August 28, 2025 • 47 mins
Max and Rob discuss the Steelers' strong practice squad and chat about headlines from around the league.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome inside the locker room with King and Starks presented
overy neighborhood Ford Store here on this Steelers Audio Network
alongside Max Starks, justin Miliner Studio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I'm Rob King, I am X.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
How are you Rob? How are we doing today on
this lovely Thursday morning.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yeah it is. It's Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
These are the days, Max, probably the last ten days
in which every day has been absolutely perfect, better than
the rest, better than the next one. Cool mornings, cool evenings,
warmer days. I think they call this San Diego. This,
this must be what it liked to you know. No, no,
(00:47):
you know, good wispy cloud or two no rain. It's
just been ideal. I'm sure nice and cool out there
in the desert.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Yeah, definitely not cool. Okay, here it's but it's below normal.
Next monsoon is not expected until next week, so hopefully
we get the Labor day with below normal temps the
hide today's ninety six, so that's technically good.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I have to tell you, Max, I was out there
four years ago when the pit was Pitt was in
the Fiesta Bowl, and I was out there, and we're
there all week, and we had our radio responsibilities in
the morning, and I thought man. You know, I've heard
a lot about the Sedona place. I think I might
have to pop out there and check it out. And
they got I think it. I literally think it was
(01:38):
an inch of rain and they're like, yeah, roads are closed,
Like what an inch of rain.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
I guess it's just a different deal out there.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Like an inch of rain was like flooding, and I
was I would think that inch of rain would get
sucked up in the desert, but evidently that's not the case.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah. Yeah, because it's so hot and so you know,
tough on the top soil, that's why the rain kind
of just hits it almost like almost like teflon and
it just just goes. And then if it if there's
any type of dips in the uh in you know,
in the ground as far as because we're out here
(02:16):
in the mountainous region, it just settles. It settles there
so creates these huge puddles. I mean, I'll never forget
one of the first times I was out here. It
was right before it's coming back to training camp, and
literally like the the underpass literally was like flooded. It
looked like a pool, like you were driving into a
(02:38):
swimming pool. And you know, some of your higher profile trucks.
Obviously we're out here in the desert, so you know,
high profile pickup trucks number one, uh goes in there,
and it just absolutely just I mean, I was like
the high profile didn't have enough you know, almost didn't
have enough profile for it. And uh and so you're like, okay, yeah, yeah,
(03:00):
we're gonna shut this down. Yeah so yeah, but but yeah,
so so it happens. It happens, but not right now.
Now we we we got we got a huge dust
storm a couple of days ago. I think it made
national news. And it was crazy like it. I mean,
it looked like a scene from the movie The Mummy,
the original one Brendan Fraser, and it looked like this wall,
(03:23):
except for there was no face on it. So and
it just can't And we're driving straight to it because
Quincy had softball practice and it was down in the
Tempee area and so we're driving south and man, it
was like it was like freaky like and I missed
the turn I was supposed to get off at that
would have kind of went along the line of it
versus going directly, so we barrel straight into it. And yeah,
(03:47):
it was just dark, super windy, trees were falling and
then rain. But then after that it kind of dissipated.
It lasts about thirty thirty maybe forty minutes, but because
it was coming across, you know, saying, depending on the
direction you were going, you're either going with it or
you're going straight into it. There was no kind of
ducking or dodging. And all cars are just dirty. I
(04:08):
wouldn't got it washed yesterday. It was crazy.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
By the way, there was a nineteen thirty two version
of the movie than Mummy.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I just wanted to let you know, Okay, well, I'm.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
The ninety nine movie nineties he had writer was loosely based.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I thought there was an earlier Mummy, so I just
wanted to point that out.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Originally I felt.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Like that was more in the horror, the horror horror era,
you know, oversionally Francis fourt Coppolas and all that kind
of stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Not too many people, not too many people alive who
probably went to that nineteen thirty two showing probably, yeah, I'm.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Gonna guess did it actually did it actually have sound
and words with it?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Associate with they did?
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Thirty two went to the Big Fox Theater and you know,
four thousand people going to a movie or whatever. It
was so so Max, the right after we went off
the air, was wasn't right after, but shortly after we
went off the air yesterday, we knew this was gonna happen.
This Steers are now their practice squad. But once again,
like the fifty three man roster, this was an initial
(05:07):
initial practice squad because it already changed this morning. By
the way, some other news around the NFL, some of
it very pertinent to the AFC North that we're going
to get to. But I did want to go through
the practice squad. Now, everybody on this practice squad was here,
so the Steelers, and again I think Max, you know,
(05:30):
generally speaking, I think in the past, have we not
seen players brought in from other organizations to join the
practice squad? Has that usually not been the case at
least a few players.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yeah, I mean, you know, usually you bring a couple.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Ken know, so none none this year. So we have
been talking about the depth on this roster, and we've
been talking about that, and I know, people, you know,
some people are shaking your heads again. I am shaking
my head a people still thinking that this. You know,
I've this is the first year Mike Tomlin's gonna have
(06:04):
a losing season. I just I don't see it. I
can't see it.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
I suppose if you squinted it and every the worst
stuff happen, knock on wood, maybe maybe.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Something, But I just can't see it. I just don't
see it, Max.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
And part of the reason is that, you know, I
think we all got up to First of all, we
saw him in mini camp, We saw him at OTAs,
we saw this roster, we saw him up in the
trow and we saw guys who played a role on
last year's team, who were part of the team in
a substantial way not make the regular season roster. James Pierre,
(06:42):
a top special teams guy in your third corner last year,
or a fourth corner I guess, Beanie Bishop who led
your team in interceptions, Dylan Cook who was a valuable
backup tackle for you. These guys were on the team
last year and playing, you know, various degrees of substantial
(07:03):
roles and did not make the regular roster this year.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
But they are in the practice squad.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
They are on the peace squad, so they're probably those
guys two way guys, depending on what happens with everything.
I mean, we kind of figured Sebastian castro a fall
in this category, but definitely for James Pierre and Beanie Bishop,
guys who are key contributors. You know. This this where
I think also goes to kind of show you that
(07:31):
you know, the depth and the quality of guys this
year was outstanding. The fact that you, i mean, our
leading interception guy from a year ago is on the
practice squad. Just think about that. Let that set in
for a second. That means we've upgraded even better than
that at that position. That's what that tells you. But
(07:51):
the fact that we were able to keep those guys
on the practice squad they cleared waivers. Now here's the thing.
Here's the say. Teams can always go and post them
off at the practice squad and add them to their
active rosters. But that's the only way you can get
them now, right. But it is really good. And also
it says a lot about Mike Tominy. These guys want
to come back and play for him, right, you know,
even even in even in this kind of I don't
(08:13):
want to say demoted role, but it is a diminished
role than from a previous year.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Right, And you know, as I look at this team
and so this as of right now, this group is intact.
Two guys who got cut are back with the team.
And you know there's times where you know, as a
veteran guy, you can just say, listen, we're gonna, We're gonna,
this is what's gonna happen. You don't have to go
through waivers. We want to bring you back. Zero through
(08:38):
four guys have to go through waivers. So you know,
the waiver deadline ended at noon yesterday. I'm gonna look
at this team and say that, you know, there are
some developmental guys. I'm the practice squad I'm talking about.
There are some developmental guys that I think are really interesting.
You know, Stephen Jones comes immediately to mind for me.
(09:01):
Like we talk about this on the roster, Max. How
you know certain guys you think, okay, their role is
going to be special teams. And you know, I'm just
making up a position fourth linebacker or sixth defensive back
or sixth receiver in case we need him. But he's
going to contribute on special teams. Then you'd like to
have a guy or too on your roster. It's possible
(09:22):
to have a guy or to who you view as
a future starter, who's a developmental guy, and you're hoping
you don't have to get to him, perhaps, but you
want him to continue to practice and get better and
maybe as a season wears on, get him in a
little bit of you know, thoughtfully, you know, executed game
time play, so that this person gets their feet wet
(09:44):
and begins to get better and maybe as a starter
in the future. For example, you know, a couple of
years ago, that guy might have been Spencer Anderson. Right,
we think this guy's a starter, but he's not a
starter yet as opposed to another guy's a veteran guy,
and we don't view him as a long term starter,
but we view him as a guy that can come
in and you know, hold the fort if something were
(10:06):
to happen. So there are still guys like this on
the developmental guys like I look at Steven Jones and
I think there's a guy who it's possible, you know, again,
if things have to go right and Steven has to
continue to work, but it's possible that this is a
practice squad guy. And if you told me three years
from now he's an NFL starter, I wouldn't be shocked. Now,
(10:27):
a lot has to go right, I understand that, but
it is nice to have a few developmental guys. Sebastian
Castro here's a guy who I don't think it would
shock any of us if in a couple of years
he's a starting caliber safety in the NFL or at
the very worst, the third rotational safety in the NFL. Again,
(10:47):
things have to go right. These guys have to progress.
But I think it's interesting that the practice squad has
guys like that.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
No, I think there's a lot of guys. I mean,
you list like Stephen Jones. I mean I also look
at low Nichols. Yes, right, coming back, a guy that
we both liked flashed and talk about, Hey, if a
guy goes down right since we only got three running backs, man,
that's that's that's a nice two way guy to have
(11:16):
that you know is gonna run hard, physical. This dude
led the NCAA and rush I mean, has he had
He knows how to tote the rock. I mean, he
had over seventeen hundred yards last year. So it's not like,
oh man, this guy's brand new to run in the
football and he's been he's been a slugging type of guy. No,
he's been a home run kind of guy.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Well, and we saw flast agreed, agreed, and yet and
I do want you to because we both saw that,
and I totally agree with you. Now that hadn't been said.
He's competing with Trey Sermon, who's also on the practice squad.
So Sermon, I mean, don't forget. In twenty twenty one,
the forty nine Ers drafted him in the third round.
Now think about think about Caleb Johnson, right, Steeers fit
(12:00):
are expecting him as a third round running back to
be your starter eventually. You know, that's why the Steelers
took him because they think he has starter capabilities. Well,
not every third rounder hits, or maybe they just need
a different opportunity. So you have Lou Nichols, a seventh
round pick by Green Bay, and you have Trey Sermon,
a third round pick from San Francisco on your practice squad.
(12:23):
I mean that is and these guys are you know,
they're still young enough, you know they're not spring chickens.
But but you know, Trey Sermon's twenty six years old.
We're not exactly talking about being put out the pasture here.
You know, these guys are guys who you would think
could come in and play a good role for you
if need be, but also have to compete with each
(12:44):
other to get better. And what does Mike Toman always say,
iron sharpens iron, So I think that I think we
were both looking at those two guys wondering man and
in another year, would they be a fourth running back
on this team?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
No room for him? But luckily to me, there's room
for of these guys in the practice squad.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Yeah, no, it is, it is. There is room, And
I think that's where you know, it's really indicative. And
so when you try and try and create this squad
and this group, I mean, it's it's a very tough thing,
and you know, to get guys to actually stay, I mean,
you know, I was doing some work with the Cardinals
yesterday on on Craig's Brothers, and I get because I
(13:26):
had to like because they're both Wolf, so I call
them both wolf independently. But I was with Ron Wolfley,
Craig Craig's younger brother on his show, and we were
going through, you know, with what the Arizona Cardinals and
kind of their fifty three man roster, and you know
a lot of guys that left that. I'm sure the
Cardinals wanted on their practice squad. No guys who got
(13:48):
beat out, but they went they went elsewhere and actually
joined practice squads elsewhere. So I mean, you look at that,
and it's just so for the Steels, it makes it
even more kind of special that you can keep these guys.
They only signed thirteen guys of their practice squad. They
still had three remaining spots because they couldn't get those guys,
and those guys actually signed with practice squads elsewhere for
(14:08):
the opportunity. So you know that there could be good.
There could have been that, but we didn't see that here.
I mean, we'd look at this practice squad, Max Hurlaman,
Kashawn Keishawn Williams, and Robert Woods, right, I mean woods
Is was a vet. And you know when you think
about like the other guys like like Marquez Valdis Scampton
got cut from the Seahawks, right, you know, obviously Deontay Johnson,
(14:31):
but not going down that road. You know, those guys
were cut from teams. Uh so you know, and there's
teams that need receivers, and you figure Robert Woods said,
now I'll just I'll just hang here. I'm cool, you
know type of deal that that that's a pretty that's
that's pretty big. And I mean that speaks to the
coaches and wanting to be coach and wanting to be
around this philosophy and this team environment that they would
(14:53):
rather stay here and figure it out versus going elsewhere,
you know, And there's a lot of kind of I
feel like Julius Welshoff right, Hey, the German knife maker
makes his return.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah, yea.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
You know, they didn't use an international exemption and actually
use a real practice squad spot on because I think
they think he has real potential. So why you know,
just burden that opportunity, you know, let him He's actually
a real dude now, So I kind of look at that,
and it's pretty cool to see those type of individuals
on this rune. I mean, it gives you a really
robust route and continues to add to the depth of
(15:26):
the team. We talked about depth and training camp. This
depth right here is even is just as good as that,
right because it carries over from training camp and now
with the minimized number of guys, you can now really
really make some impact. I mean, you know, thirty seven
guys had to be cut down, but then you're able
to bring sixteen back. That speaks volumes. You know, there's
(15:49):
twenty one that did not come back, but to get
sixteen guys and you didn't have to go elsewhere to
find those guys. That's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Been working with you know your system, know the language,
know the expectations. I'm glad you mentioned the wide receiver
group because I think it's almost like the perfect balance
of what you'd want. And we're seeing now there aren't
multiple players at each position. But I do think that
this shows, you know, good thoughtful use of a practice squad. Right,
(16:20):
so you look at the wide receiver position, you have
Max Hurlman. Okay, so Hurlman, if you don't know his story,
played at Colgate defensive back, went to Notre Dame and
basically was a special teamer being listed now as a
wide receiver by the Steelers. Showed some flashes, showed some things, right,
had that good first preseason game. But in that same
(16:40):
first game he had a drop and then he had
a touchdown, Right, so you see some of the things
he can do. You know, possible, you know, could he
possibly be eventually an NFL player. He's raw, he needs
to be developed. He is not ready yet has been
deemed for a fifty three man roster, but he's got
up shot. Keyshawn Williams has got upside as well. And
(17:01):
then you have Robert Woods and so now you know,
I would think that if early in the season something
were to happen and you needed a guy to step up, well,
it's kind of nice to be able to reach down
to your practice squad and have a guy who's got
six hundred and eighty three career receptions and a Super
Bowl on his resume. A guy who is going to
(17:22):
go out in an Arthur Smith offense on the edge
and block for you. You know, there's he's a guy
that can step in now. So you you hope hurl
them in and Keishawn Williams develop. You hope they come
along and next year or maybe late in this season,
are legitimate battlers for a roster spot. A guy you're
(17:42):
looking at and saying, hey man, this hold it. You know,
batman of hatches, this guy's a fourth receiver type for us.
You know that's that's valuable to be able to develop guys. Now, well,
that's is that gonna happen. I don't know, but I
like the makeup of and we'll talk about the entire
practice squad in a moment, but I just like them
makeup of what you're able to do with that receiver
position with just those three guys.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, no, I mean that speaks, that speaks volumes, right,
I mean, you know, it's it's it's a it's a
good cross section of NFL experience that you have, not
only on this practice squad, but I think, like you said,
at each group you can point to, you know that
there's there, there's somebody who's done something notable, right for
(18:27):
for for most of these position groups, you know, defensive
back of wide receiver obviously having the most of that experience.
And then you've got some youth in there. You know,
you look at d Line, right, Kyler Baud, Debarvin leal right, right,
you know, on on the younger side of it. But
guys who've been in this league for a while, I mean,
you know, we talked about Julius and his upside, you
know as as an international exemption player now making a
(18:49):
true practice squad and not not being the exempt guy.
Dylan Cook, like you said, has been has been has been,
a guy that's been trusted over the last couple of
years as as as a swing and still shows potential
as well as Stephen Jones. But then, like you said,
Trey Sermon, Lou Nichols, right, these were drafted guys in
this league that have accomplished college resumes, So I mean
(19:10):
you go through it. And then of course JJ Galbreth,
like I said, he's a guy that fit very similar
skill traits to what you already have on the roster.
So he's kind of those plug and play type of
guys where you could plug and replace that guy if
an injury does happen, so a safety insurance policy. So
I mean, I really like the way it is, yeh.
I mean I'm really excited about that. Yep.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
And so you know, you look at Kyler ball practice
squad last year University of Minnesota. Guy still just twenty
three years old. So let's run down the roster quickly.
If you have some comments, throw him in there. But
I think it's it's exactly what we're talking about. You
look at defensive back Beanie Bishop, James Pierre, right, veteran
(19:52):
guys who you I mean, well, of course you know
young veteran in the case of Beanie. But we've seen
what these guys can do. These guys can.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Collect, let the team in interceptions. Yeah, that's that's that's
not as well with Mika Fitzpatrick, Joey Woarter junior this
roster a year ago, right, Deshaun Elliott and company, and
he let he led the team in interceptions. So James James.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Pierre was a top special teams guy for you, right,
So those guys can come right in and help you
in the meantime. Sebastian Castro gets a chance to develop.
DeShawn Jamison gets a chance to develop. Daryl Porter, who
we both thought really flashed as well later on. He's
a guy they picked up later chance to develop. There's
your five defensive backs. You mentioned Baw and Leal. You
(20:38):
know again, Baw twenty three years old, Demarvin has been
around for three years. But again both guys that maybe
you know, they bring a little bit different skill set
I think, but still guys that can come in and
potentially help you. Julius Walshoff, as you mentioned on the
offensive line, we talked about Stephen Jones, a young guy
who hopefully can develop and maybe there's something they whether
(21:01):
it's a future starter or maybe he's a future you know,
eight or nine man rotation guy who you feel good
about developing. Guys like that normally cost you draft picks
or money in free agency, so he has a chance
in the meantime if you need somebody to step up,
you got a guy and Dylan Cook who's done that.
Before we talked about the running back position. I think
JJ Gollbroth is a kind of a straight up developmental guy.
(21:23):
He's a guy that they liked in camp, and then
we talked about the receivers in Hurlom and Keishawn Williams
and Robert Woods. It is a thoughtfully constructed practice squad.
You didn't have to go outside of your own group
to bring somebody in because you felt good about the
talent you had internally. I think all in all, you know,
if you're the if you're the kind of football guy
(21:45):
that gets into these kind of details, Max like you
and I do, I think you have to you have
to be pretty happy with the sixteen players on the
Steelers practice squad.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Yeah. No, I mean, I mean there's there's you know,
I kind of laid out my thoughts, so I think
you're right there. I mean, I like, I like what
we have. I think there's good quality depth, and you
got plenty of options available. Uh, you know, is there
someone else out there? Maybe? Maybe, But I think when
you look at it right now, I don't know where
(22:16):
you're kind of adding at this point, you know, outside
of one of the obvious things. I'm sure some people
are always still going to say, oh, well, Max, what
about the wide receiver? Guys, Guys, guys, let's actually see
what the season looks like first. Okay, I get I
get it. I get everybody wants a number two receiver,
you know, every everybody wants that. But listen, listen, every
(22:38):
and not every team has that. Not every team has that.
And guess what we talked about it last year. You know,
Kansas City didn't have that, and they they went all
the way to a super Bowl, you know, and plenty
of teams that had it that didn't even make the playoffs.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yes, and they've got less, by the way, which is
one of the bits of news around the NFL. And no,
I agree with you, and I'm Max, Let's see what
these guys can do when they're healthy.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Let's not forget again. Uh, we'll see what happens.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
You know, the people who are out there, you know,
we've all been We're all known who've been wrong, right,
The people who are out there who think this team
has got to have that number two type receiver. Look, man,
I just want to see what it looks like when
Aaron Rodgers is under center. You got DK Metcalf, you
have Johnny Smith, you have Roman Wilson, you know, on
(23:32):
the outside again. You know, I'm not even talking about
the other three guys that are gonna be back. I
just talking about the three new guys. We've got three
new guys before we even talk about Austin and then
Miller and' scronic. So let's let's wait and see. I'm intrigued.
I know Max is intrigued as well, and I know
we have to take a break. We're gonna do that now.
Steve has made a couple of more moves that we're
(23:53):
gonna get to. There are also some interesting moves around
the NFL that Max is going to weigh in on.
When we could take you inside the locker room with
King and Starks, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store here
on the Steelers Audio Network and welcome back inside the
locker room the King and Starks, presented by your neighborhood
Fords Store here on the Steelers Audio Network. And there
(24:18):
were a couple of guys that were kind of you know,
if you're a fan and sort of getting into this
roster construction, which I think fans do. Right, that's where
we've been kind of, you know, pointing towards this date.
The thought that there were a couple of veterans out
there who weren't on the practice squad. Max Sharping, a
guard who started I believe the numbers thirty three games.
(24:40):
He started thirty three games in the NFL. This is
a guy who's a veteran and can give you quality depth.
He was not on the practice squat Chuck Clark, you know,
coming off the injury. He's been a solid starter throughout
his career, had an injury a couple of years ago,
you know, kind of worked his way back and you
only had three safeties on the roster. Wow, that's a
(25:00):
it's an interesting roster construction. Well, today turns out that
those guys are back on the active roster, and that
Will Howard and Dante Kent are going to the IR.
So Max your thoughts on that.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
No, I think we kind of anticipated this, right Rob.
We were wondering, you know, with the decision for four
qbs for qbs right, Well we saw that initially come up.
We're like, hmm, that's interesting, and I think this is
kind of what you kind of alluded to Rob yesterday,
that could Will Howard go on the short term I are,
(25:37):
and you then get to use the services of Skylar
Thomas as your emergency third quarterback as Will Howard kind
of gets healthy, gets that hand right and was able
to come back to us, and that absolutely came to fruition. Then,
of course Dante Kent didn't see him. Didn't see him. No, No,
Dante Kent for a for a little while. But the
(26:00):
potential for what Dante Kent can be is what's very
intriguing and apparently intrigued that Steelers enough that you know,
they had him on the active roster to make sure
he was safe, oh waiver, frenzy and everything else. You
didn't want to lose him, and now you kind of
put him on IR. Not sure what their designations are yet.
On IR, obviously you can have up to eight IR
(26:21):
designations a year, and I believe four of those can
be short term, four permanence, right, I think that's how
it is.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Yeah, So each of these guys, now, Trice, Kent, and
Howard should be eligible, by my understanding and the rule,
should all be eligible to come back after this first
four weeks.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Yeah, so it's a four weeks short term, ir, and
I believe you can do that. It's four or six times,
I can't can't remember exactly what the number was, and
eight total IRS and those.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Eight guys so yeah, yeah, so those you know, the
designated for return guys. And at this point of the season,
now these eight guys, only eight guys can come back.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
To your eight you can come back. I forgot that changed. Yes,
so here's three eight guys could be short term, yes.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Right, here's three of them. So that's already been done.
So that's uh, but hey, that that's what happens. And
these are these are valuable guys. And I think you know,
from Howard's perspective and from Kent's perspective, a chance to
get healthy, to make sure that you are healthy. You
don't get to practice, Corey Trice, same thing, hamstring, you
(27:32):
don't get to practice, but hopefully, you know, if you're
if you're Corey Trice, you're spending the next you know,
four to six to eight weeks whatever it is, you
can come back because you have three weeks to then
bring a guy back from Irre's. There's a twenty one
day window that they you know, they're all after different things. Right,
will Howard Heal start throwing the football around? You get
(27:53):
to stand around and kind of observe. You know, I
can't practice, but you get a chance to observe. You know,
Dante can't get healthy and Corey Trice maybe hopefully find
a way to put this hamstring. Now this is two hamstrings.
He's had an addition to the acls on each knee.
Put this behind him, right.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yeah, yeah, no, this is you know, this is opportunity.
You know, it comes to a point where, you know,
potential and reality sometimes diverge, and we hope that that
isn't the case with Corey Trice. Get getting an opportunity
here to really get himself there and prove that he
can be that guy that they think he is right right,
(28:32):
And that's what that's the hope is, because I mean,
like you said, when healthy avatar, right he you knows,
as Mike Townell likes to call him. I mean, he's
an alien out there, and he possesses a rare skill set.
But it's going to be making sure you can you
can conquer that H word, that's health, and see that
that can come to fruition because he's a guy who
(28:55):
could contribute. It could be, you know, a big time
guy when healthy, because we know what the capabilities are
when he is, so all the best to him and
and you know in that process. But like you said,
I mean for the other guys you know, will like
you said, healthy, throw the ball, get back into it,
learn sit Sometimes it's not a bad thing to be
able to sit in today's microwave society. You know, you
(29:19):
want things ready now now now. Sometimes it's it's good
to let it go low and slow. Some things taste
better low and slow. Rob you know, fall you in
the bone, you know, I mean, so, so we're not
going to go you know, too far. But and Dante,
like a lot of potential there young in his journey
had an unfortunate setback. Let's see if he can get
(29:40):
back to form because he's a guy that was explosive
in college and see if he can bring that brand
of football to the NFL level. So yeah, three guys
on the IR. Eight there we go. Eight total guys.
Now five left. Not that I want, not that there's
a slot I want to fill by any means the imagination. Rob,
Let's just make that clear. I don't want to see
(30:01):
five more guys go on. But you know you do
have the space, you know, for that, so you don't
lose guys like you know, back in the day, given
when I injured my neck and had to go on IR,
there was no designated to return, you know what I'm
saying like that, I wish I would have had this.
Maybe I would have been ready, you know in uh
in nine, well what was that, Yeah, twenty ten season
(30:24):
when we did Super Bowl forty five. Maybe I would
have been able to come back by the playoffs when
I got injured, when I injured my neck, But that
was not a thing. Now we have that thing. So
it's nice to have that kind of extra tool or
resource available to you to be able to be used properly.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
So Max, there were you know, I want to get
into the Steelers draft over the last few years. Now
that the roster is the initial roster is set, but
I think I'm gonna leave that for a moment because
there there were a lot of moves, so that that's
a topic that can live for a little bit, becauuse
there were a lot of moves that I want to
get to, and I'm going to start with a couple
(31:04):
of teams that we saw in the preseason before. We
kind of hone in on the teams in the division
for the Steelers, who also made some moves, but Adam
Feelin traded to the Vikings. I thought, you know, just
as an observer and we just saw Carolina, right. This
(31:24):
was an interesting move to me because you know, I
was talking to somebody yesterday, I talking to my son, actually,
who's who's become a bit of a CUB reporter, texting
me throughout the course of the show to make sure
I'm on top of any moves that are going on.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Thank you to Schaefer King cub reporter. Shaefer King unpaid
of course, call him.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
We'll call him an intern Max and an intern he
gets a free meal every now and then. But you know,
we were talking about it and he's like, you know, yeah,
here's Minnesota, like trying to bolster a young quarterback, right,
And I'm thinking, well, they got a young quarterback in
Carolina too, you know, Bryce Young and he seemed to
have a good connection with Adam Feeling. They did get
(32:02):
a couple of draft picks. I can't say for sure
I know where Carolina is on their whole thoughts of
when they're going to be able to contend or what
have you, But thought that was interesting. A veteran receiver
who's had some excellent seasons in the NFL. Sure he's
a little bit older, but he's still a productive guy.
(32:22):
He was on pace for a you know, seventy five
eighty catch season last year. That's that's pretty good, you know,
going from one team to another. And I mentioned that
just because it's a team we just saw in Carolina.
Do you have any thoughts on that trader? You want
me to move on now?
Speaker 3 (32:37):
I mean, I think for for Adam thielend, you know,
this is kind of homecoming for him, right, you know,
we didn't really consider that part of it, that he
could be like, hey, I get to come back to
where I started my career and kind of made a
name for myself. So you know, I think when you
are Carolina, you're trying to figure out what what is
that sauce? What are we trying to get as a
(33:01):
team as far as an identity there with with coach
Canals and you know, older receiver, they want to get younger, right,
you got you got a younger quarterback there. You're trying
to see if a youth movement can happen to be
able to create that. But I think for you know,
on the flip side of that coin, there's another young
quarterback up there in Minnesota. And you know, and for
(33:23):
Adam Thielend, you're not asked to be the number one.
I think down in Carolina he was still looked at
as the number one guy. So a lot of pressure
on an older player to be that number one. And
I think going to Minnesota, you already know you're kind
of number three, right, you know, you're you're a third
trio guy. You know that's gonna come in. Obviously you're
not gonna ask him to play on special teams, but
(33:44):
he's going to be one of those guys in Kevin
o'conn's offense that if they want to go a lot
of eleven personnel, he's a guy that can be in
there and he's tried, tested, he knows the environment, and
and he's he's good at what he does. And I
think that's kind of how I look at it, and
I say, you know what, good for him? And I
think a great opportunity. I think this is the best
compromise for them because you have you have Justin Jefferson
(34:07):
and Jordan Addison, who are your one and two, right,
So no need to worry about who his role is.
But if either one of those guys get injured, you
know that you haven't Adam Thielen to come in, and
he's gonna be good too.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Yeah, And again just to take a quick snapshot because
neither are these teams we're gonna move over to the ASC.
Neither are these teams obviously in the AFC that completed
his trade. But you know we're down there, and you know,
they they really feel good about about their receiver group.
You know, David Moore is a veteran guy. I'm talking
about Carolina. Now, look, you spent first round picks in
consecutive years on receivers Ted McMillan and then last year
(34:43):
Exavierly get so they're expecting these guys to, you know,
to get to take a step forward to McMillan to
make an impact. And then there's guy you know, Jaalen Cocher.
But I think they really like Jimmy Horn junior, and
probably the emergence of Bryce and Tremaine an undrafted guy
during camp. They really liked what he did. We didn't
get a chance to see him. He was nicked up
a little bit in that in that game, but the
(35:06):
fact that they that, I think those guys emerged and
they were able to get a couple of picks back
for feeling, I'm sure that's what they're thinking, that hey,
let's get some value here and and move on. It.
Just thought it was interesting two young quarterbacks on each
team and what each team is trying to accomplish, and again,
what do they feel about their own personnel. There's lots
of things that go into these things. The other one
(35:26):
I wanted to get too quickly because it's another team
we saw in preseason, and this is an AFC team, and.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
That's Jacksonville and the Jaguars.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
You know, they've got Liam Cohen, who did you know,
such a great job with Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay,
you know, as their offensive coordinator. Now he's the head
coach of Jacksonville first year, and you know, he adds
Tim Patrick in a trade. And again I think this
is interesting because the Jaguars already had, you know, made
(35:58):
a huge splash, so Brian Thomas junior, you know, phenomenal
rookie season. I mean, this guy is just a star.
And then they got Travis Hunter. They traded up to
get him, so they're expecting big things at him from
him as a receiver, you know, they they went up
to get him at the number two overall pick. They
(36:18):
signed Diamie Brown from Washington in the offseason after he
had it caught a breakthrough season, but thirty receptions a
year ago. Always a guy that I think that the
expectation was there was more there with the talent he had.
Now you add Tim Patrick to that group, it just
sounds like Jacksonville is in a way really trying to
(36:39):
make a big leap forward this year with Trevor Lawrence
at quarterback. And I think that you know, they drafted
two running backs even though they still have etn It
was a first round pick and Tank Bigsby. They're kind
of and again I bring them up because you know,
you're competing for an AFC playoff spot. I don't know
if Jacksonville is there yet, but they're you know, every
(37:01):
year there's a team that surprises, turns around and makes
a big leap forward. And you know, I'm not saying
that Tim Patrick. Tim Patrick trade does that for him.
I just think they're an interesting team and the way
they're going about their business right now.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
No, I completely agree. I think for Jacksonville there's just
there's so much to rebuild, and obviously you have Tony
Boselli uh stepping out of the booth, that's stepping into
more of an executive role. Yeah. Kind of interesting raft
this roster, right, So, I mean I think when you
look at kind of some of these moves, it makes
sense you have an offensive minded guy, a former alignment
(37:37):
kind of looking at this from the offensive perspective and
adding those pieces because you did spit. We talked about
you spent a lot of capital this year on quote
unquote offense, you know, and Travis Hunder obviously a two
way player that you took early in this year raft.
But I'm really interested to see just how that looks
(37:58):
against the field, right, because I mean the AFC out
you know, we know what the Texans are, right they
they they've won the division in the last two years,
and that's what you're competing against. And the Texas are
you know, nowhere near you know, a finished product or
a polished product for them. So you wonder is there
a move And obviously tennessee number one overall, they're dealing
(38:19):
with a rookie quarterback and cam Ward there we saw
the debacle up there in Indianapolis. Daniel Jones will be
starting Anthony Richardson, a guy who was drafted, you know
high overall, you know just a few years ago, can't
really get on the field and you know now has
kind of setbacks and has not come to fruition. So
Daniel Jones is not gonna be leading the Colts. So
(38:40):
you're like, I'm looking around and it's like, okay, what
can we Can we make a jump somewhere? Can we
can we insert ourselves into this conversation because really you're
fighting Houston, who and Houston wasn't that great a year ago?
Can you be one game better than them to take
(39:01):
the title back? I think that's a very plausible, you know,
thing to look at. I mean, don't look too far
like oh gosh, we're worried about the number one seed.
Don't even think about the one seed that's held by others.
But getting into the dance, you know, can can you
be good enough to either be one game better than Houston?
Can you split a series with them? Or you know, can't.
(39:22):
Can you get to a threshold where you're sitting there
right about the nine win total, you know, nine, nine
and eight and that and that division? I mean, yeah,
it wouldn't surprise me if you have a logjam by
December trying to figure out who's who's the top team
in them jocking for position. But you know, other divisions,
(39:43):
I think it's a little bit more deeper to where
you can have two teams possibly three come out of
those other divisions. But the AFC South, this is going
to be a one team playoff entrant into the playoffs.
And that's kind of how it's been the last couple
of years. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
And one of those teams that Max just mentioned they
had a setback yesterday, another top AFC contender they had
a setback. Maybe the top AFC team they had a
setback to became official yesterday. And AFC North a couple
of teams that made big moves yesterday as well. We're
gonna get to all those things when we consider inside
(40:17):
Continue inside the Locker Room with King and Starks presented
by our neighborhood Ford Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
And welcome back inside the Locker Room with King and Starks,
presented by our neighborhood Fords Store here on the Steelers
(40:39):
Audio Network. Max before we get into the divisional moves yesterday,
and a couple of sizable ones you know, sort of expected,
but no Joe Mixon for Houston. And you know, he
was a controversial guy when they signed on a lot
of people thought, oh, you know, blah blah this he's
been a really vad guy for Houston and now he's
(41:02):
going to be sidelined. And Kansas City knew this was coming.
But still a six game suspension for Rashid Rice. And again,
this is the guy, you know, seventy nine receptions back
in twenty twenty three. Last year some issues only twenty
four receptions, but he only played four games. Uh, this
is a really valuable weapon for the Chiefs that will
(41:25):
not be available for the first six weeks of the season.
So two teams who consider themselves contenders for the AFC title.
Obviously Kansas City is, but Houston would like to think
of themselves in that category, both of them getting big
knocks officially getting big knocks to their offense announced yesterday.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
Yeah, no, I think this is uh, you know, a
big one for Kansas City. Obviously, you know, you kind
of knew this was brewing from a year ago, and
you know, you know that hint hints why you draft
Zafer Worthy to kind of figure out, you know, where
guys fall. But yeah, this this is one that was like,
(42:06):
oh wow, okay, you know, where where do you go
from here? And you know, one of the things I
thought was kind of further, you know, kind of further.
I don't know if I call it head scratching, but
I would look at it and I'd say, okay, well,
(42:27):
you know, how how are how are how are the
Kinsey Chiefs going to get through this? Right? Obviously? You
know you have, you know a lot of talented quarterback
with Patrick Mahons right, Yes, he's uber talented. He is
that wonder kid, however you want to call it. I mean,
obviously he's not a kidneymore. He's well into his second contract.
(42:49):
But still, you know, you wonder how's he going to
continue to muster up the creativity? What what's Andy Reid
going to do? And as you kind of look at that,
you know the way this is, does Hollywood Brown actually
become that guy? You know, that that that they brought
over a year ago? Can he really step in and
be that role? I mean, you know, I'd like to
(43:11):
say that, Hey, you know, he shows flashes, but the
flashes you know, aren't consistent with Hollywood Brown. Hence why
you know he's he's in case now. You know, started
his career in Baltimore, went to a Z Now now
he's in Kansas City, and you know it has not
(43:31):
been that huge payoff that you thought he was. Juju. Obviously,
Juju's Juju. You know, Juju is just gonna be one
of your consistent guys. But there's nobody that stands out
on here. You also have you know, you drafted Jalen
Royals in the fourth round. I think he I think
he has some skills, but he did he didn't usurp
(43:52):
anybody in front of him, you know, from the Holly
Hollywood to Juju to kind of take a take a
more prominent role. So he said in there as a rookie,
and they're Taekwon Thornton another one kind of up and down.
I mean, it's just it's just really names. I mean,
Xavier Worthy is boom or bust, right. I mean one
of the biggest issues is that, you know, Xavier Worthy
was gonna was gonna was gonna outrun everybody. The question is,
(44:15):
you know, is he gonna catch it. I think we
kind of saw that, like he could have some amazing plays,
right then he has some head scratching plays. So you know,
I think this team still, you know, it's gonna run
through the run game. You're still gonna run through you know,
Check Go and Hunt being your main guys, and you
just kind of have to deal with it because rahe
Rice was I thought was one that had a lot
of potential. Here's one that that picked up and and
(44:38):
really played. But then, like you said, the off the
field issues, you know, are the things you can't overcome
with this team. So you know, I kind of look
at that and you know, it's it's one of those
it there's still there's there's still the Chiefs, so they're
the AFC raining AFT champs. So until otherwise noted, and
that team came in here on Christmas Day and and
(44:59):
and whipped us. So who am I to say that, right?
You know, but I just it's just it's always tough
to see how a team like that can kind of
muster it year after year after year. And this is
long season after long season as well, Rob right, you know,
this is the one where you're like, man, this is
going to be a very very long process. And then,
(45:21):
like you said, man, I mean seeing guys who are
unavailable for Houston. You know, Joe Mixon obviously being a
very very big one that that you look at as
not being there. Irv Smith Junior also, I think another
guy that I probably look at along with Brevin Jordan.
You know, those are guys that you're like, Okay, these
(45:43):
are guys that are supposed to kind of change that
offense for you. But you still got Dalton Schultz there.
And you know what's going to be interesting is you
know Nick Chubb, Right, Nick Chubb in Cleveland, uh, you know,
from Cleveland in Houston, can Nick Chubb get back to
that old ways. That's gonna be very very intriguing because
we didn't see it a year ago, but a year
(46:05):
further removed from from the knee injury. Maybe maybe that's
gonna maybe that's gonna be the special sauce.
Speaker 1 (46:12):
Yeah, And I you know, we could spend the entire
show and multiple shows talking about just about Kansas City.
You know, you know, they've been at the top of
the mountain. Are they right for the picking? And you know,
I think they didn't appear that way until Philadelphia just
(46:33):
steamrolled them in the Super Bowl last year. Chuse Philadelphia
got to the point where they were steamrolling everybody at
the end of the season. Was that just you running
into a hot team? Was that the first you know,
sort of chink in the armor. If you're Kansas City,
they're a fascinating team to me, But they lost a
guy that for a little while that can be a
huge part of that offense when he comes back. Won't
come back to Week seven. Maybe some teams will get
(46:55):
to Kansas City early, you know, maybe Kansas City won't
be that number one seed and we'll have have to
go on the road in the playoffs early on and
see what that side of life looks like. But again,
that's all well in the future. In our immediate future
is some of the moves made by AFC North opponents.
We want to get to that when we continue on
the other side, inside the locker room with King and
(47:17):
Starks presented by our neighborhood forts are here on the
Steelers Audio Network
Welcome inside the locker room with King and Starks presented
overy neighborhood Ford Store here on this Steelers Audio Network
alongside Max Starks, justin Miliner Studio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I'm Rob King, I am X.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
How are you Rob? How are we doing today on
this lovely Thursday morning.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yeah it is. It's Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
These are the days, Max, probably the last ten days
in which every day has been absolutely perfect, better than
the rest, better than the next one. Cool mornings, cool evenings,
warmer days. I think they call this San Diego. This,
this must be what it liked to you know. No, no,
(00:47):
you know, good wispy cloud or two no rain. It's
just been ideal. I'm sure nice and cool out there
in the desert.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Yeah, definitely not cool. Okay, here it's but it's below normal.
Next monsoon is not expected until next week, so hopefully
we get the Labor day with below normal temps the
hide today's ninety six, so that's technically good.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I have to tell you, Max, I was out there
four years ago when the pit was Pitt was in
the Fiesta Bowl, and I was out there, and we're
there all week, and we had our radio responsibilities in
the morning, and I thought man. You know, I've heard
a lot about the Sedona place. I think I might
have to pop out there and check it out. And
they got I think it. I literally think it was
(01:38):
an inch of rain and they're like, yeah, roads are closed,
Like what an inch of rain.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
I guess it's just a different deal out there.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Like an inch of rain was like flooding, and I
was I would think that inch of rain would get
sucked up in the desert, but evidently that's not the case.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah. Yeah, because it's so hot and so you know,
tough on the top soil, that's why the rain kind
of just hits it almost like almost like teflon and
it just just goes. And then if it if there's
any type of dips in the uh in you know,
in the ground as far as because we're out here
(02:16):
in the mountainous region, it just settles. It settles there
so creates these huge puddles. I mean, I'll never forget
one of the first times I was out here. It
was right before it's coming back to training camp, and
literally like the the underpass literally was like flooded. It
looked like a pool, like you were driving into a
(02:38):
swimming pool. And you know, some of your higher profile trucks.
Obviously we're out here in the desert, so you know,
high profile pickup trucks number one, uh goes in there,
and it just absolutely just I mean, I was like
the high profile didn't have enough you know, almost didn't
have enough profile for it. And uh and so you're like, okay, yeah, yeah,
(03:00):
we're gonna shut this down. Yeah so yeah, but but yeah,
so so it happens. It happens, but not right now.
Now we we we got we got a huge dust
storm a couple of days ago. I think it made
national news. And it was crazy like it. I mean,
it looked like a scene from the movie The Mummy,
the original one Brendan Fraser, and it looked like this wall,
(03:23):
except for there was no face on it. So and
it just can't And we're driving straight to it because
Quincy had softball practice and it was down in the
Tempee area and so we're driving south and man, it
was like it was like freaky like and I missed
the turn I was supposed to get off at that
would have kind of went along the line of it
versus going directly, so we barrel straight into it. And yeah,
(03:47):
it was just dark, super windy, trees were falling and
then rain. But then after that it kind of dissipated.
It lasts about thirty thirty maybe forty minutes, but because
it was coming across, you know, saying, depending on the
direction you were going, you're either going with it or
you're going straight into it. There was no kind of
ducking or dodging. And all cars are just dirty. I
(04:08):
wouldn't got it washed yesterday. It was crazy.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
By the way, there was a nineteen thirty two version
of the movie than Mummy.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I just wanted to let you know, Okay, well, I'm.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
The ninety nine movie nineties he had writer was loosely based.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I thought there was an earlier Mummy, so I just
wanted to point that out.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Originally I felt.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Like that was more in the horror, the horror horror era,
you know, oversionally Francis fourt Coppolas and all that kind
of stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Not too many people, not too many people alive who
probably went to that nineteen thirty two showing probably, yeah, I'm.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Gonna guess did it actually did it actually have sound
and words with it?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Associate with they did?
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Thirty two went to the Big Fox Theater and you know,
four thousand people going to a movie or whatever. It
was so so Max, the right after we went off
the air, was wasn't right after, but shortly after we
went off the air yesterday, we knew this was gonna happen.
This Steers are now their practice squad. But once again,
like the fifty three man roster, this was an initial
(05:07):
initial practice squad because it already changed this morning. By
the way, some other news around the NFL, some of
it very pertinent to the AFC North that we're going
to get to. But I did want to go through
the practice squad. Now, everybody on this practice squad was here,
so the Steelers, and again I think Max, you know,
(05:30):
generally speaking, I think in the past, have we not
seen players brought in from other organizations to join the
practice squad? Has that usually not been the case at
least a few players.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yeah, I mean, you know, usually you bring a couple.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Ken know, so none none this year. So we have
been talking about the depth on this roster, and we've
been talking about that, and I know, people, you know,
some people are shaking your heads again. I am shaking
my head a people still thinking that this. You know,
I've this is the first year Mike Tomlin's gonna have
(06:04):
a losing season. I just I don't see it. I
can't see it.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
I suppose if you squinted it and every the worst
stuff happen, knock on wood, maybe maybe.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Something, But I just can't see it. I just don't
see it, Max.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
And part of the reason is that, you know, I
think we all got up to First of all, we
saw him in mini camp, We saw him at OTAs,
we saw this roster, we saw him up in the
trow and we saw guys who played a role on
last year's team, who were part of the team in
a substantial way not make the regular season roster. James Pierre,
(06:42):
a top special teams guy in your third corner last year,
or a fourth corner I guess, Beanie Bishop who led
your team in interceptions, Dylan Cook who was a valuable
backup tackle for you. These guys were on the team
last year and playing, you know, various degrees of substantial
(07:03):
roles and did not make the regular roster this year.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
But they are in the practice squad.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
They are on the peace squad, so they're probably those
guys two way guys, depending on what happens with everything.
I mean, we kind of figured Sebastian castro a fall
in this category, but definitely for James Pierre and Beanie Bishop,
guys who are key contributors. You know. This this where
I think also goes to kind of show you that
(07:31):
you know, the depth and the quality of guys this
year was outstanding. The fact that you, i mean, our
leading interception guy from a year ago is on the
practice squad. Just think about that. Let that set in
for a second. That means we've upgraded even better than
that at that position. That's what that tells you. But
(07:51):
the fact that we were able to keep those guys
on the practice squad they cleared waivers. Now here's the thing.
Here's the say. Teams can always go and post them
off at the practice squad and add them to their
active rosters. But that's the only way you can get
them now, right. But it is really good. And also
it says a lot about Mike Tominy. These guys want
to come back and play for him, right, you know,
even even in even in this kind of I don't
(08:13):
want to say demoted role, but it is a diminished
role than from a previous year.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Right, And you know, as I look at this team
and so this as of right now, this group is intact.
Two guys who got cut are back with the team.
And you know there's times where you know, as a
veteran guy, you can just say, listen, we're gonna, We're gonna,
this is what's gonna happen. You don't have to go
through waivers. We want to bring you back. Zero through
(08:38):
four guys have to go through waivers. So you know,
the waiver deadline ended at noon yesterday. I'm gonna look
at this team and say that, you know, there are
some developmental guys. I'm the practice squad I'm talking about.
There are some developmental guys that I think are really interesting.
You know, Stephen Jones comes immediately to mind for me.
(09:01):
Like we talk about this on the roster, Max. How
you know certain guys you think, okay, their role is
going to be special teams. And you know, I'm just
making up a position fourth linebacker or sixth defensive back
or sixth receiver in case we need him. But he's
going to contribute on special teams. Then you'd like to
have a guy or too on your roster. It's possible
(09:22):
to have a guy or to who you view as
a future starter, who's a developmental guy, and you're hoping
you don't have to get to him, perhaps, but you
want him to continue to practice and get better and
maybe as a season wears on, get him in a
little bit of you know, thoughtfully, you know, executed game
time play, so that this person gets their feet wet
(09:44):
and begins to get better and maybe as a starter
in the future. For example, you know, a couple of
years ago, that guy might have been Spencer Anderson. Right,
we think this guy's a starter, but he's not a
starter yet as opposed to another guy's a veteran guy,
and we don't view him as a long term starter,
but we view him as a guy that can come
in and you know, hold the fort if something were
(10:06):
to happen. So there are still guys like this on
the developmental guys like I look at Steven Jones and
I think there's a guy who it's possible, you know, again,
if things have to go right and Steven has to
continue to work, but it's possible that this is a
practice squad guy. And if you told me three years
from now he's an NFL starter, I wouldn't be shocked. Now,
(10:27):
a lot has to go right, I understand that, but
it is nice to have a few developmental guys. Sebastian
Castro here's a guy who I don't think it would
shock any of us if in a couple of years
he's a starting caliber safety in the NFL or at
the very worst, the third rotational safety in the NFL. Again,
(10:47):
things have to go right. These guys have to progress.
But I think it's interesting that the practice squad has
guys like that.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
No, I think there's a lot of guys. I mean,
you list like Stephen Jones. I mean I also look
at low Nichols. Yes, right, coming back, a guy that
we both liked flashed and talk about, Hey, if a
guy goes down right since we only got three running backs, man,
that's that's that's a nice two way guy to have
(11:16):
that you know is gonna run hard, physical. This dude
led the NCAA and rush I mean, has he had
He knows how to tote the rock. I mean, he
had over seventeen hundred yards last year. So it's not like,
oh man, this guy's brand new to run in the
football and he's been he's been a slugging type of guy. No,
he's been a home run kind of guy.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Well, and we saw flast agreed, agreed, and yet and
I do want you to because we both saw that,
and I totally agree with you. Now that hadn't been said.
He's competing with Trey Sermon, who's also on the practice squad.
So Sermon, I mean, don't forget. In twenty twenty one,
the forty nine Ers drafted him in the third round.
Now think about think about Caleb Johnson, right, Steeers fit
(12:00):
are expecting him as a third round running back to
be your starter eventually. You know, that's why the Steelers
took him because they think he has starter capabilities. Well,
not every third rounder hits, or maybe they just need
a different opportunity. So you have Lou Nichols, a seventh
round pick by Green Bay, and you have Trey Sermon,
a third round pick from San Francisco on your practice squad.
(12:23):
I mean that is and these guys are you know,
they're still young enough, you know they're not spring chickens.
But but you know, Trey Sermon's twenty six years old.
We're not exactly talking about being put out the pasture here.
You know, these guys are guys who you would think
could come in and play a good role for you
if need be, but also have to compete with each
(12:44):
other to get better. And what does Mike Toman always say,
iron sharpens iron, So I think that I think we
were both looking at those two guys wondering man and
in another year, would they be a fourth running back
on this team?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
No room for him? But luckily to me, there's room
for of these guys in the practice squad.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Yeah, no, it is, it is. There is room, And
I think that's where you know, it's really indicative. And
so when you try and try and create this squad
and this group, I mean, it's it's a very tough thing,
and you know, to get guys to actually stay, I mean,
you know, I was doing some work with the Cardinals
yesterday on on Craig's Brothers, and I get because I
(13:26):
had to like because they're both Wolf, so I call
them both wolf independently. But I was with Ron Wolfley,
Craig Craig's younger brother on his show, and we were
going through, you know, with what the Arizona Cardinals and
kind of their fifty three man roster, and you know
a lot of guys that left that. I'm sure the
Cardinals wanted on their practice squad. No guys who got
(13:48):
beat out, but they went they went elsewhere and actually
joined practice squads elsewhere. So I mean, you look at that,
and it's just so for the Steels, it makes it
even more kind of special that you can keep these guys.
They only signed thirteen guys of their practice squad. They
still had three remaining spots because they couldn't get those guys,
and those guys actually signed with practice squads elsewhere for
(14:08):
the opportunity. So you know that there could be good.
There could have been that, but we didn't see that here.
I mean, we'd look at this practice squad, Max Hurlaman,
Kashawn Keishawn Williams, and Robert Woods, right, I mean woods
Is was a vet. And you know when you think
about like the other guys like like Marquez Valdis Scampton
got cut from the Seahawks, right, you know, obviously Deontay Johnson,
(14:31):
but not going down that road. You know, those guys
were cut from teams. Uh so you know, and there's
teams that need receivers, and you figure Robert Woods said,
now I'll just I'll just hang here. I'm cool, you
know type of deal that that that's a pretty that's
that's pretty big. And I mean that speaks to the
coaches and wanting to be coach and wanting to be
around this philosophy and this team environment that they would
(14:53):
rather stay here and figure it out versus going elsewhere,
you know, And there's a lot of kind of I
feel like Julius Welshoff right, Hey, the German knife maker
makes his return.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah, yea.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
You know, they didn't use an international exemption and actually
use a real practice squad spot on because I think
they think he has real potential. So why you know,
just burden that opportunity, you know, let him He's actually
a real dude now, So I kind of look at that,
and it's pretty cool to see those type of individuals
on this rune. I mean, it gives you a really
robust route and continues to add to the depth of
(15:26):
the team. We talked about depth and training camp. This
depth right here is even is just as good as that,
right because it carries over from training camp and now
with the minimized number of guys, you can now really
really make some impact. I mean, you know, thirty seven
guys had to be cut down, but then you're able
to bring sixteen back. That speaks volumes. You know, there's
(15:49):
twenty one that did not come back, but to get
sixteen guys and you didn't have to go elsewhere to
find those guys. That's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Been working with you know your system, know the language,
know the expectations. I'm glad you mentioned the wide receiver
group because I think it's almost like the perfect balance
of what you'd want. And we're seeing now there aren't
multiple players at each position. But I do think that
this shows, you know, good thoughtful use of a practice squad. Right,
(16:20):
so you look at the wide receiver position, you have
Max Hurlman. Okay, so Hurlman, if you don't know his story,
played at Colgate defensive back, went to Notre Dame and
basically was a special teamer being listed now as a
wide receiver by the Steelers. Showed some flashes, showed some things, right,
had that good first preseason game. But in that same
(16:40):
first game he had a drop and then he had
a touchdown, Right, so you see some of the things
he can do. You know, possible, you know, could he
possibly be eventually an NFL player. He's raw, he needs
to be developed. He is not ready yet has been
deemed for a fifty three man roster, but he's got
up shot. Keyshawn Williams has got upside as well. And
(17:01):
then you have Robert Woods and so now you know,
I would think that if early in the season something
were to happen and you needed a guy to step up, well,
it's kind of nice to be able to reach down
to your practice squad and have a guy who's got
six hundred and eighty three career receptions and a Super
Bowl on his resume. A guy who is going to
(17:22):
go out in an Arthur Smith offense on the edge
and block for you. You know, there's he's a guy
that can step in now. So you you hope hurl
them in and Keishawn Williams develop. You hope they come
along and next year or maybe late in this season,
are legitimate battlers for a roster spot. A guy you're
(17:42):
looking at and saying, hey man, this hold it. You know,
batman of hatches, this guy's a fourth receiver type for us.
You know that's that's valuable to be able to develop guys. Now, well,
that's is that gonna happen. I don't know, but I
like the makeup of and we'll talk about the entire
practice squad in a moment, but I just like them
makeup of what you're able to do with that receiver
position with just those three guys.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, no, I mean that speaks, that speaks volumes, right,
I mean, you know, it's it's it's a it's a
good cross section of NFL experience that you have, not
only on this practice squad, but I think, like you said,
at each group you can point to, you know that
there's there, there's somebody who's done something notable, right for
(18:27):
for for most of these position groups, you know, defensive
back of wide receiver obviously having the most of that experience.
And then you've got some youth in there. You know,
you look at d Line, right, Kyler Baud, Debarvin leal right, right,
you know, on on the younger side of it. But
guys who've been in this league for a while, I mean,
you know, we talked about Julius and his upside, you
know as as an international exemption player now making a
(18:49):
true practice squad and not not being the exempt guy.
Dylan Cook, like you said, has been has been has been,
a guy that's been trusted over the last couple of
years as as as a swing and still shows potential
as well as Stephen Jones. But then, like you said,
Trey Sermon, Lou Nichols, right, these were drafted guys in
this league that have accomplished college resumes, So I mean
(19:10):
you go through it. And then of course JJ Galbreth,
like I said, he's a guy that fit very similar
skill traits to what you already have on the roster.
So he's kind of those plug and play type of
guys where you could plug and replace that guy if
an injury does happen, so a safety insurance policy. So
I mean, I really like the way it is, yeh.
I mean I'm really excited about that. Yep.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
And so you know, you look at Kyler ball practice
squad last year University of Minnesota. Guy still just twenty
three years old. So let's run down the roster quickly.
If you have some comments, throw him in there. But
I think it's it's exactly what we're talking about. You
look at defensive back Beanie Bishop, James Pierre, right, veteran
(19:52):
guys who you I mean, well, of course you know
young veteran in the case of Beanie. But we've seen
what these guys can do. These guys can.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Collect, let the team in interceptions. Yeah, that's that's that's
not as well with Mika Fitzpatrick, Joey Woarter junior this
roster a year ago, right, Deshaun Elliott and company, and
he let he led the team in interceptions. So James James.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Pierre was a top special teams guy for you, right,
So those guys can come right in and help you
in the meantime. Sebastian Castro gets a chance to develop.
DeShawn Jamison gets a chance to develop. Daryl Porter, who
we both thought really flashed as well later on. He's
a guy they picked up later chance to develop. There's
your five defensive backs. You mentioned Baw and Leal. You
(20:38):
know again, Baw twenty three years old, Demarvin has been
around for three years. But again both guys that maybe
you know, they bring a little bit different skill set
I think, but still guys that can come in and
potentially help you. Julius Walshoff, as you mentioned on the
offensive line, we talked about Stephen Jones, a young guy
who hopefully can develop and maybe there's something they whether
(21:01):
it's a future starter or maybe he's a future you know,
eight or nine man rotation guy who you feel good
about developing. Guys like that normally cost you draft picks
or money in free agency, so he has a chance
in the meantime if you need somebody to step up,
you got a guy and Dylan Cook who's done that.
Before we talked about the running back position. I think
JJ Gollbroth is a kind of a straight up developmental guy.
(21:23):
He's a guy that they liked in camp, and then
we talked about the receivers in Hurlom and Keishawn Williams
and Robert Woods. It is a thoughtfully constructed practice squad.
You didn't have to go outside of your own group
to bring somebody in because you felt good about the
talent you had internally. I think all in all, you know,
if you're the if you're the kind of football guy
(21:45):
that gets into these kind of details, Max like you
and I do, I think you have to you have
to be pretty happy with the sixteen players on the
Steelers practice squad.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Yeah. No, I mean, I mean there's there's you know,
I kind of laid out my thoughts, so I think
you're right there. I mean, I like, I like what
we have. I think there's good quality depth, and you
got plenty of options available. Uh, you know, is there
someone else out there? Maybe? Maybe, But I think when
you look at it right now, I don't know where
(22:16):
you're kind of adding at this point, you know, outside
of one of the obvious things. I'm sure some people
are always still going to say, oh, well, Max, what
about the wide receiver? Guys, Guys, guys, let's actually see
what the season looks like first. Okay, I get I
get it. I get everybody wants a number two receiver,
you know, every everybody wants that. But listen, listen, every
(22:38):
and not every team has that. Not every team has that.
And guess what we talked about it last year. You know,
Kansas City didn't have that, and they they went all
the way to a super Bowl, you know, and plenty
of teams that had it that didn't even make the playoffs.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yes, and they've got less, by the way, which is
one of the bits of news around the NFL. And no,
I agree with you, and I'm Max, Let's see what
these guys can do when they're healthy.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Let's not forget again. Uh, we'll see what happens.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
You know, the people who are out there, you know,
we've all been We're all known who've been wrong, right,
The people who are out there who think this team
has got to have that number two type receiver. Look, man,
I just want to see what it looks like when
Aaron Rodgers is under center. You got DK Metcalf, you
have Johnny Smith, you have Roman Wilson, you know, on
(23:32):
the outside again. You know, I'm not even talking about
the other three guys that are gonna be back. I
just talking about the three new guys. We've got three
new guys before we even talk about Austin and then
Miller and' scronic. So let's let's wait and see. I'm intrigued.
I know Max is intrigued as well, and I know
we have to take a break. We're gonna do that now.
Steve has made a couple of more moves that we're
(23:53):
gonna get to. There are also some interesting moves around
the NFL that Max is going to weigh in on.
When we could take you inside the locker room with
King and Starks, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store here
on the Steelers Audio Network and welcome back inside the
locker room the King and Starks, presented by your neighborhood
Fords Store here on the Steelers Audio Network. And there
(24:18):
were a couple of guys that were kind of you know,
if you're a fan and sort of getting into this
roster construction, which I think fans do. Right, that's where
we've been kind of, you know, pointing towards this date.
The thought that there were a couple of veterans out
there who weren't on the practice squad. Max Sharping, a
guard who started I believe the numbers thirty three games.
(24:40):
He started thirty three games in the NFL. This is
a guy who's a veteran and can give you quality depth.
He was not on the practice squat Chuck Clark, you know,
coming off the injury. He's been a solid starter throughout
his career, had an injury a couple of years ago,
you know, kind of worked his way back and you
only had three safeties on the roster. Wow, that's a
(25:00):
it's an interesting roster construction. Well, today turns out that
those guys are back on the active roster, and that
Will Howard and Dante Kent are going to the IR.
So Max your thoughts on that.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
No, I think we kind of anticipated this, right Rob.
We were wondering, you know, with the decision for four
qbs for qbs right, Well we saw that initially come up.
We're like, hmm, that's interesting, and I think this is
kind of what you kind of alluded to Rob yesterday,
that could Will Howard go on the short term I are,
(25:37):
and you then get to use the services of Skylar
Thomas as your emergency third quarterback as Will Howard kind
of gets healthy, gets that hand right and was able
to come back to us, and that absolutely came to fruition. Then,
of course Dante Kent didn't see him. Didn't see him. No, No,
Dante Kent for a for a little while. But the
(26:00):
potential for what Dante Kent can be is what's very
intriguing and apparently intrigued that Steelers enough that you know,
they had him on the active roster to make sure
he was safe, oh waiver, frenzy and everything else. You
didn't want to lose him, and now you kind of
put him on IR. Not sure what their designations are yet.
On IR, obviously you can have up to eight IR
(26:21):
designations a year, and I believe four of those can
be short term, four permanence, right, I think that's how
it is.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Yeah, So each of these guys, now, Trice, Kent, and
Howard should be eligible, by my understanding and the rule,
should all be eligible to come back after this first
four weeks.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Yeah, so it's a four weeks short term, ir, and
I believe you can do that. It's four or six times,
I can't can't remember exactly what the number was, and
eight total IRS and those.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Eight guys so yeah, yeah, so those you know, the
designated for return guys. And at this point of the season,
now these eight guys, only eight guys can come back.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
To your eight you can come back. I forgot that changed. Yes,
so here's three eight guys could be short term, yes.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Right, here's three of them. So that's already been done.
So that's uh, but hey, that that's what happens. And
these are these are valuable guys. And I think you know,
from Howard's perspective and from Kent's perspective, a chance to
get healthy, to make sure that you are healthy. You
don't get to practice, Corey Trice, same thing, hamstring, you
(27:32):
don't get to practice, but hopefully, you know, if you're
if you're Corey Trice, you're spending the next you know,
four to six to eight weeks whatever it is, you
can come back because you have three weeks to then
bring a guy back from Irre's. There's a twenty one
day window that they you know, they're all after different things. Right,
will Howard Heal start throwing the football around? You get
(27:53):
to stand around and kind of observe. You know, I
can't practice, but you get a chance to observe. You know,
Dante can't get healthy and Corey Trice maybe hopefully find
a way to put this hamstring. Now this is two hamstrings.
He's had an addition to the acls on each knee.
Put this behind him, right.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yeah, yeah, no, this is you know, this is opportunity.
You know, it comes to a point where, you know,
potential and reality sometimes diverge, and we hope that that
isn't the case with Corey Trice. Get getting an opportunity
here to really get himself there and prove that he
can be that guy that they think he is right right,
(28:32):
And that's what that's the hope is, because I mean,
like you said, when healthy avatar, right he you knows,
as Mike Townell likes to call him. I mean, he's
an alien out there, and he possesses a rare skill set.
But it's going to be making sure you can you
can conquer that H word, that's health, and see that
that can come to fruition because he's a guy who
(28:55):
could contribute. It could be, you know, a big time
guy when healthy, because we know what the capabilities are
when he is, so all the best to him and
and you know in that process. But like you said,
I mean for the other guys you know, will like
you said, healthy, throw the ball, get back into it,
learn sit Sometimes it's not a bad thing to be
able to sit in today's microwave society. You know, you
(29:19):
want things ready now now now. Sometimes it's it's good
to let it go low and slow. Some things taste
better low and slow. Rob you know, fall you in
the bone, you know, I mean, so, so we're not
going to go you know, too far. But and Dante,
like a lot of potential there young in his journey
had an unfortunate setback. Let's see if he can get
(29:40):
back to form because he's a guy that was explosive
in college and see if he can bring that brand
of football to the NFL level. So yeah, three guys
on the IR. Eight there we go. Eight total guys.
Now five left. Not that I want, not that there's
a slot I want to fill by any means the imagination. Rob,
Let's just make that clear. I don't want to see
(30:01):
five more guys go on. But you know you do
have the space, you know, for that, so you don't
lose guys like you know, back in the day, given
when I injured my neck and had to go on IR,
there was no designated to return, you know what I'm
saying like that, I wish I would have had this.
Maybe I would have been ready, you know in uh
in nine, well what was that, Yeah, twenty ten season
(30:24):
when we did Super Bowl forty five. Maybe I would
have been able to come back by the playoffs when
I got injured, when I injured my neck, But that
was not a thing. Now we have that thing. So
it's nice to have that kind of extra tool or
resource available to you to be able to be used properly.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
So Max, there were you know, I want to get
into the Steelers draft over the last few years. Now
that the roster is the initial roster is set, but
I think I'm gonna leave that for a moment because
there there were a lot of moves, so that that's
a topic that can live for a little bit, becauuse
there were a lot of moves that I want to
get to, and I'm going to start with a couple
(31:04):
of teams that we saw in the preseason before. We
kind of hone in on the teams in the division
for the Steelers, who also made some moves, but Adam
Feelin traded to the Vikings. I thought, you know, just
as an observer and we just saw Carolina, right. This
(31:24):
was an interesting move to me because you know, I
was talking to somebody yesterday, I talking to my son, actually,
who's who's become a bit of a CUB reporter, texting
me throughout the course of the show to make sure
I'm on top of any moves that are going on.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Thank you to Schaefer King cub reporter. Shaefer King unpaid
of course, call him.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
We'll call him an intern Max and an intern he
gets a free meal every now and then. But you know,
we were talking about it and he's like, you know, yeah,
here's Minnesota, like trying to bolster a young quarterback, right,
And I'm thinking, well, they got a young quarterback in
Carolina too, you know, Bryce Young and he seemed to
have a good connection with Adam Feeling. They did get
(32:02):
a couple of draft picks. I can't say for sure
I know where Carolina is on their whole thoughts of
when they're going to be able to contend or what
have you, But thought that was interesting. A veteran receiver
who's had some excellent seasons in the NFL. Sure he's
a little bit older, but he's still a productive guy.
(32:22):
He was on pace for a you know, seventy five
eighty catch season last year. That's that's pretty good, you know,
going from one team to another. And I mentioned that
just because it's a team we just saw in Carolina.
Do you have any thoughts on that trader? You want
me to move on now?
Speaker 3 (32:37):
I mean, I think for for Adam thielend, you know,
this is kind of homecoming for him, right, you know,
we didn't really consider that part of it, that he
could be like, hey, I get to come back to
where I started my career and kind of made a
name for myself. So you know, I think when you
are Carolina, you're trying to figure out what what is
that sauce? What are we trying to get as a
(33:01):
team as far as an identity there with with coach
Canals and you know, older receiver, they want to get younger, right,
you got you got a younger quarterback there. You're trying
to see if a youth movement can happen to be
able to create that. But I think for you know,
on the flip side of that coin, there's another young
quarterback up there in Minnesota. And you know, and for
(33:23):
Adam Thielend, you're not asked to be the number one.
I think down in Carolina he was still looked at
as the number one guy. So a lot of pressure
on an older player to be that number one. And
I think going to Minnesota, you already know you're kind
of number three, right, you know, you're you're a third
trio guy. You know that's gonna come in. Obviously you're
not gonna ask him to play on special teams, but
(33:44):
he's going to be one of those guys in Kevin
o'conn's offense that if they want to go a lot
of eleven personnel, he's a guy that can be in
there and he's tried, tested, he knows the environment, and
and he's he's good at what he does. And I
think that's kind of how I look at it, and
I say, you know what, good for him? And I
think a great opportunity. I think this is the best
compromise for them because you have you have Justin Jefferson
(34:07):
and Jordan Addison, who are your one and two, right,
So no need to worry about who his role is.
But if either one of those guys get injured, you
know that you haven't Adam Thielen to come in, and
he's gonna be good too.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Yeah, And again just to take a quick snapshot because
neither are these teams we're gonna move over to the ASC.
Neither are these teams obviously in the AFC that completed
his trade. But you know we're down there, and you know,
they they really feel good about about their receiver group.
You know, David Moore is a veteran guy. I'm talking
about Carolina. Now, look, you spent first round picks in
consecutive years on receivers Ted McMillan and then last year
(34:43):
Exavierly get so they're expecting these guys to, you know,
to get to take a step forward to McMillan to
make an impact. And then there's guy you know, Jaalen Cocher.
But I think they really like Jimmy Horn junior, and
probably the emergence of Bryce and Tremaine an undrafted guy
during camp. They really liked what he did. We didn't
get a chance to see him. He was nicked up
a little bit in that in that game, but the
(35:06):
fact that they that, I think those guys emerged and
they were able to get a couple of picks back
for feeling, I'm sure that's what they're thinking, that hey,
let's get some value here and and move on. It.
Just thought it was interesting two young quarterbacks on each
team and what each team is trying to accomplish, and again,
what do they feel about their own personnel. There's lots
of things that go into these things. The other one
(35:26):
I wanted to get too quickly because it's another team
we saw in preseason, and this is an AFC team, and.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
That's Jacksonville and the Jaguars.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
You know, they've got Liam Cohen, who did you know,
such a great job with Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay,
you know, as their offensive coordinator. Now he's the head
coach of Jacksonville first year, and you know, he adds
Tim Patrick in a trade. And again I think this
is interesting because the Jaguars already had, you know, made
(35:58):
a huge splash, so Brian Thomas junior, you know, phenomenal
rookie season. I mean, this guy is just a star.
And then they got Travis Hunter. They traded up to
get him, so they're expecting big things at him from
him as a receiver, you know, they they went up
to get him at the number two overall pick. They
(36:18):
signed Diamie Brown from Washington in the offseason after he
had it caught a breakthrough season, but thirty receptions a
year ago. Always a guy that I think that the
expectation was there was more there with the talent he had.
Now you add Tim Patrick to that group, it just
sounds like Jacksonville is in a way really trying to
(36:39):
make a big leap forward this year with Trevor Lawrence
at quarterback. And I think that you know, they drafted
two running backs even though they still have etn It
was a first round pick and Tank Bigsby. They're kind
of and again I bring them up because you know,
you're competing for an AFC playoff spot. I don't know
if Jacksonville is there yet, but they're you know, every
(37:01):
year there's a team that surprises, turns around and makes
a big leap forward. And you know, I'm not saying
that Tim Patrick. Tim Patrick trade does that for him.
I just think they're an interesting team and the way
they're going about their business right now.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
No, I completely agree. I think for Jacksonville there's just
there's so much to rebuild, and obviously you have Tony
Boselli uh stepping out of the booth, that's stepping into
more of an executive role. Yeah. Kind of interesting raft
this roster, right, So, I mean I think when you
look at kind of some of these moves, it makes
sense you have an offensive minded guy, a former alignment
(37:37):
kind of looking at this from the offensive perspective and
adding those pieces because you did spit. We talked about
you spent a lot of capital this year on quote
unquote offense, you know, and Travis Hunder obviously a two
way player that you took early in this year raft.
But I'm really interested to see just how that looks
(37:58):
against the field, right, because I mean the AFC out
you know, we know what the Texans are, right they
they they've won the division in the last two years,
and that's what you're competing against. And the Texas are
you know, nowhere near you know, a finished product or
a polished product for them. So you wonder is there
a move And obviously tennessee number one overall, they're dealing
(38:19):
with a rookie quarterback and cam Ward there we saw
the debacle up there in Indianapolis. Daniel Jones will be
starting Anthony Richardson, a guy who was drafted, you know
high overall, you know just a few years ago, can't
really get on the field and you know now has
kind of setbacks and has not come to fruition. So
Daniel Jones is not gonna be leading the Colts. So
(38:40):
you're like, I'm looking around and it's like, okay, what
can we Can we make a jump somewhere? Can we
can we insert ourselves into this conversation because really you're
fighting Houston, who and Houston wasn't that great a year ago?
Can you be one game better than them to take
(39:01):
the title back? I think that's a very plausible, you know,
thing to look at. I mean, don't look too far
like oh gosh, we're worried about the number one seed.
Don't even think about the one seed that's held by others.
But getting into the dance, you know, can can you
be good enough to either be one game better than Houston?
Can you split a series with them? Or you know, can't.
(39:22):
Can you get to a threshold where you're sitting there
right about the nine win total, you know, nine, nine
and eight and that and that division? I mean, yeah,
it wouldn't surprise me if you have a logjam by
December trying to figure out who's who's the top team
in them jocking for position. But you know, other divisions,
(39:43):
I think it's a little bit more deeper to where
you can have two teams possibly three come out of
those other divisions. But the AFC South, this is going
to be a one team playoff entrant into the playoffs.
And that's kind of how it's been the last couple
of years. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
And one of those teams that Max just mentioned they
had a setback yesterday, another top AFC contender they had
a setback. Maybe the top AFC team they had a
setback to became official yesterday. And AFC North a couple
of teams that made big moves yesterday as well. We're
gonna get to all those things when we consider inside
(40:17):
Continue inside the Locker Room with King and Starks presented
by our neighborhood Ford Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
And welcome back inside the Locker Room with King and Starks,
presented by our neighborhood Fords Store here on the Steelers
(40:39):
Audio Network. Max before we get into the divisional moves yesterday,
and a couple of sizable ones you know, sort of expected,
but no Joe Mixon for Houston. And you know, he
was a controversial guy when they signed on a lot
of people thought, oh, you know, blah blah this he's
been a really vad guy for Houston and now he's
(41:02):
going to be sidelined. And Kansas City knew this was coming.
But still a six game suspension for Rashid Rice. And again,
this is the guy, you know, seventy nine receptions back
in twenty twenty three. Last year some issues only twenty
four receptions, but he only played four games. Uh, this
is a really valuable weapon for the Chiefs that will
(41:25):
not be available for the first six weeks of the season.
So two teams who consider themselves contenders for the AFC title.
Obviously Kansas City is, but Houston would like to think
of themselves in that category, both of them getting big
knocks officially getting big knocks to their offense announced yesterday.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
Yeah, no, I think this is uh, you know, a
big one for Kansas City. Obviously, you know, you kind
of knew this was brewing from a year ago, and
you know, you know that hint hints why you draft
Zafer Worthy to kind of figure out, you know, where
guys fall. But yeah, this this is one that was like,
(42:06):
oh wow, okay, you know, where where do you go
from here? And you know, one of the things I
thought was kind of further, you know, kind of further.
I don't know if I call it head scratching, but
I would look at it and I'd say, okay, well,
(42:27):
you know, how how are how are how are the
Kinsey Chiefs going to get through this? Right? Obviously? You
know you have, you know a lot of talented quarterback
with Patrick Mahons right, Yes, he's uber talented. He is
that wonder kid, however you want to call it. I mean,
obviously he's not a kidneymore. He's well into his second contract.
(42:49):
But still, you know, you wonder how's he going to
continue to muster up the creativity? What what's Andy Reid
going to do? And as you kind of look at that,
you know the way this is, does Hollywood Brown actually
become that guy? You know, that that that they brought
over a year ago? Can he really step in and
be that role? I mean, you know, I'd like to
(43:11):
say that, Hey, you know, he shows flashes, but the
flashes you know, aren't consistent with Hollywood Brown. Hence why
you know he's he's in case now. You know, started
his career in Baltimore, went to a Z Now now
he's in Kansas City, and you know it has not
(43:31):
been that huge payoff that you thought he was. Juju. Obviously,
Juju's Juju. You know, Juju is just gonna be one
of your consistent guys. But there's nobody that stands out
on here. You also have you know, you drafted Jalen
Royals in the fourth round. I think he I think
he has some skills, but he did he didn't usurp
(43:52):
anybody in front of him, you know, from the Holly
Hollywood to Juju to kind of take a take a
more prominent role. So he said in there as a rookie,
and they're Taekwon Thornton another one kind of up and down.
I mean, it's just it's just really names. I mean,
Xavier Worthy is boom or bust, right. I mean one
of the biggest issues is that, you know, Xavier Worthy
was gonna was gonna was gonna outrun everybody. The question is,
(44:15):
you know, is he gonna catch it. I think we
kind of saw that, like he could have some amazing plays,
right then he has some head scratching plays. So you know,
I think this team still, you know, it's gonna run
through the run game. You're still gonna run through you know,
Check Go and Hunt being your main guys, and you
just kind of have to deal with it because rahe
Rice was I thought was one that had a lot
of potential. Here's one that that picked up and and
(44:38):
really played. But then, like you said, the off the
field issues, you know, are the things you can't overcome
with this team. So you know, I kind of look
at that and you know, it's it's one of those
it there's still there's there's still the Chiefs, so they're
the AFC raining AFT champs. So until otherwise noted, and
that team came in here on Christmas Day and and
(44:59):
and whipped us. So who am I to say that, right?
You know, but I just it's just it's always tough
to see how a team like that can kind of
muster it year after year after year. And this is
long season after long season as well, Rob right, you know,
this is the one where you're like, man, this is
going to be a very very long process. And then,
(45:21):
like you said, man, I mean seeing guys who are
unavailable for Houston. You know, Joe Mixon obviously being a
very very big one that that you look at as
not being there. Irv Smith Junior also, I think another
guy that I probably look at along with Brevin Jordan.
You know, those are guys that you're like, Okay, these
(45:43):
are guys that are supposed to kind of change that
offense for you. But you still got Dalton Schultz there.
And you know what's going to be interesting is you
know Nick Chubb, Right, Nick Chubb in Cleveland, uh, you know,
from Cleveland in Houston, can Nick Chubb get back to
that old ways. That's gonna be very very intriguing because
we didn't see it a year ago, but a year
(46:05):
further removed from from the knee injury. Maybe maybe that's
gonna maybe that's gonna be the special sauce.
Speaker 1 (46:12):
Yeah, And I you know, we could spend the entire
show and multiple shows talking about just about Kansas City.
You know, you know, they've been at the top of
the mountain. Are they right for the picking? And you know,
I think they didn't appear that way until Philadelphia just
(46:33):
steamrolled them in the Super Bowl last year. Chuse Philadelphia
got to the point where they were steamrolling everybody at
the end of the season. Was that just you running
into a hot team? Was that the first you know,
sort of chink in the armor. If you're Kansas City,
they're a fascinating team to me, But they lost a
guy that for a little while that can be a
huge part of that offense when he comes back. Won't
come back to Week seven. Maybe some teams will get
(46:55):
to Kansas City early, you know, maybe Kansas City won't
be that number one seed and we'll have have to
go on the road in the playoffs early on and
see what that side of life looks like. But again,
that's all well in the future. In our immediate future
is some of the moves made by AFC North opponents.
We want to get to that when we continue on
the other side, inside the locker room with King and
(47:17):
Starks presented by our neighborhood forts are here on the
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