August 28, 2025 • 46 mins
The guys continue their conversation on the team's practice squad as well as what the active roster currently looks like with a few pieces being moved around.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Hello, and welcome back inside the locker room with King
Stark's presented our neighborhood Fords tour on this Steeler's audio network.
Don't we get a don't we get some kind of
max what's going on here?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah? Yeah? Oh you know what? Yes? Where are we
at here? With?
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
With Optimists? He just comes in there we go.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
There.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
He is mister magical. He's driving through and he's getting
he's getting his work done. He's delivering all across this country.
But once again, we know where Optimist is headed. He
all eyes are on September seventh for him. He's not
worried about anything else. He's worried. He's worried about what
what is going down in met life. And that's that's
(01:00):
what we're gonna do. We're figuring out this roster. We're
figuring out the game plans and starting to deploy those guys.
We have the initial fifty three man roster. We have
our practice squad, we have what we'd like to call
those reserves in there. We have some clarity on the
ir front, which now made way for a couple of
other signings to kind of bolster the offensive line unit.
(01:23):
So I say offensive line unit and also the secondary
with the corresponding moves Downte Kent goes to IR Chuck
Clark comes back. Also Will Howard for Max Sharping, you know,
coming in. So a lot of good things on the
horizon for the Steelers, and yes we're covering it all
(01:43):
in our.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Game two here. So I want to ask you, Matt
Max before we get into some of the moves and
some very sizable announcements yesterday by AFC North opponents. I know,
I know how I feel. I can't wait for game
weeks to start, right, Let's go, man, Let's let's get
to Monday, and let's start thinking about the Jets and
(02:04):
let's get fired up and all that stuff, and let's
get to practice and let you know which personnel groupings
are going to be out there, and who's looking like
they're going to be part of the dress forty six
and all these other things. And you know, I'm already
a little guilty of diving into the Jets and thinking, man,
this is a team that's gonna want to try to
ram the ball right at the Steelers, I would imagine. Anyway,
(02:26):
that's all for next week. I did want to ask,
since I know I'm a little bit anty. How are
the players feeling right now? And I think my guess
would be, and take us through this. My guess would
be a veteran has a different mindset than a guy
who's like, phew, man, I made the team, didn't know
if that was gonna happen, and maybe just excited to
wake up each day and look around and be like, whoa,
(02:48):
I'm a member of the Steelers. But you know, take
us through kind of the mindset of what's going on here,
because it feels a little bit like purgatory. You know,
there's training camp, and then after camp and even before
camp breaks that you have game weeks, you know, so
you're getting into that rhythm, and then you have this
kind of in between time, which because of the the
(03:09):
lack of the fourth preseason game has lengthened now, right,
you don't just get right into the next game, you know,
you have this long period of time where you're going
two and a half weeks between games. Obviously, the roster
cutdowns are big part. So just before we get on
to these other big moves, what is a mindset of
the players or maybe different groups of players in the
roster right now?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Well, I mean, I think, I think you know, as
you look around, I mean, it's going to be hey,
you know, what what is this role? I think there's
some guys who breed that you know, that that feel comfortable,
and then there's other guys that you know, Like you said,
I mean, you know, when you are on this fifty three,
you know, you know, and you're anywhere from forty nine
to fifty three, you know, you walk more caustiously. You're
(03:54):
not walking on eggshells, but you walk a little cautiously like, hey,
you know who else is out there? What else can
still happen? There's a lot of time to be waiting.
You know. The mind, you know is a very is
is a very fragile thing. And you know when you
have you know what they say. And I don't mind
as the Devil's workshop. I like that you know, you can,
(04:15):
you can, you could start, you could talk yourself into
some some grand and crazy things. But I think for
the most part, you have to feel good that you're
that you, that you're in this position. I'm sure conversations
were had in each of these position rooms, but I mean,
you know, obviously, if you're top eight in the old line,
you feel comfortable. You have nine and ten. You could
(04:36):
be a little bit, a little bit more cautious and
a little more worried. Obviously, if you're the number one
and number two quarterback, for sure you feel comfortable. I
think that entire running back room has to feel good.
You know, tight end room as well, probably feels feels
a little bit at ease for right now. The big
things stay healthy. But I think you know, defensively, you know,
(05:00):
d line, you're always gonna worry, right because you know
as you bring in more guys, but the secondary should
feel a little more at ease. And linebacker, I mean lineback,
you you got nine of them. I thought that number
would have shifted the other way around, been five outside,
four inside, but it's five inside, four outside. So I
mean that one. You know, you you know you can wonder,
(05:21):
but I think I think, I think you're pretty much okay, uh,
for all intents and purposes. So I mean, you feel
pretty good right now because I think, like you said,
it's not a lot of exterior movement. This is all
internal movement, imposturing and and chess going on. So from
that perspective, you have to feel comfortable. But you always
have the wonder is there somebody out there? Where are they,
(05:46):
you know, scouring through the transaction logs and you know
street free agents and you know. And here's the other
thing to also remember, Rob, I think a lot of
people aren't aware of, is that you know, when you
get into the how do I put this, when you
(06:07):
get into that kind of second week after the first week,
because here's a little known fact that not a lot
of people know. And I'm sure seal a nation you
guys know because you listen to our show faithfully right
inside the locker room listeners. And I've shared this before,
but week two is a second wave of like free
agency of this process. A lot of veteran guys who
(06:31):
are vested, you know, don't get signed week one and
they let them sit a week because contracts are not
guaranteed after week one. So when you're a veteran and
you're on a week one day, one game day roster,
your contract is guaranteed for the whole year. And that
right there, from a financial standpoint with wanting to be
(06:53):
able to move, doesn't lock you in. It locks you
in with a veteran player, an older player, but with
younger players it does not matter. You know, younger players,
they could be on the roster week one, they could
be cut week three, and it's not like, oh, they're
sellaries guaranteed. It's not as we renegotiated every time if
(07:13):
they get resigned. But a veteran player, no, here's my
pay you want you gotta pick, you gotta pick, you
gotta pick up the paycheck if you want me you know,
you know, week two or you cut or if a
team cuts you. More realistically, a team cuts you after
week one and you are on there, uh that the
said team is still on the hook for your entire
salary unless you get resigned. So that's where kind of
(07:37):
more of the moneyball game comes intch with how you're
going to deal with with more veteran guys, guys who
already vested, which you know is quote unquote four years
or three games, three years and three games. That's where
you get a little bit of more posturing about who's
on that game day roster and who's not. So that's
another thing to keep in mind as we look at this.
(07:58):
So the veteran transact might not be as high this
week unless you're just absolutely desperate, and some things to
say we'll figure it out week two to address some
needs just so the salaries aren't guaranteed. That's another tool
that that's at the NFL's disposal.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Interesting now, are guys, I mean I know how fans are, right,
so uh unless your fantasy football draft is coming up,
uh and that's possible, right, that's some some fans. We're
in that point of the year where a lot of
fantasy football drafts have already taken place, some are getting
fired out a lot of so you know that a
(08:35):
lot of are you you are.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Get I get, man, I get I get so many
calls from friends, so.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
You know, they're like, oh, you cover you, You covered
the entire NFL, like I get hit up with. I
get hit up with like the dynasty teams because you know,
like during training camp, Hey man, we're having our dynasty draft.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
You know what, what what about these young guys you
cover college? Like I get all of these like like,
come on, guys, seriously, Like, I mean, I love you all,
but please stop calling me for all the fantasy football
advice and you know, or else I'm gonna start charging.
I'm gonna just create a page and I'm just gonna
go through fantasy football curations, you know, and and and
(09:13):
create lists. But but as if I don't have enough
jobs already, like yeah, let's go ahead, let's do a
passion prem But yeah, no, my friends hit me up
all the time. It is. It's one of those I'm like,
come on, guys like that, you know. And then of course,
like some of my female friends, like I know, like forever,
they're like, Max, I'm going to this draft. I need
some help. I need I need you to sit it
(09:33):
on the draft with me. Uh, you know, just just
let me know what I should be doing. I'm drafted
number four, and you know, here, here's what my list is,
snake style draft. I'm like, oh god, I was like, well,
how many presents? Okay? And then we have the defensive player,
so who's the tackling machine? Like I get all of
these questions all the time. I don't know if you're
getting them, but I get them all the time, and
I'm just at certain points I just look at my phone.
I don't answer.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Well, let me let me just say this, Uh, this
is how I feel about certain things. So I'll pres
physis by saying we used to circulate an office sheet. Hey,
make your picks. You know, here's the lines every week.
Uh circle, he thinks gonna win whatever? Did it? For
a few years. I'm pretty sure I never won, not once,
not one single time. And I'm a close observer of
(10:18):
the NFL. And if I was, if you know, if
we if it was that easy, right, we could all
retire and just do that. But there's a pile there
used to be a pile of sand in the desert.
I don't fifty sixty seventy years ago to now. There's
Las Vegas, you know, a team that a city that's
you know, getting getting teams as a team. Now, if
(10:41):
it was easy, there wouldn't be any Las Vegas right there.
There are a couple of shops out there. Yeah, so
it ain't that easy. So yeah, and I'm uh you
know so so anyway, I digress because so fans are
getting ready for their fantasy football drafts. Yeah, but for
the those of us who are a little less concerned
(11:01):
about that, like I'm antsy man, I want to go.
If you're a veteran player, there's a rhythm, right, players,
what's that?
Speaker 2 (11:09):
I want wins for my team?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Not yeah?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Yeah, So there's camp, right, there's camp and and everybody
knows what's going to happen, and just about that time,
you get kind of disgusted with hitting each other. Now
you've got a game week and a little something to
to prepare yourselves for. Differently, you get to play somebody else,
and then you know, each game's got its own thing,
and each game's got its own rhythm. But this feels,
these few days feel a little bit like purgatory, just
(11:33):
like you know, okay, the practice squad is said, okay,
now you know this afternoon Tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday. Is it
purgatory for players? Are they, you know, champing at the
bit to get ready for you know, next week's game
or is it just you take it in stride and
and that, because you know, look at it's like the
(11:54):
same thing when you're watching a game on TV. You know,
guys stepping into the free throw line and you're and
your your palms are sweating and maybe you're you know,
maybe get a little twitch in your shoulder. Well, the
player's not thinking about that. If he was, he's not
gonna make the free throws, right, So I understand the
player's perspective is different than the fans perspective. But is
there some pawing at the ground right now or is
it Just take it and stride and and we'll have
(12:17):
our meetings over the weekend and we'll start getting ready
for the game on Monday.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah, these are just bonus days. I think that's the
best way of saying that this is these are bonus days.
So you kind of take them and stride and you
take every day for what it is, don't take it
for granted, continue to get better, and just you know,
just just go through the doldrums that it is. You're you're,
you are going to be overly prepared for Week one.
Just be prepared to every team in the NFL, it's
(12:43):
going to be overly prepared. You're watching preseason footage and
trying to extrapolate every little thing that you can. You know, you're, you're,
you're you're trying to make sure that your body stays
as healthy as possible, and you know, it's just it
feels like groundhog day. You know, this is like that
early bye week. This is what the early bye week
feels like, where it's like, hey, guys, you know, enjoy
(13:05):
college football this weekend, like some guys, I'm sure we'll
leave and probably go to their alma maters and watch
games and get the sideline passes and be treated like
kings back back back in their site, especially if you
made that active roster, you know, and saying hey, and
the school's going to touch you as Oh, look at
what our school did. Look at all these draft picks
that came back, you know, and and and are at
(13:28):
the sidelines cheering on the next generation of guys. You'll get,
you'll get all of that kind of stuff. But but
you know, I mean, it is a fun process, and
you know it's something you don't take for granted. Right
right now, all I know is I can only control
what now is rob and that is all I can
only be me. I can only do what you know,
(13:50):
what what's asked of me in the moment, and what
my role is now. So chaerish it, enjoy it. Breathe,
breathe a small sigh relief. Right now, you made it.
You made it through the through the through the big obstacle.
And now you could start saying we and not me
right now, gotcha? Okay, so uh we're getting ready for it.
(14:14):
We can't wait for it. By the way, you know,
another thought popped into my mind. You started talking about.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
See you see for people that are newer to the show,
and of course I'm newer to the show, but newer
to the two of us together. Max says something and
it's uh, for me, it's mental whack them mole because
four different things pop up that I want to follow
up on. But but just and we'll get to this
next week, right, I think I think a new coach
early in the year, I'd rather not play them. I'd
(14:42):
rather not play them. Look, Uh, there are a couple
of things and I'll and I'll tell you this one
and we can get more into this next week because
I want to get back to the moves made by
in the AFC North. But since you just mentioned, you know,
stuff on tape for new coach, first of all, two things. One,
I always think an opponent is a little more dangerous,
in fact, a lot more dangerous when they don't yet
(15:04):
know that they're not good. Right. So there's a reason,
Eric Glenn, And there's a reason most coaches are new.
It's because the team's not very good, but they're gonna
come out with a great deal of enthusiasm, a great
deal of energy, a belief that they are good. And
so you know, these teams, I think a lot of
these teams. You know, some teams build and get better
(15:24):
as the season goes on. I get that you might say, hey, listen,
we don't want we'd rather see so and so early.
We'd rather catch Minnesota early before JJ McCarthy gets on
a roll, for example. You may you may say that
as a fan, but these teams that bring in new coaches,
first of all, they don't know they're not good yet.
That's a problem. I think I've always thought that's a problem.
And number two, there's a there's a layer of unpredictability
(15:48):
everybody wants to do. And again, vanilla has been banned
when describing football, but not when basically when they basically,
you know, teams are gonna keep it basic. Even with
new coaches. They might come out and and throw something
at you you've never seen. They've been working at under
wraps in practice. So and I know that that's probably
a little overblown, and that's probably me getting a little
(16:10):
paranoid about things. But you know that that first time coach,
those teams with new coaches early in the season, that
concerns me a little bit. And maybe that's just me
looking for something to be concerned about.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Listen, don't be a worry wark.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
You have to you have to talk me back down
this year.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Max, don't worry. I will talk. I will talk you off.
You can look at the ledge. I'm fine with that.
Look at the cliffs edge, right, I'm good. Don't step
over the edge, Rob, stay back, stay back, put the
safety hardness on.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
All I need is the big Max starts hand on
my shoulder.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Yeah exactly. It acts like remember those little look what
were those little like baby tethers back in the day
that almost look like kid leashes? Ye, Like, like I
don't want to have to put one of those on
you every week we we we go down this.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
But unfortunately one finger under the back collar would be enough.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Just yeah, exactly that.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
I just want to can I just can I just
say something because I've shown this picture to people and
they've snickered. So there's a picture that was that somebody
took and posted I think the radio network before our
first game. It's you, it's on it's on Twitter. You
ramon Foster and me standing in the press box down
in UH in Jacksonville, and the picture came out and
(17:31):
I was like, oh, my goodness, gracious. So I just
want if anyone's seen this picture, right, I want people
to understand I'm six feet tall. I used to be
six to one. I'm shrinking. I'm six feet tall and
I weigh two hundred pounds. Okay, just keep that in
mind when you look when you look at that picture,
because it looks like I look like I'm a second
(17:52):
grader next to you guys.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
I mean, I mean, but we're also large land mammals. Yes,
you are. You're big land mammals. We are, we are
big men. So yeah, so it wouldn't take much off
that cliff. So if you wanted to feel petite, you know,
that was that was your moment. That was your moment
to feel petite, you know, your little flower whatever, whatever
(18:17):
you know you want to say. But no, yeah, to
walk you back off the left, I feel you walk
me back off the lest Yeah, no, I mean, it
isn't gonna take much.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Coach, you may not know. Yeah, the coach may not
know that they're not good, but the players definitely know.
If they're not good. Okay, good enough, I like, yeah,
you've got enough veterans on there. Then they're like, it's
gonna be there's gonna be a rough one.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Okay, so we.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Said we can do it, but but we really can't
do it.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
So to two big moves that we want to get
to in the a f C North that are they're
gonna change. Well, one certainly changes the complexion of a
team's outlook.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
The other solidifies that team. We're gonna get to those
moves when we consider and continue said that twice. Now,
when we're gonna consider it, when we continue inside the
locker Room with King and Starks, presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store here on this Teether's Audio Network. Welcome back
(19:17):
inside the locker Room with King and Starks, presented by
your neighborhood Ford Store here on this tee. There's Audio
Network final segment for me this day. Max Starks will
continue to carry on, including I think we're geta we're
gonna get a bell lap a little later on, Max.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Oh, of course, we always, we always get the bell lap.
I mean, you know, that's just you know that standard
operating procedure around here. You know, we had to let
people know when to forge at times or or even low.
It's just it's just a reminder for me, I feel
like a lot of the times.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
You know, uh, and I have to get re reminded
of this. Our our great friend Craig Wolfley, you know,
had the donut Monday thing going on. Victory Victory, Donut Monday,
Donut Monday. Yes, always talk of food, fond memories of
Wolf and I foraging through all of the food stands
(20:06):
in high school football stadiums around western Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
A lot of.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Discussion with food with Wolf, which continues inside the locker room.
And for me, I'm not a big breakfast guy, Max,
so I'm like coffee and this is about the time
of the day where the stomach begins to rumble. But
now I'm on the air and this constant talk of
food is is is it's avalanche type rumbling? Just wanted
(20:30):
to know.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yeah, no, no, I appreciate that you you will get
to satisfy that urge and hopefully while while you're while
you're in your car, you will listen to me give
the official bell lap so that you.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Can for you can count on it, my friend. So
there we go to a couple of moves. First of all,
Kyle Hamilton is now the highest paid safety in the NFL.
The Ravens announced that signing. No surprise to me that
he would get that designation. I just think he's a
(21:02):
great player. I mean, I know he plays for the Ravens,
but I mean this guy is just a he's a
great player. He can play deep, he can play up
by the line of scrimmage, you know there there are
just so many different things you can do. He's a
big guy, you know, rangy guy. I just think he's
a terrific player. And I think this is a well
deserved contract.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Yeah. No, I mean I think, you know, for the Ravens,
I mean, it just continues kind of kind of their trend, right.
It's just they're always going to have a good safety,
secondary type of guy like that. And Cayle Hamilton is
just that newest iteration. You know, for years you had
Ed Reid and Ed Reid was I mean he Hall
(21:43):
of Famer, right, I mean that he's that dude. So
it just it doesn't surprise me when you think about it.
You know, a lot of those guys on the defensive
side of the ball, you know, the Ravens just since
Ozzie knew some you know, you know, it has just
continued even after him and I know he still has
a consulting role. He sits, he sits in a booth
by himself, next next to us when we go to
(22:05):
away games, and one and one and one of my
uh one of my dads. He was one of his
really close friends. So, you know, so knowing Ozzy and
knowing the type of person he is, I mean he does.
He was a tremendous GM. If there is a GM
Hall of Fame, I'm sure he would be one of
those guys that will go into that, you know. But uh, yeah,
(22:25):
I mean Kyle Hamilton a guy we hate facing, you know,
every time we have to see him twice a year.
But but like you said, a fantastic guy. Well deserved
contract for him. I wish him all the best except
for when he plays us twice a year.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Yeah. And by the way, I just I want to
point this out, like I don't know whether the Ravens
would admit this, but they clearly seem to be following
the Steelers mold. You know, while teams like we saw Washington,
you know, running guys in and out of there under
(22:59):
Daniel Snye or you know, always trying to make a
splash and free agency you know, Dallas has got their
own thing going on. By the way, I've seen most
of episode two of that Cowboys show. It is an
interesting show. The Jerry Jones. It's sort of a Jerry Jones,
you know, self love kind of thing, but it's still interesting.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Oh of course, I mean yeah, but listen here here's
the other thing I think a lot of people don't understand.
Like the Dallas Cowboys are the only team that does
not participate in the NFL's g LA, so GLA for
everybody out there, Group Licensing Agreement. So what that means
is pretty much that for everything you see right when
(23:40):
you see jerseys, you see team sales and all these
other big ticket things that are advertised through the NFL,
you know, you know, it all goes into what we
call a group licensing agreement, and players sign into this
group licensing agreement. So it splits it equally for for
a lot of the NFL. When you think of the
TV contracts and everything, like, all of those are part
(24:02):
of the group lives agree. The NFL can now take
that and go say, hey, NBC, here's what you get.
You know, would you sign on to the NFL to
be a TV contract partner. You have access to these things.
You know, when you talk to S. C. Johnson, you
talk to you know, any General Mills, you talk to
(24:23):
any of these big Fortune one hundred companies or Fortune
five hundred companies. The NFL is marketing from the strength
of its teams and its players Dallas independent of that GLA.
They don't have a GLA for a lot of the licensing,
they handle their own licensing and they come into the
(24:45):
table and they take whatever their one thirty second cut
is of the TV contracts separately. So the merchandising and
marketing arm of the Dallas Cowboys is handled in house,
separate from the other thirty one teams. So when you
see this documentary and like how does this get proved?
Because everything else like quarterback, wide receiver receiver one, all
(25:08):
these other ones like those are those are NFL GLA documentaries,
reality shows and all those kind of things. Hard knocks,
like all of those things GLA Cowboys completely separate. Hence
why the Cowboys have their cheerleaders show on a certain
on a certain network, I can't remember which one. They
(25:28):
negotiate that separately, so they get everything from that. You know,
this documentary from Netflix they get everything from that that's
not an NFL group type of deal, and then they
have to go negotiate some of the more group things.
So as far as the game footage and all those
kind of things, they have to negotiate those parts of
it because that's all a part of the NFL, the
video footage and everything, and the radio calls and all
(25:49):
those things. But that's something that I do want to
point out. The reason why it is like that is because, Yeah,
Jerry Jones negotiated that specifically, and they can do that
as a Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
So to take a half step by it, it is
an interesting show, uh, to take a half step back
to the point I was making, It's like, to me,
the Ravens are the team that I believe. I mean,
it certainly looks from the outside like they made a
concerted effort to be the team that most closely follows
(26:20):
the Steelers blueprint. We're gonna play tough, physical football, we
are going to draft and develop our own. We are
going to value consistency and continuity, and that's what they've done.
I don't know if they would admit that. I don't
even know if it was conscious, but it sure looks
conscious to me. It sure looks like they said, listen,
(26:41):
this works, Let's follow this model. Let's not follow the headlines,
Let's not follow some of the other things the splash
moves that teams want to do. Let's follow this way
of doing business. Do you agree with that, Max, or
do you think that I'm I'm you know, oversimplifying this
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Uh. Imitation is the best form of flattery. Yeah, right,
And I think, you know, for the Ravens, it's a
great imitation and and they've figured out their secret sells.
But I think along the way they found their identity.
But oh, it's hard not to think that, Hey, when
we were trying to re invigorate, you know, our our
(27:24):
our organization, when we were trying to figure out who
are we going to be, it's like, well, look at
the class of it. I mean, that's that's what I
feel like a lot of teams try and do you
try and mimic what works around you, and you kind
of take from that. And so it does not surprise me.
And I think I think you're you're and you're not
off on making on making that statement because you know
(27:46):
that's what you're looking at. That's what success looks like.
And for the Ravens, you're you're chasing the guys in
your division, so who better you know to then try
and emulate or look at and say, hey, how are
they doing it? Why are they having success? And we're not.
That's an easy one to do. And and no, I
think you're absolutely right. I think I think the Ravens
(28:06):
do look at it like, hey, let let's let's go
off the Steelers mode. I'm sure they won't admit that
because obviously why would they. But but no, I think
you're I think you're right on right on track with that,
is that they would, you know, they would have to
admit in their heart of hearts like, man, we we
you know, we kind of do this like the Steelers
do that.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
It has worked for us. It has worked for us.
That's what it looks like to you. And I think
Cincinnati has tried to do that. They just haven't been
as successful as Cincinnati, right, Yeah. I mean, you know,
Marvin Lewis was a longtime head coach obviously, and I
think they tried to value continuity. I think those three
teams within the division. I mean, you look at New
England obviously, Uh, but yeah, I think the Steers set
(28:49):
the tone for their division. And so just remember that
that when you see, uh, you know, when you see
the Ravens having success, it's a little bit of a
little bit of the imitation game going on there in
my opinion anyway.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
So and all they have to do is just say
you're welcome. You know, That's exactly right, Mawi from Mowana.
Just say you're welcome. You know. That's all they had
to do.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
I just want to I want to get to this
because this is a big item. Trey Hendrickson back with Cincinnati.
They gave him a substantial raise. It's not a long
term deal. It's a one one year deal. So he's
gonna come back and he's gonna play. And this is
a team that is loaded up on offense. Right, They've
(29:32):
changed coordinators and done some different things on defense to
try to breathe some life into it. They've spent first
round picks uh the last couple year, Miles Murphy a
couple of years ago, this year again on edge rushers.
But they make no mistake. For this defense to beat
any good at all, they needed Trey Hendrickson. He is
(29:52):
their playmaker. He is their elite guy. He is their
version of Miles Garrett, TJ. Watt, MIKEH. Parsons. He's their guy,
and he's he's really good. I mean, I'm not saying
he's just their version of it. He's you know, the
last year or two, he's been mentioned with those guys
who maybe have longer track records, Max Crosby, players like that.
(30:16):
He's really good. He is back on a one year deal.
It was hard for me to imagine that he wouldn't
play football this year, but it became official yesterday, and
I think that's a huge, huge bit of business for
the Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Yeah no, I mean they needed this. This dragged on.
This was a real so proper of the offseason, going
back and forth, will they won't they? He's done this
seventeen and a half sacks every year the last two years.
Just pay the man. Stop being cheap, Cincinnati, Stop being cheap.
I mean that's essentially when it comes down to. Stop
being curmudgeons about it. The dude has earned it. Just
(30:56):
pay the man. Just pay him. That's it. He's he's
the one bright spot on your defense that could not
hold toilet tissue, right, You know. I mean it was
they couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper
bag a year ago, and he was your one, lone
bright spot, and you know we talked, oh my gosh,
you know, look at you know, Jamar Chase run the
(31:18):
Triple Crown a year ago and Joe Burrows thrown for
all these yards. They still could not win a game.
They still could not win. Their life depended on because
if they scored forty I think they had what they
tied the record then the.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Record for most losses when scoring thirty or forty points.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Yeah, yeah, and I believe and most forty or more too. Yeah,
because it was like four of them as a record
when they scored thirty three or more points. I mean,
you know you'd think, okay, you win every one of
those games. And it wasn't even I mean they could.
They couldn't buy a win.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
And though no and by the way, Trey Hendrickson for
since he joined Cincinnati, four consecutive Pro Bowls and All
Pro last year when he led the league in sacks
is seventeen and a half. He had seventeen and a
half the year before, So I'm not exaggerating when I
say you know this guy belongs in the same conversation
with the elite guys. I mean this this guy has
(32:12):
been Hendrickson has been phenomenal for Cincinnati and he's been
pretty much it Like who else you gonna block? You know,
who else worries you on that team? Nobody? He's the guy.
And I know they're investing in offense, but you got it.
You have to find a way to pay this guy
for Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know what else you could do.
You win. You drafted Shamar Stewart, and Shamar Stewart was
on his side. It was on Trey Hendrick's side, like
I'm not gonna sign If you can't sign him, why
would I want to be here?
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Right?
Speaker 2 (32:41):
And then of course he eventually, you know, bent the knee.
But I mean, that's what you're dealing with, and you know,
for a lot of for a lot of guys that
that's something that matters. Guys pay attention to it. And
you don't want to have that that negative kind of
aspect hanging over your head because it's like, where are
(33:02):
we gonna go from here? And you can't bring in
top town because top Town is not gonna want to
come if you didn't pay another guy who they thought
was just as good, why am I any different? You know?
And why are you gonna treat me any different? So
you know, players talk, players talk about, you know, quality
of life and you know, dealing with management at these places,
so you know, you don't want to be on the
(33:23):
wrong side of that.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Yeah. I think I'm just trying to do this quickly here.
I think that the Bengals in games in which they
scored thirty or more points, I think they were I
don't know they were. Let's see, so they they scored
thirty four and beat Carolina, they scored thirty, well, they
(33:45):
scored thirty three and lost to Washington. Then they beat Carolina,
lost to Baltimore, lost to Baltimore again, lost to the Steelers,
and then beat Tennessee. So a losing record in which
in games in which they word thirty three or more points,
that's that was an NFL record.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah, that.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Incredible. I think they'd already clicked.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Another friendly franchise like that one. Yeah, and I know
my Pops is upset, but yeah, it's all good.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Yeah right right, that's right, we got it. We got
a shout out to Daddy Max. Hey, Max, Uh, enjoy
it as always. Look forward. Tomorrow we're gonna talk. I'm
going to dive into the Steelers draft. I really want
to do that because I think it's pertinent to what's
going on with the fifty three man roster and the
practice squad as well. Uh, We're gonna get to some
of that stuff tomorrow. But Max is gonna have the
(34:37):
bell Lap for you when he continues inside the locker
room and the King and Starks presented by our neighborhood
Ford Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
All right back inside the locker room. And of course
it's that beautiful time. It is the last segment, also
known as the Bell Lap. That's right earlier lunch warning
system has been engaged, and you know, hopefully you're out
there on the highways and the byways making your way
(35:16):
to something good to eat, or you know, just walking
outside the office. If you're downtown and you're headed to
you know, you know, somewhere around there, whether you're going
to Stations Square, whether you're going to Liberty Square, you're
up and down pinaf wherever you're going to be. It
is that time of the day, the glorious time that
we look forward to. But you know, kind of just
(35:37):
I think wrapping up the show one of the biggest things.
You know today you're seeing movement. Obviously, the notable thing
yesterday was we had the practice squad kind of coming
to fruition. Rob and I hit on it a lot
of internal you know, redemption and keeping guys in the fold,
guys who know the Steeler way, Guys who've been Steelers
(36:01):
h and kind of know what the expectation is. That's
always good. When you have the culture, you also know
the playbook. So if anything should happen last minute, those
guys can boom pop up, you can move them back down,
and you know, the handstays in the power for the
Steelers as they go on this journey this season. You know,
and I think if I'm happy to see a guy
(36:22):
like Beanie Bishop love Beanie got to spend time with
him this offseason. He and Christian Koontz and myself. We
went down to Mexico for for the Steelers' business summit
and it was really cool, you know, got to interact.
We had a good time. Vince Williams was there with
me as another Steelers legend, and we got to you know,
(36:44):
interact with those guys. We had a flag football tournament
down there in Monterey, Mexico, and it was a lot
of fun, a lot of fun. Beanie and I were
on one team. Coonts and Vince was you know, they
had they had their guys that they liked and the
process that we I mean, we had a good time,
just kind of kind of getting to know, you know,
the players. And you know, I've known Christian you know
(37:04):
when I roam the sidelines. You know, it's funny a
sideline guy always gets a close relationship with the specialists.
And not to say that was any different in my
time when I was an active player as a as
a as an offensive lineman, but you know, you get
your form relationships and and and Christian is just a
tremendous uh young man. And it's also you know, we
talk a lot, and he's he's a good dude, and
(37:27):
so you know, you have you formed those bonds, but
this is an opportunity to really get to know Beanie
and Uh and get to just know him. You know,
I I you know, I'd covered him uh when he
was in college when he switched to wv U, and
of course, Happy when he came over here, uh you
and we and we got him, so, you know, for
him to be on this team, and really happy for
him because I think he he is a he is
(37:49):
a football player. I mean, the kid has a nose
for the football. So happy to have him back there,
Julius Welshaw. You know, I think he has grown year
after year and it's going to be something where you know,
getting that additional time, you know, because I think I
look at also the practice squad as being more of
a developmental team and these are the guys that aren't
(38:11):
quite there yet. But also some guys like hey, numbers
games kind of did you wrong. But the fact they
still want to be here, like you probably could have
signed elsewhere, but you still signed back here means you
believe in the culture, you believe in you know the players,
and you like your teammates. I think I can't say
that for everybody. I mean I looked at a couple
of teams as we were as I was going through
(38:31):
it yesterday, and you know, a guy, a running back
that I watched for the Cardinals, DJ Dallas, I thought,
I thought played really well, and you know, the Cardinals
went a different directions they signed Bam Knight instead to
the Act of fifty three. So DJ Dallas leaves and
goes to Carolina and team that we had just played recently,
and you're saying, okay, you want to bolster that running
(38:54):
back room. I mean, I thought DJ Dallas has a
lot of things he can bring to that team, and
so you know, you kind of look at it. You
have to look at that global perspective. Right now, we
don't have games yet, and so you tend to look
in other places to also see, hey, how are we
doing right? You know, you want you want that that
that pace check to see what are we doing it right?
You know, let me look to my right, to my left,
(39:16):
like in the you know, you know, that's why they
put blinders on horses, right, so they don't look left right,
They just focus on straight. But with this, this uh,
this type of free time that we have before we
get to the first games. I mean, we're exactly one
week away from the season starting right the Thursday night
football kickoff the Eagles will start the season. Then of
course you'll get that Chargers Chiefs game in Brazil on Friday.
(39:40):
But right now, you know, this is that kind of
low period right pre Labor Day weekend. We'll have a
long weekend coming up, and hopefully everybody's gonna be safe
on that. But we'll talk about that more tomorrow because
there's gonna be a lot of good college football. I'm
traveling back back east and I'll I'll be in the
Western PA region. I won't say I'm directly there, but
(40:03):
you know, Robert Morris is going to be doing battle
against WVU this weekend, so I'll be traveling to that
game and calling that game for ESPN on TV, so
it'll be a plus game and so you know, looking
forward to it. And this is just that fun time
of year, right, I mean, it's it's we're getting into autumn,
We're getting into the fall time, and this is what
(40:25):
football time is. This is football season, and you know,
I can't be more excited. And this is taking shape
from a professional standpoint with the NFL, but I feel it,
But you know, I just want to put caution. I
still want to stress that this is the initial There's
still moves to be made, there's still decision to be made.
(40:46):
I talked to you guys earlier and I let you
know kind of how the mindset is up there in
management when it comes to dealing with more veteran players,
there's that inkling to get the most desperate, right, I
see smoke, and I need to go ahead and tamp
out that fire. But at the same time, if I
can get through for a week, then that following week
(41:10):
becomes a more flurry or frenzy of signings a veteran guys,
vested veteran guys, the four year plus guys. Because the
contract situation, the contracts are not guaranteed, there's a higher
VET minimum, and when you guarantee that, that cuts into
your cap number, and that cap number. Some teams are close,
some teams not so much. I mean, you know, historically
(41:32):
we look at it. New Orleans Saints have are the
kings of kicking the can down the road. They're always
I mean, they shed a lot of a lot of
contracts this offseason just to fall below the cap, not
including the new signings and everything else. That's a team
that's always pressed. Because the Steelers are always usually good,
we usually have a little bit of wiggle room, but
you know, we try and stay close to that ninety
(41:54):
percent cap spin number that the NFL has a bandit
you get penalized if if you go under the cap,
and then of course you know you can't go over
the cap. It's a hard cap system. Unlike Baseball or NBA.
NBA has these aprons and these different things, luxury taxes.
NFL doesn't do that. They're the league that says, nope,
we have a hard cap. This is the maximum you
can spend. You just spend up to it, up to
(42:15):
the absolute minimum. But you also can't be a team
that's so depressed that you spend less than ninety percent.
And some of those teams back in the day. Now
Tampa Bay used to be one that was a constant offender.
They're not that team anymore. But for the Steelers, we've
always been kind of cap healthy, and you know, we'll
nudge up against it. We'll use some some different tools
to get guys out, will convert more into you know,
(42:38):
from from south, from signing bone so salary to signing
bonus to ease some of those things and spread. But
that's a very technical aspect of it. But for right now,
we're in a good place. I feel good about where
this team is and I love what I've seen. You know,
I know a lot of people are gonna say, well,
we didn't really get to see stars, was Aaron Rodgers
gonna be? I get that. I get that it's cool.
(43:00):
But what I saw in a joint practice against Tampa Bay,
the flick of the wrist, the flick of the wrist
is is pretty impressive to see for any age, but
especially a guy of his age. The relationship that he has,
the workouts that they do pre game, if you got
to the stadiums early, if you attended any of the
preseason games to watch the workout that he and DK
(43:22):
Metcalf would go through was just impressive. And so I
have a lot of conference there and where Aaron Rodgers
is and his ability to lead this team and his
capabilities as a quarterback. The running back room, I feel
really good about it. I think we have some good
diversity there and it's going to be fun to watch.
This offensive line is young but shaping up nicely. I
(43:44):
think having a veteran like Max Sharping in there as
well just continues to push guys. But also, you know,
it creates a good homogeneous society. You know in there
that you can that you can ask questions. The ecosystem
of the offensive line. I'm really happy with where it's
after seeing those guys kind of work this offseason and
being around them and getting to know their personalities a
(44:05):
lot better. Tight End room, fantastic tight end room. Love
that tight end room, everybody. I promise you didn't get
see him the preseason, but you're gonna love John Neusmith.
I promise you that. I'll tell you right now. You're
gonna love what John Osmith brings to the team. His capability,
especially to split out, and the movement that you can
use a lot of deployable ways. You know, defensively, we
(44:26):
talked about the defensive line at nauseum, but I don't
feel like it's overkill Derek Harmon and Ya Black. I
think we know that these guys look like they're a
great start for their futures and the future health of
this defensive line. You know, when you talk about what
Cam Hayward has done to really man the ship and
(44:46):
hold things together, He's got back up, he's got reinforcements,
and the quality of depth behind those guys is really good.
And Logan Lee has come into his own a guy
from a year ago injury Jordan's season, he has learned
a lot and he's going to be a valuable piece
as well in that rotation. Daniel Quale coming in from
(45:07):
New England. I think he's going to be a nice
tempo changer as well at that interior position to really
kind of support Keanu and what he's playing at the
nose position along with Ya and company. So it's looking
good there. Inside linebacker and outside linebacker.
Speaker 1 (45:22):
Love I love it.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
We got a fourth guy. We didn't have that a
year ago. We got a fourth guy. Jack Sawyer really
impressed in the preseason and is a guy that carries
over from that Ohio State pedigree, so really excited about
what his future looks like. And interior linebackers, I think,
you know, Peyton Wilson has made the jump, and I
think we're going to be benefics, benefactors of that jump. I
(45:45):
like the guys behind it. Cole Holcom Welcome back, Bud Like,
welcome back Cotter. Like happy to see him and see
him fully recovered and fully over the knee injury, and
he's playing with his hair on fire. Malik Harrison, big body,
can play inside or outside. I think it gives you
versatility depending on the matchup. Secondary there's not enough to
say and then now you've added Chuck Clark to that
(46:08):
rotation back there with Juan Thornhill, Deshaun Elliott and Miles
kill A brew that that's a feisty, physical bunch back there,
So it's gonna be really cool to see them man
the back end. But you know, Stealers Nation, thank you
so much. We appreciate it. Rob, Rob and I you
know we'll be coming to you throughout the year. Make
sure you hit us up on socials, let us know
(46:29):
your thoughts. And of course we get back in the
regular season, we'll get back in the regular lineup. We
still got Jim Wexel, we got Jerry Doulac, Missy Matthews,
Alvaro Martin, and then we'll see if we can get
Bob Labriola in here a couple of times at least
as we progress. But with that, I bid you guys
adue for the rest of the day and we will
be back tomorrow inside the locker room with King and Starks.
Hello, and welcome back inside the locker room with King
Stark's presented our neighborhood Fords tour on this Steeler's audio network.
Don't we get a don't we get some kind of
max what's going on here?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah? Yeah? Oh you know what? Yes? Where are we
at here? With?
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
With Optimists? He just comes in there we go.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
There.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
He is mister magical. He's driving through and he's getting
he's getting his work done. He's delivering all across this country.
But once again, we know where Optimist is headed. He
all eyes are on September seventh for him. He's not
worried about anything else. He's worried. He's worried about what
what is going down in met life. And that's that's
(01:00):
what we're gonna do. We're figuring out this roster. We're
figuring out the game plans and starting to deploy those guys.
We have the initial fifty three man roster. We have
our practice squad, we have what we'd like to call
those reserves in there. We have some clarity on the
ir front, which now made way for a couple of
other signings to kind of bolster the offensive line unit.
(01:23):
So I say offensive line unit and also the secondary
with the corresponding moves Downte Kent goes to IR Chuck
Clark comes back. Also Will Howard for Max Sharping, you know,
coming in. So a lot of good things on the
horizon for the Steelers, and yes we're covering it all
(01:43):
in our.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Game two here. So I want to ask you, Matt
Max before we get into some of the moves and
some very sizable announcements yesterday by AFC North opponents. I know,
I know how I feel. I can't wait for game
weeks to start, right, Let's go, man, Let's let's get
to Monday, and let's start thinking about the Jets and
(02:04):
let's get fired up and all that stuff, and let's
get to practice and let you know which personnel groupings
are going to be out there, and who's looking like
they're going to be part of the dress forty six
and all these other things. And you know, I'm already
a little guilty of diving into the Jets and thinking, man,
this is a team that's gonna want to try to
ram the ball right at the Steelers, I would imagine. Anyway,
(02:26):
that's all for next week. I did want to ask,
since I know I'm a little bit anty. How are
the players feeling right now? And I think my guess
would be, and take us through this. My guess would
be a veteran has a different mindset than a guy
who's like, phew, man, I made the team, didn't know
if that was gonna happen, and maybe just excited to
wake up each day and look around and be like, whoa,
(02:48):
I'm a member of the Steelers. But you know, take
us through kind of the mindset of what's going on here,
because it feels a little bit like purgatory. You know,
there's training camp, and then after camp and even before
camp breaks that you have game weeks, you know, so
you're getting into that rhythm, and then you have this
kind of in between time, which because of the the
(03:09):
lack of the fourth preseason game has lengthened now, right,
you don't just get right into the next game, you know,
you have this long period of time where you're going
two and a half weeks between games. Obviously, the roster
cutdowns are big part. So just before we get on
to these other big moves, what is a mindset of
the players or maybe different groups of players in the
roster right now?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Well, I mean, I think, I think you know, as
you look around, I mean, it's going to be hey,
you know, what what is this role? I think there's
some guys who breed that you know, that that feel comfortable,
and then there's other guys that you know, Like you said,
I mean, you know, when you are on this fifty three,
you know, you know, and you're anywhere from forty nine
to fifty three, you know, you walk more caustiously. You're
(03:54):
not walking on eggshells, but you walk a little cautiously like, hey,
you know who else is out there? What else can
still happen? There's a lot of time to be waiting.
You know. The mind, you know is a very is
is a very fragile thing. And you know when you
have you know what they say. And I don't mind
as the Devil's workshop. I like that you know, you can,
(04:15):
you can, you could start, you could talk yourself into
some some grand and crazy things. But I think for
the most part, you have to feel good that you're
that you, that you're in this position. I'm sure conversations
were had in each of these position rooms, but I mean,
you know, obviously, if you're top eight in the old line,
you feel comfortable. You have nine and ten. You could
(04:36):
be a little bit, a little bit more cautious and
a little more worried. Obviously, if you're the number one
and number two quarterback, for sure you feel comfortable. I
think that entire running back room has to feel good.
You know, tight end room as well, probably feels feels
a little bit at ease for right now. The big
things stay healthy. But I think you know, defensively, you know,
(05:00):
d line, you're always gonna worry, right because you know
as you bring in more guys, but the secondary should
feel a little more at ease. And linebacker, I mean lineback,
you you got nine of them. I thought that number
would have shifted the other way around, been five outside,
four inside, but it's five inside, four outside. So I
mean that one. You know, you you know you can wonder,
(05:21):
but I think I think, I think you're pretty much okay, uh,
for all intents and purposes. So I mean, you feel
pretty good right now because I think, like you said,
it's not a lot of exterior movement. This is all
internal movement, imposturing and and chess going on. So from
that perspective, you have to feel comfortable. But you always
have the wonder is there somebody out there? Where are they,
(05:46):
you know, scouring through the transaction logs and you know
street free agents and you know. And here's the other
thing to also remember, Rob, I think a lot of
people aren't aware of, is that you know, when you
get into the how do I put this, when you
(06:07):
get into that kind of second week after the first week,
because here's a little known fact that not a lot
of people know. And I'm sure seal a nation you
guys know because you listen to our show faithfully right
inside the locker room listeners. And I've shared this before,
but week two is a second wave of like free
agency of this process. A lot of veteran guys who
(06:31):
are vested, you know, don't get signed week one and
they let them sit a week because contracts are not
guaranteed after week one. So when you're a veteran and
you're on a week one day, one game day roster,
your contract is guaranteed for the whole year. And that
right there, from a financial standpoint with wanting to be
(06:53):
able to move, doesn't lock you in. It locks you
in with a veteran player, an older player, but with
younger players it does not matter. You know, younger players,
they could be on the roster week one, they could
be cut week three, and it's not like, oh, they're
sellaries guaranteed. It's not as we renegotiated every time if
(07:13):
they get resigned. But a veteran player, no, here's my
pay you want you gotta pick, you gotta pick, you
gotta pick up the paycheck if you want me you know,
you know, week two or you cut or if a
team cuts you. More realistically, a team cuts you after
week one and you are on there, uh that the
said team is still on the hook for your entire
salary unless you get resigned. So that's where kind of
(07:37):
more of the moneyball game comes intch with how you're
going to deal with with more veteran guys, guys who
already vested, which you know is quote unquote four years
or three games, three years and three games. That's where
you get a little bit of more posturing about who's
on that game day roster and who's not. So that's
another thing to keep in mind as we look at this.
(07:58):
So the veteran transact might not be as high this
week unless you're just absolutely desperate, and some things to
say we'll figure it out week two to address some
needs just so the salaries aren't guaranteed. That's another tool
that that's at the NFL's disposal.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Interesting now, are guys, I mean I know how fans are, right,
so uh unless your fantasy football draft is coming up,
uh and that's possible, right, that's some some fans. We're
in that point of the year where a lot of
fantasy football drafts have already taken place, some are getting
fired out a lot of so you know that a
(08:35):
lot of are you you are.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Get I get, man, I get I get so many
calls from friends, so.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
You know, they're like, oh, you cover you, You covered
the entire NFL, like I get hit up with. I
get hit up with like the dynasty teams because you know,
like during training camp, Hey man, we're having our dynasty draft.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
You know what, what what about these young guys you
cover college? Like I get all of these like like,
come on, guys, seriously, Like, I mean, I love you all,
but please stop calling me for all the fantasy football
advice and you know, or else I'm gonna start charging.
I'm gonna just create a page and I'm just gonna
go through fantasy football curations, you know, and and and
(09:13):
create lists. But but as if I don't have enough
jobs already, like yeah, let's go ahead, let's do a
passion prem But yeah, no, my friends hit me up
all the time. It is. It's one of those I'm like,
come on, guys like that, you know. And then of course,
like some of my female friends, like I know, like forever,
they're like, Max, I'm going to this draft. I need
some help. I need I need you to sit it
(09:33):
on the draft with me. Uh, you know, just just
let me know what I should be doing. I'm drafted
number four, and you know, here, here's what my list is,
snake style draft. I'm like, oh god, I was like, well,
how many presents? Okay? And then we have the defensive player,
so who's the tackling machine? Like I get all of
these questions all the time. I don't know if you're
getting them, but I get them all the time, and
I'm just at certain points I just look at my phone.
I don't answer.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Well, let me let me just say this, Uh, this
is how I feel about certain things. So I'll pres
physis by saying we used to circulate an office sheet. Hey,
make your picks. You know, here's the lines every week.
Uh circle, he thinks gonna win whatever? Did it? For
a few years. I'm pretty sure I never won, not once,
not one single time. And I'm a close observer of
(10:18):
the NFL. And if I was, if you know, if
we if it was that easy, right, we could all
retire and just do that. But there's a pile there
used to be a pile of sand in the desert.
I don't fifty sixty seventy years ago to now. There's
Las Vegas, you know, a team that a city that's
you know, getting getting teams as a team. Now, if
(10:41):
it was easy, there wouldn't be any Las Vegas right there.
There are a couple of shops out there. Yeah, so
it ain't that easy. So yeah, and I'm uh you
know so so anyway, I digress because so fans are
getting ready for their fantasy football drafts. Yeah, but for
the those of us who are a little less concerned
(11:01):
about that, like I'm antsy man, I want to go.
If you're a veteran player, there's a rhythm, right, players,
what's that?
Speaker 2 (11:09):
I want wins for my team?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Not yeah?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Yeah, So there's camp, right, there's camp and and everybody
knows what's going to happen, and just about that time,
you get kind of disgusted with hitting each other. Now
you've got a game week and a little something to
to prepare yourselves for. Differently, you get to play somebody else,
and then you know, each game's got its own thing,
and each game's got its own rhythm. But this feels,
these few days feel a little bit like purgatory, just
(11:33):
like you know, okay, the practice squad is said, okay,
now you know this afternoon Tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday. Is it
purgatory for players? Are they, you know, champing at the
bit to get ready for you know, next week's game
or is it just you take it in stride and
and that, because you know, look at it's like the
(11:54):
same thing when you're watching a game on TV. You know,
guys stepping into the free throw line and you're and
your your palms are sweating and maybe you're you know,
maybe get a little twitch in your shoulder. Well, the
player's not thinking about that. If he was, he's not
gonna make the free throws, right, So I understand the
player's perspective is different than the fans perspective. But is
there some pawing at the ground right now or is
it Just take it and stride and and we'll have
(12:17):
our meetings over the weekend and we'll start getting ready
for the game on Monday.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah, these are just bonus days. I think that's the
best way of saying that this is these are bonus days.
So you kind of take them and stride and you
take every day for what it is, don't take it
for granted, continue to get better, and just you know,
just just go through the doldrums that it is. You're you're,
you are going to be overly prepared for Week one.
Just be prepared to every team in the NFL, it's
(12:43):
going to be overly prepared. You're watching preseason footage and
trying to extrapolate every little thing that you can. You know, you're, you're,
you're you're trying to make sure that your body stays
as healthy as possible, and you know, it's just it
feels like groundhog day. You know, this is like that
early bye week. This is what the early bye week
feels like, where it's like, hey, guys, you know, enjoy
(13:05):
college football this weekend, like some guys, I'm sure we'll
leave and probably go to their alma maters and watch
games and get the sideline passes and be treated like
kings back back back in their site, especially if you
made that active roster, you know, and saying hey, and
the school's going to touch you as Oh, look at
what our school did. Look at all these draft picks
that came back, you know, and and and are at
(13:28):
the sidelines cheering on the next generation of guys. You'll get,
you'll get all of that kind of stuff. But but
you know, I mean, it is a fun process, and
you know it's something you don't take for granted. Right
right now, all I know is I can only control
what now is rob and that is all I can
only be me. I can only do what you know,
(13:50):
what what's asked of me in the moment, and what
my role is now. So chaerish it, enjoy it. Breathe,
breathe a small sigh relief. Right now, you made it.
You made it through the through the through the big obstacle.
And now you could start saying we and not me
right now, gotcha? Okay, so uh we're getting ready for it.
(14:14):
We can't wait for it. By the way, you know,
another thought popped into my mind. You started talking about.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
See you see for people that are newer to the show,
and of course I'm newer to the show, but newer
to the two of us together. Max says something and
it's uh, for me, it's mental whack them mole because
four different things pop up that I want to follow
up on. But but just and we'll get to this
next week, right, I think I think a new coach
early in the year, I'd rather not play them. I'd
(14:42):
rather not play them. Look, Uh, there are a couple
of things and I'll and I'll tell you this one
and we can get more into this next week because
I want to get back to the moves made by
in the AFC North. But since you just mentioned, you know,
stuff on tape for new coach, first of all, two things. One,
I always think an opponent is a little more dangerous,
in fact, a lot more dangerous when they don't yet
(15:04):
know that they're not good. Right. So there's a reason,
Eric Glenn, And there's a reason most coaches are new.
It's because the team's not very good, but they're gonna
come out with a great deal of enthusiasm, a great
deal of energy, a belief that they are good. And
so you know, these teams, I think a lot of
these teams. You know, some teams build and get better
(15:24):
as the season goes on. I get that you might say, hey, listen,
we don't want we'd rather see so and so early.
We'd rather catch Minnesota early before JJ McCarthy gets on
a roll, for example. You may you may say that
as a fan, but these teams that bring in new coaches,
first of all, they don't know they're not good yet.
That's a problem. I think I've always thought that's a problem.
And number two, there's a there's a layer of unpredictability
(15:48):
everybody wants to do. And again, vanilla has been banned
when describing football, but not when basically when they basically,
you know, teams are gonna keep it basic. Even with
new coaches. They might come out and and throw something
at you you've never seen. They've been working at under
wraps in practice. So and I know that that's probably
a little overblown, and that's probably me getting a little
(16:10):
paranoid about things. But you know that that first time coach,
those teams with new coaches early in the season, that
concerns me a little bit. And maybe that's just me
looking for something to be concerned about.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Listen, don't be a worry wark.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
You have to you have to talk me back down
this year.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Max, don't worry. I will talk. I will talk you off.
You can look at the ledge. I'm fine with that.
Look at the cliffs edge, right, I'm good. Don't step
over the edge, Rob, stay back, stay back, put the
safety hardness on.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
All I need is the big Max starts hand on
my shoulder.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Yeah exactly. It acts like remember those little look what
were those little like baby tethers back in the day
that almost look like kid leashes? Ye, Like, like I
don't want to have to put one of those on
you every week we we we go down this.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
But unfortunately one finger under the back collar would be enough.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Just yeah, exactly that.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
I just want to can I just can I just
say something because I've shown this picture to people and
they've snickered. So there's a picture that was that somebody
took and posted I think the radio network before our
first game. It's you, it's on it's on Twitter. You
ramon Foster and me standing in the press box down
in UH in Jacksonville, and the picture came out and
(17:31):
I was like, oh, my goodness, gracious. So I just
want if anyone's seen this picture, right, I want people
to understand I'm six feet tall. I used to be
six to one. I'm shrinking. I'm six feet tall and
I weigh two hundred pounds. Okay, just keep that in
mind when you look when you look at that picture,
because it looks like I look like I'm a second
(17:52):
grader next to you guys.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
I mean, I mean, but we're also large land mammals. Yes,
you are. You're big land mammals. We are, we are
big men. So yeah, so it wouldn't take much off
that cliff. So if you wanted to feel petite, you know,
that was that was your moment. That was your moment
to feel petite, you know, your little flower whatever, whatever
(18:17):
you know you want to say. But no, yeah, to
walk you back off the left, I feel you walk
me back off the lest Yeah, no, I mean, it
isn't gonna take much.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Coach, you may not know. Yeah, the coach may not
know that they're not good, but the players definitely know.
If they're not good. Okay, good enough, I like, yeah,
you've got enough veterans on there. Then they're like, it's
gonna be there's gonna be a rough one.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Okay, so we.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Said we can do it, but but we really can't
do it.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
So to two big moves that we want to get
to in the a f C North that are they're
gonna change. Well, one certainly changes the complexion of a
team's outlook.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
The other solidifies that team. We're gonna get to those
moves when we consider and continue said that twice. Now,
when we're gonna consider it, when we continue inside the
locker Room with King and Starks, presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store here on this Teether's Audio Network. Welcome back
(19:17):
inside the locker Room with King and Starks, presented by
your neighborhood Ford Store here on this tee. There's Audio
Network final segment for me this day. Max Starks will
continue to carry on, including I think we're geta we're
gonna get a bell lap a little later on, Max.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Oh, of course, we always, we always get the bell lap.
I mean, you know, that's just you know that standard
operating procedure around here. You know, we had to let
people know when to forge at times or or even low.
It's just it's just a reminder for me, I feel
like a lot of the times.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
You know, uh, and I have to get re reminded
of this. Our our great friend Craig Wolfley, you know,
had the donut Monday thing going on. Victory Victory, Donut Monday,
Donut Monday. Yes, always talk of food, fond memories of
Wolf and I foraging through all of the food stands
(20:06):
in high school football stadiums around western Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
A lot of.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Discussion with food with Wolf, which continues inside the locker room.
And for me, I'm not a big breakfast guy, Max,
so I'm like coffee and this is about the time
of the day where the stomach begins to rumble. But
now I'm on the air and this constant talk of
food is is is it's avalanche type rumbling? Just wanted
(20:30):
to know.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yeah, no, no, I appreciate that you you will get
to satisfy that urge and hopefully while while you're while
you're in your car, you will listen to me give
the official bell lap so that you.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Can for you can count on it, my friend. So
there we go to a couple of moves. First of all,
Kyle Hamilton is now the highest paid safety in the NFL.
The Ravens announced that signing. No surprise to me that
he would get that designation. I just think he's a
(21:02):
great player. I mean, I know he plays for the Ravens,
but I mean this guy is just a he's a
great player. He can play deep, he can play up
by the line of scrimmage, you know there there are
just so many different things you can do. He's a
big guy, you know, rangy guy. I just think he's
a terrific player. And I think this is a well
deserved contract.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Yeah. No, I mean I think, you know, for the Ravens,
I mean, it just continues kind of kind of their trend, right.
It's just they're always going to have a good safety,
secondary type of guy like that. And Cayle Hamilton is
just that newest iteration. You know, for years you had
Ed Reid and Ed Reid was I mean he Hall
(21:43):
of Famer, right, I mean that he's that dude. So
it just it doesn't surprise me when you think about it.
You know, a lot of those guys on the defensive
side of the ball, you know, the Ravens just since
Ozzie knew some you know, you know, it has just
continued even after him and I know he still has
a consulting role. He sits, he sits in a booth
by himself, next next to us when we go to
(22:05):
away games, and one and one and one of my
uh one of my dads. He was one of his
really close friends. So, you know, so knowing Ozzy and
knowing the type of person he is, I mean he does.
He was a tremendous GM. If there is a GM
Hall of Fame, I'm sure he would be one of
those guys that will go into that, you know. But uh, yeah,
(22:25):
I mean Kyle Hamilton a guy we hate facing, you know,
every time we have to see him twice a year.
But but like you said, a fantastic guy. Well deserved
contract for him. I wish him all the best except
for when he plays us twice a year.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Yeah. And by the way, I just I want to
point this out, like I don't know whether the Ravens
would admit this, but they clearly seem to be following
the Steelers mold. You know, while teams like we saw Washington,
you know, running guys in and out of there under
(22:59):
Daniel Snye or you know, always trying to make a
splash and free agency you know, Dallas has got their
own thing going on. By the way, I've seen most
of episode two of that Cowboys show. It is an
interesting show. The Jerry Jones. It's sort of a Jerry Jones,
you know, self love kind of thing, but it's still interesting.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Oh of course, I mean yeah, but listen here here's
the other thing I think a lot of people don't understand.
Like the Dallas Cowboys are the only team that does
not participate in the NFL's g LA, so GLA for
everybody out there, Group Licensing Agreement. So what that means
is pretty much that for everything you see right when
(23:40):
you see jerseys, you see team sales and all these
other big ticket things that are advertised through the NFL,
you know, you know, it all goes into what we
call a group licensing agreement, and players sign into this
group licensing agreement. So it splits it equally for for
a lot of the NFL. When you think of the
TV contracts and everything, like, all of those are part
(24:02):
of the group lives agree. The NFL can now take
that and go say, hey, NBC, here's what you get.
You know, would you sign on to the NFL to
be a TV contract partner. You have access to these things.
You know, when you talk to S. C. Johnson, you
talk to you know, any General Mills, you talk to
(24:23):
any of these big Fortune one hundred companies or Fortune
five hundred companies. The NFL is marketing from the strength
of its teams and its players Dallas independent of that GLA.
They don't have a GLA for a lot of the licensing,
they handle their own licensing and they come into the
(24:45):
table and they take whatever their one thirty second cut
is of the TV contracts separately. So the merchandising and
marketing arm of the Dallas Cowboys is handled in house,
separate from the other thirty one teams. So when you
see this documentary and like how does this get proved?
Because everything else like quarterback, wide receiver receiver one, all
(25:08):
these other ones like those are those are NFL GLA documentaries,
reality shows and all those kind of things. Hard knocks,
like all of those things GLA Cowboys completely separate. Hence
why the Cowboys have their cheerleaders show on a certain
on a certain network, I can't remember which one. They
(25:28):
negotiate that separately, so they get everything from that. You know,
this documentary from Netflix they get everything from that that's
not an NFL group type of deal, and then they
have to go negotiate some of the more group things.
So as far as the game footage and all those
kind of things, they have to negotiate those parts of
it because that's all a part of the NFL, the
video footage and everything, and the radio calls and all
(25:49):
those things. But that's something that I do want to
point out. The reason why it is like that is because, Yeah,
Jerry Jones negotiated that specifically, and they can do that
as a Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
So to take a half step by it, it is
an interesting show, uh, to take a half step back
to the point I was making, It's like, to me,
the Ravens are the team that I believe. I mean,
it certainly looks from the outside like they made a
concerted effort to be the team that most closely follows
(26:20):
the Steelers blueprint. We're gonna play tough, physical football, we
are going to draft and develop our own. We are
going to value consistency and continuity, and that's what they've done.
I don't know if they would admit that. I don't
even know if it was conscious, but it sure looks
conscious to me. It sure looks like they said, listen,
(26:41):
this works, Let's follow this model. Let's not follow the headlines,
Let's not follow some of the other things the splash
moves that teams want to do. Let's follow this way
of doing business. Do you agree with that, Max, or
do you think that I'm I'm you know, oversimplifying this
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Uh. Imitation is the best form of flattery. Yeah, right,
And I think, you know, for the Ravens, it's a
great imitation and and they've figured out their secret sells.
But I think along the way they found their identity.
But oh, it's hard not to think that, Hey, when
we were trying to re invigorate, you know, our our
(27:24):
our organization, when we were trying to figure out who
are we going to be, it's like, well, look at
the class of it. I mean, that's that's what I
feel like a lot of teams try and do you
try and mimic what works around you, and you kind
of take from that. And so it does not surprise me.
And I think I think you're you're and you're not
off on making on making that statement because you know
(27:46):
that's what you're looking at. That's what success looks like.
And for the Ravens, you're you're chasing the guys in
your division, so who better you know to then try
and emulate or look at and say, hey, how are
they doing it? Why are they having success? And we're not.
That's an easy one to do. And and no, I
think you're absolutely right. I think I think the Ravens
(28:06):
do look at it like, hey, let let's let's go
off the Steelers mode. I'm sure they won't admit that
because obviously why would they. But but no, I think
you're I think you're right on right on track with that,
is that they would, you know, they would have to
admit in their heart of hearts like, man, we we
you know, we kind of do this like the Steelers
do that.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
It has worked for us. It has worked for us.
That's what it looks like to you. And I think
Cincinnati has tried to do that. They just haven't been
as successful as Cincinnati, right, Yeah. I mean, you know,
Marvin Lewis was a longtime head coach obviously, and I
think they tried to value continuity. I think those three
teams within the division. I mean, you look at New
England obviously, Uh, but yeah, I think the Steers set
(28:49):
the tone for their division. And so just remember that
that when you see, uh, you know, when you see
the Ravens having success, it's a little bit of a
little bit of the imitation game going on there in
my opinion anyway.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
So and all they have to do is just say
you're welcome. You know, That's exactly right, Mawi from Mowana.
Just say you're welcome. You know. That's all they had
to do.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
I just want to I want to get to this
because this is a big item. Trey Hendrickson back with Cincinnati.
They gave him a substantial raise. It's not a long
term deal. It's a one one year deal. So he's
gonna come back and he's gonna play. And this is
a team that is loaded up on offense. Right, They've
(29:32):
changed coordinators and done some different things on defense to
try to breathe some life into it. They've spent first
round picks uh the last couple year, Miles Murphy a
couple of years ago, this year again on edge rushers.
But they make no mistake. For this defense to beat
any good at all, they needed Trey Hendrickson. He is
(29:52):
their playmaker. He is their elite guy. He is their
version of Miles Garrett, TJ. Watt, MIKEH. Parsons. He's their guy,
and he's he's really good. I mean, I'm not saying
he's just their version of it. He's you know, the
last year or two, he's been mentioned with those guys
who maybe have longer track records, Max Crosby, players like that.
(30:16):
He's really good. He is back on a one year deal.
It was hard for me to imagine that he wouldn't
play football this year, but it became official yesterday, and
I think that's a huge, huge bit of business for
the Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Yeah no, I mean they needed this. This dragged on.
This was a real so proper of the offseason, going
back and forth, will they won't they? He's done this
seventeen and a half sacks every year the last two years.
Just pay the man. Stop being cheap, Cincinnati, Stop being cheap.
I mean that's essentially when it comes down to. Stop
being curmudgeons about it. The dude has earned it. Just
(30:56):
pay the man. Just pay him. That's it. He's he's
the one bright spot on your defense that could not
hold toilet tissue, right, You know. I mean it was
they couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper
bag a year ago, and he was your one, lone
bright spot, and you know we talked, oh my gosh,
you know, look at you know, Jamar Chase run the
(31:18):
Triple Crown a year ago and Joe Burrows thrown for
all these yards. They still could not win a game.
They still could not win. Their life depended on because
if they scored forty I think they had what they
tied the record then the.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Record for most losses when scoring thirty or forty points.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Yeah, yeah, and I believe and most forty or more too. Yeah,
because it was like four of them as a record
when they scored thirty three or more points. I mean,
you know you'd think, okay, you win every one of
those games. And it wasn't even I mean they could.
They couldn't buy a win.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
And though no and by the way, Trey Hendrickson for
since he joined Cincinnati, four consecutive Pro Bowls and All
Pro last year when he led the league in sacks
is seventeen and a half. He had seventeen and a
half the year before, So I'm not exaggerating when I
say you know this guy belongs in the same conversation
with the elite guys. I mean this this guy has
(32:12):
been Hendrickson has been phenomenal for Cincinnati and he's been
pretty much it Like who else you gonna block? You know,
who else worries you on that team? Nobody? He's the guy.
And I know they're investing in offense, but you got it.
You have to find a way to pay this guy
for Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know what else you could do.
You win. You drafted Shamar Stewart, and Shamar Stewart was
on his side. It was on Trey Hendrick's side, like
I'm not gonna sign If you can't sign him, why
would I want to be here?
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Right?
Speaker 2 (32:41):
And then of course he eventually, you know, bent the knee.
But I mean, that's what you're dealing with, and you know,
for a lot of for a lot of guys that
that's something that matters. Guys pay attention to it. And
you don't want to have that that negative kind of
aspect hanging over your head because it's like, where are
(33:02):
we gonna go from here? And you can't bring in
top town because top Town is not gonna want to
come if you didn't pay another guy who they thought
was just as good, why am I any different? You know?
And why are you gonna treat me any different? So
you know, players talk, players talk about, you know, quality
of life and you know, dealing with management at these places,
so you know, you don't want to be on the
(33:23):
wrong side of that.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Yeah. I think I'm just trying to do this quickly here.
I think that the Bengals in games in which they
scored thirty or more points, I think they were I
don't know they were. Let's see, so they they scored
thirty four and beat Carolina, they scored thirty, well, they
(33:45):
scored thirty three and lost to Washington. Then they beat Carolina,
lost to Baltimore, lost to Baltimore again, lost to the Steelers,
and then beat Tennessee. So a losing record in which
in games in which they word thirty three or more points,
that's that was an NFL record.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah, that.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Incredible. I think they'd already clicked.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Another friendly franchise like that one. Yeah, and I know
my Pops is upset, but yeah, it's all good.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Yeah right right, that's right, we got it. We got
a shout out to Daddy Max. Hey, Max, Uh, enjoy
it as always. Look forward. Tomorrow we're gonna talk. I'm
going to dive into the Steelers draft. I really want
to do that because I think it's pertinent to what's
going on with the fifty three man roster and the
practice squad as well. Uh, We're gonna get to some
of that stuff tomorrow. But Max is gonna have the
(34:37):
bell Lap for you when he continues inside the locker
room and the King and Starks presented by our neighborhood
Ford Store here on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
All right back inside the locker room. And of course
it's that beautiful time. It is the last segment, also
known as the Bell Lap. That's right earlier lunch warning
system has been engaged, and you know, hopefully you're out
there on the highways and the byways making your way
(35:16):
to something good to eat, or you know, just walking
outside the office. If you're downtown and you're headed to
you know, you know, somewhere around there, whether you're going
to Stations Square, whether you're going to Liberty Square, you're
up and down pinaf wherever you're going to be. It
is that time of the day, the glorious time that
we look forward to. But you know, kind of just
(35:37):
I think wrapping up the show one of the biggest things.
You know today you're seeing movement. Obviously, the notable thing
yesterday was we had the practice squad kind of coming
to fruition. Rob and I hit on it a lot
of internal you know, redemption and keeping guys in the fold,
guys who know the Steeler way, Guys who've been Steelers
(36:01):
h and kind of know what the expectation is. That's
always good. When you have the culture, you also know
the playbook. So if anything should happen last minute, those
guys can boom pop up, you can move them back down,
and you know, the handstays in the power for the
Steelers as they go on this journey this season. You know,
and I think if I'm happy to see a guy
(36:22):
like Beanie Bishop love Beanie got to spend time with
him this offseason. He and Christian Koontz and myself. We
went down to Mexico for for the Steelers' business summit
and it was really cool, you know, got to interact.
We had a good time. Vince Williams was there with
me as another Steelers legend, and we got to you know,
(36:44):
interact with those guys. We had a flag football tournament
down there in Monterey, Mexico, and it was a lot
of fun, a lot of fun. Beanie and I were
on one team. Coonts and Vince was you know, they
had they had their guys that they liked and the
process that we I mean, we had a good time,
just kind of kind of getting to know, you know,
the players. And you know, I've known Christian you know
(37:04):
when I roam the sidelines. You know, it's funny a
sideline guy always gets a close relationship with the specialists.
And not to say that was any different in my
time when I was an active player as a as
a as an offensive lineman, but you know, you get
your form relationships and and and Christian is just a
tremendous uh young man. And it's also you know, we
talk a lot, and he's he's a good dude, and
(37:27):
so you know, you have you formed those bonds, but
this is an opportunity to really get to know Beanie
and Uh and get to just know him. You know,
I I you know, I'd covered him uh when he
was in college when he switched to wv U, and
of course, Happy when he came over here, uh you
and we and we got him, so, you know, for
him to be on this team, and really happy for
him because I think he he is a he is
(37:49):
a football player. I mean, the kid has a nose
for the football. So happy to have him back there,
Julius Welshaw. You know, I think he has grown year
after year and it's going to be something where you know,
getting that additional time, you know, because I think I
look at also the practice squad as being more of
a developmental team and these are the guys that aren't
(38:11):
quite there yet. But also some guys like hey, numbers
games kind of did you wrong. But the fact they
still want to be here, like you probably could have
signed elsewhere, but you still signed back here means you
believe in the culture, you believe in you know the players,
and you like your teammates. I think I can't say
that for everybody. I mean I looked at a couple
of teams as we were as I was going through
(38:31):
it yesterday, and you know, a guy, a running back
that I watched for the Cardinals, DJ Dallas, I thought,
I thought played really well, and you know, the Cardinals
went a different directions they signed Bam Knight instead to
the Act of fifty three. So DJ Dallas leaves and
goes to Carolina and team that we had just played recently,
and you're saying, okay, you want to bolster that running
(38:54):
back room. I mean, I thought DJ Dallas has a
lot of things he can bring to that team, and
so you know, you kind of look at it. You
have to look at that global perspective. Right now, we
don't have games yet, and so you tend to look
in other places to also see, hey, how are we
doing right? You know, you want you want that that
that pace check to see what are we doing it right?
You know, let me look to my right, to my left,
(39:16):
like in the you know, you know, that's why they
put blinders on horses, right, so they don't look left right,
They just focus on straight. But with this, this uh,
this type of free time that we have before we
get to the first games. I mean, we're exactly one
week away from the season starting right the Thursday night
football kickoff the Eagles will start the season. Then of
course you'll get that Chargers Chiefs game in Brazil on Friday.
(39:40):
But right now, you know, this is that kind of
low period right pre Labor Day weekend. We'll have a
long weekend coming up, and hopefully everybody's gonna be safe
on that. But we'll talk about that more tomorrow because
there's gonna be a lot of good college football. I'm
traveling back back east and I'll I'll be in the
Western PA region. I won't say I'm directly there, but
(40:03):
you know, Robert Morris is going to be doing battle
against WVU this weekend, so I'll be traveling to that
game and calling that game for ESPN on TV, so
it'll be a plus game and so you know, looking
forward to it. And this is just that fun time
of year, right, I mean, it's it's we're getting into autumn,
We're getting into the fall time, and this is what
(40:25):
football time is. This is football season, and you know,
I can't be more excited. And this is taking shape
from a professional standpoint with the NFL, but I feel it,
But you know, I just want to put caution. I
still want to stress that this is the initial There's
still moves to be made, there's still decision to be made.
(40:46):
I talked to you guys earlier and I let you
know kind of how the mindset is up there in
management when it comes to dealing with more veteran players,
there's that inkling to get the most desperate, right, I
see smoke, and I need to go ahead and tamp
out that fire. But at the same time, if I
can get through for a week, then that following week
(41:10):
becomes a more flurry or frenzy of signings a veteran guys,
vested veteran guys, the four year plus guys. Because the
contract situation, the contracts are not guaranteed, there's a higher
VET minimum, and when you guarantee that, that cuts into
your cap number, and that cap number. Some teams are close,
some teams not so much. I mean, you know, historically
(41:32):
we look at it. New Orleans Saints have are the
kings of kicking the can down the road. They're always
I mean, they shed a lot of a lot of
contracts this offseason just to fall below the cap, not
including the new signings and everything else. That's a team
that's always pressed. Because the Steelers are always usually good,
we usually have a little bit of wiggle room, but
you know, we try and stay close to that ninety
(41:54):
percent cap spin number that the NFL has a bandit
you get penalized if if you go under the cap,
and then of course you know you can't go over
the cap. It's a hard cap system. Unlike Baseball or NBA.
NBA has these aprons and these different things, luxury taxes.
NFL doesn't do that. They're the league that says, nope,
we have a hard cap. This is the maximum you
can spend. You just spend up to it, up to
(42:15):
the absolute minimum. But you also can't be a team
that's so depressed that you spend less than ninety percent.
And some of those teams back in the day. Now
Tampa Bay used to be one that was a constant offender.
They're not that team anymore. But for the Steelers, we've
always been kind of cap healthy, and you know, we'll
nudge up against it. We'll use some some different tools
to get guys out, will convert more into you know,
(42:38):
from from south, from signing bone so salary to signing
bonus to ease some of those things and spread. But
that's a very technical aspect of it. But for right now,
we're in a good place. I feel good about where
this team is and I love what I've seen. You know,
I know a lot of people are gonna say, well,
we didn't really get to see stars, was Aaron Rodgers
gonna be? I get that. I get that it's cool.
(43:00):
But what I saw in a joint practice against Tampa Bay,
the flick of the wrist, the flick of the wrist
is is pretty impressive to see for any age, but
especially a guy of his age. The relationship that he has,
the workouts that they do pre game, if you got
to the stadiums early, if you attended any of the
preseason games to watch the workout that he and DK
(43:22):
Metcalf would go through was just impressive. And so I
have a lot of conference there and where Aaron Rodgers
is and his ability to lead this team and his
capabilities as a quarterback. The running back room, I feel
really good about it. I think we have some good
diversity there and it's going to be fun to watch.
This offensive line is young but shaping up nicely. I
(43:44):
think having a veteran like Max Sharping in there as
well just continues to push guys. But also, you know,
it creates a good homogeneous society. You know in there
that you can that you can ask questions. The ecosystem
of the offensive line. I'm really happy with where it's
after seeing those guys kind of work this offseason and
being around them and getting to know their personalities a
(44:05):
lot better. Tight End room, fantastic tight end room. Love
that tight end room, everybody. I promise you didn't get
see him the preseason, but you're gonna love John Neusmith.
I promise you that. I'll tell you right now. You're
gonna love what John Osmith brings to the team. His capability,
especially to split out, and the movement that you can
use a lot of deployable ways. You know, defensively, we
(44:26):
talked about the defensive line at nauseum, but I don't
feel like it's overkill Derek Harmon and Ya Black. I
think we know that these guys look like they're a
great start for their futures and the future health of
this defensive line. You know, when you talk about what
Cam Hayward has done to really man the ship and
(44:46):
hold things together, He's got back up, he's got reinforcements,
and the quality of depth behind those guys is really good.
And Logan Lee has come into his own a guy
from a year ago injury Jordan's season, he has learned
a lot and he's going to be a valuable piece
as well in that rotation. Daniel Quale coming in from
(45:07):
New England. I think he's going to be a nice
tempo changer as well at that interior position to really
kind of support Keanu and what he's playing at the
nose position along with Ya and company. So it's looking
good there. Inside linebacker and outside linebacker.
Speaker 1 (45:22):
Love I love it.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
We got a fourth guy. We didn't have that a
year ago. We got a fourth guy. Jack Sawyer really
impressed in the preseason and is a guy that carries
over from that Ohio State pedigree, so really excited about
what his future looks like. And interior linebackers, I think,
you know, Peyton Wilson has made the jump, and I
think we're going to be benefics, benefactors of that jump. I
(45:45):
like the guys behind it. Cole Holcom Welcome back, Bud Like,
welcome back Cotter. Like happy to see him and see
him fully recovered and fully over the knee injury, and
he's playing with his hair on fire. Malik Harrison, big body,
can play inside or outside. I think it gives you
versatility depending on the matchup. Secondary there's not enough to
say and then now you've added Chuck Clark to that
(46:08):
rotation back there with Juan Thornhill, Deshaun Elliott and Miles
kill A brew that that's a feisty, physical bunch back there,
So it's gonna be really cool to see them man
the back end. But you know, Stealers Nation, thank you
so much. We appreciate it. Rob, Rob and I you
know we'll be coming to you throughout the year. Make
sure you hit us up on socials, let us know
(46:29):
your thoughts. And of course we get back in the
regular season, we'll get back in the regular lineup. We
still got Jim Wexel, we got Jerry Doulac, Missy Matthews,
Alvaro Martin, and then we'll see if we can get
Bob Labriola in here a couple of times at least
as we progress. But with that, I bid you guys
adue for the rest of the day and we will
be back tomorrow inside the locker room with King and Starks.
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