June 5, 2025 • 43 mins
NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo react to today's bombshell headline: Aaron Rodgers will be a Pittsburgh Steeler. The Insiders, along with Steve Wyche, Brian Baldinger, Stacey Dales and Marc Ross provide the details and commentary surrounding Rodgers, the Steelers and what is to come for the 2025 season. Later, the Insiders are joined by Indianapolis Colts DE Kwity Paye.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
The jig is up, the news is out. They finally
found him. Aaron Rodgers is headed to Pittsburgh, and we
have all hands on deck tonight to break down the
future Hall of Famers latest stop and whether it makes
the Steelers a contender. Lamar Jackson still in that division.
He is still a raven Baltimore hopes that's going to
be the case for many years to come. Here from GM,
(00:30):
Eric Tacosta on the state of contract extension talks with
the two time MVP and why Tocosta fields this offense
will be a nightmare to defend Bill ELS's nightmare. Quinnie
pay Who's got a new coordinator, a new scheme, and
now potentially even more uncertainty at quarterback with Anthony richardson
a leen in Indy. Welcome inside with the Insiders alongside
(00:54):
Mike Garafolo. I am Tom Pelisero. Ninety one days out
from the kickoff game into the twenty twenty five NFL season,
just four days until most NFL players are reporting to
their mini camps next week. What better time for the
Steelers to finally find out that, yes, Aaron Rodgers is
(01:15):
really going to down the black end goal. That is
the breaking news that brings us in tonight. As The
Insiders first reported this afternoon, the four time NFL MVP
Aaron Rodgers is scheduled to fly to Pittsburgh. The plan
is for that flight to be on Friday, then sign
and be on the field for next week's mini camp. Now,
(01:35):
they still do need to finalize the contract, but at
long last Mike, after Mike Tomlin had made statements about patients,
our Rooney had made statements about patients, we finally at
least have an answer. Aaron Rodgers will be a Steeler.
Now we find out exactly what that means for Pittsburgh
heading into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
I mean everybody thought it was great news for the Jets,
and then that Achilles injury and some injuries this past year,
along with some other issues for the Jets the last
couple of seasons, not quite what they had in mind.
In the Steelers case, this is more of a buying lower.
It doesn't sound like it's going to be a great
financial commitment. Rodgers has made it clear he didn't need
a huge financial commitment at this point. It was more
(02:16):
about the best pairing for him, and he had suitors.
I mean, he had the Giants who were interested. He
had other teams that were interested. The Vikings never really were,
although he was certainly interested in them. So you've got Pittsburgh,
a team with a head coach that we know he
respects greatly. DK metcalf is there with him. He had
been throwing with him back in what April? Is that
(02:37):
when we reported that that that throwing session late March
early April. So he went through the process. He even
visited and drove himself in a Chevy Mellible. He won't
have to do that now he can actually get a
driver and come in in an suv or how he
wants to arrive at the new facility and get some
time with the team this spring.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yes, the tail end of the spring.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
He didn't get all the reps when it was OTAs
or be there for workouts or whatnot. But he's a
quick study at this point in his career, and the
expectation is that he and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will
vibe and he will be able to get all that
work that he needs during training camp.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Probably not in the preseason.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I can't imagine he'll play who knows, but certainly be
ready for week one to be the starting quarterback of
the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's alluded to it. They alluded to it.
Finally gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Tom and that Week one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers
just so happens to be a MetLife Stadium against the
Jets and their new quarterback, Justin Fields, who Let's remember,
the Steelers examined a lot of quarterback options before they
got Aaron Rodgers. In this offseason, they had an offer
out to Justin Fields. He chose really two years of
security thirty million dollars guaranteed from the Jets to take
(03:46):
over Aaron Rodgers' old job. Now, Rogers steps into the
job that belonged to Fields for six weeks before Russell
Wilson got healthy. Russe Wilson never really factored into the
mix here. He now ends up at the Jets. There's
been a lot of move through the course of this offseason.
The final domino now falling into place, which is Aaron
Rodgers ending up in Pittsburgh. He now sits the top
(04:09):
a depth chart in Pittsburgh where Mason Rudolph fed commented
recently said, Hey, the drama is nothing new to him.
Mason Rudolph back after one year as a backup in
Tennessee scholar Thompson's also there, so is the sixth round
pick Will Howard from the national champion Ohio State Buck Guys.
As we bring in our Steve Whites and Brian Baldinger
(04:30):
to the conversation here, Whites, I'll start with you, because
for the past three years the Steelers have gone twenty
nine to twenty two. They've started five different quarterbacks, including
fields In Wilson last year. Mike Tomlin, here seems we
making a calculated bet that a forty one year old
Aaron Rodgers, if not channeling the Rogers one four hund
off a lo vps, can at least give them top
(04:52):
twenty type quarterback play. But is that even enough for
them to compete in their own division?
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Yeah, I mean that's a huge question because you've got
the Ravens, got the Bengals, who are good both quarterbacks
people would probably argue are better than Aaron Rodgers at
this point, Lamar Jackson and Joey Burrow.
Speaker 5 (05:07):
So this is a situation when you see how this
has developed.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Tom you just talked about how they explored a lot
of other quarterback options.
Speaker 5 (05:13):
But now that they're settling for a forty one year
old quarterback on a one year deal.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
This seems like one big, almost last Hurrah type shot
to win a game in the playoffs, win two games,
even get to the super Bowl.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Right.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
We said the same thing when Rogers went to the Jets.
But you look at the roster with the Steelers. You've
got Cam Hayward, you have Mike Tomlin who's been there
for a long time.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
You've got TJ.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
Watt.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
This is a veteran Layden roster. This is not a
long term plan right now.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
So on signing Rogers, it seems like, let's go for
it right now, and if we don't get it this year,
then we're probably going to completely reset. I may be
wrong with that, but that's exactly how this reads, Baldy.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
And you know, again, both.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Sides, the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers, have acted like for
months this was going to happen. I'm just wondering how
much of that playbook he may have already had in
his mind, as they've kind of sent it to him
before he made it official.
Speaker 8 (06:04):
Well, I mean, Steve, look, this is not the designated hitter.
You don't drop Aaron Judge in the middle of the
Red Sox lineup and they go to the World Series.
Speaker 7 (06:11):
Like we know that.
Speaker 8 (06:13):
But then you go, okay, you're in a compressed period
of time here, all right. You know, success lies in
the details. There was a reason when Aaron went to
the Jets. He wanted you know, Al Lazar, he wanted
Randall copp he got devonby Adams. He needed guys that
understood how he plays the game. He's not going to
get that luxury right now. And you know when he
(06:33):
went to New York, there wasn't a Faniel Hackett.
Speaker 7 (06:35):
It was his offense. You can say, okay, he'll get
on the same page as Arthur Smith, and he will.
Speaker 8 (06:40):
But to Aaron, like his acumen for the game is supreme,
we understand that, but it's only as good as the
guys that can understand it.
Speaker 7 (06:48):
And pick it up.
Speaker 8 (06:48):
If you remember last year when Mike Williams didn't stay
on the red line and the ball got intercepted, Like,
I worry about just how much time he's going to
actually get, and that amount of time for timing purposes,
because this is all about timing anticipation for great quarterbacks.
And then you're at the forty one year old element
(07:10):
where he was limited. And when you get limited, whether
you're Payton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, anybody that could move at
some point during their careers, you move less, you get
rid of the ball, quicker, your yards per attempt, everything drops.
Speaker 7 (07:25):
So he was in a hurry to get rid of
the ball last year.
Speaker 8 (07:27):
It's and then sometimes the Balding go where he wantedn't
to go, and that's what we're used to seeing. So
how much of that we see this year and the
timing that is necessary to go beat Baltimore and beat.
Speaker 7 (07:40):
Cincinnati and beat some of these teams in the.
Speaker 8 (07:42):
Division, I think they're really going to be up against it.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
It's a leap of faith Baldy in a number of ways.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
One, the Steelers are banking on Aaron Rodgers staying healthy
because the Achilles happened, and who knows if the Achille
never happens, what it looks like his entire tenure with
the Jets.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
But then there were injuries last year.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
That affected him greatly, and are they injuries because he's
just at that point of his career in his life
where he's going to suffer these injuries. It's gonna be
impossible for him to play seventeen games and not get
nicked up in some capacity.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
And if he does stay healthy, does he have that
good football left?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
There were flashes of it last year as a matter
of fact, that the Niners game that we're seeing it
was just ugly to start it. There was one drive
at the end we were like, oh, there it is
like it was still there. The Jacksonville game, I believe,
was the other one where we saw it sort of
come together with him and Devanta Adams.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
But it was just so sporadic, and it can't be sporadic.
It's got to be consistent.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
If the Steelers are going to get Aaron Rodgers to
lead them to a place where they can be consistent
and they can be a contender this upcoming season, they're
also not going to go out and make him the
assistant general manager like the Jets were willing to do
and have him bring in all of his friends, which
really didn't work out great either. This is him going
into a locker room where at one point we did
he Cam Hayward say you either want to be a
(09:01):
Steeler or you don't want to be a Steeler, and
then Cam Hayward a couple weeks later was preaching patients.
So I think he does have that respect within the
locker room. But like I said, it's a leap of
faith that you're just gonna plug him in here and
expect that there's gonna be chemistry locker room wide.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Pauly, you wants more tape than anybody, so real quick,
I want to come back to you with something Mike
said there was. Is there enough in there to suggest
he can channel something? If you're thinking the best case
scenario here, this is Brett Favre going to the Vikings
in two thousand and nine. It's kind of otherworldly, but
Brett Ferbick played pretty good football in two thousand and
eight with the Jets. Based on all the tape you've watched,
is there enough in there to believe Aaron Rodgers actually
(09:38):
can get even close to what he wants? Was in
Green Bay?
Speaker 7 (09:42):
Well, he struggled.
Speaker 8 (09:43):
He struggled with games, the Denver game, the Viking game,
the Seattle game where they had a chance to come
down and win the game at the end and he
couldn't make the play. They just score a touchdown against Denver,
They had down on the one yard line, they didn't score,
and so you know, there was a lot of I mean,
there's a lot of contributing actors. All that guy's jumping
all sides. But you know, the snap coown is important
(10:04):
to him. How he is able to manipulate all those
kind of things. Can you know, can the offensive line?
Speaker 7 (10:11):
You know, all those things. I just remember, like this
is like Aaron things.
Speaker 8 (10:15):
But when Tom Brady went to Tampa during the pandemic,
Ryan Jensen was the Senate and he told me, like literally,
Brady gave him a dissertation on how to snap the
ball for thirty minutes every day, wet ball, goal line,
shotgun under center. Like, but that's how Aaron thinks, you know.
Can you get that with Zach Frazier? Can you get
that with Arthur Smith? Can you get that with you know,
(10:37):
with the personnel that he has right now? He needs
that to be able to play at the elite level
that we're accustomed to him seeing he fell short at
times last year.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Tom Aaron Rodgers now moving up on a pretty exclusive
list that also includes Tom Brady in terms of the
oldest quarterbacks that we've seen go to a new team.
Steve de Berg Warren Moon, they're up there, any Testaverdi
that was a late career couple of games with the
Carolina Panthers. Here when George Blando's on a list that
(11:07):
Eric Rodgers is about to join, that should put in
pretty good perspective exactly how old Aaron is. Let's bring
in somebody right now who has covered Aaron Rodgers throughout
his career, Stacey Dales. Before we get to Aaron, Stacy
and his welcome to Pittsburgh, I want to say welcome
back to you.
Speaker 9 (11:26):
Thank you, Tom.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
It's great to be with you.
Speaker 9 (11:27):
Wouldn't you know that Aaron Rodgers news what happened on
the day I come back five weeks after my surgery
and I have a great tattoo on the neck to
show for it. But it's actually you know, I love
the discussion you guys just had on this decision by
the Pittsburgh Steelers. One thing I know about Aaron Rodgers
Tom is the environment is very important to him. The
(11:49):
culture is very important to him. Why do I share this?
This is really the best case scenario. We've all been
kind of waiting on it for weeks and months now
to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers and kind of get
that shot. Can he take him to the Promised Land
on this one year deal? But I can vividly remember
sitting in London last season in production meetings with Aaron Rodgers,
(12:10):
his teammates Robert Sola, and there was sort of an
ominous feeling. This is back in October, right, we know
how the season ended.
Speaker 10 (12:17):
It was not good.
Speaker 9 (12:18):
And I say ominous because it was dysfunctional with the
New York Jets.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
I think I got a piece of that.
Speaker 9 (12:27):
I felt it. Two days later Robert Sala was fired
and we know how the season transpired. That was not
the situation Aaron Rodgers envisioned after, especially his first season
with the Achilles injury. And now I think about Russell
Wilson and I sat in a production meeting with him
in December ahead of our Christmas game tom and the
(12:48):
first thing he talked about was the conversation he had
with Mike Tomlin. The very first call that he shared
from the Pittsburgh Steelers was Mike Tomlin. And he said
that after he spoke to Tomlin and he heard about
his vision how he sees the game, he said it
was a dream come true to go play for Mike
Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He said he was having fun.
This is in late December, having fun playing football again. Obviously,
(13:12):
they go to the playoffs, didn't work out, wild Card
Round one and done. But we saw the tail end
of that season sort of go downward for Russell Wilson,
and yet his fun and joy in the game was restored.
I think this environment for Aaron Rodgers in this blue
collar Steeler city is going to be fantastic.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
You may question, yeah, maybe he.
Speaker 9 (13:34):
Is hitting father time or he's staring down father time,
and he is. He talked about that last year. He
is still sharp mentally in the game. I think it
goes back to what Baldy talked about the system and
Arthur Smith in this West Coast offense, which.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
He knows very well, will be vital for him to.
Speaker 9 (13:49):
Find that consistency within this offense and understand that system
is going to be paramount for him because I think
the mind is still there. I think he still got
football in him and he's got a lot to prove
as he sets embarks upon his next.
Speaker 10 (14:03):
Year forty one years old with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
New today, this is not a drill. Aaron Rodgers set
to fly to Pittsburgh on Friday officially sign with these
Steelers and participate in next week's mandatory mini camp. They
still do need to finalize what is expected to be
a one year contract. Rogers has already said he would
play for ten million, joining a Steelers team that has
(14:30):
won games in the past few years, but with a
whole lot of different quarterbacks. Same thing can be said
for the Colts, who have had quite the quarterback carousel
since Andrew Luck retired. And now this Anthony Richardson Senior,
who has dealt with a lot of injuries in his
young career, once again dealing with one. It is a
shoulder injury for him. Here's what Shane Steichen had to say.
Speaker 11 (14:54):
Last week in practice, Anthony sustained an injury in his
throwing shoulder. Felt some pain in it, Doctors, trainers checked
it out. He's got some aggravation in his AC joint.
So we're gonna set him out this week. Obviously, he'll
sit out for mini camp. We'll see when he comes back.
Not gonna put a timetable for training camp on it,
(15:17):
but when he does come back, we'll ease him into
throwing and then we'll go from there. The good thing
is he's not gonna need a procedure right now.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Mike, My understanding is this is not a major injury
for Anthony Richardson. But how many times have we sat
here and talked about this since the Colts drafter Richardson
number four overall a couple of years ago. Here's a
guy who hasn't played much football, he had some injuries,
only had thirteen college starts. He needs every rep he
can get. Now, in the midst of a quarterback competition
with Daniel Jones, once again, he's missing some reps that
(15:48):
are probably gonna help shape the opinion and coach his
heads as we head into the break before training.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Camp, and it gives Daniel Jones more reps for him
to take with the Ones and more of an opportunity
to get accustomed to a new team and a new system.
We knew this was going to be one where Daniel
Jones was going to make Anthony Richardson work for it,
for sure, and now that work gets set back a
little bit. I also, frankly, until I heard it, just
(16:12):
now you know he's not going to need a procedure
as of now or whatever. That little disclaimer was on
the back end for Shane Snyken, which means it's not
completely ruled out for Anthony Richardson.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
So this is.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Something where when he comes back to training camp, it's
not going to be like snap your fingers necessarily and
he's back and he's hitting the ground running. If that
happens and he gives Daniel Jones some runway into training camp,
I mean, we've seen Daniel Jones the mistakes during the
game at times, but at practice with the Giants throughout
his career, we always heard some really good things there.
I could see Daniel Jones really getting an insurmountable lead
(16:45):
if that happens in training camp.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So we'll keep an eye on it as we get
closer to that.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
No such quarterback competitions in Baltimore. They got a guy
named Lamar Jackson. He's won a couple of NFL MVPs.
They made him the highest paid player in the NFL
a couple of years ago. Well that has since changed.
He does have years left on his contract, but according
to GM Eric DaCosta, they're at least approaching an extension.
Speaker 12 (17:10):
Well, we've had some conversations before the draft, after the
draft in person last week. I think we're in the
introductory sort of stage of looking at what an extension
might look like. We've got a lot of business that
we're conducting with different players, and we're in a situation
where we're blessed to have most of the team coming back,
(17:31):
but as we look out over the next two, three, four,
five years, we're trying to keep as many good players
as we can.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Mar Jackson do forty three point five million this season.
He has signed through twenty twenty seven, but you can
see where in the couple of years since he signed
that contract, which got done right before the NFL Draft
in twenty twenty three, a lot of other quarterback contracts
have surpassed Mike. It would make sense, even though don't
often see players. I don't know what you're looking at.
(18:03):
You you can explain it, though with three years left in
your contract, you don't normally do these. We've seen other
quarterbacks get those deals early. Would make sense for the
Ravens maybe to get into this market swoner than later.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I was counting Super Bowl rings that on that list
right there, because I know that the viewers at home
were doing the same thing.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
So that's what I This is not how it works though.
You know, a lot of time, there's a lot of
we have there.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
We see that graphic one more time.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Yeah, yeah, let me let me talk about it. We'll
bring it back.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Well, let me let me talk about this here because
is Lamar Jackson. A lot of times these third quarterback
deals can be easier to do because the guy's already
made a ton of money. You just kind of moved
some money up a little bit. The Josh Allen won
there was very little uh pulling on that one. And
as a quarterback, you want to make sure that your
team still has that flexibility.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
So if I already made two hundred million, we'll give it.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Not necessarily with Dak Prescott, who's at the top of
that list, by the way, but with Lamar Jackson, there's
no blueprint because he still has no agent. I go
back to Kent bab with The Washington Post wrote a
story about Lamar Jackson. He had a quote from Eric
DaCosta saying he was watching I think a Celtics game
and he gets a text and he's like, and his
son says, what's that text?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
He goes, I think we just.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Signed Lamar Jackson. Like the whole thing was weird, So
you just don't know necessarily how it's.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Going to play out. I think it's going to take
some time.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Go ahead, count them up, Tom.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero.
Now you've got some MVPs up there. You've certainly got
a lot of championship game appearances for a number of
those quarterbacks not pictured the raining Super Bowl MVP Jalen
Hurts not on that list. You know, did get paid today?
(19:42):
Different Ravens player Rashan Bateman for the second consecutive offseason. No,
this is not a repeat of a show from a
year ago. The Ravens once again signing him to an
extension is three years, thirty six point seventy five million
with twenty million dollars guarantee. Makes sense. Bateman was only
due like four million dollars this season showed he could
be a big play threat as part of a Ravens offense.
(20:03):
The Tacasta likes a lot.
Speaker 12 (20:06):
In our situation with our personnel, We're gonna have two
tight ends on the field quite a bit, and we're
gonna have Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely on the field
with Bateman and with Wise and at times with Hopkins
and so I think we've assembled a group of guys
that can make plays in different ways. We have a
lot of different personnel groupings that we can use, versatility
for our coaching staff, not to mention the fact that
(20:27):
we can run the ball with three or four different
running backs, including our quarterback who can also run the ball.
So I think we're gonna be a nightmare for teams
to defend against this year. I think our offensive line
is going to continue to improve and grow. We've got
some younger guys and I think they're going to.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
Make a jump.
Speaker 12 (20:41):
So I'm very, very excited about the offense this year,
and I think we're gonna be a nightmare for different teams.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
There is no question that they have amassed some stars
on that offense. The big name likes of Derek Henry
is coming off a monster season. They extended him. The
Andre Hopkins also now part of the mix, along with Bateman,
Zay Flowers, and Mark Andrews, as well as welcome back
Brian Baldinger to the conversation. Welcome in Mark Ross for
the first time. Mark here. Eric ta Costa say, a
(21:09):
nightmare for defense is hell? How much of a bad
dream do you envision this feat?
Speaker 13 (21:16):
Well, I guess Eric's has been watching his team over
the last couple of years because they've been a nightmare
over the last couple of years, and really since Lamar
Jackson has taken control.
Speaker 10 (21:24):
As long as he's behind center, they are going to
be a nightmare. And they're a nightmare.
Speaker 13 (21:28):
He mentioned the versatility, but the versatility brings about various
ways that the Baltimore Ravens offense can crush you. And
that's either with just execution and grinding you out with
the running game and short passing game, but they're always
just one explosive play away as well. And it's not
just Lamar with the explosive plays. It's King Henry, It's
(21:48):
d Hop, it's Isaiah Likely who he mentioned. Oh yeah,
Zay Flowers is going to be a year better. Bateman
always gets in the mix with huge plays.
Speaker 14 (21:55):
But they got a.
Speaker 13 (21:56):
Healthy eaton Mitchell coming back as well when he was
a rookie.
Speaker 10 (22:00):
Show that explosive ability.
Speaker 13 (22:01):
So that's the problem with this Ravens offense is that
they've been good for years and they keep getting better
with more comfortable that they'll be and Baldy also, I
think the defense is going to be a lot better
with those two rookies in there, which is going to
give the offense even more opportunities to be explosive.
Speaker 8 (22:17):
Eric only said, honestly, whatevery defensive coordinator says every week
when they look at the tape. I mean, Lamar somehow
is still the sending player going into his eighth year,
and the combination of him and Todd Munkin is as
good as any quarterback offensive coordinator Play Fauller, and there's
only he just had one of the great.
Speaker 7 (22:36):
Quarterback seasons of all time.
Speaker 8 (22:38):
He led the league, you know, I mean forty one
touchdowns and runs for nine hundred yards and has the highest,
you know, quarterback rating in the league, and leads the
league in yards per attempt and oh, by the way,
there is no defense that can contain them or stop them.
I mean, he's just that good right now. The tight
ends caught seventeen touchdown passes. Mark like, you know, put
(22:59):
that up against anybody in any tight end group in
the league. Aaron said, They're gonna be on the field
a lot, and then you.
Speaker 7 (23:04):
Can handle the ball off.
Speaker 8 (23:05):
First play against Buffalo King, Henry goes eighty seven yards,
against the Bills in the regular season. The only thing
that they have to do is what we'll talk about
all year, is they got to do it in the postseason.
Twenty five points against Buffalo, came up short, dropped past
at the end of the game to a chance to
win it. I mean, they's got to do it in
the postseason. But in the regular season, they're still going
(23:27):
to put up monster numbers, a lot of points.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
They're going to win a lot of games. They're very,
very good.
Speaker 8 (23:33):
And oh, by the way, they added some depth to
the offensive line in case anybody gets hurts. But that
rookie right tackle last year, Rose Garden really nailed down
that position. They got that position right. But the Ravens
usually do get the offensive line right.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Paudy, I knew you'd bring it back to offensive line somehow.
Stick around you too, Markus. Coming up after this, we're
getting back to our big news in that same division.
Aaron Rodgers is heading to Pittsburgh. Can he make him contender?
We'll discuss it on the Insiders make up our top
(24:11):
story today. Yes, it is really happening. Aaron Rodgers set
to fly to Pittsburgh in time to sign and participate
in next week's mandatory mini camp, now joining his third
NFL team, an illustrious run for NFL MVPs with the
Packers two let's just call it favorably forgettable years with
(24:32):
the Jets, and now headed to a Steelers team. Mark
that doesn't necessarily need this to be prime Aaron Rodgers.
But at age forty one going to the year twenty one,
does adding Aaron Rodgers make the Steelers better?
Speaker 13 (24:48):
You know, Tom, I don't think it makes them better
than what they were last year.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
I think they were better.
Speaker 13 (24:51):
Off with Russell Wilson or Justin Fields than Aaron Rodgers.
And one thing, we can wax poetic about what Aaron
Rodgers used to be, but in scouting twenty plus years,
Tom father time is undefeated. When you get old, it's bad.
When you get hurt. It's bad when.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
You're old and hurt.
Speaker 10 (25:06):
Aaron Rodgers has been. It's impossible.
Speaker 13 (25:08):
And we can point to a play here or play there,
or a drive here and a drive there about Aaron Rodgers,
But at this point in his career time he just
cannot consistently perform at a high level to give a
chance to go against the Lamar Jackson's and the Josh
Allens and the Patrick Mahomes and the Justin Herberts and
the Joe Burrows of the world that he's going to
have to face and Pittsburgh is going to have to face.
(25:30):
Everything has to be so perfect and precise, precise for
him to make plays. And the magic that he once
had which made him special, he just can't do that anymore.
So you take away that magic and now you have
to be so precise with everything. It's just impossible to
win in that sort of way. And I think everyone
keeps talking about the old Pittsburgh Steelers, but don't forget
(25:52):
that second half the last eight games of the season,
that Pittsburgh defense was in the bottom third of the league.
Speaker 10 (25:58):
They couldn't stop anybody.
Speaker 13 (26:00):
Is you got an older Pittsburgh defense, they couldn't stop anybody.
Now you're putting it Aaron Rodgers on offense, who can't
perform at a consistent level. I think this team just
has a lot of flaws and Aaron Rodgers really is
not the answer to it. It's more about keeping Mike
Tomlins Went one Lost Street alive and not true super
Bowl contenders in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Mark, thank you very much, We've got some drama this
week in Aaron Rodgers Old Division in the NFC North.
The Lions, who've had so much attrition on their coaching staff,
they've had some personnel changes now losing their all pro
center Frank Ragnow, who retired on Monday officially after seven
NFL seasons, and emotional Dan Campbell addressed that today.
Speaker 6 (26:45):
You know, one of the greatest memories I have a
Frank was a divisional against Tampa Bay. Fourth and one.
We run downhill to Craig Reynolds man and he's got
big boy and he hits him and he kind of
hits a knee and then he has to get back
up and tip up the block.
Speaker 14 (27:03):
We score.
Speaker 6 (27:04):
Now it was huge. You know.
Speaker 10 (27:06):
This type of player he was. So I'll be missed.
But man, this train goes on, train rolls.
Speaker 14 (27:15):
On and.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
And it's the next man up, and so we will
be ready to go when camp hits.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Grek right now. Just one of many reasons that the
Lions had one of the best offenses in the NFL
last season. Number one end points per game, second or
tied for second, and a bunch of other key categories,
but not just they're all pro center but their offensive
coordinator Ben Johnson, of course now the head coach of
the Chicago Bears, and welcome Stacy Dale's back to the
(27:46):
conversation here. That is a lot stacy for one team
to overcome. What do you envision here is Detroit's way
for making up for some of those things that are
no longer a part of the magic in Motown.
Speaker 9 (28:00):
Great tea up Tom, and a lot of coaching changes.
One thing I feel really good about is their offensive
line and run game coordinator coach Hank Freeley. They're in
good hands with him. This is one of the best
units in the league. He's a big part of it.
But this is a massive loss. I cannot understate how
big this loss is. Frank Ragnow, who's drafted in twenty eighteen,
came into Detroit as a guard. Actually in twenty nineteen.
(28:21):
They moved him to center. Every year since that point,
he has been a PFF top five center in the
National Football League. Last season the third best in the
National Football League and it was also the third best
run blocker. And he's one of my favorite interviews. He's
one of the smartest players I've ever covered. Tom over
my now seventeenth season in the NFL, So this is
(28:43):
going to be a huge.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Void to Phil.
Speaker 9 (28:45):
Johnny Morton is the new offensive coordinator. It'll be very
interesting to see how this offense changes. But I'm really
curious who they're going to plug in there. Graham Glasgow,
who is a veteran in this league, could move over
from guard. He's spent some time at center. But I'm
really circling Ratledge out of Georgia. Obviously, the fifty seventh
overall pick, one of my favorite players coming in this
(29:06):
year in the draft. I anticipate maybe he'll develop into
that center role, but we'll see play guard at Georgia.
But he has a lot of dog in him, not
just the Georgia Bulldogs. He is a dog when it
comes to football. He might be an interesting fit, super
smart player. But we'll see what Johnny Morton does and
how much they change with this offense. Hopefully not too
much because they had some good things going there. I
(29:28):
know Ben Johnson was in town, but Jared Goff, they're
going to have to put a lot on his shoulders
as they move forward.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
There's no question, Stacy. Thank you very much, Mike, you
got it.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
Yeah, Tampa Bay Buckety welcome back, Stacy Dall's.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
By the way, I got a chance to say it,
welcome back.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
So glad to have you back.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
So glad that Baldy at camps at OTA's he's in Tampa.
He wasn't Tampa today to check out the folks down there,
including Mecca a Book of the rookie wide receiver who
is catching b after practice. But you would know that
he's got that kind of dedication because we talked to
him last night in the Insiders. You could see the
way this dudekatries himself as a veteran, not as a rookie.
(30:09):
What did you see from Mecca a Book and the
other young guys there in Tampa?
Speaker 7 (30:12):
Yeah, yeah, Mike.
Speaker 8 (30:13):
You know the other guy there was Benjamin Morrison, you know,
their second round pick that they're counting on, and both
of them, you know, a high cerebral content thrump there
understand the game.
Speaker 7 (30:23):
But there's a good practice out there today, Mike.
Speaker 8 (30:26):
It was ninety plus degrees and the Florida heat out
there was two and a half hours. It was highly
competitive back and forth. You're looking at the offensive line
right here and Kevin Carber and the offensive line coach
and they're going to return.
Speaker 7 (30:38):
All five starters from a year ago.
Speaker 8 (30:40):
There's not I haven't done the research yet, Mike, but
I don't know how many teams are going to be
able to do that. Ben Brigson, Tristan Wurz, Graham Barton
is the rookie last year, Cody Bok. I mean, it's
a good group and Baker had a nice day out there,
but I think the rookies stood out. And then the
competition back and forth was all the way down to
(31:01):
the final drill where the offense got two plays to
score in the red zone and just watching Baker hit
Amika Book. I talked to him about the play when
he scored against the defense, and he like, just the
understanding of what the defense is doing, a little delay
off the line of scrimmage to be able to get
into the end zone and to get open some things
(31:21):
that you might not pick up on if you're watching
the game, you're studying the game, a little bit of
delay off the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 7 (31:28):
It was really really impressive.
Speaker 8 (31:29):
And then I think overall, you know, you got to
look at what Josh Bizzer is going to do here offensively,
because I think they're still going to stay heavy with
the run. We saw Bucky Irvin having an unbelievable second
half of the season to go with Rashad White, So
I think that part of it is really going to
still be emphasized, getting after it with the run game
(31:50):
right now, and then adding those pieces in the secondary,
which really in that last playoff lost to Washington, you know,
it really came up when they were at the bottom
of the depth chart with guys they were putting out
there trying to cover those Commander receivers.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
YEP.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
One of these days, we'll also appreciate the job that
Todd Bowles has been doing down there as the head
coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Another chance to win
a division there this year with a talented roster.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Brian Boudier, thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Dancing in the bottom.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
And bring it down.
Speaker 8 (32:27):
It's Quitty Pay and Riddy Forrest Buckner, and that's how
the game's gonna end.
Speaker 7 (32:32):
Two seconds, one second.
Speaker 5 (32:34):
Ball game in New York and the Colts win by
a point.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
You know, timing really is everything. What do you know,
Tom Pilaicerio, Steve Wetch on the insiders, We've got Quitty
Pay on the show on a day that the guy
you just saw him sacking right there has informed the
Steelers that's gonna be playing in Pittsburgh. Quitny, thanks a
lot for being here, man. We got a lot to
talk about with you. Let's start right there. You got
a Rodgers twice last year at age forty. Now you
(33:03):
know you're going to get the Chase frou on forty
one year old Aaron Rodgers this season.
Speaker 15 (33:06):
Your thought, yes, sir, you know it'll be it'll be
fun to play him again. You know, I chain with
him in the offseason and he's a great guy, so,
you know, great competing against him.
Speaker 5 (33:16):
So quitting a highlight.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
We saw you won that game because Anthony Richardson made
some big plays. But we also got the news today
that Anthony's got a shoulder issue and could be out indefinitely.
Speaker 5 (33:26):
What are your thoughts just about.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
That development, you know, and where things are going with
your quarterback situation and maybe his future.
Speaker 14 (33:34):
Yeah, no, I think he'll be good.
Speaker 15 (33:35):
You know, we're just in Ota, so rather play it
safe than you know, injury even more. But you know
he's gonna be ready to go when the season starts.
You know, we play in September. We don't play in
June and July. So excited for Anthony this season and
we have, you know, a great competition with Daniel Jones,
you know, just raise his level and any way that
(33:56):
Daniel can.
Speaker 14 (33:57):
You know, so yeah, I think I think it'll be great.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
Tell me a little bit more about that competition. You've
been around Anthony for a couple of years now. Now
you've got Daniel Jones in. I know you guys aren't
in pads yet. It's OTAs. What are you seeing from
Daniel Jones so far? And how do you envision this
thing playing out?
Speaker 14 (34:16):
You can just see like his true vet presence.
Speaker 15 (34:18):
You know, he's been in the league for a long time,
He's played some great ball and you know, just you know,
just him out there, he can be a starter on
any team really, So you know that just him being
out there, you know, competing with Anthony, it'll bring you know,
that level of competition in the QB room just just
to a different level this year.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
All right, let's get to your side of the ball.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
The Colts hired lou Anna Rumo coming up from Cincinnati,
is his new defensive coordinator. We know he plays schematically
the same type of front that you have been playing.
But what has he done that you've seen that can
really help everybody elevate things?
Speaker 14 (34:52):
Yeah, you know it's a little different.
Speaker 15 (34:54):
You know, I'm gonna be standing up a little bit
more two point stances, but you know, just just how
smarty as you know, just seeing what he's talking about,
come to fruition with the players, you know, just listening
to what he has to say. And you know, if
you just do that, you'll get picks, You'll get the
opportunity to get sacks, you get the opportunity to just
change games. So, you know, just having him in our
(35:17):
room just you know, just teaching us different schemes and
you know, just teaching us what the offense wants to
do and how we're going to trap them. It's just
it's just amazing to see and we're just excited to
play in this defense.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
I'm sure you also know, Quiddy that the NFL's leading
sac man last year, Trey Hendrickson was playing for lou
in Cincinnati. You've seen all these other pass rushers getting
paid around the league. Miles, Garrett, backs Crosby, You're in
year five here, what's kind of going through your head
about the opportunity you have in front of you here
in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 15 (35:50):
You know, extremely excited to go out and compete with
these boys. Man, Like, we got some big pickups in
the back end just to help the you know, the
front end and help the D line. And you know,
when lou first came in and we were seeing a
lot of like three man rush, You're like, man, I
don't know about that. But then you know, you're just
seeing Trey get the sacks, seeing see them get sacks.
You know, just seeing how the guys get precious you know,
(36:10):
it's just it just helps us want to trust the
process of you know, just being a better defense and
you know, just attacking.
Speaker 14 (36:17):
And for me, you know, I'm just trying to play ball.
I'm just trying to play my best ball this year,
and you know, just help this team anyway I can.
Speaker 5 (36:24):
On that note, you guys globally, let's talk globally. You
guys playing Berlin this year?
Speaker 14 (36:28):
Right, yes, sir?
Speaker 5 (36:30):
Okay, what are your.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
Thoughts about going, you know, making the debut you know,
in Berlin and showcasing what you guys can do there.
Speaker 14 (36:39):
I think it would be fun.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
Man.
Speaker 15 (36:40):
You know, we played in Frankfurt last year and just
seeing the crowd last year, it was crazy. You know,
they packed that stadium out, you know, just having a
different kind of atmosphere, a different kind of energy. You know,
you can really feel it like they're true sports fans
out there, true football fans, and you know we're we're
extreme excited to go out there and ball out.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I know Jim Mersey was also excited to be having
his team be the first one to go to Berlin.
You've been around him for the past four years, tragically
passing away a few weeks ago at age sixty five.
Just tell me your memories of Jim and what it's
going to mean to you to have that jersey patch
on you this season.
Speaker 14 (37:19):
Yeah, man, I think it's just going to mean a
lot for us.
Speaker 15 (37:21):
You know, after every win, after every loss, he was
in that locker room and he would give us a
little bit something after every game, you know, and you know,
he was just a big personality that I just loved
his coats, and he was behind his guys and he
did anything that he could to you know, make sure
we had we had everything that we needed to win
and succeed.
Speaker 14 (37:40):
So, man, we were all extremely sad when he.
Speaker 15 (37:44):
Passed, and you know we're praying for the family, praying
for theirs a family, and you know, we'll dedicate this
whole season to him. And you know every game that
we just go out there will be fighting for him
and you know, just trying to, you know, just just
play for Jim.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
It's great words, man. So best of luck to Seaton,
big one for the Colts, big one for Quitty pay.
We really appreciate you being here.
Speaker 14 (38:07):
Dude, Appreciate you guys.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
What do you know more Aaron Rodgers after this four snaps,
after that carry the American flag thing, he was hurt,
Steelers hope for better results.
Speaker 16 (38:20):
We'll bring it into it after this On the Insids.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Our top story tonight, Aaron Rodgers set ahead to Pittsburgh
and sign in advance of next week's mandatory mini camp,
become the Steelers' new quarterback. You know, the number that
he used to wear in Green Bay was number twelve.
Nobody's worn that Pittsburgh since Terry Bradshaw.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
What do you think, Terry, that's a joke.
Speaker 7 (38:51):
He said, that is just to me, is a joke.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
What are you going to bring him in for one year?
Are you kidding me.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
I mean that's not the Steelers, why you're at and
that guy needs to stay in California and go thank you,
we're in thank you, she.
Speaker 4 (39:04):
Row and bark and and risk it to the gods
out there.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
All right, A simple no would have sufficed. Welcome back
to the Insiders, Tom PILLI Sera, Mike garra Fullo, Steve
White and Brian Baldinger and Baldytven Where to start coming off?
That sound? It gets better and better? Your thoughts, well, I.
Speaker 8 (39:24):
Mean Bratshall's always going to call it like he sees it.
I mean, that's just gonna be terrorists. That's good.
Speaker 12 (39:29):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (39:29):
You know, look, you know Aaron went to New York.
Speaker 8 (39:32):
And there was no name of you know, the best
quarterback they ever had, Number Twelvey Ward, number eight.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
The number is going to be fine.
Speaker 8 (39:38):
I just am concerned about how quickly this can legitimately
come together. DK metcalf is dwe Robert Woods is due.
Roman Wilson didn't play last year. Caleb Johnson's a rookie
running back. Kennthy Gamewells new to the running back room.
They've got two new tackles. Font Tonoho played one game
last year. Robert Jones goes left. There's so many new
(39:58):
pieces here and they're just asking Aaron Rodgers to get
it all fixed. It's a lot to ask with no
offseason to really help put this together.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
Oh body, I'm glad you talking about timing no offseason right,
some of the limited offseason, because when people look at
the schedule, they see that they they open against the Jets,
Rogers's former team, they played the Packers' former team.
Speaker 5 (40:18):
I look at the fact they've got.
Speaker 4 (40:19):
The early buy, they've got the week five by for
a forty one year old quarterback to come off that
buy and play thirteen consecutive games, and then look at
their final six games, that is a murderer's row starting
with Buffalo. That is a real intriguing element to all
of this scene. How they finished the season and they've
(40:39):
got to play thirteen straight off of that early buy.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
The other thought I had today, and we've talked so
much about Rodgers, how about Kirk Cousins in this Because
Kirk Cousins is looking for a landing spot right throughout
this whole process. I don't think he was high on
the Steelers list of possibility, but he's on there.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Somewhere like if Rodgers had told them.
Speaker 3 (40:57):
You know what, I'm out right, they'd have to go
scram and figure something out. Cousins really didn't have a
clear landing spot at this point. I did show up
for offseason workouts early in the off season to kind
of indicate that almost he'd be calling the Falcons bluff
like you want me as your backup, I'll do it.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
I swear I'll do it.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
And the longer this goes, the more I can just
hold in that no trade clause there.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
That seems to be the most likely scenario at this point.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
So Michael Pennick's going into the season with Cousin looking
over his shoulder, although there could be an injury at
any point. That's a trickle down, offshoot effect of this
whole thing.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Today, Aaron Rodgers set to be at Steelers mini camp,
Kirk Cousins has Falcons Mini caamp next week, knowing Kirk
he'll probably show up. Doesn't want to go up that
one hundred thousand dollars in fines, But to Mike's point,
seems to be tracking more and more toward Kirk and
end up staying in Atlanta. Still a lot more to come,
here on The Insiders tonight and a lot to come
(41:51):
tomorrow morning on Good Morning Football, where for the second
consecutive day and the first time in show history, it
is an all female cast. Tune in tomorrow morning eight
to ten am Eastern Time on NFL Network. The wait
is over. Aaron Rodgers sent to fly to Pittsburgh in
time to pass his fiscal, finalize this contract, sign and
(42:13):
be on the field for next week's mandatory mini camp.
Welcome back to The Insiders, Tom Pilisero, Mike Gira follow
If nothing else, Mike, this at least turns the conversation
for us on this show for like the next five weeks,
from will ere won't he? To what's going to happen next?
Speaker 3 (42:31):
Yes, I'm looking at airfares to Pittsburgh because we'll be
there covering Steelers mini cams. You want to keep it
locked here on The Insiders and NFL Network. Can I
stay with anybody? Let me know if you're in Pittsburgh,
give me a shot. I got some friends there.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
I'm sure Aaron's also looking. So maybe you guys could find,
you know, play together, just Tevy Mallue. Maybe either a
lot for the next several months here, just split that rent.
We're back tomorrow. I know that much. See you then,
The jig is up, the news is out. They finally
found him. Aaron Rodgers is headed to Pittsburgh, and we
have all hands on deck tonight to break down the
future Hall of Famers latest stop and whether it makes
the Steelers a contender. Lamar Jackson still in that division.
He is still a raven Baltimore hopes that's going to
be the case for many years to come. Here from GM,
(00:30):
Eric Tacosta on the state of contract extension talks with
the two time MVP and why Tocosta fields this offense
will be a nightmare to defend Bill ELS's nightmare. Quinnie
pay Who's got a new coordinator, a new scheme, and
now potentially even more uncertainty at quarterback with Anthony richardson
a leen in Indy. Welcome inside with the Insiders alongside
(00:54):
Mike Garafolo. I am Tom Pelisero. Ninety one days out
from the kickoff game into the twenty twenty five NFL season,
just four days until most NFL players are reporting to
their mini camps next week. What better time for the
Steelers to finally find out that, yes, Aaron Rodgers is
(01:15):
really going to down the black end goal. That is
the breaking news that brings us in tonight. As The
Insiders first reported this afternoon, the four time NFL MVP
Aaron Rodgers is scheduled to fly to Pittsburgh. The plan
is for that flight to be on Friday, then sign
and be on the field for next week's mini camp. Now,
(01:35):
they still do need to finalize the contract, but at
long last Mike, after Mike Tomlin had made statements about patients,
our Rooney had made statements about patients, we finally at
least have an answer. Aaron Rodgers will be a Steeler.
Now we find out exactly what that means for Pittsburgh
heading into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
I mean everybody thought it was great news for the Jets,
and then that Achilles injury and some injuries this past year,
along with some other issues for the Jets the last
couple of seasons, not quite what they had in mind.
In the Steelers case, this is more of a buying lower.
It doesn't sound like it's going to be a great
financial commitment. Rodgers has made it clear he didn't need
a huge financial commitment at this point. It was more
(02:16):
about the best pairing for him, and he had suitors.
I mean, he had the Giants who were interested. He
had other teams that were interested. The Vikings never really were,
although he was certainly interested in them. So you've got Pittsburgh,
a team with a head coach that we know he
respects greatly. DK metcalf is there with him. He had
been throwing with him back in what April? Is that
(02:37):
when we reported that that that throwing session late March
early April. So he went through the process. He even
visited and drove himself in a Chevy Mellible. He won't
have to do that now he can actually get a
driver and come in in an suv or how he
wants to arrive at the new facility and get some
time with the team this spring.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yes, the tail end of the spring.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
He didn't get all the reps when it was OTAs
or be there for workouts or whatnot. But he's a
quick study at this point in his career, and the
expectation is that he and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will
vibe and he will be able to get all that
work that he needs during training camp.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Probably not in the preseason.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I can't imagine he'll play who knows, but certainly be
ready for week one to be the starting quarterback of
the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's alluded to it. They alluded to it.
Finally gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Tom and that Week one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers
just so happens to be a MetLife Stadium against the
Jets and their new quarterback, Justin Fields, who Let's remember,
the Steelers examined a lot of quarterback options before they
got Aaron Rodgers. In this offseason, they had an offer
out to Justin Fields. He chose really two years of
security thirty million dollars guaranteed from the Jets to take
(03:46):
over Aaron Rodgers' old job. Now, Rogers steps into the
job that belonged to Fields for six weeks before Russell
Wilson got healthy. Russe Wilson never really factored into the
mix here. He now ends up at the Jets. There's
been a lot of move through the course of this offseason.
The final domino now falling into place, which is Aaron
Rodgers ending up in Pittsburgh. He now sits the top
(04:09):
a depth chart in Pittsburgh where Mason Rudolph fed commented
recently said, Hey, the drama is nothing new to him.
Mason Rudolph back after one year as a backup in
Tennessee scholar Thompson's also there, so is the sixth round
pick Will Howard from the national champion Ohio State Buck Guys.
As we bring in our Steve Whites and Brian Baldinger
(04:30):
to the conversation here, Whites, I'll start with you, because
for the past three years the Steelers have gone twenty
nine to twenty two. They've started five different quarterbacks, including
fields In Wilson last year. Mike Tomlin, here seems we
making a calculated bet that a forty one year old
Aaron Rodgers, if not channeling the Rogers one four hund
off a lo vps, can at least give them top
(04:52):
twenty type quarterback play. But is that even enough for
them to compete in their own division?
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Yeah, I mean that's a huge question because you've got
the Ravens, got the Bengals, who are good both quarterbacks
people would probably argue are better than Aaron Rodgers at
this point, Lamar Jackson and Joey Burrow.
Speaker 5 (05:07):
So this is a situation when you see how this
has developed.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Tom you just talked about how they explored a lot
of other quarterback options.
Speaker 5 (05:13):
But now that they're settling for a forty one year
old quarterback on a one year deal.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
This seems like one big, almost last Hurrah type shot
to win a game in the playoffs, win two games,
even get to the super Bowl.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Right.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
We said the same thing when Rogers went to the Jets.
But you look at the roster with the Steelers. You've
got Cam Hayward, you have Mike Tomlin who's been there
for a long time.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
You've got TJ.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
Watt.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
This is a veteran Layden roster. This is not a
long term plan right now.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
So on signing Rogers, it seems like, let's go for
it right now, and if we don't get it this year,
then we're probably going to completely reset. I may be
wrong with that, but that's exactly how this reads, Baldy.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
And you know, again, both.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Sides, the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers, have acted like for
months this was going to happen. I'm just wondering how
much of that playbook he may have already had in
his mind, as they've kind of sent it to him
before he made it official.
Speaker 8 (06:04):
Well, I mean, Steve, look, this is not the designated hitter.
You don't drop Aaron Judge in the middle of the
Red Sox lineup and they go to the World Series.
Speaker 7 (06:11):
Like we know that.
Speaker 8 (06:13):
But then you go, okay, you're in a compressed period
of time here, all right. You know, success lies in
the details. There was a reason when Aaron went to
the Jets. He wanted you know, Al Lazar, he wanted
Randall copp he got devonby Adams. He needed guys that
understood how he plays the game. He's not going to
get that luxury right now. And you know when he
(06:33):
went to New York, there wasn't a Faniel Hackett.
Speaker 7 (06:35):
It was his offense. You can say, okay, he'll get
on the same page as Arthur Smith, and he will.
Speaker 8 (06:40):
But to Aaron, like his acumen for the game is supreme,
we understand that, but it's only as good as the
guys that can understand it.
Speaker 7 (06:48):
And pick it up.
Speaker 8 (06:48):
If you remember last year when Mike Williams didn't stay
on the red line and the ball got intercepted, Like,
I worry about just how much time he's going to
actually get, and that amount of time for timing purposes,
because this is all about timing anticipation for great quarterbacks.
And then you're at the forty one year old element
(07:10):
where he was limited. And when you get limited, whether
you're Payton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, anybody that could move at
some point during their careers, you move less, you get
rid of the ball, quicker, your yards per attempt, everything drops.
Speaker 7 (07:25):
So he was in a hurry to get rid of
the ball last year.
Speaker 8 (07:27):
It's and then sometimes the Balding go where he wantedn't
to go, and that's what we're used to seeing. So
how much of that we see this year and the
timing that is necessary to go beat Baltimore and beat.
Speaker 7 (07:40):
Cincinnati and beat some of these teams in the.
Speaker 8 (07:42):
Division, I think they're really going to be up against it.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
It's a leap of faith Baldy in a number of ways.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
One, the Steelers are banking on Aaron Rodgers staying healthy
because the Achilles happened, and who knows if the Achille
never happens, what it looks like his entire tenure with
the Jets.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
But then there were injuries last year.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
That affected him greatly, and are they injuries because he's
just at that point of his career in his life
where he's going to suffer these injuries. It's gonna be
impossible for him to play seventeen games and not get
nicked up in some capacity.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
And if he does stay healthy, does he have that
good football left?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
There were flashes of it last year as a matter
of fact, that the Niners game that we're seeing it
was just ugly to start it. There was one drive
at the end we were like, oh, there it is
like it was still there. The Jacksonville game, I believe,
was the other one where we saw it sort of
come together with him and Devanta Adams.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
But it was just so sporadic, and it can't be sporadic.
It's got to be consistent.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
If the Steelers are going to get Aaron Rodgers to
lead them to a place where they can be consistent
and they can be a contender this upcoming season, they're
also not going to go out and make him the
assistant general manager like the Jets were willing to do
and have him bring in all of his friends, which
really didn't work out great either. This is him going
into a locker room where at one point we did
he Cam Hayward say you either want to be a
(09:01):
Steeler or you don't want to be a Steeler, and
then Cam Hayward a couple weeks later was preaching patients.
So I think he does have that respect within the
locker room. But like I said, it's a leap of
faith that you're just gonna plug him in here and
expect that there's gonna be chemistry locker room wide.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Pauly, you wants more tape than anybody, so real quick,
I want to come back to you with something Mike
said there was. Is there enough in there to suggest
he can channel something? If you're thinking the best case
scenario here, this is Brett Favre going to the Vikings
in two thousand and nine. It's kind of otherworldly, but
Brett Ferbick played pretty good football in two thousand and
eight with the Jets. Based on all the tape you've watched,
is there enough in there to believe Aaron Rodgers actually
(09:38):
can get even close to what he wants? Was in
Green Bay?
Speaker 7 (09:42):
Well, he struggled.
Speaker 8 (09:43):
He struggled with games, the Denver game, the Viking game,
the Seattle game where they had a chance to come
down and win the game at the end and he
couldn't make the play. They just score a touchdown against Denver,
They had down on the one yard line, they didn't score,
and so you know, there was a lot of I mean,
there's a lot of contributing actors. All that guy's jumping
all sides. But you know, the snap coown is important
(10:04):
to him. How he is able to manipulate all those
kind of things. Can you know, can the offensive line?
Speaker 7 (10:11):
You know, all those things. I just remember, like this
is like Aaron things.
Speaker 8 (10:15):
But when Tom Brady went to Tampa during the pandemic,
Ryan Jensen was the Senate and he told me, like literally,
Brady gave him a dissertation on how to snap the
ball for thirty minutes every day, wet ball, goal line,
shotgun under center. Like, but that's how Aaron thinks, you know.
Can you get that with Zach Frazier? Can you get
that with Arthur Smith? Can you get that with you know,
(10:37):
with the personnel that he has right now? He needs
that to be able to play at the elite level
that we're accustomed to him seeing he fell short at
times last year.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Tom Aaron Rodgers now moving up on a pretty exclusive
list that also includes Tom Brady in terms of the
oldest quarterbacks that we've seen go to a new team.
Steve de Berg Warren Moon, they're up there, any Testaverdi
that was a late career couple of games with the
Carolina Panthers. Here when George Blando's on a list that
(11:07):
Eric Rodgers is about to join, that should put in
pretty good perspective exactly how old Aaron is. Let's bring
in somebody right now who has covered Aaron Rodgers throughout
his career, Stacey Dales. Before we get to Aaron, Stacy
and his welcome to Pittsburgh, I want to say welcome
back to you.
Speaker 9 (11:26):
Thank you, Tom.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
It's great to be with you.
Speaker 9 (11:27):
Wouldn't you know that Aaron Rodgers news what happened on
the day I come back five weeks after my surgery
and I have a great tattoo on the neck to
show for it. But it's actually you know, I love
the discussion you guys just had on this decision by
the Pittsburgh Steelers. One thing I know about Aaron Rodgers
Tom is the environment is very important to him. The
(11:49):
culture is very important to him. Why do I share this?
This is really the best case scenario. We've all been
kind of waiting on it for weeks and months now
to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers and kind of get
that shot. Can he take him to the Promised Land
on this one year deal? But I can vividly remember
sitting in London last season in production meetings with Aaron Rodgers,
(12:10):
his teammates Robert Sola, and there was sort of an
ominous feeling. This is back in October, right, we know
how the season ended.
Speaker 10 (12:17):
It was not good.
Speaker 9 (12:18):
And I say ominous because it was dysfunctional with the
New York Jets.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
I think I got a piece of that.
Speaker 9 (12:27):
I felt it. Two days later Robert Sala was fired
and we know how the season transpired. That was not
the situation Aaron Rodgers envisioned after, especially his first season
with the Achilles injury. And now I think about Russell
Wilson and I sat in a production meeting with him
in December ahead of our Christmas game tom and the
(12:48):
first thing he talked about was the conversation he had
with Mike Tomlin. The very first call that he shared
from the Pittsburgh Steelers was Mike Tomlin. And he said
that after he spoke to Tomlin and he heard about
his vision how he sees the game, he said it
was a dream come true to go play for Mike
Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He said he was having fun.
This is in late December, having fun playing football again. Obviously,
(13:12):
they go to the playoffs, didn't work out, wild Card
Round one and done. But we saw the tail end
of that season sort of go downward for Russell Wilson,
and yet his fun and joy in the game was restored.
I think this environment for Aaron Rodgers in this blue
collar Steeler city is going to be fantastic.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
You may question, yeah, maybe he.
Speaker 9 (13:34):
Is hitting father time or he's staring down father time,
and he is. He talked about that last year. He
is still sharp mentally in the game. I think it
goes back to what Baldy talked about the system and
Arthur Smith in this West Coast offense, which.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
He knows very well, will be vital for him to.
Speaker 9 (13:49):
Find that consistency within this offense and understand that system
is going to be paramount for him because I think
the mind is still there. I think he still got
football in him and he's got a lot to prove
as he sets embarks upon his next.
Speaker 10 (14:03):
Year forty one years old with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
New today, this is not a drill. Aaron Rodgers set
to fly to Pittsburgh on Friday officially sign with these
Steelers and participate in next week's mandatory mini camp. They
still do need to finalize what is expected to be
a one year contract. Rogers has already said he would
play for ten million, joining a Steelers team that has
(14:30):
won games in the past few years, but with a
whole lot of different quarterbacks. Same thing can be said
for the Colts, who have had quite the quarterback carousel
since Andrew Luck retired. And now this Anthony Richardson Senior,
who has dealt with a lot of injuries in his
young career, once again dealing with one. It is a
shoulder injury for him. Here's what Shane Steichen had to say.
Speaker 11 (14:54):
Last week in practice, Anthony sustained an injury in his
throwing shoulder. Felt some pain in it, Doctors, trainers checked
it out. He's got some aggravation in his AC joint.
So we're gonna set him out this week. Obviously, he'll
sit out for mini camp. We'll see when he comes back.
Not gonna put a timetable for training camp on it,
(15:17):
but when he does come back, we'll ease him into
throwing and then we'll go from there. The good thing
is he's not gonna need a procedure right now.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Mike, My understanding is this is not a major injury
for Anthony Richardson. But how many times have we sat
here and talked about this since the Colts drafter Richardson
number four overall a couple of years ago. Here's a
guy who hasn't played much football, he had some injuries,
only had thirteen college starts. He needs every rep he
can get. Now, in the midst of a quarterback competition
with Daniel Jones, once again, he's missing some reps that
(15:48):
are probably gonna help shape the opinion and coach his
heads as we head into the break before training.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Camp, and it gives Daniel Jones more reps for him
to take with the Ones and more of an opportunity
to get accustomed to a new team and a new system.
We knew this was going to be one where Daniel
Jones was going to make Anthony Richardson work for it,
for sure, and now that work gets set back a
little bit. I also, frankly, until I heard it, just
(16:12):
now you know he's not going to need a procedure
as of now or whatever. That little disclaimer was on
the back end for Shane Snyken, which means it's not
completely ruled out for Anthony Richardson.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
So this is.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Something where when he comes back to training camp, it's
not going to be like snap your fingers necessarily and
he's back and he's hitting the ground running. If that
happens and he gives Daniel Jones some runway into training camp,
I mean, we've seen Daniel Jones the mistakes during the
game at times, but at practice with the Giants throughout
his career, we always heard some really good things there.
I could see Daniel Jones really getting an insurmountable lead
(16:45):
if that happens in training camp.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
So we'll keep an eye on it as we get
closer to that.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
No such quarterback competitions in Baltimore. They got a guy
named Lamar Jackson. He's won a couple of NFL MVPs.
They made him the highest paid player in the NFL
a couple of years ago. Well that has since changed.
He does have years left on his contract, but according
to GM Eric DaCosta, they're at least approaching an extension.
Speaker 12 (17:10):
Well, we've had some conversations before the draft, after the
draft in person last week. I think we're in the
introductory sort of stage of looking at what an extension
might look like. We've got a lot of business that
we're conducting with different players, and we're in a situation
where we're blessed to have most of the team coming back,
(17:31):
but as we look out over the next two, three, four,
five years, we're trying to keep as many good players
as we can.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Mar Jackson do forty three point five million this season.
He has signed through twenty twenty seven, but you can
see where in the couple of years since he signed
that contract, which got done right before the NFL Draft
in twenty twenty three, a lot of other quarterback contracts
have surpassed Mike. It would make sense, even though don't
often see players. I don't know what you're looking at.
(18:03):
You you can explain it, though with three years left in
your contract, you don't normally do these. We've seen other
quarterbacks get those deals early. Would make sense for the
Ravens maybe to get into this market swoner than later.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I was counting Super Bowl rings that on that list
right there, because I know that the viewers at home
were doing the same thing.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
So that's what I This is not how it works though.
You know, a lot of time, there's a lot of
we have there.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
We see that graphic one more time.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Yeah, yeah, let me let me talk about it. We'll
bring it back.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Well, let me let me talk about this here because
is Lamar Jackson. A lot of times these third quarterback
deals can be easier to do because the guy's already
made a ton of money. You just kind of moved
some money up a little bit. The Josh Allen won
there was very little uh pulling on that one. And
as a quarterback, you want to make sure that your
team still has that flexibility.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
So if I already made two hundred million, we'll give it.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Not necessarily with Dak Prescott, who's at the top of
that list, by the way, but with Lamar Jackson, there's
no blueprint because he still has no agent. I go
back to Kent bab with The Washington Post wrote a
story about Lamar Jackson. He had a quote from Eric
DaCosta saying he was watching I think a Celtics game
and he gets a text and he's like, and his
son says, what's that text?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
He goes, I think we just.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
Signed Lamar Jackson. Like the whole thing was weird, So
you just don't know necessarily how it's.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Going to play out. I think it's going to take
some time.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Go ahead, count them up, Tom.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero.
Now you've got some MVPs up there. You've certainly got
a lot of championship game appearances for a number of
those quarterbacks not pictured the raining Super Bowl MVP Jalen
Hurts not on that list. You know, did get paid today?
(19:42):
Different Ravens player Rashan Bateman for the second consecutive offseason. No,
this is not a repeat of a show from a
year ago. The Ravens once again signing him to an
extension is three years, thirty six point seventy five million
with twenty million dollars guarantee. Makes sense. Bateman was only
due like four million dollars this season showed he could
be a big play threat as part of a Ravens offense.
(20:03):
The Tacasta likes a lot.
Speaker 12 (20:06):
In our situation with our personnel, We're gonna have two
tight ends on the field quite a bit, and we're
gonna have Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely on the field
with Bateman and with Wise and at times with Hopkins
and so I think we've assembled a group of guys
that can make plays in different ways. We have a
lot of different personnel groupings that we can use, versatility
for our coaching staff, not to mention the fact that
(20:27):
we can run the ball with three or four different
running backs, including our quarterback who can also run the ball.
So I think we're gonna be a nightmare for teams
to defend against this year. I think our offensive line
is going to continue to improve and grow. We've got
some younger guys and I think they're going to.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
Make a jump.
Speaker 12 (20:41):
So I'm very, very excited about the offense this year,
and I think we're gonna be a nightmare for different teams.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
There is no question that they have amassed some stars
on that offense. The big name likes of Derek Henry
is coming off a monster season. They extended him. The
Andre Hopkins also now part of the mix, along with Bateman,
Zay Flowers, and Mark Andrews, as well as welcome back
Brian Baldinger to the conversation. Welcome in Mark Ross for
the first time. Mark here. Eric ta Costa say, a
(21:09):
nightmare for defense is hell? How much of a bad
dream do you envision this feat?
Speaker 13 (21:16):
Well, I guess Eric's has been watching his team over
the last couple of years because they've been a nightmare
over the last couple of years, and really since Lamar
Jackson has taken control.
Speaker 10 (21:24):
As long as he's behind center, they are going to
be a nightmare. And they're a nightmare.
Speaker 13 (21:28):
He mentioned the versatility, but the versatility brings about various
ways that the Baltimore Ravens offense can crush you. And
that's either with just execution and grinding you out with
the running game and short passing game, but they're always
just one explosive play away as well. And it's not
just Lamar with the explosive plays. It's King Henry, It's
(21:48):
d Hop, it's Isaiah Likely who he mentioned. Oh yeah,
Zay Flowers is going to be a year better. Bateman
always gets in the mix with huge plays.
Speaker 14 (21:55):
But they got a.
Speaker 13 (21:56):
Healthy eaton Mitchell coming back as well when he was
a rookie.
Speaker 10 (22:00):
Show that explosive ability.
Speaker 13 (22:01):
So that's the problem with this Ravens offense is that
they've been good for years and they keep getting better
with more comfortable that they'll be and Baldy also, I
think the defense is going to be a lot better
with those two rookies in there, which is going to
give the offense even more opportunities to be explosive.
Speaker 8 (22:17):
Eric only said, honestly, whatevery defensive coordinator says every week
when they look at the tape. I mean, Lamar somehow
is still the sending player going into his eighth year,
and the combination of him and Todd Munkin is as
good as any quarterback offensive coordinator Play Fauller, and there's
only he just had one of the great.
Speaker 7 (22:36):
Quarterback seasons of all time.
Speaker 8 (22:38):
He led the league, you know, I mean forty one
touchdowns and runs for nine hundred yards and has the highest,
you know, quarterback rating in the league, and leads the
league in yards per attempt and oh, by the way,
there is no defense that can contain them or stop them.
I mean, he's just that good right now. The tight
ends caught seventeen touchdown passes. Mark like, you know, put
(22:59):
that up against anybody in any tight end group in
the league. Aaron said, They're gonna be on the field
a lot, and then you.
Speaker 7 (23:04):
Can handle the ball off.
Speaker 8 (23:05):
First play against Buffalo King, Henry goes eighty seven yards,
against the Bills in the regular season. The only thing
that they have to do is what we'll talk about
all year, is they got to do it in the postseason.
Twenty five points against Buffalo, came up short, dropped past
at the end of the game to a chance to
win it. I mean, they's got to do it in
the postseason. But in the regular season, they're still going
(23:27):
to put up monster numbers, a lot of points.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
They're going to win a lot of games. They're very,
very good.
Speaker 8 (23:33):
And oh, by the way, they added some depth to
the offensive line in case anybody gets hurts. But that
rookie right tackle last year, Rose Garden really nailed down
that position. They got that position right. But the Ravens
usually do get the offensive line right.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Paudy, I knew you'd bring it back to offensive line somehow.
Stick around you too, Markus. Coming up after this, we're
getting back to our big news in that same division.
Aaron Rodgers is heading to Pittsburgh. Can he make him contender?
We'll discuss it on the Insiders make up our top
(24:11):
story today. Yes, it is really happening. Aaron Rodgers set
to fly to Pittsburgh in time to sign and participate
in next week's mandatory mini camp, now joining his third
NFL team, an illustrious run for NFL MVPs with the
Packers two let's just call it favorably forgettable years with
(24:32):
the Jets, and now headed to a Steelers team. Mark
that doesn't necessarily need this to be prime Aaron Rodgers.
But at age forty one going to the year twenty one,
does adding Aaron Rodgers make the Steelers better?
Speaker 13 (24:48):
You know, Tom, I don't think it makes them better
than what they were last year.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
I think they were better.
Speaker 13 (24:51):
Off with Russell Wilson or Justin Fields than Aaron Rodgers.
And one thing, we can wax poetic about what Aaron
Rodgers used to be, but in scouting twenty plus years,
Tom father time is undefeated. When you get old, it's bad.
When you get hurt. It's bad when.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
You're old and hurt.
Speaker 10 (25:06):
Aaron Rodgers has been. It's impossible.
Speaker 13 (25:08):
And we can point to a play here or play there,
or a drive here and a drive there about Aaron Rodgers,
But at this point in his career time he just
cannot consistently perform at a high level to give a
chance to go against the Lamar Jackson's and the Josh
Allens and the Patrick Mahomes and the Justin Herberts and
the Joe Burrows of the world that he's going to
have to face and Pittsburgh is going to have to face.
(25:30):
Everything has to be so perfect and precise, precise for
him to make plays. And the magic that he once
had which made him special, he just can't do that anymore.
So you take away that magic and now you have
to be so precise with everything. It's just impossible to
win in that sort of way. And I think everyone
keeps talking about the old Pittsburgh Steelers, but don't forget
(25:52):
that second half the last eight games of the season,
that Pittsburgh defense was in the bottom third of the league.
Speaker 10 (25:58):
They couldn't stop anybody.
Speaker 13 (26:00):
Is you got an older Pittsburgh defense, they couldn't stop anybody.
Now you're putting it Aaron Rodgers on offense, who can't
perform at a consistent level. I think this team just
has a lot of flaws and Aaron Rodgers really is
not the answer to it. It's more about keeping Mike
Tomlins Went one Lost Street alive and not true super
Bowl contenders in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Mark, thank you very much, We've got some drama this
week in Aaron Rodgers Old Division in the NFC North.
The Lions, who've had so much attrition on their coaching staff,
they've had some personnel changes now losing their all pro
center Frank Ragnow, who retired on Monday officially after seven
NFL seasons, and emotional Dan Campbell addressed that today.
Speaker 6 (26:45):
You know, one of the greatest memories I have a
Frank was a divisional against Tampa Bay. Fourth and one.
We run downhill to Craig Reynolds man and he's got
big boy and he hits him and he kind of
hits a knee and then he has to get back
up and tip up the block.
Speaker 14 (27:03):
We score.
Speaker 6 (27:04):
Now it was huge. You know.
Speaker 10 (27:06):
This type of player he was. So I'll be missed.
But man, this train goes on, train rolls.
Speaker 14 (27:15):
On and.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
And it's the next man up, and so we will
be ready to go when camp hits.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Grek right now. Just one of many reasons that the
Lions had one of the best offenses in the NFL
last season. Number one end points per game, second or
tied for second, and a bunch of other key categories,
but not just they're all pro center but their offensive
coordinator Ben Johnson, of course now the head coach of
the Chicago Bears, and welcome Stacy Dale's back to the
(27:46):
conversation here. That is a lot stacy for one team
to overcome. What do you envision here is Detroit's way
for making up for some of those things that are
no longer a part of the magic in Motown.
Speaker 9 (28:00):
Great tea up Tom, and a lot of coaching changes.
One thing I feel really good about is their offensive
line and run game coordinator coach Hank Freeley. They're in
good hands with him. This is one of the best
units in the league. He's a big part of it.
But this is a massive loss. I cannot understate how
big this loss is. Frank Ragnow, who's drafted in twenty eighteen,
came into Detroit as a guard. Actually in twenty nineteen.
(28:21):
They moved him to center. Every year since that point,
he has been a PFF top five center in the
National Football League. Last season the third best in the
National Football League and it was also the third best
run blocker. And he's one of my favorite interviews. He's
one of the smartest players I've ever covered. Tom over
my now seventeenth season in the NFL, So this is
(28:43):
going to be a huge.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Void to Phil.
Speaker 9 (28:45):
Johnny Morton is the new offensive coordinator. It'll be very
interesting to see how this offense changes. But I'm really
curious who they're going to plug in there. Graham Glasgow,
who is a veteran in this league, could move over
from guard. He's spent some time at center. But I'm
really circling Ratledge out of Georgia. Obviously, the fifty seventh
overall pick, one of my favorite players coming in this
(29:06):
year in the draft. I anticipate maybe he'll develop into
that center role, but we'll see play guard at Georgia.
But he has a lot of dog in him, not
just the Georgia Bulldogs. He is a dog when it
comes to football. He might be an interesting fit, super
smart player. But we'll see what Johnny Morton does and
how much they change with this offense. Hopefully not too
much because they had some good things going there. I
(29:28):
know Ben Johnson was in town, but Jared Goff, they're
going to have to put a lot on his shoulders
as they move forward.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
There's no question, Stacy. Thank you very much, Mike, you
got it.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
Yeah, Tampa Bay Buckety welcome back, Stacy Dall's.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
By the way, I got a chance to say it,
welcome back.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
So glad to have you back.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
So glad that Baldy at camps at OTA's he's in Tampa.
He wasn't Tampa today to check out the folks down there,
including Mecca a Book of the rookie wide receiver who
is catching b after practice. But you would know that
he's got that kind of dedication because we talked to
him last night in the Insiders. You could see the
way this dudekatries himself as a veteran, not as a rookie.
(30:09):
What did you see from Mecca a Book and the
other young guys there in Tampa?
Speaker 7 (30:12):
Yeah, yeah, Mike.
Speaker 8 (30:13):
You know the other guy there was Benjamin Morrison, you know,
their second round pick that they're counting on, and both
of them, you know, a high cerebral content thrump there
understand the game.
Speaker 7 (30:23):
But there's a good practice out there today, Mike.
Speaker 8 (30:26):
It was ninety plus degrees and the Florida heat out
there was two and a half hours. It was highly
competitive back and forth. You're looking at the offensive line
right here and Kevin Carber and the offensive line coach
and they're going to return.
Speaker 7 (30:38):
All five starters from a year ago.
Speaker 8 (30:40):
There's not I haven't done the research yet, Mike, but
I don't know how many teams are going to be
able to do that. Ben Brigson, Tristan Wurz, Graham Barton
is the rookie last year, Cody Bok. I mean, it's
a good group and Baker had a nice day out there,
but I think the rookies stood out. And then the
competition back and forth was all the way down to
(31:01):
the final drill where the offense got two plays to
score in the red zone and just watching Baker hit
Amika Book. I talked to him about the play when
he scored against the defense, and he like, just the
understanding of what the defense is doing, a little delay
off the line of scrimmage to be able to get
into the end zone and to get open some things
(31:21):
that you might not pick up on if you're watching
the game, you're studying the game, a little bit of
delay off the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 7 (31:28):
It was really really impressive.
Speaker 8 (31:29):
And then I think overall, you know, you got to
look at what Josh Bizzer is going to do here offensively,
because I think they're still going to stay heavy with
the run. We saw Bucky Irvin having an unbelievable second
half of the season to go with Rashad White, So
I think that part of it is really going to
still be emphasized, getting after it with the run game
(31:50):
right now, and then adding those pieces in the secondary,
which really in that last playoff lost to Washington, you know,
it really came up when they were at the bottom
of the depth chart with guys they were putting out
there trying to cover those Commander receivers.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
YEP.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
One of these days, we'll also appreciate the job that
Todd Bowles has been doing down there as the head
coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Another chance to win
a division there this year with a talented roster.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Brian Boudier, thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Dancing in the bottom.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
And bring it down.
Speaker 8 (32:27):
It's Quitty Pay and Riddy Forrest Buckner, and that's how
the game's gonna end.
Speaker 7 (32:32):
Two seconds, one second.
Speaker 5 (32:34):
Ball game in New York and the Colts win by
a point.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
You know, timing really is everything. What do you know,
Tom Pilaicerio, Steve Wetch on the insiders, We've got Quitty
Pay on the show on a day that the guy
you just saw him sacking right there has informed the
Steelers that's gonna be playing in Pittsburgh. Quitny, thanks a
lot for being here, man. We got a lot to
talk about with you. Let's start right there. You got
a Rodgers twice last year at age forty. Now you
(33:03):
know you're going to get the Chase frou on forty
one year old Aaron Rodgers this season.
Speaker 15 (33:06):
Your thought, yes, sir, you know it'll be it'll be
fun to play him again. You know, I chain with
him in the offseason and he's a great guy, so,
you know, great competing against him.
Speaker 5 (33:16):
So quitting a highlight.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
We saw you won that game because Anthony Richardson made
some big plays. But we also got the news today
that Anthony's got a shoulder issue and could be out indefinitely.
Speaker 5 (33:26):
What are your thoughts just about.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
That development, you know, and where things are going with
your quarterback situation and maybe his future.
Speaker 14 (33:34):
Yeah, no, I think he'll be good.
Speaker 15 (33:35):
You know, we're just in Ota, so rather play it
safe than you know, injury even more. But you know
he's gonna be ready to go when the season starts.
You know, we play in September. We don't play in
June and July. So excited for Anthony this season and
we have, you know, a great competition with Daniel Jones,
you know, just raise his level and any way that
(33:56):
Daniel can.
Speaker 14 (33:57):
You know, so yeah, I think I think it'll be great.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
Tell me a little bit more about that competition. You've
been around Anthony for a couple of years now. Now
you've got Daniel Jones in. I know you guys aren't
in pads yet. It's OTAs. What are you seeing from
Daniel Jones so far? And how do you envision this
thing playing out?
Speaker 14 (34:16):
You can just see like his true vet presence.
Speaker 15 (34:18):
You know, he's been in the league for a long time,
He's played some great ball and you know, just you know,
just him out there, he can be a starter on
any team really, So you know that just him being
out there, you know, competing with Anthony, it'll bring you know,
that level of competition in the QB room just just
to a different level this year.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
All right, let's get to your side of the ball.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
The Colts hired lou Anna Rumo coming up from Cincinnati,
is his new defensive coordinator. We know he plays schematically
the same type of front that you have been playing.
But what has he done that you've seen that can
really help everybody elevate things?
Speaker 14 (34:52):
Yeah, you know it's a little different.
Speaker 15 (34:54):
You know, I'm gonna be standing up a little bit
more two point stances, but you know, just just how
smarty as you know, just seeing what he's talking about,
come to fruition with the players, you know, just listening
to what he has to say. And you know, if
you just do that, you'll get picks, You'll get the
opportunity to get sacks, you get the opportunity to just
change games. So, you know, just having him in our
(35:17):
room just you know, just teaching us different schemes and
you know, just teaching us what the offense wants to
do and how we're going to trap them. It's just
it's just amazing to see and we're just excited to
play in this defense.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
I'm sure you also know, Quiddy that the NFL's leading
sac man last year, Trey Hendrickson was playing for lou
in Cincinnati. You've seen all these other pass rushers getting
paid around the league. Miles, Garrett, backs Crosby, You're in
year five here, what's kind of going through your head
about the opportunity you have in front of you here
in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 15 (35:50):
You know, extremely excited to go out and compete with
these boys. Man, Like, we got some big pickups in
the back end just to help the you know, the
front end and help the D line. And you know,
when lou first came in and we were seeing a
lot of like three man rush, You're like, man, I
don't know about that. But then you know, you're just
seeing Trey get the sacks, seeing see them get sacks.
You know, just seeing how the guys get precious you know,
(36:10):
it's just it just helps us want to trust the
process of you know, just being a better defense and
you know, just attacking.
Speaker 14 (36:17):
And for me, you know, I'm just trying to play ball.
I'm just trying to play my best ball this year,
and you know, just help this team anyway I can.
Speaker 5 (36:24):
On that note, you guys globally, let's talk globally. You
guys playing Berlin this year?
Speaker 14 (36:28):
Right, yes, sir?
Speaker 5 (36:30):
Okay, what are your.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
Thoughts about going, you know, making the debut you know,
in Berlin and showcasing what you guys can do there.
Speaker 14 (36:39):
I think it would be fun.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
Man.
Speaker 15 (36:40):
You know, we played in Frankfurt last year and just
seeing the crowd last year, it was crazy. You know,
they packed that stadium out, you know, just having a
different kind of atmosphere, a different kind of energy. You know,
you can really feel it like they're true sports fans
out there, true football fans, and you know we're we're
extreme excited to go out there and ball out.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I know Jim Mersey was also excited to be having
his team be the first one to go to Berlin.
You've been around him for the past four years, tragically
passing away a few weeks ago at age sixty five.
Just tell me your memories of Jim and what it's
going to mean to you to have that jersey patch
on you this season.
Speaker 14 (37:19):
Yeah, man, I think it's just going to mean a
lot for us.
Speaker 15 (37:21):
You know, after every win, after every loss, he was
in that locker room and he would give us a
little bit something after every game, you know, and you know,
he was just a big personality that I just loved
his coats, and he was behind his guys and he
did anything that he could to you know, make sure
we had we had everything that we needed to win
and succeed.
Speaker 14 (37:40):
So, man, we were all extremely sad when he.
Speaker 15 (37:44):
Passed, and you know we're praying for the family, praying
for theirs a family, and you know, we'll dedicate this
whole season to him. And you know every game that
we just go out there will be fighting for him
and you know, just trying to, you know, just just
play for Jim.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
It's great words, man. So best of luck to Seaton,
big one for the Colts, big one for Quitty pay.
We really appreciate you being here.
Speaker 14 (38:07):
Dude, Appreciate you guys.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
What do you know more Aaron Rodgers after this four snaps,
after that carry the American flag thing, he was hurt,
Steelers hope for better results.
Speaker 16 (38:20):
We'll bring it into it after this On the Insids.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Our top story tonight, Aaron Rodgers set ahead to Pittsburgh
and sign in advance of next week's mandatory mini camp,
become the Steelers' new quarterback. You know, the number that
he used to wear in Green Bay was number twelve.
Nobody's worn that Pittsburgh since Terry Bradshaw.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
What do you think, Terry, that's a joke.
Speaker 7 (38:51):
He said, that is just to me, is a joke.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
What are you going to bring him in for one year?
Are you kidding me.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
I mean that's not the Steelers, why you're at and
that guy needs to stay in California and go thank you,
we're in thank you, she.
Speaker 4 (39:04):
Row and bark and and risk it to the gods
out there.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
All right, A simple no would have sufficed. Welcome back
to the Insiders, Tom PILLI Sera, Mike garra Fullo, Steve
White and Brian Baldinger and Baldytven Where to start coming off?
That sound? It gets better and better? Your thoughts, well, I.
Speaker 8 (39:24):
Mean Bratshall's always going to call it like he sees it.
I mean, that's just gonna be terrorists. That's good.
Speaker 12 (39:29):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (39:29):
You know, look, you know Aaron went to New York.
Speaker 8 (39:32):
And there was no name of you know, the best
quarterback they ever had, Number Twelvey Ward, number eight.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
The number is going to be fine.
Speaker 8 (39:38):
I just am concerned about how quickly this can legitimately
come together. DK metcalf is dwe Robert Woods is due.
Roman Wilson didn't play last year. Caleb Johnson's a rookie
running back. Kennthy Gamewells new to the running back room.
They've got two new tackles. Font Tonoho played one game
last year. Robert Jones goes left. There's so many new
(39:58):
pieces here and they're just asking Aaron Rodgers to get
it all fixed. It's a lot to ask with no
offseason to really help put this together.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
Oh body, I'm glad you talking about timing no offseason right,
some of the limited offseason, because when people look at
the schedule, they see that they they open against the Jets,
Rogers's former team, they played the Packers' former team.
Speaker 5 (40:18):
I look at the fact they've got.
Speaker 4 (40:19):
The early buy, they've got the week five by for
a forty one year old quarterback to come off that
buy and play thirteen consecutive games, and then look at
their final six games, that is a murderer's row starting
with Buffalo. That is a real intriguing element to all
of this scene. How they finished the season and they've
(40:39):
got to play thirteen straight off of that early buy.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
The other thought I had today, and we've talked so
much about Rodgers, how about Kirk Cousins in this Because
Kirk Cousins is looking for a landing spot right throughout
this whole process. I don't think he was high on
the Steelers list of possibility, but he's on there.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
Somewhere like if Rodgers had told them.
Speaker 3 (40:57):
You know what, I'm out right, they'd have to go
scram and figure something out. Cousins really didn't have a
clear landing spot at this point. I did show up
for offseason workouts early in the off season to kind
of indicate that almost he'd be calling the Falcons bluff
like you want me as your backup, I'll do it.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
I swear I'll do it.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
And the longer this goes, the more I can just
hold in that no trade clause there.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
That seems to be the most likely scenario at this point.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
So Michael Pennick's going into the season with Cousin looking
over his shoulder, although there could be an injury at
any point. That's a trickle down, offshoot effect of this
whole thing.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Today, Aaron Rodgers set to be at Steelers mini camp,
Kirk Cousins has Falcons Mini caamp next week, knowing Kirk
he'll probably show up. Doesn't want to go up that
one hundred thousand dollars in fines, But to Mike's point,
seems to be tracking more and more toward Kirk and
end up staying in Atlanta. Still a lot more to come,
here on The Insiders tonight and a lot to come
(41:51):
tomorrow morning on Good Morning Football, where for the second
consecutive day and the first time in show history, it
is an all female cast. Tune in tomorrow morning eight
to ten am Eastern Time on NFL Network. The wait
is over. Aaron Rodgers sent to fly to Pittsburgh in
time to pass his fiscal, finalize this contract, sign and
(42:13):
be on the field for next week's mandatory mini camp.
Welcome back to The Insiders, Tom Pilisero, Mike Gira follow
If nothing else, Mike, this at least turns the conversation
for us on this show for like the next five weeks,
from will ere won't he? To what's going to happen next?
Speaker 3 (42:31):
Yes, I'm looking at airfares to Pittsburgh because we'll be
there covering Steelers mini cams. You want to keep it
locked here on The Insiders and NFL Network. Can I
stay with anybody? Let me know if you're in Pittsburgh,
give me a shot. I got some friends there.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
I'm sure Aaron's also looking. So maybe you guys could find,
you know, play together, just Tevy Mallue. Maybe either a
lot for the next several months here, just split that rent.
We're back tomorrow. I know that much. See you then,
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