February 6, 2026 • 48 mins
Missi Matthews joins the guys for one final conversation this season, and Rob and Max chat with listeners about their favorite moments of the season and their Super Bowl predictions.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is in the locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh, optimists, I'm going to miss you, my friend, until
we send the trucks down to Latrobe, Pennsylvania to Saint
Vincent's College. We will meet again, my friends, somewhere on
the highways and byeways.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
But we all know when the beat drops on a Friday,
we know who that is.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
And none better to close it out on our final
show of this season than the third member of the crew.
The triangle is complete, the group that is the Steelers
broadcast crew and of course Team Mom.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
You know you can't you can't go without it.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Missy Matthews is joining us for the final show and
we are so happy to have her.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
How are you doing on this Friday, Missy?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I know it's not exactly the ideal weather conditions, but
at least you're not on the sideline during this that
that's that's the positivity, right.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
This is true but I you know, I prefer to
be in San Francisco other you know. But I will
say our ice drink is thriving, So yes, one one
joy and way to entertain to get energy out. So
I'm thankful for that.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Tempted to ask the team mom where my mismatch socks
all are? But I'm going to stick to football. Missy.
Speaker 6 (01:51):
Uh, hope, do you deal with a lot of mismatch sacks?
Talk to the boys or you have that under control?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
I have it under control. I don't watch anybody's laundry
with another person. The only way to make it happen.
Speaker 6 (02:05):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Wow, that's that little peek into why Missy's so organized
all the time. Uh yeah, yea, so Missy. Uh, the
staff is complete. I don't know if you've had a
chance to talk to a lot of the guys. He've
been around the building. Do you, uh, what do you
(02:27):
sense with the team and the mood and the you know,
I have to tell you to me. I got a
I got a real vibe from Mike McCarthy that he
just couldn't wait. You know, I was interviewing him and
you know he was at the press conference. He was fantastic.
You know, we were sitting next to each other during
that press conference. I thought he was just it was
just great. But I got the sense that this was
(02:49):
a guy like on the edge of his seat, like
let's go, you know, let's get started, and and he's
ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work.
And I I'm sensing that he's putting together staff.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah. I haven't unfortunately, got to meet any of the
new coaching staff yet. Hopefully next week we're supposed to
potentially get some coordinators, which I'm a big fan of.
And I think too, it's yeah, it was kind of
like he jumped on a moving train, as coach Donlin
used to say. And I'm sure with a year off,
(03:23):
you're always thinking about that staff you have. You have
to have that short list of people that you know,
given another opportunity, what you would do and how you
would build it. And I think you saw it come
together rather nicely, quite honestly, in terms of how things went.
And I think the OC was an interesting one because
(03:44):
Mike McCarthy made it very clear that he's going to
call the place and I kind of like, and I'm biased,
there's a lot of hit people on this staff or
who have spent time at pitt But I think for
you know, the OC position that made sense to get
this guy who is a grinder, has had success under
Kevin O'Connell, who comes from the Sean McVeigh tree. Kevin
(04:06):
has done a tremendous job with that Viking's offense with
various quarterbacks. He has experience with tight ends and we've
all been hammering all throughout the season in this offseason
like let's bring Pat Fryer mouse back into this offense.
So it's been interesting and it will be very different,
and that's kind of the unknown that we're all waiting
for of how will things work, how will things run
(04:30):
in terms of what Mike McCarthy does to team build,
team bond practices, training camp, structure, meetings, Everything's going to
be different. But I also think that that's exciting as well.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
No, it is, Missy, and I think you know, as
we've kind of gone through this process, you know, since
the end of the season and you know, finding out
who who the head coach is going to be, and
like you said, filling it these key positions has been
an important part of kind of figuring out the direction
and the philosophy and the culture that's going to be
(05:08):
created next year when we descend upon training camp and
we start going through the off season with OTAs and
get into free agency. You know, as you kind of
get a sense for these guys, I know you haven't
met any of them yet at the building. I have
a feeling you're going to be meeting and interviewing a
lot of these individuals over the next couple of months.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
But you know, was there anything that was like a surprise?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I mean, you talked about a lot of pit contingent,
pit adjacent individuals kind of coming in almost like red
rovering from one side of the building over there on.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Thirty four or to South Water Street to the other.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Just anyone, any one of those hires that intrigues you
the most that you were like, oh okay, yeah, I
get that.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Well, I will say a lot of them do intrigue me.
But I think the O line, and I'm not to
steal that from you, because I think we always have
to give that to you, Max, But I just think
the tandem of a guy who has so much experience
beloved and James Campen almost reminds me of like a
Mike Munchek. Of course Munch had head coaching experience, but
(06:17):
it was just that that experience that he brought and
able to be a good teacher and everything that you
see about him online from past teams, from interactions with
Aaron Rodgers from you know, Hard Knocks, you see that
he brings that. And then you have an assistant who
was a finalist for the Hall of Fame. You know,
(06:39):
it's just it's crazy so to me, and I think
that being you know, an initiative a priority for Omar
Khan and Andy Widels since they took over of building the
offensive line, the defensive line getting stronger, they're getting younger there. Man,
I can't wait to see what this group does moving forward,
because I thought that they they did pretty well coming
(07:00):
together this year, specifically after you know, last year and
different injuries and whatnot. But that what I would have
to say, probably sticks out the most.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
You know, Missy, every year means you say goodbye to
people and you welcome new people into the building. I
know it is going to be very different for you
and for a lot of people without Mike Tomlin there.
And you know, we've tried to stress this how much
Mike Tomlin meant personally to so many people over at
(07:34):
the facility, whether it is you know, he always had
a positive word to say to everybody and and kind
of dived into who they were and what they were about.
And I mean, I've heard, you know, we've all read
the reports about people crying, the players crying when he left.
I heard it described as by a staff member as
(07:54):
him leaving like a death in the family. He is
really going to be missed, and I'm sure some of
the players are really going to be missed, and it's
it's in a lot of ways just a new beginning
here for the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Yeah, for sure. You know, I think the only good
thing is that there are people who maybe not even
necessarily in the NFL, but there probably are some who
have experienced this, maybe more than once. And I think
you just look at the college landscape, it feels like
players and coaches don't stay in the same spot very long,
going back to you know, when Max was in college,
(08:29):
when I was in college, I mean, football teams were
built and you were there for four years or three years,
and you stayed and there wasn't you know, the whole
nil of course, but it just feels like that's different,
So I think that even says something about the process.
But I think you're kind of seeing guys, especially you know,
Cam Hayward's at the super Bowl and was on Radio
(08:52):
Row and did several interviews I had a chance to
watch or listen to, and it feels like you're kind
of over that stage of grieving of Mike Tomlin leaving
and able to look forward to Mike McCarthy and how
much this guy loves Pittsburgh, what this job means to him,
a fresh start, a cool opportunity to name it and
(09:14):
label it however you want. But I think that they're
realizing that this could also be exciting because it's all
going to be new, as we feel the same way.
But I think for a player, it's also, hey, I
got to get to know this coach because you were
typically if you've been here more than a rookie year
or second year guy, there was a lot of stability
in that coaching staff. So I think that is maybe
(09:36):
the unknown, and it can be scary sometimes, whether it's
football life, whatever. So I'm definitely interested to see how
this goes. But I think if you watched Mike McCarthy's
press conference. As a player, I'm not sure how you
don't buy in to what this means to him and
that you are going to get his very best, his
all to try to make this team successful and get
(09:58):
a playoff win and see where you go from there.
Speaker 6 (10:03):
No, I'm excited about it.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
And like you said, it's a departure from the norm,
but not really right. And the historical value of a
coach who's from here that gets the temperature, that understands
the fan base is it is the fan base, right,
I mean he is he is a product of the
fan base. He was a Steelers fan growing up. I
(10:28):
mean I think that's the other thing that you know,
people I think kind of miss and they think, oh,
you know, especially the knee jerk reactions right after he
got after he after he was hired, Oh why do
we go with this old the dudes of pittsburgher right,
you know what I'm saying. I'm like, he knows all
the local spots like the DV boarding show, like what
(10:50):
he did the interview and.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Having the conversation that was hilarious.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Because it was like literally like having just a regular
yinzer on for a segment like that. That's who Mike
McCarthy is, and I think that's something that goes a
long way. And to know he's been as highly successful
coach everywhere else, he's been for long tenured successful franchises.
I mean, you think of the other brands, right Green
(11:16):
Bay Packers. I mean the trophy, the Super Bowl trophy
the guys are trying to win, is named after the
guy that was from that town and it was a
head coach there, and he felt he was in that
lineage in stewardship.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
And then you go to the Cowboys, say what you
want about the Cowboys.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
And how we especially how we feel about him here
in Pittsburgh, But that franchise is the number one brand
in the NFL, and he led them to a lot
of success, not the overall success because I could talk
about ownership and the management of the team outside of
the head coach, but two megabrands and handled them with
(11:55):
grace and success. And now he's coming back home to roost.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
That. You can't beat that story, Missy.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
No, It's kind of like a Hallmark movie, you know,
And it's funny because I always think of the movie
Home Team. I don't know if you guys have seen it,
but it kind of is a reflection of Sean Payton
and you know the scandal and how he had to
take a year off and started coaching his son, and
it's just it's a it's a kid's movie, but my
(12:25):
boys are obsessed with it, and I kept thinking, like, okay,
they love that, Like we need one of Mike McCarthy
and this like come backstory, and like, you don't have
to get the dream job right away. Sometimes you work
longer than maybe expected to get there. But as a
as a Yinser, a born and bred Pittsburgher who went
(12:46):
to pitt whose first you know, jobs never got me
out of the state of Pennsylvania, the furthest I what
was Harrisburg. I fully understand the Yinser moment for him
and could not imagine. I just know how grateful I
was to be able to work for the Steelers organization.
I can't imagine, you know, being the head coach of
(13:09):
that team and what that means to him. So it
is really cool, and maybe we could start scriptwriting in
the off season and come up with the movie ourselves.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Well yeah, exactly, yeah, you can get after that looking
for another project.
Speaker 6 (13:23):
So anyway, Rob, maybe there's a book there.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Maybe there's a book there.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
I got, I got another, I have a I have
a third book coming out in November.
Speaker 6 (13:32):
First I got to finish, finish that off and after.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That through the season to get the context.
Speaker 6 (13:38):
So we're good.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
That's exactly right, exactly that's what we need to do research.
Speaker 6 (13:42):
So Missy, my final for you.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
First of all, let me just say this, thank you
for everything all season long. I cannot even begin to
express I hope I have satisfactorily behind the scenes to
you and Max, but also publicly to you guys. How
grateful I am to have you guys with me on
this journey because you guys are both fabulous, So thank
you both. Along this journey also means new coaching staff,
(14:11):
new way of looking at things, maybe some uncertainty for
certain players in the roster. We do know some moves
are going to be made. Some you know, guys who
are free agents won't come back. Some guys who are
free agents around the league will come in. There'll be
a new draft class. Is there a position or two
that you were excited to see what the Steelers do
(14:33):
in free agency and in the draft?
Speaker 4 (14:36):
I mean low hanging through but it's true quarterback and
wide receiver.
Speaker 7 (14:41):
Yeah, like, what is what is going to happen?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Those are I think even more so the wide receiver position.
And that might sound crazy because you kind of need
a quarterback to distribute the ball, but it just felt
like the past two seasons not having a true second
guy in any former fashion. It felt like you did
but then you saw it fall apart, whether it was
George Pickens's injuries in twenty four, dk Metcalf getting suspended
(15:10):
in twenty five, there's just there are too many instances
where you're like, man, we could really use another guy.
And I'm not saying that's for a lack of trying,
but I feel like, no matter what, that has to
be a very high priority, and I think something that
we're all anxiously waiting to see how they go about
finding that guy, if it's in free agency and the draft,
(15:32):
if it's in the draft only so I know that's
the one that I'm very intrigued by.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Now, you're absolutely right now and I kind of echoed
the same thing Missy saying that you know the draft
needs to be offensive heavy indeed, and you know we
have some major holes to fill and we also have
some major free agents to consider for re signing that
are already on the team, as well as going out
and looking.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
For other options.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
All right, last one, I got to ask Super Bowl
prediction for Sunday, Missy.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
I think the Seahawks are going to win. I don't know,
I could be way wrong. I just there's something about
the new head coach Sam Darnold coming like. I just
I like their vibe. And I selfishly, again as a ginser,
do not want to see the Patriots win a seventh
(16:28):
Super Bowl.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Yeah, I don't think.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Uh, we haven't had a single person picked to Patriots,
and I think part of that is a little let's
keep mid six and.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
Part of that the Seahawks are favored. They are the
favorite in the game, right.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
And I'm not saying yes. And the Patriots have trust
Like I can admit, they played some good football. They
knocked off the right team. But I just I'm hoping
that the Seahawks are able to handle business.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Yep, Okay, Missy, thank you so much. I'm sure I
will see plenty of you. But thanks again for a
wonderful season and thanks for coming on with us all
season long.
Speaker 6 (17:11):
In the locker room.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Of course, appreciate you guys as well. It's always a
fun season. It never ended how we wanted it to
just yet hopefully we get there. But appreciate you guys
and love working with you. And before you know it,
we're gonna blink. Guys, they're gonna be in La Trobe.
Speaker 6 (17:28):
Yep, that is the case.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
It's going to be what seventy degrees no, eighty eighty
degrees warmer than it is now.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
I hope I will take it. Remind me and I
complain about it.
Speaker 6 (17:43):
Yeah, I will.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
I'm not a I'm not a heat complainer. I am
a cold complainer, but I'm not a heat complainer.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Missy.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Thank you, appreciate it all right, Thanks Missy Matthews.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
She's the best.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
See the glue that holds us all together and much
more than that. Terrific, So lover insight. Now we're gonna
get your insight. Uh whatever you want to talk about
with the Steelers. Who's next for them to add? Who
do you think the add them free agency of the draft?
Do you have a favorite moment from this season? Who
is your super Bowl prediction? We're gonna be taking your
(18:15):
phone calls four one, two, nine one nine, one, three
one six. When we continue in the locker Room presented
by your neighborhood Ford Store and the Stars Pro Shop
on Steelish Nation Radio, a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
So we are taking.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Your phone calls four one two nine one nine one
three one six. We have to dash quickly through the
next guy. So Max and I are both looking at
two free agents for the Steelers. We got to number
twenty one in the ESPN list before the first point
of us bit. That was me on Romeo Dobbs. Max
still has two selections left. I'm gonna run through them quickly.
Khalil Mack No, I'm sure Kyle Pitts no.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
New Kenneth Walker.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Intriguing, but no, he'll command top dollar.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Brian Cook safety chiefs. I like this one, very like this,
very tempted years old. The safety he's under thirty. I'm
just saying, pairs, Well, he's a he's a he's a banger.
He can he can cover in space, he can take
the slot, he can do a lot of different things.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
This is where I'll hang my hat on the.
Speaker 5 (19:26):
First okay, because I'm very, very tempted to also go
with him. So we're gonna stop there. We've each got
one and we're gonna get to the phone lines and
we'll see if we can revisit that before we're all.
Speaker 6 (19:37):
Said and done.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
One in South Carolina, one, my friend, thank you very
much for being with us in the locker room.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
Good morning.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
Well what's up one hey?
Speaker 9 (19:50):
This season hanging out and listening to you guys, I
enjoy every sticking with you guys. The hit, the hit
towards the Steelers from the NFL is real and they
it was last night. You didn't even on our god
wolf last night when.
Speaker 8 (20:05):
Cool?
Speaker 5 (20:08):
So Hey, Hey, Want Want is breaking up justin Can
you ask wand to call back? And yes, uh Jerry
Jack pointed that out. I did not see the award
uh ceremony, but evidently they paid honor to some people
who had passed this year, and they did not include
Craig Wolfie on the list, which is if I have
that correct, Max, I believe that's the story.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
Again, I did not see it. Yeah, that's the case.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
That's a shame that that that's an absolute shame if
they didn't, you know, I don't want since this is
a high note for the end of the of the
show for us, I don't want to take it in
a negative way, but I would be pissed. And that's
(20:53):
that was that was a huge miss by the NFL
to have not.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
Thought about that.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
With all the people that they normally put in that category.
Craig Wolfe should have been squarely in there.
Speaker 6 (21:04):
So yep, I will not dwell on it.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
But but yeah, yeah, yeah, just just to keep sanity
and and keep an upbeat voice.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
I don't want to dwell on it. But yeah, that
that that that's frustrating.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
It is okay to say the least.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
Let's get back to the phone lines and let's get
to Chris and Lexington. Chris, thankstry being with us in
the locker room.
Speaker 10 (21:25):
Oh Rob match, great to talk to you man. All right,
First of all, before I give you my take on
the Super Bowl, I just want to go back to
earlier this week with you guys's interview with the Beard.
Yeah how yeah memorable, just reliving that Super Bowl, and
(21:45):
I I want to I want to use myself as
an example of where I'm going with this point. I'm
fifty five years old, so I was born in nineteen seventy.
I have no recollection of our first two by seventy eight.
I'm eight years old. I can kind of remember number
seventy nine a little more, but I remember call that
I made the stand show and I said, you know what,
(22:06):
staying this feels that I'm talking about.
Speaker 6 (22:08):
The five now.
Speaker 10 (22:09):
So Max, so much, thanks to you and the rest
of the boys for kind of giving us one for
our generation because it was so long, kind of like
the same thing. I was blessed to be alive and
to fully immerse myself. Some US Penguins fan two for
the ninety one ninety two, but I have some cousins
that are a lot younger than me.
Speaker 8 (22:30):
And then the eight and a nine.
Speaker 10 (22:33):
Run and then eventually you know that that was one
for them, and so for that, just again listening to
you guys get out of memory lane. I'll just I'll
never forget that, that whole playoff run and then that
day when we finally brought you know, number five homes.
So thank you, Max, to you, to you and the boys.
You know, overall, I don't have a specific highlight rob
(22:54):
that that sticks out to me, but one thing, and
this is why I would have no problem running Aeron overall.
I mean, I listen to a lot of national shows too,
and the national fundans. I remember just beating us up,
beating us up from bringing aarony and this is not
gonna work. He's gonna be out by week five. And
just in totality, the guy first of all neck up.
Still that doesn't go away. But I was very, very
(23:19):
intrigued and excited about the guy can still throw. The
guy could still throw. And I would have no problem
Robin match running it back one more time, especially with
the week QB class as long as we were committed
to go and full in in twenty seven and as
far as the super Bowl pick, and it's kind of
(23:40):
cool that we played both of them. Obviously, I'm gonna
bet with my heart because I don't want the Facers
to get the seven before we do. But I feel
even much better because I think Seattle overall, the story
about Sam Donald, I think has just been amazing, the
whole reclamation project and the guts that it took for
him just to stay in there. I think, get Bacon,
(24:00):
get that running game going, not put him into situations
where he has to to feel like he has to
win the game on his own. Uh jsn is I
think one of the top five receivers in the game,
and then that defensive front. No, we're to talk about
the leasion to Boo.
Speaker 11 (24:15):
But this is this is their second version of that.
Speaker 10 (24:18):
I love what they bring defensively, and I think if
they can get after May and and and contain him.
I look for a competitive super Bowl, but I look
Crisciattle to come out on top. And just one last me, guys,
I said it to you last week when I called
whoever made the decision to bring you guys together. Incredible
both for this show and for the broadcasting network. I'm
(24:40):
gonna miss you guys. Uh can't wait for the locker
room to come back. And and thanks again guys for
all the memories this year, and I can't wait to
talk to again soon.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
Chris, thank you very much for the kind words. Man
much much really appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (24:53):
Thank you. We have one.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
One is back, hopefully with a cleaner cell signal one.
Welcome back in the locker room.
Speaker 8 (25:01):
Hey, I'm back, guys, hear me, Yes.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Still breaking up a little bit. Pull stick with you
all right.
Speaker 8 (25:07):
Yeah, So with your super Bowl coming up, at the
last call us we don't want New Angling to get
the samus. So I'm gonna go with the Seahawks on
that and then you guys was talking about the seasons
on the offense. We gotta find a way to bring
Ken g back, would you guys see?
Speaker 6 (25:24):
Well, I I would. I'm all for it.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
The other thing I would say is that just we
gotta remember free agencies, free for the players too. And
it only takes one team to say, you know what,
this guy's a feature back. He proved it. He was
underutilized by this year. There's underutilized for sure by the Eagles.
We think we can utilize them more. We're gonna give
him a big paycheck. And if that happens, you know,
(25:48):
you got Caleb Johnson waiting in the wings. You still
have Jalen Warren, who I think could you know we're
calling all year for him to get more touches Max.
So I think, yes, all things being equal, bring Kenny
game Well back. But there are some things that might
conspire against the Steelers wishes to bring him back.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
And I think that that is that's probably the best
assasishment is is that there will be things against it.
You know, as much as I mean, he got the
team MVP, so guess what he's going to be a
person of interest to a lot of teams. And his
versatility and not only catching out of the backfield, but
blocking as well as as being a good runner.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Those are things that are desirable.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
And we kind of have already gone through the top
twenty five lists so far, and we saw what two
running backs in that top twenty five and both of those,
we could argue are probably going to command that Tier
one money. Potentially Breest Hall, you know, I think we'll
be right up there. And then Kenny Gainwell, he's gonna
be somebody that you're gonna look at, especially if you
have a running back by community type of format that
(26:49):
he's so used to working in that kind of construct.
He would be a natural fit for a lot of teams.
So it's going to be a priority trying to get
him back, but that's going to be a tough task.
Speaker 8 (27:01):
All well, this one say, I appreciate you guys, You
guys did a wonderful season. Can't wait. Can't wait to
hear you guys again next year. And you guys enjoy
your off season.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
Thank you one same to you, my friend, Thanks for
thanks for being such a valued member of the locker room.
Much appreciated. Actually have a couple of people on hold,
but I want to go quickly. You got to get
through a couple more. You got Brian Cook, I'm leaning
Michael though. I got Romeo Dobbs for signing to free agencies.
Speaker 6 (27:28):
You're ready.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
Twenty six Rashid Shaheed wide receiver, Seahawks. Nope, Calebon chasing
edge for the Patriots.
Speaker 6 (27:37):
No. Juwan Jennings from the forty nine Ers, wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Right body. No, I don't want to San Francisco.
Speaker 6 (27:50):
He really came on strong for them. I'm passing.
Speaker 5 (27:54):
Javonte Williams funny back Cowboys. Nope, Okay boy Mafe edge
for the Seahawks. No, Isaac Siamalos disqualified because he's a Steeler.
Read Blankenship safety Eagles U No Zion Johnson guard for
(28:19):
the Chargers. And this is where I'm jumping on my
number two. I think I'm gonna sign this guy. He's
going to be twenty six. He's going to be part
of this offensive line for years to come. You have
a good, good young offensive line, and if one of
your tackles comes through, you don't even have to worry
about that position. All you're doing is adding depth for
years that's my reasoning. So man, it was close because
(28:43):
for me Zion Johnson and then your guy, you know,
the safety Brian Cook. Oh man, I was back and
forth in those guys. I think they're going to sign
a receiver, so I'm going Dobbs and I'm going Zion Johnson.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Okay, all right, yeah, no, I like that one like that.
You've exhausted your list pretty quickly.
Speaker 6 (29:04):
There's only seventeen more, guys.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Max, I'm just I'm just saying, I mean, you know
you got to this list, and you know he's seventeen left.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
I mean, you know, only one pick.
Speaker 6 (29:14):
Are you passy for you? Are you past passing? Okay?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Then Greg News soon number thirty four, the corner, Nope.
Connor McGovern the Center for the Bills, nope. We will
come back to your list. You still have one more
to go, fifteen more selections as we go to Tyler
and Wisconsin. Tyler, thanks for being with us in the
locker room.
Speaker 11 (29:38):
Tyler, Hey, guys, how's it going? Sorry, is not too bad?
Running in and out of the house real quick and
dropped my phone.
Speaker 6 (29:47):
Oh sorry about that, No it friend.
Speaker 11 (29:53):
Really, guys, I was just mainly calling the thank you
for all the information and the good conversation.
Speaker 6 (29:59):
Through the season.
Speaker 11 (30:00):
I'd like to be able to think that you guys
really do make Touch and Wolf proud up there, and
I don't think you guys could do any better of
a job.
Speaker 6 (30:10):
Well, thank you to thank there. Thank you first of all.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
I can say this also because Touch and Wolf were
both friends of mine, and I know they're both friends
of Max, and that means a lot to me. I
think I just thought the world of both of those guys.
I think they're wonderful, wonderful human beings, and so I'm
just going to say thank you.
Speaker 11 (30:32):
You're very welcome.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
You know.
Speaker 11 (30:34):
I was thinking about it today and with all the
tight ends and everything that we.
Speaker 10 (30:38):
Have, I got.
Speaker 11 (30:39):
I mean, I live in Wisconsin, so I have all
these weird questions from all these Packer fans, and they're
asking me what I think about John Us Smith, and
I keep saying I think he's overrated and I don't
think i'd retain him. But there's that other thing of
maybe he do better in a different scheme, in a
different position. Do we retain him for a year do
(30:59):
we not?
Speaker 5 (31:00):
That that's a really really good question, Max, I thought,
I thought he was gonna be. Going back to the
beginning of the season, I thought he was basically gonna
be the Steelers slot receiver. They were gonna move him
out wide and you want to put a little guy
on him to cover him, great, we'll change to a
run and let John Why blow him off the ball.
(31:21):
And if you put a bigger guy on him, fantastic.
We'll throw the ball to John who That's how I
thought he was going to be utilized, and he really
kind of wasn't utilized as much as I thought he
was going.
Speaker 6 (31:31):
To be in that way.
Speaker 11 (31:35):
Yeah, I'm really.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
On you, on you.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I'll let you respond to the other spot after, you know.
Speaker 11 (31:45):
And I was feeling the same way when I saw
him coming out of Miami. I was excited. I was
really excited, you know, like you said, you put him
a bigger guy against him, and he's gonna blow the
doors off him. You put a smaller guy against him,
you throw the physical catch and he takes up all
to the ground or he keeps moving through. And we
didn't see any of that. Everything was he's down and
(32:06):
under or quick screens and they didn't develop into anything
but maybe under home grim Homegrom.
Speaker 6 (32:15):
Wow, McCarthy, Yeah, McCarthy.
Speaker 11 (32:20):
Under McCarthy, I mean, we don't he's an offensive genius.
I mean it is. If you don't think that, I
don't think you know football really, But and I'm hoping
that if we would retain John Smith, that he could
be the productive tight end slash slot receiver that we
(32:43):
I feel a lot of us ault he would be.
But I don't know if he's worth the cap space
with the abount of tight ends we already have and
are they.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Going to utilize right, you know he is Mike McCarthy
is a West Coast guy. Now, if he's got he's
he said he will tail or his scheme to his players,
So we'll see if that becomes part of it real quick.
Speaker 6 (33:05):
If you made a Super Bowl prediction for us, oh yeah,
you already know.
Speaker 11 (33:09):
I can't ride with the Patriots. It's gotta be the Seahawks.
And if not, I don't know if I'm going to
be watching the whole.
Speaker 6 (33:15):
Oh man, Hey, Tyler, thanks very much.
Speaker 5 (33:19):
Dust that phone off, make sure it's nice and dry,
and we look forward to talking to you next season
in the locker room.
Speaker 11 (33:25):
Absolutely, gentlemen, thank you again, and have a great offseason.
Speaker 6 (33:29):
Thank you, Tyler, same to you.
Speaker 5 (33:30):
Thanks, ok, Max, before we head to a break and
we got some because we got some phone calls to
squeeze in.
Speaker 6 (33:35):
I'm intrigued.
Speaker 12 (33:36):
Man.
Speaker 6 (33:37):
We've gone through thirty.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
Five guys on the ESPN Top fifty free agent list,
reached selecting two. I've already made my two selections. I
like your selection a lot, and Brian Cook, I like
it a lot. Thirty six through forty. David Edwards guard Bills, Nope, nay,
Sean Wright cornerback Bears, Yep, yep, yeah.
Speaker 6 (33:57):
I'm going with Nisha. Listen.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
I watch up close and personal when we were in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I mean he was he was a sticky guy, has
a nose for the football, you know.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
He I feel like he's a good compliment opposite Joey
Porter Junior.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
I think also, you know, he he's a guy that's
not gonna kill our bank, you know, in free agency
by getting him. So you know, he doesn't have that
high end recovery steep but not that the James Pierre.
Speaker 6 (34:28):
But I feel like.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
His instincts and and he will, he will be better
and I think we will probably you know, go into
more zone because your man cover guy is Joey Porter Junior.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
You don't need to man cover guys, you know.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
So the other guy's gonna probably play in his zone
type of deal opposite that, and I think he plays
really well in that because he doesn't have the elite
foot speed to recover if he gets beat off the
double move.
Speaker 5 (34:55):
By the way, he also had five interceptions this year,
and and it's a Steethers secondary that could come up
with some more interceptions. They've lived and died by fumble recoveries.
They could certainly use some more playmaker, which when we
had Ben Roethlisberger on he said, I'm looking for a
playmaker on the back end, a guy that can make
plays for that defense. And Nasehan Wright Jody could do
(35:16):
that this year. Okay, I'm gonna I have to squeeze
in one more. Joey Bosa thirty eight, a con quo
the tight end number thirty nine, the other guy.
Speaker 6 (35:27):
I was tempted.
Speaker 5 (35:28):
I took Dobbs, but I was seriously tempted to take
Wandale Robinson from the Giants. Slot receiver, high high volume guy,
not a lot of yards per catch, had a great
year this year. I think there might be more for
him as far as yards per catch, first down, kind
of maker that quick guy that can you know, like
(35:50):
that Edelman type that can beat you for that first
down and make a play for you. I was if
it's not Dobbs and it's Wandale Robinson, I will be
perfectly fine with that.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
And that I mean by doing and also by side
of that, you kind of, you know, you kind of
write off Roman Wilson and Cal Austin.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
If that's the case, well Cal plays him outside.
Speaker 6 (36:12):
I mean, I know what you're saying. I do.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Well Cal played outside because he had to play outside.
He is naturally a slot receiver, uh in the NFL.
He just we didn't have anybody opposite, so Cal kind
of was forced to play you know, a lot of
different positions. But I think if you had a number two,
you know that that real reliable number two to go
(36:36):
opposite Dk Metcalf, I feel like Cal would have been
the number three. And we always talked about this, he's
a number three, and then we were talking about can
tight ends do this and what John Newsmith can bring
and that never really came to fruition. So that that's
the only reason why I'm like I'd be like, Okay, well, Wandale,
you're you're having to give up on one, one, if
not two of your receivers.
Speaker 6 (37:00):
From a year ago. So funny. So I went offense,
you went defense on our picks.
Speaker 5 (37:06):
Yeah, and that's it for that exercise, but not for
the wrong with it, not for the locker room. We're
going to be taking your phone calls. Want to remind
you one more time. Gear up for the off season.
Show off your Steelers stuff in pride. Get it directly
from the team because that's the place to go to
get all the custom exclusives and the real deal gear.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
So go to one of the.
Speaker 5 (37:27):
Official Stealers Pro shops at Akrosser Stadium, Grove City, Premium
out Let's, hang Ro out Let's, or of course, you
can always gear up online at shop dot Steelers dot com.
Back with some final phone calls in the locker room
four one two nine one nine three one six when
we continue here in the Locker Room, presented by your
neighborhood Ford Storing the Steers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
Radio, a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
This is Kim the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation radio presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 6 (38:16):
All right, it is time for the bell. That's right.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Early Lunch Morning system engaged one last time. Steeler Nation,
go out there, grab you something good to eat is
twelve minutes to the top of the day, the noon,
the split point.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
And you know I have to be fully honest here, rob.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
I uh, I went a little ham last night for dinner,
but didn't didn't cook.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Didn't cook with pork, I did.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
I did that viral lobster quote unquote pasta with the
lobster bisk and the Argentina red shrimp at.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
It was really good.
Speaker 6 (38:58):
It was really good.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
My daughter was happy effect she took She took the
leftovers for lunch today, so I was like, dad, job
accomplished as well. My youngest I made cheeseburger soup in
the crockpot and it was actually really tasty.
Speaker 6 (39:11):
It was so good.
Speaker 5 (39:12):
Oh that sounds that sounds really really good. So a
couple of things to get to real quick Sonny Jurgensen
passed away Hall of Fame quarterback, one of the great
his nickname was the arm one of the great throwers
of the football in NFL history. Super super talented quarterback,
(39:33):
Hall of Famer. So sad to pass that along. Too
bad about that. And then CUB reporter Schaefer King informing
me that Jim Schwartz has submitted his resignation. WHOA, okay, yeah,
so that's kind of interesting. Okay, so back to the
(39:56):
phone lines and let me make sure I've got him
in the proper order here.
Speaker 6 (40:02):
Let's see we have Ricky in Georgia.
Speaker 5 (40:05):
Ricky, thanks very much for being with us in the
locker room.
Speaker 12 (40:08):
Hey fellas man, good as know y'all.
Speaker 6 (40:10):
Go okay, yeah, I was doing fine.
Speaker 12 (40:12):
Thank you my friend, rick Hey man, yes, I go
and make it kind of quick for y'all come other people.
I just want to say that, thank y'all for the
opportunity to lift to y'all by.
Speaker 6 (40:22):
The whole season.
Speaker 12 (40:24):
My favorite moment of the season was we get in
the last Frost game, last game when on y'all coming Arry,
when David Remps got their head and Matt said, I
felt like that to my heart So that's my best moment.
And as far as then, what were you doing free agency?
Three things signed Kennergy, bring on the better ONFC through
(40:47):
free agency room and past the wire rooms through the traivel.
Speaker 6 (40:50):
Can't that's me, I look on, can't disagree with any
of that stuff, Ricky. That's right on, man.
Speaker 12 (40:56):
So that that's how I feel about it. And hey,
man not thank you? Oh man, it last show. C Hey,
I'm dy that season, just ripping that season and I
want you out and Jordanahl season take a vacation. Hey,
he's playing a barbecue when you came.
Speaker 6 (41:12):
That sounds like great advice, Ricky. Thank you very much there.
Oh that is good stuff. That's exactly what we need, Ricky.
Thank you so much. Man, appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (41:21):
And uh, that was you know, I'd kind of forgotten
about that with all the moments that happened at the
end of the year. Jalen Ramsey that hit out in
the I think was out in the left flat with
the Jets trying to get something going and that ended
that game. The Jets trying to you know, they needed
one more first down maybe two to get into field
goal range with an opportunity to win it.
Speaker 6 (41:41):
And Jalen Ramsey said, uh uh and that was a
blistering hit by Jalen Ramsey. See are in Chicago, cr
thanks very much for being with us in the locker room.
Speaker 7 (41:51):
Hey, what's going on field? The brothers and other mothers
really appreciate you guys, just in general overall aside out
to Tala and Wisconsin hen I and his his family,
especially his daughter. They are showing us Stiller fans. And
also to my boy and uh in South Carolina or
wan Hey King before you came, Mey and one used
to team up and double team and call the show
(42:13):
and we'd be talking with him together, call us the
Triple C connection.
Speaker 4 (42:16):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
So that that was fun.
Speaker 7 (42:18):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (42:18):
As far as as you guys, Hey, without you guys, man,
we would be l O s T.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
That's lost.
Speaker 7 (42:23):
My favorite part of the season wasn't something, it was different.
It was that kick. If they missed that, what they
missed and give us that game. That was the most
exciting and the most terrifying part of the whole year
for me.
Speaker 4 (42:39):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (42:40):
As far as as as you guys, we love you,
We appreciate you.
Speaker 7 (42:45):
No other football fans have any kind of idea or
concept That's how privilege we are to have you guys
Uh out there communicated with us and King. I don't
know you personally, but I have spent a couple of
minutes with with with with the Mad Star, and my
favorite moment for him was on that kick out block.
It gave us the Super bowls longless run. And I
(43:08):
appreciate you for that, brother, You forget that you know you?
Speaker 5 (43:13):
Yeah, I appreciate CR. Thank you for the guy word man, CR.
Thank you, my friend, thanks for being such a big
part of the locker Room. We always love hearing from
you and UH in the meantime.
Speaker 6 (43:24):
Yes and between times. Here we go, there, here we go, CR,
thank you, my friend.
Speaker 5 (43:32):
Always good to your CR and his final sendoff, and
we're going to wrap up this year's version of the
Locker Room with Circus George in Sarasota. Circus George, thanks
very much for being with us in the locker Room.
Speaker 13 (43:45):
Hey, welcome, Welcome from Sonny Sarah so a sixty degrees
Sonny optimal coming, Come and shoot some holes or a
little fishing just right for.
Speaker 6 (43:55):
It sounds good. I got a spare room.
Speaker 5 (44:00):
I love Sarah. Shod is a great city man. It's
it's a very very cool place.
Speaker 6 (44:04):
All right.
Speaker 13 (44:05):
So I want to first thank you guys for all
of your insight during the year and for the steady,
steady hand that you have. You guys are like a
steadying force of the knuckleheads, which sometimes I'm one of them.
You guys kind of focus when things really aren't as
bad as we think they are.
Speaker 6 (44:22):
So I want to thank you for that.
Speaker 13 (44:23):
And I can't wait to hear you guys in the
in the camp, you know, during pre season, and just
have a great summer, enjoy, enjoy your time off, do
something memorable. I'm still planning my hike to Anilope Canyon,
the Wave and Dwyce Canyon.
Speaker 5 (44:40):
Oh, it sounds wonderful. I nearly did, nearly did that trip,
but we're going to Italy instead.
Speaker 6 (44:48):
But Bryce Canyon too. Yeah, it's gonna be it's it's
a wonderful trip. It's on my list. Bryce Canyon. Fly
out there and hit some of the hit some of
the parks, do some hiking.
Speaker 13 (44:58):
I think it win my four times. I bly oh,
different different trail than I did in the other times.
And Animal Tanyon and the Waiver exquis It. I can't
wait to see them. Fantastic Google if you want to
see Yeah, yeah, you guys, thank you for having the same.
Speaker 5 (45:12):
Thank you so much, appreciate it. We appreciate everybody who
calls in, who listens. You know, without you, there's no show,
and uh, without a show, there'd be much sadness. So
I am glad that you were here with us. I
want to definitely thank you, know, Justin Miller at the
(45:33):
controls for the majority of the time, Nathan Osler doff
of the captain Nathan for fulfilling it, but Justin's ore
been our main man behind the controls. Uh, so our
thanks to Justin Miller. Justin pop on, let's hear your voice.
Thank you, Justin.
Speaker 6 (45:47):
You welcome, guys. I appreciate you both very much for
welcome me into your version of the locker room.
Speaker 5 (45:52):
Really, Justin's the best. He keeps us on time and
and between the rails. I try, I try all of
our yes. All season long, we've we've been delighted to
welcome into the locker room. And of course Max, my friend,
I hope you have a wonderful lunch today and I
look forward to the next time we might see each
other because you always put a smile on my face
(46:13):
and and put me in a good mood. And and
thanks so much for for this show all season long
and for everything you've done all season long.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
No, I appreciate it, Rob. And you know, year one
it felt like an easy transition. I mean the void
that was left by by by our mutual friend Craig Wolfley.
You know, it is a tough task, uh initially, but
you know, you made you made this an easier transition.
(46:40):
You know, us able to talk about those things and
have fun and celebrate the memory of not only Wolf
but of Tounch as well, and you know, and to
take up this mantle right now, you know, and and
be stewards of the locker room, the show that they
created and UH and loved and fostered. It's a tremendous
honor to serve the Steelers community, UH in this capacity.
(47:04):
And I understand the gravity of the situation and you
do as well. And I think for us having this opportunity,
it's been a fun ride. It's been a fun journey
for this iteration of twenty of the twenty twenty five,
twenty six Pittsburgh Steelers and bringing that to you and
in colorful ways on air, which is on radio. I've
(47:27):
had a blast this year. It's been fun and like
you said, until the next time we meet again. We
will be seeing each other in the future this offseason
and and then of course getting ready for it all
over again once once the trail rolls around at the
end of summer.
Speaker 5 (47:42):
Yeah, I can't wait to do it. Man, it's been
it's been great this year. It'll be It'll be coming
our way soon. We have a special way to end
this show, which we're going to get to in a moment.
But first for Justin Miller, for Max Starks, for all
of you guys who are listening and being with us,
I'm Rob King. We thank you you for being with
us in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood Ford
(48:03):
Store and this judis Pro Shop on Steels Nation Radio,
a part of this Jesus Audio Network.
Speaker 6 (48:08):
Here's the snap, Here's the hole, here's the boot by loop,
and that kick isn.
Speaker 3 (48:12):
Nok A right listed loop.
Speaker 6 (48:16):
Liston and you're Pittsburgh Steelers. Are he FC North CHAMPIONSID
This is in the locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh, optimists, I'm going to miss you, my friend, until
we send the trucks down to Latrobe, Pennsylvania to Saint
Vincent's College. We will meet again, my friends, somewhere on
the highways and byeways.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
But we all know when the beat drops on a Friday,
we know who that is.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
And none better to close it out on our final
show of this season than the third member of the crew.
The triangle is complete, the group that is the Steelers
broadcast crew and of course Team Mom.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
You know you can't you can't go without it.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Missy Matthews is joining us for the final show and
we are so happy to have her.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
How are you doing on this Friday, Missy?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I know it's not exactly the ideal weather conditions, but
at least you're not on the sideline during this that
that's that's the positivity, right.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
This is true but I you know, I prefer to
be in San Francisco other you know. But I will
say our ice drink is thriving, So yes, one one
joy and way to entertain to get energy out. So
I'm thankful for that.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
Tempted to ask the team mom where my mismatch socks
all are? But I'm going to stick to football. Missy.
Speaker 6 (01:51):
Uh, hope, do you deal with a lot of mismatch sacks?
Talk to the boys or you have that under control?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
I have it under control. I don't watch anybody's laundry
with another person. The only way to make it happen.
Speaker 6 (02:05):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Wow, that's that little peek into why Missy's so organized
all the time. Uh yeah, yea, so Missy. Uh, the
staff is complete. I don't know if you've had a
chance to talk to a lot of the guys. He've
been around the building. Do you, uh, what do you
(02:27):
sense with the team and the mood and the you know,
I have to tell you to me. I got a
I got a real vibe from Mike McCarthy that he
just couldn't wait. You know, I was interviewing him and
you know he was at the press conference. He was fantastic.
You know, we were sitting next to each other during
that press conference. I thought he was just it was
just great. But I got the sense that this was
(02:49):
a guy like on the edge of his seat, like
let's go, you know, let's get started, and and he's
ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work.
And I I'm sensing that he's putting together staff.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah. I haven't unfortunately, got to meet any of the
new coaching staff yet. Hopefully next week we're supposed to
potentially get some coordinators, which I'm a big fan of.
And I think too, it's yeah, it was kind of
like he jumped on a moving train, as coach Donlin
used to say. And I'm sure with a year off,
(03:23):
you're always thinking about that staff you have. You have
to have that short list of people that you know,
given another opportunity, what you would do and how you
would build it. And I think you saw it come
together rather nicely, quite honestly, in terms of how things went.
And I think the OC was an interesting one because
(03:44):
Mike McCarthy made it very clear that he's going to
call the place and I kind of like, and I'm biased,
there's a lot of hit people on this staff or
who have spent time at pitt But I think for
you know, the OC position that made sense to get
this guy who is a grinder, has had success under
Kevin O'Connell, who comes from the Sean McVeigh tree. Kevin
(04:06):
has done a tremendous job with that Viking's offense with
various quarterbacks. He has experience with tight ends and we've
all been hammering all throughout the season in this offseason
like let's bring Pat Fryer mouse back into this offense.
So it's been interesting and it will be very different,
and that's kind of the unknown that we're all waiting
for of how will things work, how will things run
(04:30):
in terms of what Mike McCarthy does to team build,
team bond practices, training camp, structure, meetings, Everything's going to
be different. But I also think that that's exciting as well.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
No, it is, Missy, and I think you know, as
we've kind of gone through this process, you know, since
the end of the season and you know, finding out
who who the head coach is going to be, and
like you said, filling it these key positions has been
an important part of kind of figuring out the direction
and the philosophy and the culture that's going to be
(05:08):
created next year when we descend upon training camp and
we start going through the off season with OTAs and
get into free agency. You know, as you kind of
get a sense for these guys, I know you haven't
met any of them yet at the building. I have
a feeling you're going to be meeting and interviewing a
lot of these individuals over the next couple of months.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
But you know, was there anything that was like a surprise?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I mean, you talked about a lot of pit contingent,
pit adjacent individuals kind of coming in almost like red
rovering from one side of the building over there on.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Thirty four or to South Water Street to the other.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Just anyone, any one of those hires that intrigues you
the most that you were like, oh okay, yeah, I
get that.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Well, I will say a lot of them do intrigue me.
But I think the O line, and I'm not to
steal that from you, because I think we always have
to give that to you, Max, But I just think
the tandem of a guy who has so much experience
beloved and James Campen almost reminds me of like a
Mike Munchek. Of course Munch had head coaching experience, but
(06:17):
it was just that that experience that he brought and
able to be a good teacher and everything that you
see about him online from past teams, from interactions with
Aaron Rodgers from you know, Hard Knocks, you see that
he brings that. And then you have an assistant who
was a finalist for the Hall of Fame. You know,
(06:39):
it's just it's crazy so to me, and I think
that being you know, an initiative a priority for Omar
Khan and Andy Widels since they took over of building the
offensive line, the defensive line getting stronger, they're getting younger there. Man,
I can't wait to see what this group does moving forward,
because I thought that they they did pretty well coming
(07:00):
together this year, specifically after you know, last year and
different injuries and whatnot. But that what I would have
to say, probably sticks out the most.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
You know, Missy, every year means you say goodbye to
people and you welcome new people into the building. I
know it is going to be very different for you
and for a lot of people without Mike Tomlin there.
And you know, we've tried to stress this how much
Mike Tomlin meant personally to so many people over at
(07:34):
the facility, whether it is you know, he always had
a positive word to say to everybody and and kind
of dived into who they were and what they were about.
And I mean, I've heard, you know, we've all read
the reports about people crying, the players crying when he left.
I heard it described as by a staff member as
(07:54):
him leaving like a death in the family. He is
really going to be missed, and I'm sure some of
the players are really going to be missed, and it's
it's in a lot of ways just a new beginning
here for the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Yeah, for sure. You know, I think the only good
thing is that there are people who maybe not even
necessarily in the NFL, but there probably are some who
have experienced this, maybe more than once. And I think
you just look at the college landscape, it feels like
players and coaches don't stay in the same spot very long,
going back to you know, when Max was in college,
(08:29):
when I was in college, I mean, football teams were
built and you were there for four years or three years,
and you stayed and there wasn't you know, the whole
nil of course, but it just feels like that's different,
So I think that even says something about the process.
But I think you're kind of seeing guys, especially you know,
Cam Hayward's at the super Bowl and was on Radio
(08:52):
Row and did several interviews I had a chance to
watch or listen to, and it feels like you're kind
of over that stage of grieving of Mike Tomlin leaving
and able to look forward to Mike McCarthy and how
much this guy loves Pittsburgh, what this job means to him,
a fresh start, a cool opportunity to name it and
(09:14):
label it however you want. But I think that they're
realizing that this could also be exciting because it's all
going to be new, as we feel the same way.
But I think for a player, it's also, hey, I
got to get to know this coach because you were
typically if you've been here more than a rookie year
or second year guy, there was a lot of stability
in that coaching staff. So I think that is maybe
(09:36):
the unknown, and it can be scary sometimes, whether it's
football life, whatever. So I'm definitely interested to see how
this goes. But I think if you watched Mike McCarthy's
press conference. As a player, I'm not sure how you
don't buy in to what this means to him and
that you are going to get his very best, his
all to try to make this team successful and get
(09:58):
a playoff win and see where you go from there.
Speaker 6 (10:03):
No, I'm excited about it.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
And like you said, it's a departure from the norm,
but not really right. And the historical value of a
coach who's from here that gets the temperature, that understands
the fan base is it is the fan base, right,
I mean he is he is a product of the
fan base. He was a Steelers fan growing up. I
(10:28):
mean I think that's the other thing that you know,
people I think kind of miss and they think, oh,
you know, especially the knee jerk reactions right after he
got after he after he was hired, Oh why do
we go with this old the dudes of pittsburgher right,
you know what I'm saying. I'm like, he knows all
the local spots like the DV boarding show, like what
(10:50):
he did the interview and.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Having the conversation that was hilarious.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Because it was like literally like having just a regular
yinzer on for a segment like that. That's who Mike
McCarthy is, and I think that's something that goes a
long way. And to know he's been as highly successful
coach everywhere else, he's been for long tenured successful franchises.
I mean, you think of the other brands, right Green
(11:16):
Bay Packers. I mean the trophy, the Super Bowl trophy
the guys are trying to win, is named after the
guy that was from that town and it was a
head coach there, and he felt he was in that
lineage in stewardship.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
And then you go to the Cowboys, say what you
want about the Cowboys.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
And how we especially how we feel about him here
in Pittsburgh, But that franchise is the number one brand
in the NFL, and he led them to a lot
of success, not the overall success because I could talk
about ownership and the management of the team outside of
the head coach, but two megabrands and handled them with
(11:55):
grace and success. And now he's coming back home to roost.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
That. You can't beat that story, Missy.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
No, It's kind of like a Hallmark movie, you know,
And it's funny because I always think of the movie
Home Team. I don't know if you guys have seen it,
but it kind of is a reflection of Sean Payton
and you know the scandal and how he had to
take a year off and started coaching his son, and
it's just it's a it's a kid's movie, but my
(12:25):
boys are obsessed with it, and I kept thinking, like, okay,
they love that, Like we need one of Mike McCarthy
and this like come backstory, and like, you don't have
to get the dream job right away. Sometimes you work
longer than maybe expected to get there. But as a
as a Yinser, a born and bred Pittsburgher who went
(12:46):
to pitt whose first you know, jobs never got me
out of the state of Pennsylvania, the furthest I what
was Harrisburg. I fully understand the Yinser moment for him
and could not imagine. I just know how grateful I
was to be able to work for the Steelers organization.
I can't imagine, you know, being the head coach of
(13:09):
that team and what that means to him. So it
is really cool, and maybe we could start scriptwriting in
the off season and come up with the movie ourselves.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Well yeah, exactly, yeah, you can get after that looking
for another project.
Speaker 6 (13:23):
So anyway, Rob, maybe there's a book there.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Maybe there's a book there.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
I got, I got another, I have a I have
a third book coming out in November.
Speaker 6 (13:32):
First I got to finish, finish that off and after.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That through the season to get the context.
Speaker 6 (13:38):
So we're good.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
That's exactly right, exactly that's what we need to do research.
Speaker 6 (13:42):
So Missy, my final for you.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
First of all, let me just say this, thank you
for everything all season long. I cannot even begin to
express I hope I have satisfactorily behind the scenes to
you and Max, but also publicly to you guys. How
grateful I am to have you guys with me on
this journey because you guys are both fabulous, So thank
you both. Along this journey also means new coaching staff,
(14:11):
new way of looking at things, maybe some uncertainty for
certain players in the roster. We do know some moves
are going to be made. Some you know, guys who
are free agents won't come back. Some guys who are
free agents around the league will come in. There'll be
a new draft class. Is there a position or two
that you were excited to see what the Steelers do
(14:33):
in free agency and in the draft?
Speaker 4 (14:36):
I mean low hanging through but it's true quarterback and
wide receiver.
Speaker 7 (14:41):
Yeah, like, what is what is going to happen?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Those are I think even more so the wide receiver position.
And that might sound crazy because you kind of need
a quarterback to distribute the ball, but it just felt
like the past two seasons not having a true second
guy in any former fashion. It felt like you did
but then you saw it fall apart, whether it was
George Pickens's injuries in twenty four, dk Metcalf getting suspended
(15:10):
in twenty five, there's just there are too many instances
where you're like, man, we could really use another guy.
And I'm not saying that's for a lack of trying,
but I feel like, no matter what, that has to
be a very high priority, and I think something that
we're all anxiously waiting to see how they go about
finding that guy, if it's in free agency and the draft,
(15:32):
if it's in the draft only so I know that's
the one that I'm very intrigued by.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Now, you're absolutely right now and I kind of echoed
the same thing Missy saying that you know the draft
needs to be offensive heavy indeed, and you know we
have some major holes to fill and we also have
some major free agents to consider for re signing that
are already on the team, as well as going out
and looking.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
For other options.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
All right, last one, I got to ask Super Bowl
prediction for Sunday, Missy.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
I think the Seahawks are going to win. I don't know,
I could be way wrong. I just there's something about
the new head coach Sam Darnold coming like. I just
I like their vibe. And I selfishly, again as a ginser,
do not want to see the Patriots win a seventh
(16:28):
Super Bowl.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Yeah, I don't think.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Uh, we haven't had a single person picked to Patriots,
and I think part of that is a little let's
keep mid six and.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
Part of that the Seahawks are favored. They are the
favorite in the game, right.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
And I'm not saying yes. And the Patriots have trust
Like I can admit, they played some good football. They
knocked off the right team. But I just I'm hoping
that the Seahawks are able to handle business.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Yep, Okay, Missy, thank you so much. I'm sure I
will see plenty of you. But thanks again for a
wonderful season and thanks for coming on with us all
season long.
Speaker 6 (17:11):
In the locker room.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Of course, appreciate you guys as well. It's always a
fun season. It never ended how we wanted it to
just yet hopefully we get there. But appreciate you guys
and love working with you. And before you know it,
we're gonna blink. Guys, they're gonna be in La Trobe.
Speaker 6 (17:28):
Yep, that is the case.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
It's going to be what seventy degrees no, eighty eighty
degrees warmer than it is now.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
I hope I will take it. Remind me and I
complain about it.
Speaker 6 (17:43):
Yeah, I will.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
I'm not a I'm not a heat complainer. I am
a cold complainer, but I'm not a heat complainer.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Missy.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Thank you, appreciate it all right, Thanks Missy Matthews.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
She's the best.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
See the glue that holds us all together and much
more than that. Terrific, So lover insight. Now we're gonna
get your insight. Uh whatever you want to talk about
with the Steelers. Who's next for them to add? Who
do you think the add them free agency of the draft?
Do you have a favorite moment from this season? Who
is your super Bowl prediction? We're gonna be taking your
(18:15):
phone calls four one, two, nine one nine, one, three
one six. When we continue in the locker Room presented
by your neighborhood Ford Store and the Stars Pro Shop
on Steelish Nation Radio, a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
So we are taking.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Your phone calls four one two nine one nine one
three one six. We have to dash quickly through the
next guy. So Max and I are both looking at
two free agents for the Steelers. We got to number
twenty one in the ESPN list before the first point
of us bit. That was me on Romeo Dobbs. Max
still has two selections left. I'm gonna run through them quickly.
Khalil Mack No, I'm sure Kyle Pitts no.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
New Kenneth Walker.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Intriguing, but no, he'll command top dollar.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Brian Cook safety chiefs. I like this one, very like this,
very tempted years old. The safety he's under thirty. I'm
just saying, pairs, Well, he's a he's a he's a banger.
He can he can cover in space, he can take
the slot, he can do a lot of different things.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
This is where I'll hang my hat on the.
Speaker 5 (19:26):
First okay, because I'm very, very tempted to also go
with him. So we're gonna stop there. We've each got
one and we're gonna get to the phone lines and
we'll see if we can revisit that before we're all.
Speaker 6 (19:37):
Said and done.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
One in South Carolina, one, my friend, thank you very
much for being with us in the locker room.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
Good morning.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
Well what's up one hey?
Speaker 9 (19:50):
This season hanging out and listening to you guys, I
enjoy every sticking with you guys. The hit, the hit
towards the Steelers from the NFL is real and they
it was last night. You didn't even on our god
wolf last night when.
Speaker 8 (20:05):
Cool?
Speaker 5 (20:08):
So Hey, Hey, Want Want is breaking up justin Can
you ask wand to call back? And yes, uh Jerry
Jack pointed that out. I did not see the award
uh ceremony, but evidently they paid honor to some people
who had passed this year, and they did not include
Craig Wolfie on the list, which is if I have
that correct, Max, I believe that's the story.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
Again, I did not see it. Yeah, that's the case.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
That's a shame that that that's an absolute shame if
they didn't, you know, I don't want since this is
a high note for the end of the of the
show for us, I don't want to take it in
a negative way, but I would be pissed. And that's
(20:53):
that was that was a huge miss by the NFL
to have not.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
Thought about that.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
With all the people that they normally put in that category.
Craig Wolfe should have been squarely in there.
Speaker 6 (21:04):
So yep, I will not dwell on it.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
But but yeah, yeah, yeah, just just to keep sanity
and and keep an upbeat voice.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
I don't want to dwell on it. But yeah, that
that that that's frustrating.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
It is okay to say the least.
Speaker 5 (21:18):
Let's get back to the phone lines and let's get
to Chris and Lexington. Chris, thankstry being with us in
the locker room.
Speaker 10 (21:25):
Oh Rob match, great to talk to you man. All right,
First of all, before I give you my take on
the Super Bowl, I just want to go back to
earlier this week with you guys's interview with the Beard.
Yeah how yeah memorable, just reliving that Super Bowl, and
(21:45):
I I want to I want to use myself as
an example of where I'm going with this point. I'm
fifty five years old, so I was born in nineteen seventy.
I have no recollection of our first two by seventy eight.
I'm eight years old. I can kind of remember number
seventy nine a little more, but I remember call that
I made the stand show and I said, you know what,
(22:06):
staying this feels that I'm talking about.
Speaker 6 (22:08):
The five now.
Speaker 10 (22:09):
So Max, so much, thanks to you and the rest
of the boys for kind of giving us one for
our generation because it was so long, kind of like
the same thing. I was blessed to be alive and
to fully immerse myself. Some US Penguins fan two for
the ninety one ninety two, but I have some cousins
that are a lot younger than me.
Speaker 8 (22:30):
And then the eight and a nine.
Speaker 10 (22:33):
Run and then eventually you know that that was one
for them, and so for that, just again listening to
you guys get out of memory lane. I'll just I'll
never forget that, that whole playoff run and then that
day when we finally brought you know, number five homes.
So thank you, Max, to you, to you and the boys.
You know, overall, I don't have a specific highlight rob
(22:54):
that that sticks out to me, but one thing, and
this is why I would have no problem running Aeron overall.
I mean, I listen to a lot of national shows too,
and the national fundans. I remember just beating us up,
beating us up from bringing aarony and this is not
gonna work. He's gonna be out by week five. And
just in totality, the guy first of all neck up.
Still that doesn't go away. But I was very, very
(23:19):
intrigued and excited about the guy can still throw. The
guy could still throw. And I would have no problem
Robin match running it back one more time, especially with
the week QB class as long as we were committed
to go and full in in twenty seven and as
far as the super Bowl pick, and it's kind of
(23:40):
cool that we played both of them. Obviously, I'm gonna
bet with my heart because I don't want the Facers
to get the seven before we do. But I feel
even much better because I think Seattle overall, the story
about Sam Donald, I think has just been amazing, the
whole reclamation project and the guts that it took for
him just to stay in there. I think, get Bacon,
(24:00):
get that running game going, not put him into situations
where he has to to feel like he has to
win the game on his own. Uh jsn is I
think one of the top five receivers in the game,
and then that defensive front. No, we're to talk about
the leasion to Boo.
Speaker 11 (24:15):
But this is this is their second version of that.
Speaker 10 (24:18):
I love what they bring defensively, and I think if
they can get after May and and and contain him.
I look for a competitive super Bowl, but I look
Crisciattle to come out on top. And just one last me, guys,
I said it to you last week when I called
whoever made the decision to bring you guys together. Incredible
both for this show and for the broadcasting network. I'm
(24:40):
gonna miss you guys. Uh can't wait for the locker
room to come back. And and thanks again guys for
all the memories this year, and I can't wait to
talk to again soon.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
Chris, thank you very much for the kind words. Man
much much really appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (24:53):
Thank you. We have one.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
One is back, hopefully with a cleaner cell signal one.
Welcome back in the locker room.
Speaker 8 (25:01):
Hey, I'm back, guys, hear me, Yes.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Still breaking up a little bit. Pull stick with you
all right.
Speaker 8 (25:07):
Yeah, So with your super Bowl coming up, at the
last call us we don't want New Angling to get
the samus. So I'm gonna go with the Seahawks on
that and then you guys was talking about the seasons
on the offense. We gotta find a way to bring
Ken g back, would you guys see?
Speaker 6 (25:24):
Well, I I would. I'm all for it.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
The other thing I would say is that just we
gotta remember free agencies, free for the players too. And
it only takes one team to say, you know what,
this guy's a feature back. He proved it. He was
underutilized by this year. There's underutilized for sure by the Eagles.
We think we can utilize them more. We're gonna give
him a big paycheck. And if that happens, you know,
(25:48):
you got Caleb Johnson waiting in the wings. You still
have Jalen Warren, who I think could you know we're
calling all year for him to get more touches Max.
So I think, yes, all things being equal, bring Kenny
game Well back. But there are some things that might
conspire against the Steelers wishes to bring him back.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
And I think that that is that's probably the best
assasishment is is that there will be things against it.
You know, as much as I mean, he got the
team MVP, so guess what he's going to be a
person of interest to a lot of teams. And his
versatility and not only catching out of the backfield, but
blocking as well as as being a good runner.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Those are things that are desirable.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
And we kind of have already gone through the top
twenty five lists so far, and we saw what two
running backs in that top twenty five and both of those,
we could argue are probably going to command that Tier
one money. Potentially Breest Hall, you know, I think we'll
be right up there. And then Kenny Gainwell, he's gonna
be somebody that you're gonna look at, especially if you
have a running back by community type of format that
(26:49):
he's so used to working in that kind of construct.
He would be a natural fit for a lot of teams.
So it's going to be a priority trying to get
him back, but that's going to be a tough task.
Speaker 8 (27:01):
All well, this one say, I appreciate you guys, You
guys did a wonderful season. Can't wait. Can't wait to
hear you guys again next year. And you guys enjoy
your off season.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
Thank you one same to you, my friend, Thanks for
thanks for being such a valued member of the locker room.
Much appreciated. Actually have a couple of people on hold,
but I want to go quickly. You got to get
through a couple more. You got Brian Cook, I'm leaning
Michael though. I got Romeo Dobbs for signing to free agencies.
Speaker 6 (27:28):
You're ready.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
Twenty six Rashid Shaheed wide receiver, Seahawks. Nope, Calebon chasing
edge for the Patriots.
Speaker 6 (27:37):
No. Juwan Jennings from the forty nine Ers, wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Right body. No, I don't want to San Francisco.
Speaker 6 (27:50):
He really came on strong for them. I'm passing.
Speaker 5 (27:54):
Javonte Williams funny back Cowboys. Nope, Okay boy Mafe edge
for the Seahawks. No, Isaac Siamalos disqualified because he's a Steeler.
Read Blankenship safety Eagles U No Zion Johnson guard for
(28:19):
the Chargers. And this is where I'm jumping on my
number two. I think I'm gonna sign this guy. He's
going to be twenty six. He's going to be part
of this offensive line for years to come. You have
a good, good young offensive line, and if one of
your tackles comes through, you don't even have to worry
about that position. All you're doing is adding depth for
years that's my reasoning. So man, it was close because
(28:43):
for me Zion Johnson and then your guy, you know,
the safety Brian Cook. Oh man, I was back and
forth in those guys. I think they're going to sign
a receiver, so I'm going Dobbs and I'm going Zion Johnson.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
Okay, all right, yeah, no, I like that one like that.
You've exhausted your list pretty quickly.
Speaker 6 (29:04):
There's only seventeen more, guys.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Max, I'm just I'm just saying, I mean, you know
you got to this list, and you know he's seventeen left.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
I mean, you know, only one pick.
Speaker 6 (29:14):
Are you passy for you? Are you past passing? Okay?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Then Greg News soon number thirty four, the corner, Nope.
Connor McGovern the Center for the Bills, nope. We will
come back to your list. You still have one more
to go, fifteen more selections as we go to Tyler
and Wisconsin. Tyler, thanks for being with us in the
locker room.
Speaker 11 (29:38):
Tyler, Hey, guys, how's it going? Sorry, is not too bad?
Running in and out of the house real quick and
dropped my phone.
Speaker 6 (29:47):
Oh sorry about that, No it friend.
Speaker 11 (29:53):
Really, guys, I was just mainly calling the thank you
for all the information and the good conversation.
Speaker 6 (29:59):
Through the season.
Speaker 11 (30:00):
I'd like to be able to think that you guys
really do make Touch and Wolf proud up there, and
I don't think you guys could do any better of
a job.
Speaker 6 (30:10):
Well, thank you to thank there. Thank you first of all.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
I can say this also because Touch and Wolf were
both friends of mine, and I know they're both friends
of Max, and that means a lot to me. I
think I just thought the world of both of those guys.
I think they're wonderful, wonderful human beings, and so I'm
just going to say thank you.
Speaker 11 (30:32):
You're very welcome.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
You know.
Speaker 11 (30:34):
I was thinking about it today and with all the
tight ends and everything that we.
Speaker 10 (30:38):
Have, I got.
Speaker 11 (30:39):
I mean, I live in Wisconsin, so I have all
these weird questions from all these Packer fans, and they're
asking me what I think about John Us Smith, and
I keep saying I think he's overrated and I don't
think i'd retain him. But there's that other thing of
maybe he do better in a different scheme, in a
different position. Do we retain him for a year do
(30:59):
we not?
Speaker 5 (31:00):
That that's a really really good question, Max, I thought,
I thought he was gonna be. Going back to the
beginning of the season, I thought he was basically gonna
be the Steelers slot receiver. They were gonna move him
out wide and you want to put a little guy
on him to cover him, great, we'll change to a
run and let John Why blow him off the ball.
(31:21):
And if you put a bigger guy on him, fantastic.
We'll throw the ball to John who That's how I
thought he was going to be utilized, and he really
kind of wasn't utilized as much as I thought he
was going.
Speaker 6 (31:31):
To be in that way.
Speaker 11 (31:35):
Yeah, I'm really.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
On you, on you.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I'll let you respond to the other spot after, you know.
Speaker 11 (31:45):
And I was feeling the same way when I saw
him coming out of Miami. I was excited. I was
really excited, you know, like you said, you put him
a bigger guy against him, and he's gonna blow the
doors off him. You put a smaller guy against him,
you throw the physical catch and he takes up all
to the ground or he keeps moving through. And we
didn't see any of that. Everything was he's down and
(32:06):
under or quick screens and they didn't develop into anything
but maybe under home grim Homegrom.
Speaker 6 (32:15):
Wow, McCarthy, Yeah, McCarthy.
Speaker 11 (32:20):
Under McCarthy, I mean, we don't he's an offensive genius.
I mean it is. If you don't think that, I
don't think you know football really, But and I'm hoping
that if we would retain John Smith, that he could
be the productive tight end slash slot receiver that we
(32:43):
I feel a lot of us ault he would be.
But I don't know if he's worth the cap space
with the abount of tight ends we already have and
are they.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Going to utilize right, you know he is Mike McCarthy
is a West Coast guy. Now, if he's got he's
he said he will tail or his scheme to his players,
So we'll see if that becomes part of it real quick.
Speaker 6 (33:05):
If you made a Super Bowl prediction for us, oh yeah,
you already know.
Speaker 11 (33:09):
I can't ride with the Patriots. It's gotta be the Seahawks.
And if not, I don't know if I'm going to
be watching the whole.
Speaker 6 (33:15):
Oh man, Hey, Tyler, thanks very much.
Speaker 5 (33:19):
Dust that phone off, make sure it's nice and dry,
and we look forward to talking to you next season
in the locker room.
Speaker 11 (33:25):
Absolutely, gentlemen, thank you again, and have a great offseason.
Speaker 6 (33:29):
Thank you, Tyler, same to you.
Speaker 5 (33:30):
Thanks, ok, Max, before we head to a break and
we got some because we got some phone calls to
squeeze in.
Speaker 6 (33:35):
I'm intrigued.
Speaker 12 (33:36):
Man.
Speaker 6 (33:37):
We've gone through thirty.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
Five guys on the ESPN Top fifty free agent list,
reached selecting two. I've already made my two selections. I
like your selection a lot, and Brian Cook, I like
it a lot. Thirty six through forty. David Edwards guard Bills, Nope, nay,
Sean Wright cornerback Bears, Yep, yep, yeah.
Speaker 6 (33:57):
I'm going with Nisha. Listen.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
I watch up close and personal when we were in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I mean he was he was a sticky guy, has
a nose for the football, you know.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
He I feel like he's a good compliment opposite Joey
Porter Junior.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
I think also, you know, he he's a guy that's
not gonna kill our bank, you know, in free agency
by getting him. So you know, he doesn't have that
high end recovery steep but not that the James Pierre.
Speaker 6 (34:28):
But I feel like.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
His instincts and and he will, he will be better
and I think we will probably you know, go into
more zone because your man cover guy is Joey Porter Junior.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
You don't need to man cover guys, you know.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
So the other guy's gonna probably play in his zone
type of deal opposite that, and I think he plays
really well in that because he doesn't have the elite
foot speed to recover if he gets beat off the
double move.
Speaker 5 (34:55):
By the way, he also had five interceptions this year,
and and it's a Steethers secondary that could come up
with some more interceptions. They've lived and died by fumble recoveries.
They could certainly use some more playmaker, which when we
had Ben Roethlisberger on he said, I'm looking for a
playmaker on the back end, a guy that can make
plays for that defense. And Nasehan Wright Jody could do
(35:16):
that this year. Okay, I'm gonna I have to squeeze
in one more. Joey Bosa thirty eight, a con quo
the tight end number thirty nine, the other guy.
Speaker 6 (35:27):
I was tempted.
Speaker 5 (35:28):
I took Dobbs, but I was seriously tempted to take
Wandale Robinson from the Giants. Slot receiver, high high volume guy,
not a lot of yards per catch, had a great
year this year. I think there might be more for
him as far as yards per catch, first down, kind
of maker that quick guy that can you know, like
(35:50):
that Edelman type that can beat you for that first
down and make a play for you. I was if
it's not Dobbs and it's Wandale Robinson, I will be
perfectly fine with that.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
And that I mean by doing and also by side
of that, you kind of, you know, you kind of
write off Roman Wilson and Cal Austin.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
If that's the case, well Cal plays him outside.
Speaker 6 (36:12):
I mean, I know what you're saying. I do.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Well Cal played outside because he had to play outside.
He is naturally a slot receiver, uh in the NFL.
He just we didn't have anybody opposite, so Cal kind
of was forced to play you know, a lot of
different positions. But I think if you had a number two,
you know that that real reliable number two to go
(36:36):
opposite Dk Metcalf, I feel like Cal would have been
the number three. And we always talked about this, he's
a number three, and then we were talking about can
tight ends do this and what John Newsmith can bring
and that never really came to fruition. So that that's
the only reason why I'm like I'd be like, Okay, well, Wandale,
you're you're having to give up on one, one, if
not two of your receivers.
Speaker 6 (37:00):
From a year ago. So funny. So I went offense,
you went defense on our picks.
Speaker 5 (37:06):
Yeah, and that's it for that exercise, but not for
the wrong with it, not for the locker room. We're
going to be taking your phone calls. Want to remind
you one more time. Gear up for the off season.
Show off your Steelers stuff in pride. Get it directly
from the team because that's the place to go to
get all the custom exclusives and the real deal gear.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
So go to one of the.
Speaker 5 (37:27):
Official Stealers Pro shops at Akrosser Stadium, Grove City, Premium
out Let's, hang Ro out Let's, or of course, you
can always gear up online at shop dot Steelers dot com.
Back with some final phone calls in the locker room
four one two nine one nine three one six when
we continue here in the Locker Room, presented by your
neighborhood Ford Storing the Steers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
Radio, a part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
This is Kim the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation radio presented by your neighborhood Forward Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 6 (38:16):
All right, it is time for the bell. That's right.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
Early Lunch Morning system engaged one last time. Steeler Nation,
go out there, grab you something good to eat is
twelve minutes to the top of the day, the noon,
the split point.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
And you know I have to be fully honest here, rob.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
I uh, I went a little ham last night for dinner,
but didn't didn't cook.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Didn't cook with pork, I did.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
I did that viral lobster quote unquote pasta with the
lobster bisk and the Argentina red shrimp at.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
It was really good.
Speaker 6 (38:58):
It was really good.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
My daughter was happy effect she took She took the
leftovers for lunch today, so I was like, dad, job
accomplished as well. My youngest I made cheeseburger soup in
the crockpot and it was actually really tasty.
Speaker 6 (39:11):
It was so good.
Speaker 5 (39:12):
Oh that sounds that sounds really really good. So a
couple of things to get to real quick Sonny Jurgensen
passed away Hall of Fame quarterback, one of the great
his nickname was the arm one of the great throwers
of the football in NFL history. Super super talented quarterback,
(39:33):
Hall of Famer. So sad to pass that along. Too
bad about that. And then CUB reporter Schaefer King informing
me that Jim Schwartz has submitted his resignation. WHOA, okay, yeah,
so that's kind of interesting. Okay, so back to the
(39:56):
phone lines and let me make sure I've got him
in the proper order here.
Speaker 6 (40:02):
Let's see we have Ricky in Georgia.
Speaker 5 (40:05):
Ricky, thanks very much for being with us in the
locker room.
Speaker 12 (40:08):
Hey fellas man, good as know y'all.
Speaker 6 (40:10):
Go okay, yeah, I was doing fine.
Speaker 12 (40:12):
Thank you my friend, rick Hey man, yes, I go
and make it kind of quick for y'all come other people.
I just want to say that, thank y'all for the
opportunity to lift to y'all by.
Speaker 6 (40:22):
The whole season.
Speaker 12 (40:24):
My favorite moment of the season was we get in
the last Frost game, last game when on y'all coming Arry,
when David Remps got their head and Matt said, I
felt like that to my heart So that's my best moment.
And as far as then, what were you doing free agency?
Three things signed Kennergy, bring on the better ONFC through
(40:47):
free agency room and past the wire rooms through the traivel.
Speaker 6 (40:50):
Can't that's me, I look on, can't disagree with any
of that stuff, Ricky. That's right on, man.
Speaker 12 (40:56):
So that that's how I feel about it. And hey,
man not thank you? Oh man, it last show. C Hey,
I'm dy that season, just ripping that season and I
want you out and Jordanahl season take a vacation. Hey,
he's playing a barbecue when you came.
Speaker 6 (41:12):
That sounds like great advice, Ricky. Thank you very much there.
Oh that is good stuff. That's exactly what we need, Ricky.
Thank you so much. Man, appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (41:21):
And uh, that was you know, I'd kind of forgotten
about that with all the moments that happened at the
end of the year. Jalen Ramsey that hit out in
the I think was out in the left flat with
the Jets trying to get something going and that ended
that game. The Jets trying to you know, they needed
one more first down maybe two to get into field
goal range with an opportunity to win it.
Speaker 6 (41:41):
And Jalen Ramsey said, uh uh and that was a
blistering hit by Jalen Ramsey. See are in Chicago, cr
thanks very much for being with us in the locker room.
Speaker 7 (41:51):
Hey, what's going on field? The brothers and other mothers
really appreciate you guys, just in general overall aside out
to Tala and Wisconsin hen I and his his family,
especially his daughter. They are showing us Stiller fans. And
also to my boy and uh in South Carolina or
wan Hey King before you came, Mey and one used
to team up and double team and call the show
(42:13):
and we'd be talking with him together, call us the
Triple C connection.
Speaker 4 (42:16):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
So that that was fun.
Speaker 7 (42:18):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (42:18):
As far as as you guys, Hey, without you guys, man,
we would be l O s T.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
That's lost.
Speaker 7 (42:23):
My favorite part of the season wasn't something, it was different.
It was that kick. If they missed that, what they
missed and give us that game. That was the most
exciting and the most terrifying part of the whole year
for me.
Speaker 4 (42:39):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (42:40):
As far as as as you guys, we love you,
We appreciate you.
Speaker 7 (42:45):
No other football fans have any kind of idea or
concept That's how privilege we are to have you guys
Uh out there communicated with us and King. I don't
know you personally, but I have spent a couple of
minutes with with with with the Mad Star, and my
favorite moment for him was on that kick out block.
It gave us the Super bowls longless run. And I
(43:08):
appreciate you for that, brother, You forget that you know you?
Speaker 5 (43:13):
Yeah, I appreciate CR. Thank you for the guy word man, CR.
Thank you, my friend, thanks for being such a big
part of the locker Room. We always love hearing from
you and UH in the meantime.
Speaker 6 (43:24):
Yes and between times. Here we go, there, here we go, CR,
thank you, my friend.
Speaker 5 (43:32):
Always good to your CR and his final sendoff, and
we're going to wrap up this year's version of the
Locker Room with Circus George in Sarasota. Circus George, thanks
very much for being with us in the locker Room.
Speaker 13 (43:45):
Hey, welcome, Welcome from Sonny Sarah so a sixty degrees
Sonny optimal coming, Come and shoot some holes or a
little fishing just right for.
Speaker 6 (43:55):
It sounds good. I got a spare room.
Speaker 5 (44:00):
I love Sarah. Shod is a great city man. It's
it's a very very cool place.
Speaker 6 (44:04):
All right.
Speaker 13 (44:05):
So I want to first thank you guys for all
of your insight during the year and for the steady,
steady hand that you have. You guys are like a
steadying force of the knuckleheads, which sometimes I'm one of them.
You guys kind of focus when things really aren't as
bad as we think they are.
Speaker 6 (44:22):
So I want to thank you for that.
Speaker 13 (44:23):
And I can't wait to hear you guys in the
in the camp, you know, during pre season, and just
have a great summer, enjoy, enjoy your time off, do
something memorable. I'm still planning my hike to Anilope Canyon,
the Wave and Dwyce Canyon.
Speaker 5 (44:40):
Oh, it sounds wonderful. I nearly did, nearly did that trip,
but we're going to Italy instead.
Speaker 6 (44:48):
But Bryce Canyon too. Yeah, it's gonna be it's it's
a wonderful trip. It's on my list. Bryce Canyon. Fly
out there and hit some of the hit some of
the parks, do some hiking.
Speaker 13 (44:58):
I think it win my four times. I bly oh,
different different trail than I did in the other times.
And Animal Tanyon and the Waiver exquis It. I can't
wait to see them. Fantastic Google if you want to
see Yeah, yeah, you guys, thank you for having the same.
Speaker 5 (45:12):
Thank you so much, appreciate it. We appreciate everybody who
calls in, who listens. You know, without you, there's no show,
and uh, without a show, there'd be much sadness. So
I am glad that you were here with us. I
want to definitely thank you, know, Justin Miller at the
(45:33):
controls for the majority of the time, Nathan Osler doff
of the captain Nathan for fulfilling it, but Justin's ore
been our main man behind the controls. Uh, so our
thanks to Justin Miller. Justin pop on, let's hear your voice.
Thank you, Justin.
Speaker 6 (45:47):
You welcome, guys. I appreciate you both very much for
welcome me into your version of the locker room.
Speaker 5 (45:52):
Really, Justin's the best. He keeps us on time and
and between the rails. I try, I try all of
our yes. All season long, we've we've been delighted to
welcome into the locker room. And of course Max, my friend,
I hope you have a wonderful lunch today and I
look forward to the next time we might see each
other because you always put a smile on my face
(46:13):
and and put me in a good mood. And and
thanks so much for for this show all season long
and for everything you've done all season long.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
No, I appreciate it, Rob. And you know, year one
it felt like an easy transition. I mean the void
that was left by by by our mutual friend Craig Wolfley.
You know, it is a tough task, uh initially, but
you know, you made you made this an easier transition.
(46:40):
You know, us able to talk about those things and
have fun and celebrate the memory of not only Wolf
but of Tounch as well, and you know, and to
take up this mantle right now, you know, and and
be stewards of the locker room, the show that they
created and UH and loved and fostered. It's a tremendous
honor to serve the Steelers community, UH in this capacity.
(47:04):
And I understand the gravity of the situation and you
do as well. And I think for us having this opportunity,
it's been a fun ride. It's been a fun journey
for this iteration of twenty of the twenty twenty five,
twenty six Pittsburgh Steelers and bringing that to you and
in colorful ways on air, which is on radio. I've
(47:27):
had a blast this year. It's been fun and like
you said, until the next time we meet again. We
will be seeing each other in the future this offseason
and and then of course getting ready for it all
over again once once the trail rolls around at the
end of summer.
Speaker 5 (47:42):
Yeah, I can't wait to do it. Man, it's been
it's been great this year. It'll be It'll be coming
our way soon. We have a special way to end
this show, which we're going to get to in a moment.
But first for Justin Miller, for Max Starks, for all
of you guys who are listening and being with us,
I'm Rob King. We thank you you for being with
us in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood Ford
(48:03):
Store and this judis Pro Shop on Steels Nation Radio,
a part of this Jesus Audio Network.
Speaker 6 (48:08):
Here's the snap, Here's the hole, here's the boot by loop,
and that kick isn.
Speaker 3 (48:12):
Nok A right listed loop.
Speaker 6 (48:16):
Liston and you're Pittsburgh Steelers. Are he FC North CHAMPIONSID
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