now you're losing out on distant coaches, coordinators, things
like that, and so I personally and I don't know
(30:58):
this as a timetable, but I expect it to be
done by the end of next week.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Jerry is always a pleasure. Thank you for the insight,
and we will talk again next week.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
You got it, Mark, always good chatting with him.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
That's the great Jerry Dulax. Check out his work at
Postcazette dot com. He's brought to us by bud Light.
Easy to drink, It, easy to enjoy. Okay, we're gonna
do calls on the forty fives. Because our equipment's been fixed,
we can't take phone calls. We'll do calls on the
forty five, then calls on the fifteen next hour. Or
I can just play some sound bites, or I can
just babble.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
It's up to you.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
But if you want to make it a call segment
call now eight three three four one two wxdx
This is the Mark Mann Show.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
The sky is red, and I don't understand you can
call eight three three four one two wxdx eight three
three four one two wxdx. We got calls on the fifteens.
Up next, Like I said, Jari and goal tonight for Edmonton.
He's back from injury and has lost two of three since.
His numbers are okay since he got to Edmonton, but
(00:22):
he's not solved the problem.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
It short, don't look that way. So far.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
McDavid is insanely good, always has been. All he needs
is a cup, but he might not get one, even
though that well, certainly.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
At one point it seemed unthinkable.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
He got eighty five points in fifty one games and
he didn't even start the season off so good.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
That's tied for the scoring lead with Nate Dogg.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
No goals in six six games for McDavid, though, only
seven points in that stretch. That might not bode well.
He might explode McDavid. Listen to this number. McDavid has
thirty four points in seventeen games against Pittsburgh. Let me
do the math, carry the four. Yeah, that's two points
per game. He gets amped obviously to play against it.
(01:09):
And I get it. You come at the King and
McDavid don't miss. But he still needs that cup to
be top five. If he gets one, he is period.
If he doesn't, he might be.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
But he might not be.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
By the way, I'd like hockey calls for the calls
at the fifteenth segment, because everything that's been said about
the friggin coaching search has already been said. Now we
just wait and see what the freak happens. We will
have some insight though, at three point thirty, when Dulak
joins me because he says the Steelers were mega impressed
by Shieldhouse in their virtual interview. Anyway, you look at
(01:46):
the matchup tonight at Edmonton, I'm not talking about the teams.
I'm talking about McDavid versus Crosby. You got the mega
fast cheat code in McDavid against the guy who knows
how to play hockey better than anybody ever, the legs
against the brain. I guess you could say, but each
guy got ample of the other two. If McDavid and
(02:09):
Sid played for New York and LA, then make movies
about it. But they're in Edmonton and Pittsburgh and don't
play against each other often enough, and McDavid ain't ovi.
McDavid ain't ovi. Goals are better. Ovie's a bond villain
turn lovable in his old age, and McDavid's a sourpuss.
He's not likable now. In the last ten meetings between
(02:32):
the Oilers and Penguins, it ain't gone real good. It
ain't gone real good. Edmonton is nine and one, Pittsburgh
is won eight and one. Sid has two goals and
five assists and he's minus fourteen.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yuch.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
McDavid has eight goals and sixteen assists and he's plus
twenty three. Uh, that's not all on Sid, but you
get the idea. Edmonton won at Pittsburgh in December six
to four, a game although Edmonton came out, took control
and the Penguins kept climbing back but never got there.
McDavid with two and two in that game, Sid with
(03:09):
just one helper. So we got the Penguins at Edmonton tonight.
Sid versus McDavid dry sidle one play he's on. He's
in Germany on a family matter, and I just bit
my tongue really badly. I might need stitches here. All
the action right here on one oh five nine, the
X uh We talked yesterday about Joey's speculation that the
(03:31):
Penguins could get Jason Robertson from Dallas the great winger
and restricted free agency or via trade because Dallas doesn't
have the cap to sign Robertson beyond his current contract
in Pittsburgh. Does Pittsburgh definitely does. It's intriguing. What do
you do? Do you make that trade at this year's deadline?
You make that trade at this year's deadline, I'm still
(03:52):
not sure you win playoff series, but you make the
playoffs for sure, and you might win playoff series. What
would it take to get him in a trade? Like
I said, he's a restricted free agent in seasons end.
That is when you make the trade. You got him
and you sign him right then and there, or you
could do a sign and trade with Dallas. But if
(04:12):
he gets to restricted free agency, I don't know if
Pittsburgh's gonna make the best offer or be the most
attractive place to go. Robertson's gonna get seven or eight
years at eleven or twelve million per year. He can
only get eight years with Dallas, seven tops with anybody else.
The Penguins could squing it and making a move like
this has always been part of the dupest plan, you know,
(04:36):
just this segment and what I did with Tom in
the first hour. I love talking about hockey and the Penguins,
F the Steelers, F that coaching search.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I don't care at all.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
And it's gonna just run back to the same old
season they've had for the last nine because that's.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What they want.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
And you're too dumb to figure it out. And that's
not fear to you. You're just dumb in general. This
is just one example that you can't figure out. But
I love talking about hockey and the Penguins. I could
do it the whole show, So chime in now if
you like. Uh eight three three four one two wxdx
eight three three four one two wxdx. By the way,
(05:11):
this note because I've been talking about the series on
HBO Max, which a lot of people are calling the
gay Hockey Series, but it's more than that.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
It's really good.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Uh Ovechkin and the other Russians on the Washington Capitals
declined to take part well, mostly declined in the Caps
Pride night. So I guess the gay hockey craze is over.
I guess ov isn't watching heated rivalry now. Now when
I say didn't participate, OV did sign stuff to raise money,
but he didn't use the Pride tape, the rainbow tape.
(05:42):
And that's okay, that's okay. Everybody should believe and do
as they want. Belief systems are not one size fits all.
I got to be honest, like I'm baring my soul
on today's show.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
I used to have.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I mean, I'm sixty five. When you're younger, you just
in my era. It's inexcusable, but you had some degree
of homophobia. You just did it. It was we weren't
as enlightened then as now, and I've totally grown out
of that. The point is I would use rainbow tape,
probably to tape a bella danger's ankles together. Well, no,
(06:16):
that would actually impede the Let me think about where
that tape would would serve best. No, I'm kidding as
far as you know.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Another topic we already early in the show talked about
Tom's gonna come up with with people I've unreasonably disrespected
on the show. If you want to chime in about that,
you can call an now a three three four one
two WXDX. You know what else we're gonna talk about.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I'm depressed just doing the t's.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Those aspca ads cordied animals that show cordy to animals.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I don't want to see cruartity to animals.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I'll feed them, i'll pet them, I'll try to help
them find a home. But I don't know if depression
is the best way to get me to contribute money.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
That said I did at worked one five nine the X.
Yeah what you said the ex at one nine.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I feel like today's show's been really great. I'm opening
them up. I'm sharing. I have considered. I've talked about
using pride tape to tape abella dangerous ankles together.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
That wouldn't work.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
You know what I've seen used very effectively with Gina Linn,
who's an old timey uh X rated girl. She she
used to cofort with the flyers, so you know she's
just the worst.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
But uh she was.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
The first person I ever saw get handcuffed to the
floor like using these velvet handcuffs like like her put
her hands right to the floor, which that did open
up possibilities.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Okay, we got calls on the fifteens.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
You know what I'm still curious about with the Steelers
before I take some calls here.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
They need to keep Andy Widel.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
He interviewed for that GM job in a Kabali said
that was for next year.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
He's not interviewing for a job for next year.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
He is more likely he goes somewhere next to I
don't know, but I don't think the Falcons brought him
in to talk to him just to kill the time
of day.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
And he's very highly regarded anyway.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Let's go to Lou Lou, you're only double M Lou.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
You're on the air. Okay. We'll go to Brian. Brian,
you're on the air. Why isn't this working? Okay? Let's
try Phil, Phil, you're on the air. Okay.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Our calls aren't working, so somebody needs to come in
here and fix that immediately.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
We got three calls on. I can't take him.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
What the friggin' frick, What the friggin' frig Well, that's okay.
I'll just do endless monologues until I freaking vomit on air.
We got the conference championship game Sunday. Oops, nope, already
did that monologue. The peng was could get Robertson from Dallas. Oops, No,
already did that monologue. Crosby versus McDavid is a mega
(09:06):
fast cheat code versus the guy who knows how to
play hockey better.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Than anybody ever?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Oops, No, already did that monologue? Did the heated rivalry monologue?
Teas the ASPCA monologue. I guess I could just start
repeating stuff over and over again. You know, let's get
ahead here, since I can't take calls for some reason, Tom,
(09:30):
can we get this Stuart Skinner SoundBite. Stuart Skinner played
a good game at Calgary last night. But the peng
was played very good defensively limited what Calgary did in
terms of good chances, and Skinner handled the rest. Yet,
Jack Sain and Ivany blancin shots, you had him getting
two apples and being named the third star.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Do we have that yet?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
No? Okay, okay, anyway, here's Stuart Skinner after the game.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I mean, I saw a lot of composure, really simple plays.
We were able to make some really good passes just
to get those one. So a huge credit to the
d in front of me, the block shots, the sacrifices
in the front of me. I mean, it's all around
really solid game by the guys in front.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Yeah, he's right.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
And the big thing with with doing a good enough
job without Latang and Carlson is that the first pass
by the D was always there.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
The breakout.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
That's what you miss with Latang and Carlson out the
blocks and stuff like that. I mean, Latangan Carlson do
some of that, not a ton, certainly not Carlson. But
all the D did last night was the best they
could and that turned out to be good enough and
really a little more. Do we have the Orlowski SoundBite,
(10:53):
We'll do it on the We'll do the whole show
on the friggin fly if the equipment isn't up to snuff.
I still can't believe that the Steelers have a nineteen
person coaching staff, which is too small, but Tampa Bay
is a twenty eight person coaching staff, which is way
too big. Tampa got two women, though Steelers ain't got
(11:14):
no women. Steelers sexist organization. There should be a rooney
role for women. Actually they're not sexist, but that just
seemed like something funny to say to fill time. Okay,
here's that Dan Orlowski SoundBite, and he really lays it
on the line that the Steelers shouldn't hire McCarthy and
bring Rogers back.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
Hiring Mike McCarthy and bringing Aaron back would be the
worst decision Pittsburgh cool. And that's not an indictment on
each of them or either of them individually. Mike McCarthy's
a really good coach, obviously, Aaron one of the all
time greats. What are we doing Pittsburgh To hire Mike
McCarthy and bring Aaron back is going to place you
(11:54):
quite literally in the same position you're in right now
in January of.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Twenty twenty seven. You're gonna I said this when they made.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
The moves last year. They're in the worst possible place.
You just reiterated that, Chefty, because they're gonna be good
enough to win nine or ten games, and they're not
gonna be bad enough to finally get a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Or Losskeet.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
It's like you're reading my mind and quoting what it's
thinking for batim, and I've said it for how long
you win nine or ten games, you still don't get
that quarterback. They won ten games this year, They're not
gonna get that quarterback. You need to get that quarterback.
What don't people understand why don't people see the value
in four and thirteen?
Speaker 1 (12:39):
And I'll tell you why.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
You want a season where every game means something so
you can tailgates and revel in. We never have a
losing season. We always play meaningful games, and meaningful games
are fun. But ask them in New England how much
fun they're having right now, totally directly because they a
couple of four and thirteen seasons.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Ask New England fans.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
That they're enjoying taking several steps forward because they took
a bunch of steps backwards, not many, and not more
than they're taking forward right now by going four and thirteen.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Who's having more fun right now?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Because when you do what the Steelers do, which is
to try to scrape through and get to a winning
season and make every game mean something, there's a pretty
low ceiling on the fun. There might be a pretty
high floor, but there's a pretty low ceiling. And Orlowski's right,
I'm glad somebody on ESPN said it out loud that
it would be a horrible move. I mean, McCarthy's sixty two,
(13:42):
Rogers is forty three, and he's gonna make the Steelers
jump through hoops till he decides like he did last year.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
But it's all about Rogers and he weren't that good anyway.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
We quoted those stats yesterday from Mike the Fable and
his article The Athletic.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Then against the eight.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Top ten defenses the Steelers play, Rogers was crap. That's
the reader's dies for. I could quote numbers, but Rogers
was crap. I think that was what seven touchdowns against
six picks and against the other teams he was seventeen
touchdowns against two picks because they weren't no good on defense.
(14:22):
Add it all together, Rogers looks pretty good, but he
just wasn't pretty good. Okay, I've weathered the storm of
malfunctioning equipment. Jerry do light Next one oh five to nine,
It's the Woodie Showies Show Week one. Things at six
frecocious and full of wonderment.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
One nine d X Rob King here for the latest
in the Steelers hunt.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
For the Steelers coaching search goes on and on on
and on. It's heaven and Hell joining me out to
talk about it, and he'll he had some great insight
earlier in the day from the Post Cazette of Steelers
Beat reporter Jerry do Jerry, you reported the Steelers really
like their virtual inner you with Shieldhass, the passing game
coordinator with the L A.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Rams. Can you expand on that, Yeah, Mark, Well.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
They were very impressed with him, and obviously you know
that he's a sharp guy, probably has a good plan,
you know, what he wants to do, probably very definitive.
And I say that because about his interview, because the
(15:28):
same and I'm not correlating the two that's exactly going
to happen, But I always remember that being said to
me about Mike Tomlin in two thousand and seven when
that process was going on. It was one of the
first things, kind of out of the blue before any
of that happened, that the exact words to me, where
you know, who was very impressive? Who's that? That Mike Tomlin?
(15:52):
And that always stuck with me, and and he got hired.
And again I'm not saying that's going to happen, but
when I hear that, that means that gets their attention.
And so he is young, he's never well he's not
that young relative to who they've hired in the past,
but he's never called a play you know, he's a
passing game coordinator only been in the league two years
(16:15):
and so that might be a bit of a hindrance.
But one of the things they find out or want
to find out any second interviews, and you know, I'm
going to assume Mark that you know, one of those
two guys, if not both of them, will get a
second interview after Sunday. Chris Shula the Rams defensive Cordia
(16:35):
a big other. But one of the things they always
ask the guys the second time when they start getting
into it a little bit more in depth, is Okay,
who are you going to bring to your coaching staff.
And while they might not be able to guarantee certain guys, look,
those guys know they're going to be asked that, and
so they you know, they're looking at that. They have
to be prepared for that. And I think with Shielhaus
(16:57):
that's going to be a big deal because as a
young guy, to me, uh, you know, his defensive coordinator,
you know, or depending what he wants to do offensively,
you have to have veteran coaches when you when you're
a young guy coming in, and that's what Mike Tomlin had.
Now he was told to keep those guys, but you know,
Bruce Arians, Dick lebou Ray Horton, Keith Butler. You need
(17:23):
veteran coaches when you're a young guy like that, and
so that's going to be part of the process too.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
But he was.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
He was an impressive interview, and I think you could
see that's why other teams had wanted to talk to
him and and you know, continue to have maybe talked
to him because he you know, he's that way when
you when you talk to him. Everybody says that about him.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Now, now, Jerry, what about the notion and this is
quite fanciful on my part, bit of hiring Schuele as
the head coach in Shieldhouse as the offensive coordinator. That
way he gets that OC job before someday taking the
jump the head coaches.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Is that even a possibility? It seems like it might
be expensive.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Uh yeah, yeah, Mark, you know, either way, it's going
to be expensive to go hire a coordinator, an offensive coordinator,
someone who would command more money than than Shoe House.
But I guess it's a possibility, and it sounds like
a really good one. But I don't know, I don't
know how feasible that is, But yeah, I think that
(18:28):
that'd be a pretty cool package deal if you think
Chris Schule is your guy. And and to be honest, Mark,
I can't tell you whether he is or he isn't.
He certainly is in that is in that discussion because
of what other people think of him, and and and
everything else, and the Steelers like him obviously, But I
don't know that that anything like that is even that
(18:50):
has reached that point. But I do think, I do
think when they conduct these interviews, you know, they they're
they're talking to him as a head coach for head
coaching interviews. But that doesn't mean that that, you know,
possibility could exist. Even let's just say, for argument's sake,
with Mike McCarthy. So you bring in a young coach
(19:10):
and then you say, you know, ask Mike, look, we're
hiring this guy, would you consider being the offensive coordinator
or whatever the case may be. You know, that of
course is within a realm of possibility, but I'm not
saying that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Well, you mentioned Mike McCarthy, and to me, Jerry, it
feels like McCarthy's going to be the guy just because
he's reliable. You know exactly what you're getting, and that
way they can run it back. I don't think Art
has any interest in, like he said, wasting a season.
And if you do draft the quarterback, McCarthy is a
very good quarterbacks guy.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Well yes, but again that goes that's going to your coordinator.
Believe me, Mark, they want to hire the person who
they think is the right person for the job. That's
always the way they've been. That's the way Dan Rooney
was and that's the way Art the second is. And
so I don't don't want to say it's not going
to be about x's and o's. That's what your coordinators
are for. You need a guy that they like, that
(20:06):
they feel can get up in front of that room
and command the player's attention, who's a sharp guy, and
who can relate to them and relate to you know,
whether you know the rest of the people, as they quote,
face of the organization. That's what they look for. And
so that's first and foremost is what he is. They're
(20:27):
not looking to hire an x as and o's guy.
They're not looking to hire a guy who just say, Wow,
his defenses are really good. He would be a good
head coach. No, that's where other people.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
They want a CEO right here. They want a guy
who can.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Administrate, they mark, they want a leader of men. That's
what they're looking for. Somebody who can relate and communicate
with the guys and get their attention and get them
to listen to them. That's who they're looking for. And
so again, it may not be a strong ex as
and O's guys, I mean, whose stats don't jump out
at you. But you know, and there are guys like
(21:01):
that there. You know, some guys are great coordinators and
not good head coaches, and other guys are really good
head coaches who weren't great coordinators.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
We're talking to Jerry Doulak. He brought to us by
bud Light, easy to drink, easy to enjoy.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Jerry. Uh, would they really bring Aaron Rodgers back?
Speaker 2 (21:18):
You hear that the players and I guess we could
bet on who it is are campaigning for him to
come back.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I mean, I just feel like, first off, he'd make
you wait for him to decide for how many more months?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And I don't think he played that good. I think
if you take a.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Unbiased look back without really without thinking about what a
big name Rodgers is, he did Okay, but no better.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Well, Mark, I think I think he did better than okay,
and he certainly did better than people expected. But to
your point, he was brought in to win a playoff game, Mark,
and not just make the playoffs, to win a playoff game,
and it didn't happen. So why would you run that
back now? And the other thing too, One thing I
learned a long time ago is that they don't care
(22:03):
what the players think. They never have, they never will.
They don't listen to the players, you know, And and
all those years where people said, oh, Ben wants a
tall receiver, Ben wants this, Ben wants that. Ben knows
darn well, they don't listen to him, and so they're
not going to listen to some other player. Hey, we'd
like Aaron back. I don't expect him to be back, Mark,
(22:24):
I'm not saying he won't be, but I'd be more
surprised if he were back than if he wasn't back.
And so you know the fact that what I saw
that you know that report too, that the players like
him at all. And that's fine, But if the Steelers
don't believe that's the best way, then they don't care
what the players think. And again, when you bring him
(22:45):
in to win a playoff game and it doesn't happen
at age forty two, and they don't want to keep
this revolving door going, why would you bring him back?
Why would you bring that?
Speaker 5 (22:54):
Jerry?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
You're preaching the choir. I would definitely not bring him back.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
That said, if you don't want to keep the revolving
door going, who's the quarterback going to be?
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Well? Again, but here's well Mark. They know I don't
mean the revolving door necessarily next year, I mean going forward,
and they know they can't keep this up and at
some point they have to stop it. And that is
their intention. Now again I'm not saying it's going to happen,
because you can't predict how everything's going to go in
the draft and what they can do. How much of
(23:24):
a move can they make. That is their intention. Whether
they're able to pull it off, we'll see, because they
know they can't continue five different starting quarterbacks in five years.
That has to change.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Yeah, I mean, but I think it's going to continue
for one more year. I don't think you're gonna go
with Howard. I don't think you're gonna go with Rudolph.
I don't want to bring back Rogers. I just I
don't see them having laid any groundwork for beyond right now, Jerry.
That's always been my complaint about the Steelers for the
last just about a decade. They never think past the
next year, not even past.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
The next game, right and Mark, that's right, And that's
because they always feel their you know, that they're playoff team,
and that, you know, for a team that who espouses
publicly the goal that we want to win the Super Bowl.
That's all we care about, you know anymore, they're just
trying to stop the playoff bleeding, if you will. And
(24:16):
you know that that whole mentality has to change. And
now that you know they're moving on from a new coach,
then it's time to change all that, change all that.
And so bringing Aaron Rodgers back. And I like Aaron,
and I thought he was much better than I thought
he would be. I don't really think that's in their
plans now. Again, just like with drafting a quarterback in
(24:39):
the first round. We'll see how it all plays out,
but I don't I don't think it's in their plans
to bring Aaron Rodgers back.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Well, what what's your hunts? Jerry.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I I don't want to put you on a spot,
but who would be your best bet right now to
be the coach? And it's worth noting Chris Shuley is
the betting favorite in Vegas.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Of course he is, and he's everybody's betting favorite. And
that started, you know, a month or so ago, when
in today's ay and age, Mark, with social media and
all the you know, all the twenty four to seven
news on ESPN and NFL network, you know all these candidates.
There's no there's no surprise Chuck Knowle anymore, you know,
(25:16):
even even going back to Coward, even Mike Tarmlin, those
names weren't circulated then like they are now, and so
quite naturally, he is a betting favorite. And I don't
want to say it's not going to be him because
I don't know that. Mark. I'm I will say this too.
Do not rule out Anthony Weaver. I will tell you that.
(25:38):
And if you ask me, the guy they should hire
is Sean McDermott. But I don't think, I don't. They're
not even going to talk to him, they Mark. It's
surprising to me that nobody is talking to him. And
he said he wanted to steal coach that that that's
and I know some of the jobs have been feeled,
but what only four the ten surprised?
Speaker 2 (25:58):
They did talk to Stefanski, I mean Daniel, I mean
they're they're they're passing up. I don't want to call
him big names because none of them ever wont anything.
But but you know, why don't you talk to those guys?
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Mark? I didn't think Stefanski. I'll tell you a small story.
Uh back in after Bill Kauer stepped down, uh the
big popular rumor, and my friend Tony Grossie, I remember
him calling me. He thought, he thought and the people
in Cleveland thought Bill Cower would be perfect. Bill Cower
will take this job. He played here, he coached there.
(26:31):
Bill Kwer once told me he would never take the
Cleveland job because he coached he because out of respect
to the roone he's in the Steelers, he would never
do that. And so you know, maybe Stefanski wouldn't even
consider that for maybe the same reasons. I'm not going
to sit here and talk about his loyalty to Browns
or especially that nut job of an owner they have,
(26:51):
But maybe that was part of it. Maybe Stefanski thought,
I'm not going to go within the division and coach.
So yes, Kevin Stefanski is a good coach, but that
may have been a part in their decision. And whatnot
to even talk to them.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Is Brian Flores still in the mix?
Speaker 2 (27:09):
He re upped with Minnesota, but he hasn't out if
he's offered a head coaching.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
D Yeah, Mark, because you know, I mean, like McCarthy,
he came in and met with the Steelers. You know, again,
I can't sit here and tell you that he's not,
but you know, his reputation for what happened in Miami
White coach has to hurt him. I just can't imagine.
(27:34):
I don't want to say I can't imagine. I don't
foresee them doing that and wanting to go down that road.
And Mark, to me, if the Steelers didn't bring him
on as a senior defensive assistant in twenty twenty two,
he might still be sitting out there unemployed. But I
think when the Steelers did that, that kind of softened
a lot of people's stance about that we want to
(27:54):
take a chance on this guy. And I think the
Steelers kind of broke the ice with that, and I
think that's how he got back in the league. To
be perfectly honest, I don't know that, but I kind
of suspect that. And so but anyway, he you know,
his reputation for when he was the head coach in
Miami is not good for everything. The way it was
going down and the way it shook out. I just
(28:16):
don't know that that's going to happen. Uh.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
You mentioned, uh Anthony Weaver a moment ago. We just
talked about Brian Flores. How much does the Rooney rule
figure in with with Art wanting to be like his
dad maintain a lot of the things he did, and
it is the Rooney rule.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
I don't think that influences who they hire. Mark. Obviously,
they're following the protocol every team has to. Again, they
will hire, uh, the right guy. And I know two
of the guys that they that they like and are
impressed with are guys who you know are minority candidates,
(28:54):
and that's Shiel House and Anthony Weaver. I mean, Anthony
Weaver is going to be the first play of first
candidate who had a virtual interview and right now the
only one to have a second interview to meet with
the Steelers. So obviously they like the guy, and I
don't think you know usually because you have to meet
with two minority candidates in person, and I know he
(29:16):
would check that box along with Brian Flores. But that
doesn't mean they're just checking that box because if they
talked to Nate Schulhouse, he is a minority candidate as well,
so they would be checking that box beyond the minimum requirements.
But I know those are two guys that they like,
(29:37):
but I don't Again, I don't think the person they
hire is going to be hired just because of the
run girl.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Jerry. How long is this going to go on?
Speaker 2 (29:45):
And I'm not saying it should be rushed, but it
already seems like it's been going on for about six months.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Mark, I expect it to be done by the end
of next week. And I say that because for several reasons.
You know, they did eighty virtual interviews, they've only done
one follow up, and Brian Floyes doesn't count, Mark, because
even though he talked to them, that was more just
kind of they already know Flores. That was more about hey,
when can you come in or you're willing to talk Bob,
But that wasn't a virtual interview, and they've even said
(30:14):
that quietly. So so of those eight guys, though, only
one more has come back in. And I was told
last week that there would be a couple more candidates,
but if there are, I haven't heard them. And maybe
there are, but I haven't heard of any. But to
answer your question, I think it's going to be done
by the end of next week. Mark. And I say
(30:34):
that because the Super Bowl. The NFL does not like
to have announcements during the week of Super Bowl. So
I don't think the Steelers are going to wait till
after the super Bowl, which would be February ninth. I mean,
because now you're losing out on distant coaches, coordinators, things
like that, and so I personally and I don't know
(30:58):
this as a timetable, but I expect it to be
done by the end of next week.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Jerry is always a pleasure. Thank you for the insight,
and we will talk again next week.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
You got it, Mark, always good chatting with him.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
That's the great Jerry Dulax. Check out his work at
Postcazette dot com. He's brought to us by bud Light.
Easy to drink, It, easy to enjoy. Okay, we're gonna
do calls on the forty fives. Because our equipment's been fixed,
we can't take phone calls. We'll do calls on the
forty five, then calls on the fifteen next hour. Or
I can just play some sound bites, or I can
just babble.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
It's up to you.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
But if you want to make it a call segment
call now eight three three four one two wxdx
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