November 28, 2023 • 22 mins
Labs and Tom discuss the Steelers offensive output in Cincinnati before getting into this week’s question
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is asked and answered questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Four hundred and twenty one total yards of offense for
your Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in Cincinnati Labs. When the game
ended and I looked at the box score, I had
to like wipe my eyes clear, like five different times
just to make sure they weren't deceiving me. And I
was seeing there, like, that's a four. It's not a
three twenty one, it's not a two twenty one. Really
four to twenty one. Wow, it's a long time coming,
wasn't it.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, But you know, I want I want to just
throw this in too. You know. When the game ended,
I had to check my pulse again, Yes, and it
was the same as it has been at the end
of games, like it seems like for the last couple
of months. So yeah, I it sure looked better. I
will grant you that, but I could use some more points,
(00:54):
you know that that whole score more points edict from
Steelers president Art Rudy the second back in January. This
group sure has taken it's good old time getting around
to living up to that. So but yeah, I do
think there was. There were so many things that I
(01:17):
liked and I think are positives moving forward offensively well,
and the defense played as it has So I'm not
talking about them, but that doesn't mean I'm taking them
for granted or anything. But you know, to me, one
of the critical things in the whole game was how
(01:40):
Picket played, how Picket looked, how Picket acted, because you know,
with the quick early fallouts of the decision, you know,
to cut ties with Matt Canada, was that it was
seen as a referendum on Picket. You know, is this
the guy for them moving forward? How is he going
(02:00):
to respond to this? Is he going to continue to regress?
You know, all of the things that you see on
the interweb, and since they're on the interweb, what do
we know about that there they have to be true? Yes, yes, so,
but I really thought I thought Pickett had his best game.
He was in command. Uh, certainly. I like the way
(02:21):
he was interacting on the sideline. I thought he was
you know involved. Uh, and then you saw the video.
You know, Picket came off when the game was over. Uh,
Pickett got off the field and into the tunnel there,
you know, in pay course, stadium, there's a it's it's
(02:44):
it's very well laid out and convenient underneath that area.
In terms of getting off the field and into the
locker rooms, it's a you know, it's a straight shot,
it's not confusing, it's and Pickett got off quickly and
he was He stood outside the locker room and greeted
every one of his teammates as they came by. And
(03:06):
you know that that was such a change for me
as a visual from the Browns game. Do you remember
that him sitting on the bench next to Canada looking like,
you know, he just wanted to I don't know. He
did not look happy.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
He wished he could disappear like he had a superpower.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Yes, So you know, I really think that that's that's
a positive development, as was you know, Nause Harris also,
I thought was to quote Bubby Brister, fixing to come
unglued after that Browns game, and you know, he was
very much into it against the Bengals, I thought he
(03:50):
played really well. And you know, in all due respect
to Jayleen Warren, I like Jalen Warren. I like what
he adds. I hope he plays for a long time.
With the steal but there is a difference in those
two guys, and you know, using them both I think
is critical for this team moving forward. And you know,
Nause Harris showed I think a lot of why he
(04:14):
was a number one draft pick. Some of those runs.
You know this guy is he's a tone setter with
his running. So again, all of those things were good.
I got to do better than one for four in
the red zone, though, and you knowfully, you know they
will continue to become more comfortable with the process, you know,
(04:36):
moving forward, starting Sunday against Arizona.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, no doubt. Great to see the yards there, but
need to see the points. Hey, we finally broke four
hundred yards labs, maybe we can break thirty points. Or
maybe that's just me getting a little too greedy.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Well, I'll tell you what, from your lips to God's ear,
you know that would be nice because you know it
would be okay with me too. I don't know, you know,
four minutes left in the fourth quarter, up a couple scores.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
You know, kick the feet up on the couch a
little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Oh man, just take a deep breath. That's you know,
it would be nice just to go to experience a
game where the outcome is not necessarily going to change
on the last snap of the game.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
That would be very refreshing for all of our health
in Steelers Nation. Let's get to the questions from you
guys today, and our first one starts with Dennis Trapnell
from Uniontown, Pennsylvania. I was listening to Monday Night Football
recently and the announcer said that now all unsuccessful fourth
down attempts are automatically reviewed like all scores and turnovers.
Am I being cynical or does the league want as
(05:40):
many stoppages as it as is possible for more annoying
commercials to dilute the enjoyment of watching the game? Will
they think of more situations to just automatically review.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
You know, I'm gonna link the tendency towards more review
with the league trying to compensate where it's for it's
inconsistent and arbitrary and game officiating as opposed to more commercials. Uh.
You know, I'm a cynic when it comes to NFL officiating,
(06:14):
But I still I still believe that the hope is
that by getting NFL quarters at headquarters in New York
more involved in more situations will lead the fewer, you know,
what the heck where they think in posts on social
media the game, after the games are played, and maybe
on Mondays. You know, the leads NFL stories lead Pro
(06:35):
football stories are less about officiating and maybe more about
you know, what happened in the games, and you know
how the outcome of those games are impacting playoff seatings
and you know all of that kind of stuff. You know,
I don't really think that they get it. They get
their money from the networks. I don't think they need
more stompages for more commercials. But hey, you know, I'm
(06:57):
I'm an old guy. I'm old school. My difference would
be for a solution, you know, who knows, maybe coming
up with ways to have better in game officials.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
No, come on, you want as many cooks in the
kitchen as possible.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Labs? Yeah you're right, Yeah, there you go. Yeah, good
point by you.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I mean, I'm just saying that's the NFL that I
know in love. I don't want it to change it. Yes,
Brad McGill from Grove City, Pennsylvania, as we dedicated fans
cheer on the quest for a seven Super Bowl win?
Am I correct in thinking the Steelers were the first
to win four, five, and six Super Bowls before others followed.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Well, let me just correct this a little bit. Brad's
on the right track, but he doesn't have it all
completely accurate. The Steelers were the first to win three
Super Bowls. They did that when they defeated Dallas in
Super Bowl thirteen, and then they were the first to
win four Super Bowls, which they did the following season
by beating the Rams in Super Bowl fourteen. Okay, but
(07:58):
it was the forty nine Ers that were the first
franchise to win five Super Bowls, and they did that
by defeating San Diego in Super Bowl twenty nine. You know,
that was the one where the Chargers went to Pittsburgh
three River Stadium and won that game when I don't know,
I certainly didn't believe that was going to be possible, right, Okay.
(08:18):
Then Dallas matched the forty nine Ers for five when
they defeated the Steelers in Super Bowl thirty. But the
Steelers were the first to win six when they beat
the Cardinals in Super Bowl forty three. Now since then,
New England also has six when they defeated the Rams
in Super Bowl fifty three.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
And right now it's safe to say the Steelers are
a little bit in front of the Patriots as far
as first to get to seven. That is a rough
team up in New England right now.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Yes, yes it is, and you know I the Bill
Belichick Aura, Yes, certainly is not the same since Captain
America left and went to Tampa. Mike last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Mike Calendar from Moresville, Indiana. How long is Kuwant Alexander's
contract with the Steelers. I'd like to see him back next.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Year, Okay. In July, late July, we were already at camp.
Kuwant Alexander signed a one year, one point three million
dollar contract with the Steelers that included a one hundred
and fifty two thousand dollars signing bonus. The salary was,
you know, one point well, the total value already gave
(09:38):
you that, but that included the one point three million,
included one fifty two signing bonus. It was only a
one year deal, so he's going to be eligible to
become an unrestricted free agent next March whenever the new
league year starts, which hasn't yet been determined.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
And unfortunately, I mean his play was awesome this year.
Warranting of another deal, But the injury always clouds things
up like that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Yeah, and you know he's you know, I'm not saying
he's too old or you know, anything like that, but
he is, you know, as you would say, he's played
more football NFL football that he's going to play. He's
at that part of his career. So I mean, you
just don't know how the rehab will go and then
what he might be like after that.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Dale Geller from Cape Coral, Florida. Why do the Steelers
or other teams activate players from the practice squad for
a game, send them back to the practice squad, only
to reactivate them for the next game. Is it a
cap space thing?
Speaker 1 (10:39):
No, it's less about cap space than it is about
what I'm going to explain now. Before the COVID season
of twenty twenty, if a team wanted to activate a
player from the practice squad, it had to sign him
and then create a spot on the fifty three million
roster by waiving a player who was already on the roster. Okay,
(10:59):
But when COVID hit and you had those you know,
last minute positive tests, and you know, guys were being
ruled ineligible for COVID reasons and you know, all of
that stuff that was going on. So the league changed
the rules a little bit and it allowed for the
procedure that is in place now. And that's what Dale
(11:20):
just kind of explained. You bring a guy up from
the practice squad for a game, and then you can
send him right back to the practice squad after. Now,
what that helps from a team standpoint is when you
bring the guy up, you don't if it's just for
a game, you don't have to cut someone that's on
the fifty three man roster and then expose him to
(11:44):
the other teams that could the claim him or just
sign him or whatever. And then after the game, when
you can then send the guy right back to the
practice squad, you don't have to cut him either, wait
twenty four hours for teams to decide if they want
to claim him or not, and then re sign them
to the practice squad. So it gives teams more much
more flexibility and certainty with their roster to be able
(12:08):
to do it like I just described. Now, one of
the things that has been amended since you know, they
changed the rule is you're like, for for example, if
you're the guy on the practice suade that the Steelers
are bringing up and putting back. You can only do
that with you three times before you have to make
a decision to either put you on the active roster
(12:31):
or cut you. You can't keep doing that to a
guy yo yo, owing him back and forth like that.
So that's that's the rule.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Amos Myers from More of Arizona. As I watched Saturday's
college games, I see linemen wearing all manner of knee
and leg braces, which is something I do not see
in the NFL. Difference in rules or difference in philosophy.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Well neither. It's the difference is that even the Hoham
College players, now you know, they can get n i
L money, so there is some sort of payment. Uh,
They're they're technically not professionals in the same way that
NFL players are professionals and NFL players who are professionals
(13:15):
are in a union, and the union says that you
can't You can't mandate knee braces on players. You can't
force them to wear them. You can suggest it, or
they can wear them if they choose, but that you
can't make it a rule or just tell them put
(13:38):
these on. They can do that in college. So that's that.
That's why you don't see it in the NFL, because
I would imagine that there are players who don't or
think they're those braces are too restrictive, you know, make
them less of players. They're not as mobile, maybe they're
not as quick or fast or whatever the reasons might be.
(14:01):
But they're in the Union, and the rule is you
you can't force us to make You can't force guys
to wear that kind of protective equipment.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Dave Adams from Chillicothe, Ohio asks, in your opinion, why
do you think heines Ward is not in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame? He is the Steelers leading receiver
in most statistical categories.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Yeah, okay, let me start with this. I mean, I
believe heines Ward is Hall of Fame worthy. If I
had to vote, I would vote for him, but I don't,
so I can't. But you're asking me why I think
he is not in. And here are some of the
theories that I have on that. The first is, since
(14:46):
the NFL has really liberalized the rules to make it
easier to throw the ball around. You know, there's how
it's officiated in terms of what's illegal contact, what's holding
what's pass interference. There's that, and then there's also the
(15:10):
player safety aspects of it, where can't hit a defenseless
receiver down the field, those kinds of things, can't hit
the quarterbacks, roughing the passers a whole lot more restrictive
or severe. The numbers have just gone through the roof now.
(15:32):
You know, it used to be a thousand catches for
NFL receiver was like three hundred wins for a Major
league pitcher. You're in the Hall of Fame. It's just
you know, it's it's a number you're in. But you know,
a thousand catches now isn't isn't seen as what it
(15:53):
was once was. You know, there are four Hall of
Fame eligible receivers with more than a thigh and catches
who are not in the Hall of Fame, and Kwon Bolden, Reggie,
Wayne Andre Johnson, and Steve Smith senior. Okay so. And
also when you come to yards, hines Wood ranks twenty
seventh on the all time list for receiving yards. There
(16:17):
are nine Hall of Fame eligible receivers with more than
hines Ward's twelve eighty three yards, Steve Smith Senior, Reggie,
Wayne Andre Johnson and Kwon Bolden, Henry Ellard, Torry Holt,
Irving Fryar, Brandon Marshall, and Jimmy Smith. Now I you know,
did any of those names jump off at you and say, boy,
(16:38):
that guy's to be right? There's that Sometimes voters want
a player to be the best at his position in
his era at some point. Now, for various reasons, hines
Ward never rose to that level. Part of it was
the offense that he played in was pretty much run
(17:00):
heavy offense, and until Ben came on the scene in
two thousand and four, you know, he wasn't exactly playing
with Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks either. And then the
last thing is, and this is I believe maybe the
most realistic, and there's a Steelers fatigue among the Hall
of Fame selectors. You know, it wasn't that long ago.
(17:24):
A couple of classes ago, five Steelers went in five
and so you know, and I'm not saying they weren't
all worthy or you know, that was that wasn't what
it should have been, or any of that kind of stuff,
But I just believe, you know, because the Board of
Selectors has made up this way, there's one person from
every NFL city. You know, there's some at large people
(17:45):
they had more of that, and there's you know, all
that kind of stuff. But for example, if you're from
Cincinnati or Jacksonville or you know, one of those cities
where you know the guys that I just listed Reggie Wayne, Andre,
Steve Smith, Senior, Brandon Marshall, you know, and you're talking
about receivers and heines Ward comes up for discussion or
(18:08):
heines Ward's on the ballot where you're you know, narrowing
down the nominations to the different you know, cutoff numbers
along the way, and you're looking at that thinking, well,
why would I vote for him instead of the guy
from my you know team? So you know, the Steelers
have enough, we don't have any. So I think that
(18:28):
that's also a part of it. And you know, there's
there's really nothing you can do about it except, you know,
keep hoping for the best.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Stephen Psaki from Wilmington, Delaware has another hines Ward related question.
The talk of hines Ward's chances of getting into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame got me thinking about what
effect winning the Super Bowl MVP Award would have on
a player's chances for the Steelers, Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw,
and Lyn Swann all were voted Super Bowl MVPs and
are all in the Hall of Fame. Ward is not
(18:59):
in San Antonio. Holmes has no chance in my opinion.
So this small sample suggests that more than fifty percent
of Super Bowl MVPs wind up in the Hall of Fame.
Does this hold true league wide?
Speaker 1 (19:11):
It's actually way more than fifty percent. Okay, because Okay,
when you look at all the Super Bowl MVPs and
I think super Bowl, the next one is going to
be super Bowl fifty eight. Okay, so there's been fifty
seven played. Okay, There's currently four former Super Bowl MVPs
(19:33):
who are still active players, so they can't be in
the Hall of Fame. Those four guys are Jake from
State Farm, I mean, Patrick Mahomes, Cooper Cup, Von Miller,
and Aaron Rodgers. And then there are seven others who
are not yet eligible because they haven't been retired for
the required five years. That's Brady Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Flaco,
(19:57):
Malcolm Smith. Here's a little trivia question for you, young
Tom Malcolm Smith. What's what what? What team was he
on and what did he play and how was he
a Super Bowl MVP?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Was he on the Seahawks? Very nicely done Monks, and
he was a defensive.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Nick Foles and Julian Adam Edelman round out the seven
who are not yet eligible because they haven't been retired
for five years. And the flat coat comes back to
play for the Browns. That pushes him back a little more.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Hall of Fame clock. They'll be waiting and Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
But here's the complete list of Super Bowl MVPs who
are eligible to be enshrined but are not. Harvey Martin,
Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Doug Williams, Otis Anderson, Mark Rippon,
Larry Brown, remember him, Neil O'Donnell certainly does, Desmond Howard,
Dexter Jackson, Dion Branch, Hines Ward, and Santonio Holmes. So
(21:01):
it definitely has a Being a Super Bowl MVP is
definitely a selling point when it comes to Hall of
Fame election, way more than fifty percent.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
And finally, Bob Nemitz from Jacksonville, Florida asks, with all
of the complaints about bad calls, especially when they turn
into game changing outcomes, do you see the refs being
replaced by AI artificial intelligence. Oh, very sci fi.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Well, you know, there's a lot of sarcastic, cynical things
to say about the NFL officiating and artificial intelligence, but
I'm not going to go there. I'll leave that for you, Thomas.
But okay, but just to put this in perspective for Bob, Okay,
the NFL still uses two sticks in a link chain
(21:54):
to measure for first times. Okay, does that sound to
you like an industry it's likely to turned artificial intelligence
to replace its game officials anytime soon. I mean, how
about chips in the ball first?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
You know, baby steps here.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Baby step, yes, baby steps indeed.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I'm just wondering when they're going to replace us on
this podcast with artificial intelligence. That can't be too far
down the road. They got all this data of us
talking to each other. It's only a matter of time
before the computer can do both parts.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
And I won't even I won't even speculate how much
of an improvement might be.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Thanks so much for giving us a listen. As always,
get your questions into labs right now and maybe you'll
hear them on a future episode. Steeers and Cardinals back
at Akroscher Stadium this Sunday one o'clock kickoff for Bob Labriela.
I'm Tom Offerman, and this has been asked and answered
This is asked and answered questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Four hundred and twenty one total yards of offense for
your Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in Cincinnati Labs. When the game
ended and I looked at the box score, I had
to like wipe my eyes clear, like five different times
just to make sure they weren't deceiving me. And I
was seeing there, like, that's a four. It's not a
three twenty one, it's not a two twenty one. Really
four to twenty one. Wow, it's a long time coming,
wasn't it.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, But you know, I want I want to just
throw this in too. You know. When the game ended,
I had to check my pulse again, Yes, and it
was the same as it has been at the end
of games, like it seems like for the last couple
of months. So yeah, I it sure looked better. I
will grant you that, but I could use some more points,
(00:54):
you know that that whole score more points edict from
Steelers president Art Rudy the second back in January. This
group sure has taken it's good old time getting around
to living up to that. So but yeah, I do
think there was. There were so many things that I
(01:17):
liked and I think are positives moving forward offensively well,
and the defense played as it has So I'm not
talking about them, but that doesn't mean I'm taking them
for granted or anything. But you know, to me, one
of the critical things in the whole game was how
(01:40):
Picket played, how Picket looked, how Picket acted, because you know,
with the quick early fallouts of the decision, you know,
to cut ties with Matt Canada, was that it was
seen as a referendum on Picket. You know, is this
the guy for them moving forward? How is he going
(02:00):
to respond to this? Is he going to continue to regress?
You know, all of the things that you see on
the interweb, and since they're on the interweb, what do
we know about that there they have to be true? Yes, yes, so,
but I really thought I thought Pickett had his best game.
He was in command. Uh, certainly. I like the way
(02:21):
he was interacting on the sideline. I thought he was
you know involved. Uh, and then you saw the video.
You know, Picket came off when the game was over. Uh,
Pickett got off the field and into the tunnel there,
you know, in pay course, stadium, there's a it's it's
(02:44):
it's very well laid out and convenient underneath that area.
In terms of getting off the field and into the
locker rooms, it's a you know, it's a straight shot,
it's not confusing, it's and Pickett got off quickly and
he was He stood outside the locker room and greeted
every one of his teammates as they came by. And
(03:06):
you know that that was such a change for me
as a visual from the Browns game. Do you remember
that him sitting on the bench next to Canada looking like,
you know, he just wanted to I don't know. He
did not look happy.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
He wished he could disappear like he had a superpower.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Yes, So you know, I really think that that's that's
a positive development, as was you know, Nause Harris also,
I thought was to quote Bubby Brister, fixing to come
unglued after that Browns game, and you know, he was
very much into it against the Bengals, I thought he
(03:50):
played really well. And you know, in all due respect
to Jayleen Warren, I like Jalen Warren. I like what
he adds. I hope he plays for a long time.
With the steal but there is a difference in those
two guys, and you know, using them both I think
is critical for this team moving forward. And you know,
Nause Harris showed I think a lot of why he
(04:14):
was a number one draft pick. Some of those runs.
You know this guy is he's a tone setter with
his running. So again, all of those things were good.
I got to do better than one for four in
the red zone, though, and you knowfully, you know they
will continue to become more comfortable with the process, you know,
(04:36):
moving forward, starting Sunday against Arizona.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, no doubt. Great to see the yards there, but
need to see the points. Hey, we finally broke four
hundred yards labs, maybe we can break thirty points. Or
maybe that's just me getting a little too greedy.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Well, I'll tell you what, from your lips to God's ear,
you know that would be nice because you know it
would be okay with me too. I don't know, you know,
four minutes left in the fourth quarter, up a couple scores.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
You know, kick the feet up on the couch a
little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Oh man, just take a deep breath. That's you know,
it would be nice just to go to experience a
game where the outcome is not necessarily going to change
on the last snap of the game.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
That would be very refreshing for all of our health
in Steelers Nation. Let's get to the questions from you
guys today, and our first one starts with Dennis Trapnell
from Uniontown, Pennsylvania. I was listening to Monday Night Football
recently and the announcer said that now all unsuccessful fourth
down attempts are automatically reviewed like all scores and turnovers.
Am I being cynical or does the league want as
(05:40):
many stoppages as it as is possible for more annoying
commercials to dilute the enjoyment of watching the game? Will
they think of more situations to just automatically review.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
You know, I'm gonna link the tendency towards more review
with the league trying to compensate where it's for it's
inconsistent and arbitrary and game officiating as opposed to more commercials. Uh.
You know, I'm a cynic when it comes to NFL officiating,
(06:14):
But I still I still believe that the hope is
that by getting NFL quarters at headquarters in New York
more involved in more situations will lead the fewer, you know,
what the heck where they think in posts on social
media the game, after the games are played, and maybe
on Mondays. You know, the leads NFL stories lead Pro
(06:35):
football stories are less about officiating and maybe more about
you know, what happened in the games, and you know
how the outcome of those games are impacting playoff seatings
and you know all of that kind of stuff. You know,
I don't really think that they get it. They get
their money from the networks. I don't think they need
more stompages for more commercials. But hey, you know, I'm
(06:57):
I'm an old guy. I'm old school. My difference would
be for a solution, you know, who knows, maybe coming
up with ways to have better in game officials.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
No, come on, you want as many cooks in the
kitchen as possible.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Labs? Yeah you're right, Yeah, there you go. Yeah, good
point by you.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I mean, I'm just saying that's the NFL that I
know in love. I don't want it to change it. Yes,
Brad McGill from Grove City, Pennsylvania, as we dedicated fans
cheer on the quest for a seven Super Bowl win?
Am I correct in thinking the Steelers were the first
to win four, five, and six Super Bowls before others followed.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Well, let me just correct this a little bit. Brad's
on the right track, but he doesn't have it all
completely accurate. The Steelers were the first to win three
Super Bowls. They did that when they defeated Dallas in
Super Bowl thirteen, and then they were the first to
win four Super Bowls, which they did the following season
by beating the Rams in Super Bowl fourteen. Okay, but
(07:58):
it was the forty nine Ers that were the first
franchise to win five Super Bowls, and they did that
by defeating San Diego in Super Bowl twenty nine. You know,
that was the one where the Chargers went to Pittsburgh
three River Stadium and won that game when I don't know,
I certainly didn't believe that was going to be possible, right, Okay.
(08:18):
Then Dallas matched the forty nine Ers for five when
they defeated the Steelers in Super Bowl thirty. But the
Steelers were the first to win six when they beat
the Cardinals in Super Bowl forty three. Now since then,
New England also has six when they defeated the Rams
in Super Bowl fifty three.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
And right now it's safe to say the Steelers are
a little bit in front of the Patriots as far
as first to get to seven. That is a rough
team up in New England right now.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Yes, yes it is, and you know I the Bill
Belichick Aura, Yes, certainly is not the same since Captain
America left and went to Tampa. Mike last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Mike Calendar from Moresville, Indiana. How long is Kuwant Alexander's
contract with the Steelers. I'd like to see him back next.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Year, Okay. In July, late July, we were already at camp.
Kuwant Alexander signed a one year, one point three million
dollar contract with the Steelers that included a one hundred
and fifty two thousand dollars signing bonus. The salary was,
you know, one point well, the total value already gave
(09:38):
you that, but that included the one point three million,
included one fifty two signing bonus. It was only a
one year deal, so he's going to be eligible to
become an unrestricted free agent next March whenever the new
league year starts, which hasn't yet been determined.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
And unfortunately, I mean his play was awesome this year.
Warranting of another deal, But the injury always clouds things
up like that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Yeah, and you know he's you know, I'm not saying
he's too old or you know, anything like that, but
he is, you know, as you would say, he's played
more football NFL football that he's going to play. He's
at that part of his career. So I mean, you
just don't know how the rehab will go and then
what he might be like after that.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Dale Geller from Cape Coral, Florida. Why do the Steelers
or other teams activate players from the practice squad for
a game, send them back to the practice squad, only
to reactivate them for the next game. Is it a
cap space thing?
Speaker 1 (10:39):
No, it's less about cap space than it is about
what I'm going to explain now. Before the COVID season
of twenty twenty, if a team wanted to activate a
player from the practice squad, it had to sign him
and then create a spot on the fifty three million
roster by waiving a player who was already on the roster. Okay,
(10:59):
But when COVID hit and you had those you know,
last minute positive tests, and you know, guys were being
ruled ineligible for COVID reasons and you know, all of
that stuff that was going on. So the league changed
the rules a little bit and it allowed for the
procedure that is in place now. And that's what Dale
(11:20):
just kind of explained. You bring a guy up from
the practice squad for a game, and then you can
send him right back to the practice squad after. Now,
what that helps from a team standpoint is when you
bring the guy up, you don't if it's just for
a game, you don't have to cut someone that's on
the fifty three man roster and then expose him to
(11:44):
the other teams that could the claim him or just
sign him or whatever. And then after the game, when
you can then send the guy right back to the
practice squad, you don't have to cut him either, wait
twenty four hours for teams to decide if they want
to claim him or not, and then re sign them
to the practice squad. So it gives teams more much
more flexibility and certainty with their roster to be able
(12:08):
to do it like I just described. Now, one of
the things that has been amended since you know, they
changed the rule is you're like, for for example, if
you're the guy on the practice suade that the Steelers
are bringing up and putting back. You can only do
that with you three times before you have to make
a decision to either put you on the active roster
(12:31):
or cut you. You can't keep doing that to a
guy yo yo, owing him back and forth like that.
So that's that's the rule.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Amos Myers from More of Arizona. As I watched Saturday's
college games, I see linemen wearing all manner of knee
and leg braces, which is something I do not see
in the NFL. Difference in rules or difference in philosophy.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Well neither. It's the difference is that even the Hoham
College players, now you know, they can get n i
L money, so there is some sort of payment. Uh,
They're they're technically not professionals in the same way that
NFL players are professionals and NFL players who are professionals
(13:15):
are in a union, and the union says that you
can't You can't mandate knee braces on players. You can't
force them to wear them. You can suggest it, or
they can wear them if they choose, but that you
can't make it a rule or just tell them put
(13:38):
these on. They can do that in college. So that's that.
That's why you don't see it in the NFL, because
I would imagine that there are players who don't or
think they're those braces are too restrictive, you know, make
them less of players. They're not as mobile, maybe they're
not as quick or fast or whatever the reasons might be.
(14:01):
But they're in the Union, and the rule is you
you can't force us to make You can't force guys
to wear that kind of protective equipment.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Dave Adams from Chillicothe, Ohio asks, in your opinion, why
do you think heines Ward is not in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame? He is the Steelers leading receiver
in most statistical categories.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Yeah, okay, let me start with this. I mean, I
believe heines Ward is Hall of Fame worthy. If I
had to vote, I would vote for him, but I don't,
so I can't. But you're asking me why I think
he is not in. And here are some of the
theories that I have on that. The first is, since
(14:46):
the NFL has really liberalized the rules to make it
easier to throw the ball around. You know, there's how
it's officiated in terms of what's illegal contact, what's holding
what's pass interference. There's that, and then there's also the
(15:10):
player safety aspects of it, where can't hit a defenseless
receiver down the field, those kinds of things, can't hit
the quarterbacks, roughing the passers a whole lot more restrictive
or severe. The numbers have just gone through the roof now.
(15:32):
You know, it used to be a thousand catches for
NFL receiver was like three hundred wins for a Major
league pitcher. You're in the Hall of Fame. It's just
you know, it's it's a number you're in. But you know,
a thousand catches now isn't isn't seen as what it
(15:53):
was once was. You know, there are four Hall of
Fame eligible receivers with more than a thigh and catches
who are not in the Hall of Fame, and Kwon Bolden, Reggie,
Wayne Andre Johnson, and Steve Smith senior. Okay so. And
also when you come to yards, hines Wood ranks twenty
seventh on the all time list for receiving yards. There
(16:17):
are nine Hall of Fame eligible receivers with more than
hines Ward's twelve eighty three yards, Steve Smith Senior, Reggie,
Wayne Andre Johnson and Kwon Bolden, Henry Ellard, Torry Holt,
Irving Fryar, Brandon Marshall, and Jimmy Smith. Now I you know,
did any of those names jump off at you and say, boy,
(16:38):
that guy's to be right? There's that Sometimes voters want
a player to be the best at his position in
his era at some point. Now, for various reasons, hines
Ward never rose to that level. Part of it was
the offense that he played in was pretty much run
(17:00):
heavy offense, and until Ben came on the scene in
two thousand and four, you know, he wasn't exactly playing
with Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks either. And then the
last thing is, and this is I believe maybe the
most realistic, and there's a Steelers fatigue among the Hall
of Fame selectors. You know, it wasn't that long ago.
(17:24):
A couple of classes ago, five Steelers went in five
and so you know, and I'm not saying they weren't
all worthy or you know, that was that wasn't what
it should have been, or any of that kind of stuff,
But I just believe, you know, because the Board of
Selectors has made up this way, there's one person from
every NFL city. You know, there's some at large people
(17:45):
they had more of that, and there's you know, all
that kind of stuff. But for example, if you're from
Cincinnati or Jacksonville or you know, one of those cities
where you know the guys that I just listed Reggie Wayne, Andre,
Steve Smith, Senior, Brandon Marshall, you know, and you're talking
about receivers and heines Ward comes up for discussion or
(18:08):
heines Ward's on the ballot where you're you know, narrowing
down the nominations to the different you know, cutoff numbers
along the way, and you're looking at that thinking, well,
why would I vote for him instead of the guy
from my you know team? So you know, the Steelers
have enough, we don't have any. So I think that
(18:28):
that's also a part of it. And you know, there's
there's really nothing you can do about it except, you know,
keep hoping for the best.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Stephen Psaki from Wilmington, Delaware has another hines Ward related question.
The talk of hines Ward's chances of getting into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame got me thinking about what
effect winning the Super Bowl MVP Award would have on
a player's chances for the Steelers, Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw,
and Lyn Swann all were voted Super Bowl MVPs and
are all in the Hall of Fame. Ward is not
(18:59):
in San Antonio. Holmes has no chance in my opinion.
So this small sample suggests that more than fifty percent
of Super Bowl MVPs wind up in the Hall of Fame.
Does this hold true league wide?
Speaker 1 (19:11):
It's actually way more than fifty percent. Okay, because Okay,
when you look at all the Super Bowl MVPs and
I think super Bowl, the next one is going to
be super Bowl fifty eight. Okay, so there's been fifty
seven played. Okay, There's currently four former Super Bowl MVPs
(19:33):
who are still active players, so they can't be in
the Hall of Fame. Those four guys are Jake from
State Farm, I mean, Patrick Mahomes, Cooper Cup, Von Miller,
and Aaron Rodgers. And then there are seven others who
are not yet eligible because they haven't been retired for
the required five years. That's Brady Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Flaco,
(19:57):
Malcolm Smith. Here's a little trivia question for you, young
Tom Malcolm Smith. What's what what? What team was he
on and what did he play and how was he
a Super Bowl MVP?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Was he on the Seahawks? Very nicely done Monks, and
he was a defensive.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Nick Foles and Julian Adam Edelman round out the seven
who are not yet eligible because they haven't been retired
for five years. And the flat coat comes back to
play for the Browns. That pushes him back a little more.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Hall of Fame clock. They'll be waiting and Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
But here's the complete list of Super Bowl MVPs who
are eligible to be enshrined but are not. Harvey Martin,
Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Doug Williams, Otis Anderson, Mark Rippon,
Larry Brown, remember him, Neil O'Donnell certainly does, Desmond Howard,
Dexter Jackson, Dion Branch, Hines Ward, and Santonio Holmes. So
(21:01):
it definitely has a Being a Super Bowl MVP is
definitely a selling point when it comes to Hall of
Fame election, way more than fifty percent.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
And finally, Bob Nemitz from Jacksonville, Florida asks, with all
of the complaints about bad calls, especially when they turn
into game changing outcomes, do you see the refs being
replaced by AI artificial intelligence. Oh, very sci fi.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Well, you know, there's a lot of sarcastic, cynical things
to say about the NFL officiating and artificial intelligence, but
I'm not going to go there. I'll leave that for you, Thomas.
But okay, but just to put this in perspective for Bob, Okay,
the NFL still uses two sticks in a link chain
(21:54):
to measure for first times. Okay, does that sound to
you like an industry it's likely to turned artificial intelligence
to replace its game officials anytime soon. I mean, how
about chips in the ball first?
Speaker 2 (22:09):
You know, baby steps here.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Baby step, yes, baby steps indeed.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I'm just wondering when they're going to replace us on
this podcast with artificial intelligence. That can't be too far
down the road. They got all this data of us
talking to each other. It's only a matter of time
before the computer can do both parts.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
And I won't even I won't even speculate how much
of an improvement might be.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Thanks so much for giving us a listen. As always,
get your questions into labs right now and maybe you'll
hear them on a future episode. Steeers and Cardinals back
at Akroscher Stadium this Sunday one o'clock kickoff for Bob Labriela.
I'm Tom Offerman, and this has been asked and answered
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