August 14, 2025 • 41 mins
Wes and Matt look at a busy week with Tampa Bay in town for a joint practice and a preseason game.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive here on Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. I guess, Matt,
maybe the final show that we can say training camp
edition of the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. As
the of course everybody knows by now, but the public
st vincent portion of training camp in the book for
(01:00):
the Pittsburgh Steelers, fifteen practices out there on campus now done.
But today Matt obviously down on the North Shore at
Aftershore Stadium the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in town for a
joint practice that will be I would think, very active,
very intense, and a lot to accomplish for both teams.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah. Absolutely, And we've kind of touched on this, but
I I want to dig into it more. I'm not
going to be there. I'm not gonna I mean, I'll
read reports, but I'm not going to be there. I
was there last year for the Bills joint practice. I'm
not sure why it didn't line up this year. No
big deal, but I expect it to be very spirited.
I bet the coaching staff will take more from today
(01:41):
than Saturday, to be honest with you, because I think
like Aaron Rodgers and Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans and TJ.
Watt and those guys are going to do stuff, you know.
I mean, it might only be several drills. But this
is the beauty of it. And I've laid this out
before preseason games. Great, but it's also unpredict the ball.
You don't know what situations you're gonna get.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Might not get a two minute trail.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Might not get a two minute troll, right, you know, like, boy,
I really need to see Rudolph in a two minute trail.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
You might only get one or two red zone opportunity.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yes, absolutely, you know things of that nature. But it
is cool that quarterbacks get hit and it's real football
and there's you know, a full live tack there's live
tackling and it's a full stadium blah blah blah. But
what these guys do. And I know Todd Bowles and
Tomlin know each other very well, you know, I mean
they've been in the league a very long time together.
They I'm sure had a meeting a zoom or whatever
(02:33):
and said, let's build our practice script. And Todd probably
is going, Mike, we don't see much thirteen personnel, but
we can do a period of thirteen or two. I
know that's what you guys are gonna stress, even though
it's not something that we really are motivated to practice against.
(02:55):
But we're a heavy blitz team. Give us two blitz
periods in return. All right, we could do that. Yeah right,
And they're not gonna do those things Saturday. They're not
going to show you their best blitz packages, but they
will today, you know, and all those things like you said,
red zone all the I need a two minutes real Oh,
I do too. Let's do a bunch of two minutes.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I want to practice some third and long stuff. Yeah,
you know, whatever it is, whatever it is, any type
of again, situational stuff that you might want to work
on that you cannot ensure is going to organically take
place over the course of a preseason game. But you
can make sure it happens this afternoon at Akrasser Stadium.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
And it might happen, but it might not happen for
Zach Frasier and the starting offensive line. You know, Like
I went Zach out there against your best blitz stuff,
so he can recognize it. And you know what I mean,
he's only seen the Steelers blitz package this year, you know,
so I think that kind of stuff is super valuable.
And again some of it, like we just mentioned, you
don't know that you'll get two minutes, and may if
(03:53):
you do get two minutes, it's the last two minutes
of the game. But I wanted Rudolph out there. I'm
gonna throw them out there for that against But you
know a bunch of backup line, you know one.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So yeah, that that script important. I know Tampa Bay
was in town yesterday. They actually practiced at Carnegie Mellon University.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Really, okay, I guess that makes sense. You down there
yesterday down.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
There with yeah, right down down there at the home
of the Tartans. They had their their practice over there yesterday.
So yeah, what like you said, whether they actually got
together in person or whether it was just a virtual
conversation over zoom or something, they will certainly have a
a script that will be have some things the Steelers
want to accomplish, have some things the Bucks want to accomplish,
(04:33):
and then obviously some kind of neutral stuff that they
can all get into together.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
We're gonna do two hours and every minute. It's going
to be scripted every second.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Every second count You watched the Bear on on on
might be the best show on TV. It might be
the best show on television right now. And that's a
thing that I've stolen from there. I use it with
my daughters all the time when we're in a hurry,
like that sign that they haven't, he says, every second counts,
Every second coounts. Joint practice today between the Bucks and
the Steelers, every second counts. They will also Matt play
(05:04):
a preseason game against each other, as we know Saturday
in terms of that, because it is always obviously a
little bit different when you have a preseason game immediately
after you just had a joint practice with the team.
We saw a little bit of this last year against
the Buffalo Bills right in kind of a similar timeline.
But what are you looking for Saturday? Is it anyone specific?
(05:26):
Is it anything schematically? Because this is the last show
you and I are going to do before Saturday's last
show anyone's gonna do. Is all of the Steelers Nation
radio crew has I think a much earned day off
on Friday Tomorrow, the fifteenth, So what are we kind
of laying out for Saturday that we're going to be
looking for off the back of this joint practice.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I definitely think it's gonna be is very, very worth
a discussion between the two of us. But the problem is,
and especially because I'm not there, you're not there for today,
how much are they playing their top dogs today? And
then then, you know, if today didn't exist, I would
think you might ramp up Rudolph Caleb Johnson, Roman Wilson,
(06:08):
maybe the first OH line gets one more series than
they did. They're always going to be out there with
the top quarterback anyway. But some of those dudes that
you're counting on but aren't Cam Hayward, TJ watch in
the bag type dudes. But I also don't know what
kind of workload are they going to get today because
I would assume a lot of your top players are
playing today, a lot, I.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Would think, so all the ones who are healthy and able.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
You might know this better than me. So Tomlin last
week had his press conference, he basically ruled out like
eighteen dudes pregame. We knew exactly who that list was
before the game even started. They didn't dress Jalen Warren, etc. Etc.
Porter Well, that happened today.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
You know what, It's a good question. I was wondering
that same thing because I thought there was a chance
it was going to happen today at noon, Okay, but
I did not see during that time.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
If you have a press conference that I well, you.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Know, normally, like the way that I would check in
because during the preseason it's not live streamed like it
is during the regular season. Normally, the way that I
would check is going back through the you know, Mike
Persudos and Mike the FABO and everybody. The people who
would have been there are our buddies that are actual journalists,
and I did not see any of those guys tweeting
out quotes earlier, So I'm not sure. Maybe, uh, And
(07:24):
it looks like actually, well let's see here as I
as I checked the fabos page again, it looks like
it's ongoing right now.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Okay, so how about that.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
And it looks like Andy. It looks like Andy Whitel
spoke as well too. But here you go. Mike Tomlin
says he plans h two plays to play Saturday's preseason
game very much like the last one, with many helled
out good, including Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jalen Warren, Pat Fryarmouth,
John news Smith, Isaac Say, Malu, t J. Watt, alex
(07:53):
Ei Smith, cam Heyward, Patrick Queen and core secondary guys,
assuming that to be Slay Ramsey, Joey.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Porter Junior, maybe Elliott.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Maybe Elliott in there as well, he said, Nick Herbig
is a maybe. So it sounds like maybe he's the
only one who could have a different status.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Interesting on her Big, just because I thought, not that
it's a big deal, but Sawyer and Leal had to
play a lot. I mean, they were in there like
late in the fourth quarter. Maybe they didn't want to
give them that much run. I mean, I know they
wanted to get those guys experience and all that, but
they may put too much on their plate. Herbig maybe
plays two series to start and then those guys take
over and just ease into that. That's how I would
(08:32):
handle it too, you know. I mean fans though, I mean,
I've been getting a lot of Man, you're sitting all
these guys. I mean, it's like this one game, it's
two games. I mean, I think especially if most of
those players you mentioned are highly active today against the
Bucks ones, that's plenty that's fine plenty.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Yeah, and some of those guys that we've mentioned in there,
I wouldn't hate seeing them play a series or two
in the preseason, right, but that can still have happen
a week from today down and down in Charlotte when the.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Steelers Thursday, right, okay, and that's short week.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
It's it's you got the short week, but then you
also have but.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
These guys won't care about the short week. No last
thing they would have done is maybe today exactly right.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
But and then they'll also after that Carolina game, I mean,
what have for a little more than fourteen days until
they have to set sixteen or seventeen days until they
have to to Actually.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I think it's fourteen days till opening night, which the
Steelers are involved in exactly right, you know, right exactly
Sunday after that, so it'll.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Be you know, sixteen, sixteen, seventeen days.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
So you know, they do practice. But folks, by the way,
and they don't just disappear, and they do they.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Do practice absolutely, And I know you'll like hearing this.
But Mike Tomlin was also asked about which of the
corners would square off against Mike Evans, and he said
Jalen is going to get it. I think it's already
been decided.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Really, Okay, so that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
That is interesting as well too, Yeah, as we kind
of think he's going to do a lot of lining
up in the nickel in this type of situation. Let's
have the let's have the let's have the future Hall
of Famer against maybe the future Hall of Famer.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And I'm sure they've done battle in the past. They're
both in the league about equal tont of times, and
both are probably gonna go into Canton. I don't know.
I don't want to look too much into that because
I do think when all three corners are on the field,
Ramsey's the clear slot of the three. The other two
aren't super comfortable doing that, and you don't want them
doing that. Porter's done, as we know, has done a
lot of following in his shorter career. Slay used to
(10:27):
do it a ton ton a ton, especially you know
in Detroit. But I think Ramsey is the best player
of them all, you know. I'm just wondering, like when
they play Chase and Higgins, will he just be on
Chase the whole time or will they just line up
where they line up and go from there. They're not
gonna tell.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Us, They're not gonna tell us we're We're gonna have
to wait to figure that one out.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Like Garrett Wilson is a really good example, because that's
one good receiver in week one. Sure, that's a really
good example.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, that is a that's a very good example and
one that happens, you know, right off the bat there.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah, So maybe we'll get an answer to that question
pretty quick, pretty quick based on how it all.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
A wonderful asset here. They can do so many different
things with these guys.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
And I think that was the big difference. We could
sit here and argue like who's the better peer player
maker or Jalen Ramsey right right right, We could such
an argument, and I think you could make good faith
You could make good faith debates on either side.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Agree, you wouldn't be you know, you wouldn't be doing
it at a at a bad faith.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
But I don't I think I still think make is
one of the best safeties in the lead.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Absolutely, yeah, absolutely, But I think I don't think I
know with Jalen, it just opens up the playbook more,
It allows you to do more.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah, And I think they've wanted to for a while. Anyway,
I think they want to get away from such a
predominant single high look we've seen. This isn't pulling Mack
Curtin too much more, too high more safety rotation. And
my biggest thing though is Ramsey. Well, first off, O
(11:58):
more CON's a cap guy, and if you just look
at numbers or you take personality out of it, I'd
rather pay a corner than a safety. You know, like,
I bet the down he inherited this contract going I
probably is a rule of thumb. Do not want the
highest paid safeties in the league.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
You'd rather have your highest paid offensive line and be
a tackle.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Or you know what I mean. Like, if they're great players,
you pay them, and you're it's just fine. But in
terms of where do I want my money structured, I'd
rather have it in corner than safety. And the other
thing I've brought up a lot is because everything to me,
then the defense comes back to the pass rush, which
I expect to be the best in the league. I
expect sacks to go op blah blah blah blah. I've
been on that soapbox since the day the season ended.
(12:40):
But if your best player is fifteen yards off the ball,
not two or three near the box. Near the ball,
the potential blitzer move them all around, well, the pass
rush doesn't benefit as much. You know, I want to
create sacks. If it all comes down to to me,
absolute and big.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Plays, splash plays, sacks, disruption. And you know, they did
a good job in the turnover department last.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Year, they did a great job in everything but sack. Everything,
but sacks were just average.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Where they were sixteenth, which is quite literally average, right
right in the middle of the league. And that's actually
Matt I want to do, you know, with you at
some point some season predictions, and that's that's something we'll
have to revisit, is like exactly what number can they
attain the.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Where and you know, sustainable stable, Where.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Would that put them in terms of number one or
in the top three or in the top five. But
we uh will continue here just kind of with the
final camp takeaways. And that is one of the biggest
ones for me is just I thought Jalen Ramsey was
the best defensive player at camp, and I think this
defense is going to look even if you're someone who
doesn't really get in the weeds, even if you're just
(13:50):
kind of a football one oh one type fan. I
think it's gonna look noticeably different how they deploy and
how they scheme.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
I do too. Again, I think obviously the all twenty
two nerds will notice difference, but I think some of
our listeners that just crack an iron and send their
lazy boy and spend three hours a week watching football,
you're gonna say, wow, this does look different a lot
more man coverage. I don't think they're gonna become Blitzberg,
(14:15):
but I do think they will blitz more. I mean,
they've been in the low end of the league lately
because I mean, if you get home with four, which
the Steelers absolutely can, that's what everybody wants, but that
doesn't mean that's the only way to do it, especially
if you trust your defensive backfield, like I think they
will at this point. And oh, by the way, I've
meant to say, this is a minute ago too. Back
(14:36):
to that Menka trade. I think they think they found
something in Thornhill. Like I think being around Thornhill as
much as they were pre trade made him say, Okay,
he's not Menca, but he's really a starter. He's not
a third safety. Makes it a lot easier pull the
trigger on this trade too. And I think that showed
up in camp too. I thought he was a winner
(14:57):
from camp.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I agree, may a kind of a nice instant type
of impact with a big hit and pass breakup and
that that game down in Jacksonville last Saturday. He covers
a lot of ground, covers a lot of ground. He
brings some nasty edge to that defense too, which I
which I think is certainly a welcome development him, Jalen Ramsey,
Darius Slay. They they added some swagger to that, to
(15:18):
that secondary.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
All kinds and you know they're there.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
And I think I think that's gonna I think that's
gonna play out well for them this year as well too.
Let's get to our first break here, Matt. We'll continue
with some of this conversation, get into some fifty three
man roster thoughts here today. So that's all right with you.
Plenty to get too as we roll along. West Shooler
Matt Williamson Training Camp. Edition of the Drive here on
Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Back on the drive here, West Shuler and Matt Williamson,
we are going to get into some fifty three man
roster thoughts as we are kind of listen, this is
not as a certainly not as quiet of a period
as you know list season and all of that post
right right right kind of post OTAs in many camp
time period. But we are in a little bit of
(16:31):
a weird pattern, and we still have a couple of
preseason games to preview and look ahead to.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
But and you and I aren it every practice exactly right.
We're like we're accustomed to last.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Week and having literally practice going on right in front
of us a lot of the time as well too
to describe and broadcast. So we'll get into some some
bigger picture stuff here. I do want to do some
fifty three man stuff with you today. But yeah, I
think a couple more notable newsworthy elements with the Steelers.
One kind of being a a story that we've kept
an eye on and monitored, and that is we're not
(17:01):
even a story or maybe a situation is a better
way to put it. Of the Steelers potentially adding another
wide receiver. Yes, there's been a lot of different iterations
of that right, there's been the could it be a
Gabe Davis or Amari Cooper type of free agent that's
still available. Yes, there's been conversations and questions about a
choiring someone like Terry McLaurin and now Matt a new
(17:21):
name coming into that conversation, Odell Beckham Junior.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Yeah, it's been a while. If you want, we could
break down what Amari and Gabe Davis bring. So first off,
I think there's only room for one, you know, like
and when we start talking about roster breakdown, so I
know people are anxious for the Steelers to add another receiver.
(17:46):
I think they will. I used to feel a lot
stronger about it, but post John new trade, I feel
a little less about it. I can't say Calvin Austin
or Roman Wilson or Woods blew my doors off to
no that I would be out of that market. I mean,
I still think in terms of guys what we expect
to play a lot number two receivers the weakest area
(18:08):
of the team, and I would thoroughly be looking to
address it, and I think that they have. But I
also think they want the right one. There's only room
for one. This isn't the beginning of free agency, when
your roster's up in the air and we'll settle for
one of these five, you know what I mean, and
the draft still out there, you got to kind of
pick one, like, okay, let's pick that dude. Stick with
(18:30):
them and Beckham, Cooper Davis don't cost you anything, you know,
that's just a call to the agent. Make sure that
they pass physicals, which I think could be an issue
with all of them at this point, but who knows.
I hate talking medical, but I definitely think Davis's knee
is something. What kind of player do we want and
(18:52):
we're only going to get one? Is this our move?
You know? So I think those are the things you're contemplating. Okay,
we call about mc lauren, but he's gonna cost us
a salary and to pick is that better than Odell
for nothing? You know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Did you know what his agent said about the money?
His agent made a comment I don't know if it
was yesterday, but recently about how they're kind of looking
for dk Metcalf money.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Okay, which I've actually brought that up when it's all
came out, like I think.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
The Steelers out of the equation when they just paid
DK Metcalf, DK Metcalf.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
No, that's the thing. Do you want to kind of
like double down the contract, or do you want to
give them more than DK, which is kind of a
slap in the face to your other new guy, or
slightly less than which is kind of a slap in
your face to your new guy. Or you put both
contracts out there and say we'll we'll duplicate them both.
But they're both the same draft class and you don't
want to really be on the same timelines. You know,
(19:44):
it'd rather stagger them a little bit. Now, I wouldn't
be out on McLaurin, but sure, you know a little
Birdie told me too that he's interested in going to
a team where he's clearly the number one pass catcher.
Makes sense where he'd be fifty to fifty with DK,
I mean, or sixty forty forty sixty, whatever, but it
wouldn't be as clear. He's been pretty accustomed to that
in Washington. If that's important to him. It's important to him.
(20:05):
But that also narrows down who could trade for McLaurin.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Sure does?
Speaker 3 (20:08):
I mean teams have to be pretty devoid of receiver
to be like he's easily there.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Right now, we know number one.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Unless somebody gets hurt. Deep down, I think Washington keeps
him considering their timeline too, they have to. Yeah, they
have a rookie quarterback or young rookie contract quarterback.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
That's the thing too, obviously. You know Terry McLaurin. I
think he's thirty right now, maybe turns thirty one soon.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Him in Metcalf are the same class, but he's like
two years.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Older, right, you know, right? Or maybe yeah, or maybe
he just turned thirty. Maybe that's what it is.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Writ in that neighborhood down, but he's noticeably older than Metcalf.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
This is in all likelihood going to be the last
big contract that he signs in his.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
NFL career, which is why he's doing this.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
If you want to be the clear cut number one
and go somewhere where you have a legit quarterback, which
he has not had.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Much of during his No he's lived without that.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Washington's probably the best spot for him.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, and they probably saying, but you're thirty, and we
don't want to give you Dk metch Haalf money or
this would have got done by.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Now, correct, And he still has two years left on
his deal, does he Okay, not one, so you know
a little bit of a different timeline there as well.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Yeah, I say he signed not long ago. Now that's
like the best football player. I think you could get
sure and maybe the price is coming down. I don't know.
Maybe you just keep tabs with them. And originally I
thought a second round pick straight up would get it done,
and I think it would now. We had some chatting
(21:33):
at the bar. People were thinking, Oh, it's you need
to give it first. There's no way he's a thirty
year old receiver, you know, like AJ Brown at twenty
four coming off a first contract gets a first. Not
a thirty year old player who's really really good Tyreek
Hill at the height of his powers gets first plus.
You know. So I don't think it costs you that. Now.
I wonder I'm gonna put the tinfoil hat on for you.
(21:57):
You might enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
We need some conspiracy theory music.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Calvin Austin hasn't practiced much lately. He is not I
don't know how injured he is or not.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Abdominal injury has akad.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Yeah, but sometimes they put players on ice that maybe
could be on the move. What about a third in
Austin for McLaurin, you know, because if I'm Washington, I
want a receiver.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Absolutely, I don't.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
I mean, it doesn't have to be Jerry Rice. But
I know I'm not gonna get that. But I can't
go at the.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Stage in the game. I can't just give up Terry
McLaurin and have nothing to replace him with.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
That was a final four team last year. You know,
I added Debo, but that's fine, but I need something back.
Could Austin in a little bit later? Pick get you there?
And then you go back to the contract stuff though,
I mean, like, do you want two receivers making the
exact same DK on it? So that's what they're weighing
right now. But again I think there's spot for one.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I do.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
I mean, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
He He's an interesting one to me because there's no
doubt that he has dealt with injuries and you know
it'll be thirty three this season and didn't do a
ti I mean last year he had nine receptions for
fifty five yards in Miami. Now, his season the year
before with Baltimore in twenty twenty three was was alright, Yeah,
thirty five catches for five hundred and sixty five yards
(23:12):
and three touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
The time we saw him before that, though, was with
the Rams when they won the Super Bowl, and I
thought he was awesome, outstanding there. I thought he was like, whoa,
I remember this guy outstanding.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Him and Cooper Cup were just right dynamite together.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
And then he had an injury. And I mean Dale
and I when when the Ravens signed him, which sounds
like a long time ago, thought boy, this is one
of the worst contracts I've ever seen. I mean, I
thought they were paying for brand names, you know, paying
more than retail for a brand name player.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
You're paying Ferrari money for yeah, for a Ford.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
For that used to be a Ferrari you know. But
now I don't know what he'd won. I know a
lot of people are immediately rolling their eyes. He's a distraction.
I don't want to deal with the nonsense. Dude. Everybody
they've added is a distraction, Like it's on purpose. There
all big name guys trying to prove something that they
(24:03):
don't have that much involved in. They're all big headed
monster ego So's Rogers.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
We see here, you sound like and I think I
told you this. At one point during camp we were laughing,
but like you sound like Motes. Motes would always be like, hey,
if you think Aaron Rodgers is the only different cat
in that locker room, I've got some news for you, right, Like,
he's not. There's plenty of however, you want to label
them weirdos or enigmas.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Right or you know, polarizing figures think about running for
vice president or whatever have you know, or is public
about it because no one cares what they have to say.
And the fifty third man, you know, backup guard or whatever.
But there's a lot of weirdos in there. I've brought
that up a bunch, but I don't think it's I
don't know. What I'm saying is they are not shying
away from egos and big Twitter followers. You know, they're
(24:51):
jumping into a two feet We just want the baddest
dudes we can find, and that's Tomlin's strength. Go manage them,
you know, that's you do best.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
That is one of the things that part doesn't.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Worry Odell's, especially if him and Rodgers have its relationship,
which apparently they do. I just know if you can
play anymore and he's not gonna help on special teams.
He has to be your number two receiver to be
helpful here, you know, or at least number three. At
least number three, like Miami signed him as a three
behind Waddle and Tyreek. Never really worked out. I'd have
to dig into more why but John who ended up
(25:24):
taking over and Beckham got hurt and that didn't work.
But it wasn't there. It was a long time ago.
But there was a stretch where ab and Julio were
the best receivers in the league, and I thought Odell
was clearly number three for a long stretch. Now that
was a long time ago. I don't think you a
player or not.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
And maybe this is one of those things too where
Aaron Rodgers does have some some sway on this conversation.
Like again, if we're gonna do this once, if we're
gonna bring in one guy, right, who do you prefer?
Who do you think you mesh best with?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
And I don't care you get old, because he's gonna
gone after the year two. You know, like you're just
running them.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
You're just rerunting them for a year. Yeah, And it's interesting,
it is. I I did not expect, listen, I thought
we might during this offseason period have some more conversation
about the Amari Cooper's in the game dayas Yeah, Keenan
Allen is now off the market, so he's not in
that conversation. Maybe even a Terry McLaurin. But yeah, I
think we both when we saw some of the Odell
Beckham stuff, we were like, huh, like this is worth
(26:20):
a mention, this is it's notable.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Yeah, I mean's free. I don't think his contract would
be crazy. I don't think a million five million something
like that one year deal a lot to prove. Don't
want to go out on the you know, it's kind
of the same motivation you have with Rogers. You don't
want to go out on that last note that we
heard you in a great career. Maybe build on a
potential Hall of Fame career as opposed to Fade and
wat Slow. Who knows, I don't know. I mean, I
(26:44):
just don't know if he could play, can he get
open anymore? I don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
It's the biggest thing. Yeah, especially with Rogers, right, I mean,
you need somebody who can run those routes and and.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
And for that matter, you'd be nice to have Odell
if you're going to go down that road a month ago.
Watch him every day in practice. No, you can't get open.
We're gonna cut them totally. Not that the season starts tomorrow, but.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
You're right at this stage of the game too, you're
probably not gonna bring in a wide receiver. Cut them,
go back out and get another like you're you're not
gonna revolving door that thing. At this point.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
I think there's one move to make. Not you can
always fall back in the second round the draft and
get a guy, you.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Know, one move to rule them all. Let's take our
last break here of the first hour when we come back.
Speaking of contracts, I think there's some notable conversations around
some Steelers contracts that we should probably have as well too.
We'll do that to close out the first hour before
maybe getting into some fifty three man roster stuff in
our number two West Sheeler Matt Williamson Final training camp
(27:40):
edition of the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Final segment here of the first hour, as we kick
around the joint practice with the ten Bay Buccaneers preseason
game with Tampa as well too on the horizon and
some different roster conversations and news and notables, and of
course Matt I think probably at the forefront of the
Steelers news and notables right now, or two ongoing contract
(28:36):
situations with captain of your defense, best special teams player,
maybe one of your best players overall, and Chris Boswell.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
I mean they both had a case for being the
Steelers MVP last year.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
They certainly did. That's a great way to put it. Yeah,
and two guys too, who I think it can be
easy to lump these things together, but they're same church
from Pew though as well too.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
Yeah. Yeah, I mean how many games the Steelers win
last year without Boswell? I mean with Joe average kickery
best kicker.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
I think they definitely lose in Atlanta, So.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
There's probably more than one game, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
I think probably at least two. You could maybe argue more. Yeah,
which takes you from ten to seven in a playoff
team to eight and nine and missing.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
The play a different world altogether, And you know, and
how many times would you have not trotted the kicker
out there? You know, everything would change would be a
butterfly effect, and he had really had a historical season,
I mean, one of the best kicking years of any
player at that position in the last twenty years. Now.
I hate to say it this way, but chances are
when we look back at his career in twenty years,
(29:43):
twenty twenty four will be his best year. Sure, probably,
but I bet twenty twenty five isn't going to be bad.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
One of the top you know, ten seasons from a
kicker in Steelers franchise history, absolutely type.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Year, and I obviously no reason to think he's going backwards.
So that's different about these iss. You know, kickers can
blast till they're forty easier than defensive tackles or wide receivers,
running backs or whatever. Let's start with Baz, because everyone's
talking about Hayward rightfully. So my hunch is you could
probably just play hardball with them and kind of be
(30:17):
a jag and just ignore them and say you're playing
because you're not going to sit out, blah blah blah.
But I bet because in the kicker world, a million
dollars a year goes a lot farther than the defensive
tackle world. In the quarterback world. If you just added
a million a year.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
I think you'd be at the second highest paid kicker
behind Harrison Bucker. I think, yeah, if he got more million.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
And really that's nickels and dimes in your couch cushions,
you know, like, could you could you just end this
super quick by saying one more million average per year
or one more million guaranteed per year? Is that cool?
Chris yep? Okay? Deal? And then no one's talking about
it again. I mean, does that sound crazy to you?
Speaker 2 (31:02):
No, it does not, It does not, And I think, listen,
this is how you like to say. You know, you
hate talking about medical stuff because we're not doctors in
a weird way. I hate talking about money because we're
not agents, we're not Omar Kahn. And I just always
think it's weird talking about somebody else's money. And I
don't care what line of life you're in. I' because
(31:24):
I'm trying to learn more and actually talk real numbers,
you know, like just give them a million more bucks?
Like right, It's easy for me to say my money,
it's not my money, and it's on and I'm not
the one who's accepting the money either, you know it
The Boswell family be easy for me if the Steelers
or iHeartRadio walked in here and told each of us
they wanted to add a million bucks to our cocket.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
What you're doing, Yeah, sure, handshake done.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
But we're also not in that sphere like these guys
are as well too.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
And also the other thing that's super important now more
than ever is the cap goes up so high, like
it just came out there. This is kind of side note,
but this is a great reflection. I guess the Dallas
Cowboys are worth like eleven billion dollars. Forget what the number.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Is, like ten points something. Yeah, the highest of any
sports team in the world.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
And that's a direct reflection of the health of the league.
Is the value of all thirty two teams, and they're
all going up so fast, and so players are finally
catching on, like we think salaries of spike. They actually haven't.
They've been a little slow to the party in terms
of you know, an extra millions nothing. It's not what
(32:32):
it was ten years ago or twenty years ago.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Chris Boswell currently takes up one point six y nine
percent of the Steelers' salary cap. Really not even one
point seven percent.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
Get him up to two percent. He's that important. I mean,
kickers are a different world. So again that's why, I
mean a million a year goes so much, so far
as to add to what he's making totally.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
And again it takes him from where he's at now,
which I think is somewhere in like the eight to
ten range of highest paid kickers. I think that would
put him or two, which you know is a substantial difference.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
It's nice.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
That's a nice jump there.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Or even if he got the Bucker contract, I don't
even know what that is, but it can't.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Be as much. So I think he's on like about
five million per year if you break it down by
the average annual value okay, right, where Bucker is like
six and a half.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Okay, And he probably says, I'm every bit is good,
and he's right, And I mean, you don't have much
legs to stand on if you're going to go to
the table against Boswell and be like, well you're bad
at this, Well you're not, you know, correct, It's just
do you're gonna give them the money or not?
Speaker 2 (33:32):
It's exactly right. And now Cam two is this is
different I think substantially. Yeah, yeah, because of the amount
of time still left on his deal because of the
fact that he just re signed that deal a year
ago and he's already been paid that big roster bonus
that was due to him at the start of this
league calendar season, like you know, when the when the
(33:52):
league switched over in February March.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
So my take on his is when he signed that
was after that was last off season. You know, as
people know, and that that always will rub fans wrong.
You just signed a contract, shut up and play, you know,
like that's my grandfather talking. I mean, that's just how
it goes. You know, I signed a contract to shut
(34:15):
up and play, and I get that now. When he
signed that deal, he was coming off a very down
year by his standards injury age, and he took sort
of a hometown discount in my opinion, and then clearly
far exceeded it on the field, absolutely, I mean far
(34:38):
exceeded to the point where I haven't saw an article
before any of this a month ago, two months ago.
Who are the biggest values.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
It was probably like rookie quarterbacks like yeah, and someone
like can like this.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Like this is a the sweetest contract as you can
get for what you're getting what you pay for person,
app is insanely good. So I do think he has
a grounds to stand on because things changed dramatically in
that year. I mean, so, hey, I am vastly underpaid
right now. Anyone on the planet would say, look at
what I'm making compared to what I'm giving you. But
(35:13):
I'm also not a believer, and this is the where
sentiment goes out the door. I'm not paying you for
past stuff, you know, just because you are a leader
and you're going to be in the Hall of Honor
and you've done great things here.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Oh, the resume is phenomen that's just real quick.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Yeah, I've heard a lot of people say in the
last couple of days, this tarnishes Cam's legacy. No, get
out of here with that.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Yeah, I mean, no one in the locker room thinks that.
No one coach Aman doesn't think that.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
People said the same thing about Debo when he left
the team and signed with the Patriots in the middle
of the season. And now whenever James Harrison is around,
people lose their ever loving minds. Right, That didn't tarnish
his legacy with the Steel Act.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
No, So I don't know how to handle this one though,
you know, like, hey, Cam, I see what you're saying.
You definitely have a point here, but it still has
to be somewhat of a year to year proposition. At
your age. I can't just give you a three year,
almost fully guaranteed extension because history is not kind to
(36:13):
people your position, your age.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
You and Klays Campbell are the exception.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
Yeah, right, And we love you so much that we're
going to try to extend your career and get the
most out of you and the most valuable snaps by
going heavy on D line this offseason. But hey, we
also went heavy on D line this offseason, so we
need you less. You know, if we're just talking nuts
and Bolt's business here, that our team's better now without
(36:38):
you than it was last we saw them without you.
I mean, I think that's what I think.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
That's I mean, that's undeniable.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
It's undeniable. Right, So your value to us is higher
than what we're paying you, but it's not as high
as if we didn't have Harmon in Black and uk Lee.
I mean, there's all these dudes that weren't around last year.
This one is hard to talk about with numbers, but
I wonder, let's just give you five basically, just write
you a check for like five million right now, you know,
(37:06):
just here's a big chunk, a moderate chunk. It's a
big chunk for me, and you put it towards this
year's cap or whatever. It's money in your bank, in
your pocket. Maybe add incentives to the end of your deal,
playing time, all pros, stuff that you've accomplished, Pro Bowls,
and go from there. You know, like, here's a nice chunk.
(37:27):
Not the shut up, but kind of just let's get
to week one and we'll talk about this later, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
Give you some more guaranteed money up front.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
Here, here's a big check, stick it in the bank,
and I think let's go win a bunch of games.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
I think that's the easiest way to do this. And
again this is the part where like if we had
a speculation sounder, you know what I mean, Like this
is another one of those like talking about large sums
of money and contracts and areas where I do not
have a law degree. He is due the same thing
as this year where he got that roster bonus on
(37:59):
the new league.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Okay, so you got one last year.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
This so March March of twenty twenty five, he got
a roster bonus of about thirteen and a half million dollars. Okay, okay.
He is due to get a similar roster bonus of
almost thirteen million dollars, so about twelve point nine million,
same thing next March.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
So maybe you take some of that twelve point nine
million that he's due next March that he would not
get if the Steelers cut him before then at the
end of next season, right, yeah, And you say, we're
going to convert some of that to guarantees for you now,
so that no matter what happens this year, you're still
getting some of that guaranteed money that you would be
due with that is not guaranteed for you at the
start of next league year. Does that make sense?
Speaker 3 (38:38):
That makes a ton of sense. And you're head of
me on that one, because I didn't know about the
two bonuses, and I'm saying when you said the second one,
I'm immediately thinking, like, if I'm Cam Hayward and I
blow out my knee tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
That would give him some more security.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
And they just drafted all these dudes. They might cut me.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
And I didn't want to go down that road. But
that's what I was absolutely alluding to.
Speaker 3 (39:00):
Yeah, I mean most people's career do not end because
they fade away.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
And yeah, most people don't get the ben ross like,
I'm just going to.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Play as long as I want. So if things went
terribly wrong for him week one, terrible injury, potentially career threatening,
I want to rehab from it. I may not get
that twelve, you know, like, but I.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Give you like it all now, I give you ten
of it now.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
That guaranteed, no matter what happens to you over the
next six months.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
Yeah, seven county against this year's cap. Maybe even is
his deal up after next year?
Speaker 2 (39:30):
His deal is up after next year. Yes, so he
signed through twenty twenty six and.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
Maybe put some kind of option year on the end
of it and give him a big chunk now and
let's just go be friends, you.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
Know, and you got more your guaranteed money up front here, Yeah,
which at his age I think has to be of value.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
I don't think he's I think that's like insulting who
we're like.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
No, like, just give me a chunk now, as opposed
to average per year being super high because I may
not see it, you know, I mean it makes me
too cutable.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
I think that's fair. And again, talking contracts not totally
my realm. But I do know for all these guys,
guaranteed money is what matters.
Speaker 3 (40:07):
Matters.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
Yeah, Like you can dress it up to make it
look like a massive contract on paper, but the guaranteed
money is what it really matters.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Yeah, my hunches and I maybe it's more contentious than
I think, But if we're sitting here in week five
doing a drive, I bet it'll never cross our mind
again for either of these players. Hundred percent, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
Hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
Boy Cam was great against the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
I think that's more likely than right, you know, than
anything someone sits out, you know, a week one or
anything like that. I think we are on the same page.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
There.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Hour of the books, another hour to go. You're gonna
do a little fifty three million projections here as we
sit here the second uh week of August with two
more preseason games looming. Of course, the only home preseason
game for your Steelers will be this Saturday night at
Aftersure Stadium, seven pm, as it'll be the penultimate preseason
(40:59):
game against the Bucks before the Steelers will have the
final leg down in Carolina, down in Charlotte against the Panthers.
A week from today, another hour of the drive on
the other side when we return West Shooler Matt Williamson.
It's Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive here on Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. I guess, Matt,
maybe the final show that we can say training camp
edition of the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio. As
the of course everybody knows by now, but the public
st vincent portion of training camp in the book for
(01:00):
the Pittsburgh Steelers, fifteen practices out there on campus now done.
But today Matt obviously down on the North Shore at
Aftershore Stadium the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in town for a
joint practice that will be I would think, very active,
very intense, and a lot to accomplish for both teams.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah. Absolutely, And we've kind of touched on this, but
I I want to dig into it more. I'm not
going to be there. I'm not gonna I mean, I'll
read reports, but I'm not going to be there. I
was there last year for the Bills joint practice. I'm
not sure why it didn't line up this year. No
big deal, but I expect it to be very spirited.
I bet the coaching staff will take more from today
(01:41):
than Saturday, to be honest with you, because I think
like Aaron Rodgers and Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans and TJ.
Watt and those guys are going to do stuff, you know.
I mean, it might only be several drills. But this
is the beauty of it. And I've laid this out
before preseason games. Great, but it's also unpredict the ball.
You don't know what situations you're gonna get.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Might not get a two minute trail.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Might not get a two minute troll, right, you know, like, boy,
I really need to see Rudolph in a two minute trail.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
You might only get one or two red zone opportunity.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yes, absolutely, you know things of that nature. But it
is cool that quarterbacks get hit and it's real football
and there's you know, a full live tack there's live
tackling and it's a full stadium blah blah blah. But
what these guys do. And I know Todd Bowles and
Tomlin know each other very well, you know, I mean
they've been in the league a very long time together.
They I'm sure had a meeting a zoom or whatever
(02:33):
and said, let's build our practice script. And Todd probably
is going, Mike, we don't see much thirteen personnel, but
we can do a period of thirteen or two. I
know that's what you guys are gonna stress, even though
it's not something that we really are motivated to practice against.
(02:55):
But we're a heavy blitz team. Give us two blitz
periods in return. All right, we could do that. Yeah right,
And they're not gonna do those things Saturday. They're not
going to show you their best blitz packages, but they
will today, you know, and all those things like you said,
red zone all the I need a two minutes real Oh,
I do too. Let's do a bunch of two minutes.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I want to practice some third and long stuff. Yeah,
you know, whatever it is, whatever it is, any type
of again, situational stuff that you might want to work
on that you cannot ensure is going to organically take
place over the course of a preseason game. But you
can make sure it happens this afternoon at Akrasser Stadium.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
And it might happen, but it might not happen for
Zach Frasier and the starting offensive line. You know, Like
I went Zach out there against your best blitz stuff,
so he can recognize it. And you know what I mean,
he's only seen the Steelers blitz package this year, you know,
so I think that kind of stuff is super valuable.
And again some of it, like we just mentioned, you
don't know that you'll get two minutes, and may if
(03:53):
you do get two minutes, it's the last two minutes
of the game. But I wanted Rudolph out there. I'm
gonna throw them out there for that against But you
know a bunch of backup line, you know one.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So yeah, that that script important. I know Tampa Bay
was in town yesterday. They actually practiced at Carnegie Mellon University.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Really, okay, I guess that makes sense. You down there
yesterday down.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
There with yeah, right down down there at the home
of the Tartans. They had their their practice over there yesterday.
So yeah, what like you said, whether they actually got
together in person or whether it was just a virtual
conversation over zoom or something, they will certainly have a
a script that will be have some things the Steelers
want to accomplish, have some things the Bucks want to accomplish,
(04:33):
and then obviously some kind of neutral stuff that they
can all get into together.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
We're gonna do two hours and every minute. It's going
to be scripted every second.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Every second count You watched the Bear on on on
might be the best show on TV. It might be
the best show on television right now. And that's a
thing that I've stolen from there. I use it with
my daughters all the time when we're in a hurry,
like that sign that they haven't, he says, every second counts,
Every second coounts. Joint practice today between the Bucks and
the Steelers, every second counts. They will also Matt play
(05:04):
a preseason game against each other, as we know Saturday
in terms of that, because it is always obviously a
little bit different when you have a preseason game immediately
after you just had a joint practice with the team.
We saw a little bit of this last year against
the Buffalo Bills right in kind of a similar timeline.
But what are you looking for Saturday? Is it anyone specific?
(05:26):
Is it anything schematically? Because this is the last show
you and I are going to do before Saturday's last
show anyone's gonna do. Is all of the Steelers Nation
radio crew has I think a much earned day off
on Friday Tomorrow, the fifteenth, So what are we kind
of laying out for Saturday that we're going to be
looking for off the back of this joint practice.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I definitely think it's gonna be is very, very worth
a discussion between the two of us. But the problem is,
and especially because I'm not there, you're not there for today,
how much are they playing their top dogs today? And
then then, you know, if today didn't exist, I would
think you might ramp up Rudolph Caleb Johnson, Roman Wilson,
(06:08):
maybe the first OH line gets one more series than
they did. They're always going to be out there with
the top quarterback anyway. But some of those dudes that
you're counting on but aren't Cam Hayward, TJ watch in
the bag type dudes. But I also don't know what
kind of workload are they going to get today because
I would assume a lot of your top players are
playing today, a lot, I.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Would think, so all the ones who are healthy and able.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
You might know this better than me. So Tomlin last
week had his press conference, he basically ruled out like
eighteen dudes pregame. We knew exactly who that list was
before the game even started. They didn't dress Jalen Warren, etc. Etc.
Porter Well, that happened today.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
You know what, It's a good question. I was wondering
that same thing because I thought there was a chance
it was going to happen today at noon, Okay, but
I did not see during that time.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
If you have a press conference that I well, you.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Know, normally, like the way that I would check in
because during the preseason it's not live streamed like it
is during the regular season. Normally, the way that I
would check is going back through the you know, Mike
Persudos and Mike the FABO and everybody. The people who
would have been there are our buddies that are actual journalists,
and I did not see any of those guys tweeting
out quotes earlier, So I'm not sure. Maybe, uh, And
(07:24):
it looks like actually, well let's see here as I
as I checked the fabos page again, it looks like
it's ongoing right now.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Okay, so how about that.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
And it looks like Andy. It looks like Andy Whitel
spoke as well too. But here you go. Mike Tomlin
says he plans h two plays to play Saturday's preseason
game very much like the last one, with many helled
out good, including Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jalen Warren, Pat Fryarmouth,
John news Smith, Isaac Say, Malu, t J. Watt, alex
(07:53):
Ei Smith, cam Heyward, Patrick Queen and core secondary guys,
assuming that to be Slay Ramsey, Joey.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Porter Junior, maybe Elliott.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Maybe Elliott in there as well, he said, Nick Herbig
is a maybe. So it sounds like maybe he's the
only one who could have a different status.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Interesting on her Big, just because I thought, not that
it's a big deal, but Sawyer and Leal had to
play a lot. I mean, they were in there like
late in the fourth quarter. Maybe they didn't want to
give them that much run. I mean, I know they
wanted to get those guys experience and all that, but
they may put too much on their plate. Herbig maybe
plays two series to start and then those guys take
over and just ease into that. That's how I would
(08:32):
handle it too, you know. I mean fans though, I mean,
I've been getting a lot of Man, you're sitting all
these guys. I mean, it's like this one game, it's
two games. I mean, I think especially if most of
those players you mentioned are highly active today against the
Bucks ones, that's plenty that's fine plenty.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Yeah, and some of those guys that we've mentioned in there,
I wouldn't hate seeing them play a series or two
in the preseason, right, but that can still have happen
a week from today down and down in Charlotte when the.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Steelers Thursday, right, okay, and that's short week.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
It's it's you got the short week, but then you
also have but.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
These guys won't care about the short week. No last
thing they would have done is maybe today exactly right.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
But and then they'll also after that Carolina game, I mean,
what have for a little more than fourteen days until
they have to set sixteen or seventeen days until they
have to to Actually.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I think it's fourteen days till opening night, which the
Steelers are involved in exactly right, you know, right exactly
Sunday after that, so it'll.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Be you know, sixteen, sixteen, seventeen days.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
So you know, they do practice. But folks, by the way,
and they don't just disappear, and they do they.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Do practice absolutely, And I know you'll like hearing this.
But Mike Tomlin was also asked about which of the
corners would square off against Mike Evans, and he said
Jalen is going to get it. I think it's already
been decided.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Really, Okay, so that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
That is interesting as well too, Yeah, as we kind
of think he's going to do a lot of lining
up in the nickel in this type of situation. Let's
have the let's have the let's have the future Hall
of Famer against maybe the future Hall of Famer.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
And I'm sure they've done battle in the past. They're
both in the league about equal tont of times, and
both are probably gonna go into Canton. I don't know.
I don't want to look too much into that because
I do think when all three corners are on the field,
Ramsey's the clear slot of the three. The other two
aren't super comfortable doing that, and you don't want them
doing that. Porter's done, as we know, has done a
lot of following in his shorter career. Slay used to
(10:27):
do it a ton ton a ton, especially you know
in Detroit. But I think Ramsey is the best player
of them all, you know. I'm just wondering, like when
they play Chase and Higgins, will he just be on
Chase the whole time or will they just line up
where they line up and go from there. They're not
gonna tell.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Us, They're not gonna tell us we're We're gonna have
to wait to figure that one out.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Like Garrett Wilson is a really good example, because that's
one good receiver in week one. Sure, that's a really
good example.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, that is a that's a very good example and
one that happens, you know, right off the bat there.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah, So maybe we'll get an answer to that question
pretty quick, pretty quick based on how it all.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
A wonderful asset here. They can do so many different
things with these guys.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
And I think that was the big difference. We could
sit here and argue like who's the better peer player
maker or Jalen Ramsey right right right, We could such
an argument, and I think you could make good faith
You could make good faith debates on either side.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Agree, you wouldn't be you know, you wouldn't be doing
it at a at a bad faith.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
But I don't I think I still think make is
one of the best safeties in the lead.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Absolutely, yeah, absolutely, But I think I don't think I
know with Jalen, it just opens up the playbook more,
It allows you to do more.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah, And I think they've wanted to for a while. Anyway,
I think they want to get away from such a
predominant single high look we've seen. This isn't pulling Mack
Curtin too much more, too high more safety rotation. And
my biggest thing though is Ramsey. Well, first off, O
(11:58):
more CON's a cap guy, and if you just look
at numbers or you take personality out of it, I'd
rather pay a corner than a safety. You know, like,
I bet the down he inherited this contract going I
probably is a rule of thumb. Do not want the
highest paid safeties in the league.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
You'd rather have your highest paid offensive line and be
a tackle.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Or you know what I mean. Like, if they're great players,
you pay them, and you're it's just fine. But in
terms of where do I want my money structured, I'd
rather have it in corner than safety. And the other
thing I've brought up a lot is because everything to me,
then the defense comes back to the pass rush, which
I expect to be the best in the league. I
expect sacks to go op blah blah blah blah. I've
been on that soapbox since the day the season ended.
(12:40):
But if your best player is fifteen yards off the ball,
not two or three near the box. Near the ball,
the potential blitzer move them all around, well, the pass
rush doesn't benefit as much. You know, I want to
create sacks. If it all comes down to to me,
absolute and big.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Plays, splash plays, sacks, disruption. And you know, they did
a good job in the turnover department last.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Year, they did a great job in everything but sack. Everything,
but sacks were just average.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Where they were sixteenth, which is quite literally average, right
right in the middle of the league. And that's actually
Matt I want to do, you know, with you at
some point some season predictions, and that's that's something we'll
have to revisit, is like exactly what number can they
attain the.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Where and you know, sustainable stable, Where.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Would that put them in terms of number one or
in the top three or in the top five. But
we uh will continue here just kind of with the
final camp takeaways. And that is one of the biggest
ones for me is just I thought Jalen Ramsey was
the best defensive player at camp, and I think this
defense is going to look even if you're someone who
doesn't really get in the weeds, even if you're just
(13:50):
kind of a football one oh one type fan. I
think it's gonna look noticeably different how they deploy and
how they scheme.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
I do too. Again, I think obviously the all twenty
two nerds will notice difference, but I think some of
our listeners that just crack an iron and send their
lazy boy and spend three hours a week watching football,
you're gonna say, wow, this does look different a lot
more man coverage. I don't think they're gonna become Blitzberg,
(14:15):
but I do think they will blitz more. I mean,
they've been in the low end of the league lately
because I mean, if you get home with four, which
the Steelers absolutely can, that's what everybody wants, but that
doesn't mean that's the only way to do it, especially
if you trust your defensive backfield, like I think they
will at this point. And oh, by the way, I've
meant to say, this is a minute ago too. Back
(14:36):
to that Menka trade. I think they think they found
something in Thornhill. Like I think being around Thornhill as
much as they were pre trade made him say, Okay,
he's not Menca, but he's really a starter. He's not
a third safety. Makes it a lot easier pull the
trigger on this trade too. And I think that showed
up in camp too. I thought he was a winner
(14:57):
from camp.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I agree, may a kind of a nice instant type
of impact with a big hit and pass breakup and
that that game down in Jacksonville last Saturday. He covers
a lot of ground, covers a lot of ground. He
brings some nasty edge to that defense too, which I
which I think is certainly a welcome development him, Jalen Ramsey,
Darius Slay. They they added some swagger to that, to
(15:18):
that secondary.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
All kinds and you know they're there.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
And I think I think that's gonna I think that's
gonna play out well for them this year as well too.
Let's get to our first break here, Matt. We'll continue
with some of this conversation, get into some fifty three
man roster thoughts here today. So that's all right with you.
Plenty to get too as we roll along. West Shooler
Matt Williamson Training Camp. Edition of the Drive here on
Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Back on the drive here, West Shuler and Matt Williamson,
we are going to get into some fifty three man
roster thoughts as we are kind of listen, this is
not as a certainly not as quiet of a period
as you know list season and all of that post
right right right kind of post OTAs in many camp
time period. But we are in a little bit of
(16:31):
a weird pattern, and we still have a couple of
preseason games to preview and look ahead to.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
But and you and I aren it every practice exactly right.
We're like we're accustomed to last.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Week and having literally practice going on right in front
of us a lot of the time as well too
to describe and broadcast. So we'll get into some some
bigger picture stuff here. I do want to do some
fifty three man stuff with you today. But yeah, I
think a couple more notable newsworthy elements with the Steelers.
One kind of being a a story that we've kept
an eye on and monitored, and that is we're not
(17:01):
even a story or maybe a situation is a better
way to put it. Of the Steelers potentially adding another
wide receiver. Yes, there's been a lot of different iterations
of that right, there's been the could it be a
Gabe Davis or Amari Cooper type of free agent that's
still available. Yes, there's been conversations and questions about a
choiring someone like Terry McLaurin and now Matt a new
(17:21):
name coming into that conversation, Odell Beckham Junior.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Yeah, it's been a while. If you want, we could
break down what Amari and Gabe Davis bring. So first off,
I think there's only room for one, you know, like
and when we start talking about roster breakdown, so I
know people are anxious for the Steelers to add another receiver.
(17:46):
I think they will. I used to feel a lot
stronger about it, but post John new trade, I feel
a little less about it. I can't say Calvin Austin
or Roman Wilson or Woods blew my doors off to
no that I would be out of that market. I mean,
I still think in terms of guys what we expect
to play a lot number two receivers the weakest area
(18:08):
of the team, and I would thoroughly be looking to
address it, and I think that they have. But I
also think they want the right one. There's only room
for one. This isn't the beginning of free agency, when
your roster's up in the air and we'll settle for
one of these five, you know what I mean, and
the draft still out there, you got to kind of
pick one, like, okay, let's pick that dude. Stick with
(18:30):
them and Beckham, Cooper Davis don't cost you anything, you know,
that's just a call to the agent. Make sure that
they pass physicals, which I think could be an issue
with all of them at this point, but who knows.
I hate talking medical, but I definitely think Davis's knee
is something. What kind of player do we want and
(18:52):
we're only going to get one? Is this our move?
You know? So I think those are the things you're contemplating. Okay,
we call about mc lauren, but he's gonna cost us
a salary and to pick is that better than Odell
for nothing? You know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Did you know what his agent said about the money?
His agent made a comment I don't know if it
was yesterday, but recently about how they're kind of looking
for dk Metcalf money.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Okay, which I've actually brought that up when it's all
came out, like I think.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
The Steelers out of the equation when they just paid
DK Metcalf, DK Metcalf.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
No, that's the thing. Do you want to kind of
like double down the contract, or do you want to
give them more than DK, which is kind of a
slap in the face to your other new guy, or
slightly less than which is kind of a slap in
your face to your new guy. Or you put both
contracts out there and say we'll we'll duplicate them both.
But they're both the same draft class and you don't
want to really be on the same timelines. You know,
(19:44):
it'd rather stagger them a little bit. Now, I wouldn't
be out on McLaurin, but sure, you know a little
Birdie told me too that he's interested in going to
a team where he's clearly the number one pass catcher.
Makes sense where he'd be fifty to fifty with DK,
I mean, or sixty forty forty sixty, whatever, but it
wouldn't be as clear. He's been pretty accustomed to that
in Washington. If that's important to him. It's important to him.
(20:05):
But that also narrows down who could trade for McLaurin.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Sure does?
Speaker 3 (20:08):
I mean teams have to be pretty devoid of receiver
to be like he's easily there.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Right now, we know number one.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Unless somebody gets hurt. Deep down, I think Washington keeps
him considering their timeline too, they have to. Yeah, they
have a rookie quarterback or young rookie contract quarterback.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
That's the thing too, obviously. You know Terry McLaurin. I
think he's thirty right now, maybe turns thirty one soon.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Him in Metcalf are the same class, but he's like
two years.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Older, right, you know, right? Or maybe yeah, or maybe
he just turned thirty. Maybe that's what it is.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Writ in that neighborhood down, but he's noticeably older than Metcalf.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
This is in all likelihood going to be the last
big contract that he signs in his.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
NFL career, which is why he's doing this.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
If you want to be the clear cut number one
and go somewhere where you have a legit quarterback, which
he has not had.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Much of during his No he's lived without that.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Washington's probably the best spot for him.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, and they probably saying, but you're thirty, and we
don't want to give you Dk metch Haalf money or
this would have got done by.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Now, correct, And he still has two years left on
his deal, does he Okay, not one, so you know
a little bit of a different timeline there as well.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Yeah, I say he signed not long ago. Now that's
like the best football player. I think you could get
sure and maybe the price is coming down. I don't know.
Maybe you just keep tabs with them. And originally I
thought a second round pick straight up would get it done,
and I think it would now. We had some chatting
(21:33):
at the bar. People were thinking, Oh, it's you need
to give it first. There's no way he's a thirty
year old receiver, you know, like AJ Brown at twenty
four coming off a first contract gets a first. Not
a thirty year old player who's really really good Tyreek
Hill at the height of his powers gets first plus.
You know. So I don't think it costs you that. Now.
I wonder I'm gonna put the tinfoil hat on for you.
(21:57):
You might enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
We need some conspiracy theory music.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Calvin Austin hasn't practiced much lately. He is not I
don't know how injured he is or not.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Abdominal injury has akad.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Yeah, but sometimes they put players on ice that maybe
could be on the move. What about a third in
Austin for McLaurin, you know, because if I'm Washington, I
want a receiver.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Absolutely, I don't.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
I mean, it doesn't have to be Jerry Rice. But
I know I'm not gonna get that. But I can't
go at the.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Stage in the game. I can't just give up Terry
McLaurin and have nothing to replace him with.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
That was a final four team last year. You know,
I added Debo, but that's fine, but I need something back.
Could Austin in a little bit later? Pick get you there?
And then you go back to the contract stuff though,
I mean, like, do you want two receivers making the
exact same DK on it? So that's what they're weighing
right now. But again I think there's spot for one.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I do.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
I mean, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
He He's an interesting one to me because there's no
doubt that he has dealt with injuries and you know
it'll be thirty three this season and didn't do a
ti I mean last year he had nine receptions for
fifty five yards in Miami. Now, his season the year
before with Baltimore in twenty twenty three was was alright, Yeah,
thirty five catches for five hundred and sixty five yards
(23:12):
and three touchdowns.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
The time we saw him before that, though, was with
the Rams when they won the Super Bowl, and I
thought he was awesome, outstanding there. I thought he was like, whoa,
I remember this guy outstanding.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Him and Cooper Cup were just right dynamite together.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
And then he had an injury. And I mean Dale
and I when when the Ravens signed him, which sounds
like a long time ago, thought boy, this is one
of the worst contracts I've ever seen. I mean, I
thought they were paying for brand names, you know, paying
more than retail for a brand name player.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
You're paying Ferrari money for yeah, for a Ford.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
For that used to be a Ferrari you know. But
now I don't know what he'd won. I know a
lot of people are immediately rolling their eyes. He's a distraction.
I don't want to deal with the nonsense. Dude. Everybody
they've added is a distraction, Like it's on purpose. There
all big name guys trying to prove something that they
(24:03):
don't have that much involved in. They're all big headed
monster ego So's Rogers.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
We see here, you sound like and I think I
told you this. At one point during camp we were laughing,
but like you sound like Motes. Motes would always be like, hey,
if you think Aaron Rodgers is the only different cat
in that locker room, I've got some news for you, right, Like,
he's not. There's plenty of however, you want to label
them weirdos or enigmas.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Right or you know, polarizing figures think about running for
vice president or whatever have you know, or is public
about it because no one cares what they have to say.
And the fifty third man, you know, backup guard or whatever.
But there's a lot of weirdos in there. I've brought
that up a bunch, but I don't think it's I
don't know. What I'm saying is they are not shying
away from egos and big Twitter followers. You know, they're
(24:51):
jumping into a two feet We just want the baddest
dudes we can find, and that's Tomlin's strength. Go manage them,
you know, that's you do best.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
That is one of the things that part doesn't.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Worry Odell's, especially if him and Rodgers have its relationship,
which apparently they do. I just know if you can
play anymore and he's not gonna help on special teams.
He has to be your number two receiver to be
helpful here, you know, or at least number three. At
least number three, like Miami signed him as a three
behind Waddle and Tyreek. Never really worked out. I'd have
to dig into more why but John who ended up
(25:24):
taking over and Beckham got hurt and that didn't work.
But it wasn't there. It was a long time ago.
But there was a stretch where ab and Julio were
the best receivers in the league, and I thought Odell
was clearly number three for a long stretch. Now that
was a long time ago. I don't think you a
player or not.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
And maybe this is one of those things too where
Aaron Rodgers does have some some sway on this conversation.
Like again, if we're gonna do this once, if we're
gonna bring in one guy, right, who do you prefer?
Who do you think you mesh best with?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
And I don't care you get old, because he's gonna
gone after the year two. You know, like you're just
running them.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
You're just rerunting them for a year. Yeah, And it's interesting,
it is. I I did not expect, listen, I thought
we might during this offseason period have some more conversation
about the Amari Cooper's in the game dayas Yeah, Keenan
Allen is now off the market, so he's not in
that conversation. Maybe even a Terry McLaurin. But yeah, I
think we both when we saw some of the Odell
Beckham stuff, we were like, huh, like this is worth
(26:20):
a mention, this is it's notable.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Yeah, I mean's free. I don't think his contract would
be crazy. I don't think a million five million something
like that one year deal a lot to prove. Don't
want to go out on the you know, it's kind
of the same motivation you have with Rogers. You don't
want to go out on that last note that we
heard you in a great career. Maybe build on a
potential Hall of Fame career as opposed to Fade and
wat Slow. Who knows, I don't know. I mean, I
(26:44):
just don't know if he could play, can he get
open anymore? I don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
It's the biggest thing. Yeah, especially with Rogers, right, I mean,
you need somebody who can run those routes and and.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
And for that matter, you'd be nice to have Odell
if you're going to go down that road a month ago.
Watch him every day in practice. No, you can't get open.
We're gonna cut them totally. Not that the season starts tomorrow, but.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
You're right at this stage of the game too, you're
probably not gonna bring in a wide receiver. Cut them,
go back out and get another like you're you're not
gonna revolving door that thing. At this point.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
I think there's one move to make. Not you can
always fall back in the second round the draft and
get a guy, you.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Know, one move to rule them all. Let's take our
last break here of the first hour when we come back.
Speaking of contracts, I think there's some notable conversations around
some Steelers contracts that we should probably have as well too.
We'll do that to close out the first hour before
maybe getting into some fifty three man roster stuff in
our number two West Sheeler Matt Williamson Final training camp
(27:40):
edition of the Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Final segment here of the first hour, as we kick
around the joint practice with the ten Bay Buccaneers preseason
game with Tampa as well too on the horizon and
some different roster conversations and news and notables, and of
course Matt I think probably at the forefront of the
Steelers news and notables right now, or two ongoing contract
(28:36):
situations with captain of your defense, best special teams player,
maybe one of your best players overall, and Chris Boswell.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
I mean they both had a case for being the
Steelers MVP last year.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
They certainly did. That's a great way to put it. Yeah,
and two guys too, who I think it can be
easy to lump these things together, but they're same church
from Pew though as well too.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
Yeah. Yeah, I mean how many games the Steelers win
last year without Boswell? I mean with Joe average kickery
best kicker.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
I think they definitely lose in Atlanta, So.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
There's probably more than one game, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
I think probably at least two. You could maybe argue more. Yeah,
which takes you from ten to seven in a playoff
team to eight and nine and missing.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
The play a different world altogether, And you know, and
how many times would you have not trotted the kicker
out there? You know, everything would change would be a
butterfly effect, and he had really had a historical season,
I mean, one of the best kicking years of any
player at that position in the last twenty years. Now.
I hate to say it this way, but chances are
when we look back at his career in twenty years,
(29:43):
twenty twenty four will be his best year. Sure, probably,
but I bet twenty twenty five isn't going to be bad.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
One of the top you know, ten seasons from a
kicker in Steelers franchise history, absolutely type.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Year, and I obviously no reason to think he's going backwards.
So that's different about these iss. You know, kickers can
blast till they're forty easier than defensive tackles or wide receivers,
running backs or whatever. Let's start with Baz, because everyone's
talking about Hayward rightfully. So my hunch is you could
probably just play hardball with them and kind of be
(30:17):
a jag and just ignore them and say you're playing
because you're not going to sit out, blah blah blah.
But I bet because in the kicker world, a million
dollars a year goes a lot farther than the defensive
tackle world. In the quarterback world. If you just added
a million a year.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
I think you'd be at the second highest paid kicker
behind Harrison Bucker. I think, yeah, if he got more million.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
And really that's nickels and dimes in your couch cushions,
you know, like, could you could you just end this
super quick by saying one more million average per year
or one more million guaranteed per year? Is that cool?
Chris yep? Okay? Deal? And then no one's talking about
it again. I mean, does that sound crazy to you?
Speaker 2 (31:02):
No, it does not, It does not, And I think, listen,
this is how you like to say. You know, you
hate talking about medical stuff because we're not doctors in
a weird way. I hate talking about money because we're
not agents, we're not Omar Kahn. And I just always
think it's weird talking about somebody else's money. And I
don't care what line of life you're in. I' because
(31:24):
I'm trying to learn more and actually talk real numbers,
you know, like just give them a million more bucks?
Like right, It's easy for me to say my money,
it's not my money, and it's on and I'm not
the one who's accepting the money either, you know it
The Boswell family be easy for me if the Steelers
or iHeartRadio walked in here and told each of us
they wanted to add a million bucks to our cocket.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
What you're doing, Yeah, sure, handshake done.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
But we're also not in that sphere like these guys
are as well too.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
And also the other thing that's super important now more
than ever is the cap goes up so high, like
it just came out there. This is kind of side note,
but this is a great reflection. I guess the Dallas
Cowboys are worth like eleven billion dollars. Forget what the number.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Is, like ten points something. Yeah, the highest of any
sports team in the world.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
And that's a direct reflection of the health of the league.
Is the value of all thirty two teams, and they're
all going up so fast, and so players are finally
catching on, like we think salaries of spike. They actually haven't.
They've been a little slow to the party in terms
of you know, an extra millions nothing. It's not what
(32:32):
it was ten years ago or twenty years ago.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Chris Boswell currently takes up one point six y nine
percent of the Steelers' salary cap. Really not even one
point seven percent.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
Get him up to two percent. He's that important. I mean,
kickers are a different world. So again that's why, I
mean a million a year goes so much, so far
as to add to what he's making totally.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
And again it takes him from where he's at now,
which I think is somewhere in like the eight to
ten range of highest paid kickers. I think that would
put him or two, which you know is a substantial difference.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
It's nice.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
That's a nice jump there.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Or even if he got the Bucker contract, I don't
even know what that is, but it can't.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Be as much. So I think he's on like about
five million per year if you break it down by
the average annual value okay, right, where Bucker is like
six and a half.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Okay, And he probably says, I'm every bit is good,
and he's right, And I mean, you don't have much
legs to stand on if you're going to go to
the table against Boswell and be like, well you're bad
at this, Well you're not, you know, correct, It's just
do you're gonna give them the money or not?
Speaker 2 (33:32):
It's exactly right. And now Cam two is this is
different I think substantially. Yeah, yeah, because of the amount
of time still left on his deal because of the
fact that he just re signed that deal a year
ago and he's already been paid that big roster bonus
that was due to him at the start of this
league calendar season, like you know, when the when the
(33:52):
league switched over in February March.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
So my take on his is when he signed that
was after that was last off season. You know, as
people know, and that that always will rub fans wrong.
You just signed a contract, shut up and play, you know,
like that's my grandfather talking. I mean, that's just how
it goes. You know, I signed a contract to shut
(34:15):
up and play, and I get that now. When he
signed that deal, he was coming off a very down
year by his standards injury age, and he took sort
of a hometown discount in my opinion, and then clearly
far exceeded it on the field, absolutely, I mean far
(34:38):
exceeded to the point where I haven't saw an article
before any of this a month ago, two months ago.
Who are the biggest values.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
It was probably like rookie quarterbacks like yeah, and someone
like can like this.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Like this is a the sweetest contract as you can
get for what you're getting what you pay for person,
app is insanely good. So I do think he has
a grounds to stand on because things changed dramatically in
that year. I mean, so, hey, I am vastly underpaid
right now. Anyone on the planet would say, look at
what I'm making compared to what I'm giving you. But
(35:13):
I'm also not a believer, and this is the where
sentiment goes out the door. I'm not paying you for
past stuff, you know, just because you are a leader
and you're going to be in the Hall of Honor
and you've done great things here.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Oh, the resume is phenomen that's just real quick.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Yeah, I've heard a lot of people say in the
last couple of days, this tarnishes Cam's legacy. No, get
out of here with that.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Yeah, I mean, no one in the locker room thinks that.
No one coach Aman doesn't think that.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
People said the same thing about Debo when he left
the team and signed with the Patriots in the middle
of the season. And now whenever James Harrison is around,
people lose their ever loving minds. Right, That didn't tarnish
his legacy with the Steel Act.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
No, So I don't know how to handle this one though,
you know, like, hey, Cam, I see what you're saying.
You definitely have a point here, but it still has
to be somewhat of a year to year proposition. At
your age. I can't just give you a three year,
almost fully guaranteed extension because history is not kind to
(36:13):
people your position, your age.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
You and Klays Campbell are the exception.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
Yeah, right, And we love you so much that we're
going to try to extend your career and get the
most out of you and the most valuable snaps by
going heavy on D line this offseason. But hey, we
also went heavy on D line this offseason, so we
need you less. You know, if we're just talking nuts
and Bolt's business here, that our team's better now without
(36:38):
you than it was last we saw them without you.
I mean, I think that's what I think.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
That's I mean, that's undeniable.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
It's undeniable. Right, So your value to us is higher
than what we're paying you, but it's not as high
as if we didn't have Harmon in Black and uk Lee.
I mean, there's all these dudes that weren't around last year.
This one is hard to talk about with numbers, but
I wonder, let's just give you five basically, just write
you a check for like five million right now, you know,
(37:06):
just here's a big chunk, a moderate chunk. It's a
big chunk for me, and you put it towards this
year's cap or whatever. It's money in your bank, in
your pocket. Maybe add incentives to the end of your deal,
playing time, all pros, stuff that you've accomplished, Pro Bowls,
and go from there. You know, like, here's a nice chunk.
(37:27):
Not the shut up, but kind of just let's get
to week one and we'll talk about this later, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
Give you some more guaranteed money up front.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
Here, here's a big check, stick it in the bank,
and I think let's go win a bunch of games.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
I think that's the easiest way to do this. And
again this is the part where like if we had
a speculation sounder, you know what I mean, Like this
is another one of those like talking about large sums
of money and contracts and areas where I do not
have a law degree. He is due the same thing
as this year where he got that roster bonus on
(37:59):
the new league.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Okay, so you got one last year.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
This so March March of twenty twenty five, he got
a roster bonus of about thirteen and a half million dollars. Okay, okay.
He is due to get a similar roster bonus of
almost thirteen million dollars, so about twelve point nine million,
same thing next March.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
So maybe you take some of that twelve point nine
million that he's due next March that he would not
get if the Steelers cut him before then at the
end of next season, right, yeah, And you say, we're
going to convert some of that to guarantees for you now,
so that no matter what happens this year, you're still
getting some of that guaranteed money that you would be
due with that is not guaranteed for you at the
start of next league year. Does that make sense?
Speaker 3 (38:38):
That makes a ton of sense. And you're head of
me on that one, because I didn't know about the
two bonuses, and I'm saying when you said the second one,
I'm immediately thinking, like, if I'm Cam Hayward and I
blow out my knee tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
That would give him some more security.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
And they just drafted all these dudes. They might cut me.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
And I didn't want to go down that road. But
that's what I was absolutely alluding to.
Speaker 3 (39:00):
Yeah, I mean most people's career do not end because
they fade away.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
And yeah, most people don't get the ben ross like,
I'm just going to.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Play as long as I want. So if things went
terribly wrong for him week one, terrible injury, potentially career threatening,
I want to rehab from it. I may not get
that twelve, you know, like, but I.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Give you like it all now, I give you ten
of it now.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
That guaranteed, no matter what happens to you over the
next six months.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
Yeah, seven county against this year's cap. Maybe even is
his deal up after next year?
Speaker 2 (39:30):
His deal is up after next year. Yes, so he
signed through twenty twenty six and.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
Maybe put some kind of option year on the end
of it and give him a big chunk now and
let's just go be friends, you.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
Know, and you got more your guaranteed money up front here, Yeah,
which at his age I think has to be of value.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
I don't think he's I think that's like insulting who
we're like.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
No, like, just give me a chunk now, as opposed
to average per year being super high because I may
not see it, you know, I mean it makes me
too cutable.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
I think that's fair. And again, talking contracts not totally
my realm. But I do know for all these guys,
guaranteed money is what matters.
Speaker 3 (40:07):
Matters.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
Yeah, Like you can dress it up to make it
look like a massive contract on paper, but the guaranteed
money is what it really matters.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Yeah, my hunches and I maybe it's more contentious than
I think, But if we're sitting here in week five
doing a drive, I bet it'll never cross our mind
again for either of these players. Hundred percent, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
Hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (40:27):
Boy Cam was great against the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
I think that's more likely than right, you know, than
anything someone sits out, you know, a week one or
anything like that. I think we are on the same page.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
There.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Hour of the books, another hour to go. You're gonna
do a little fifty three million projections here as we
sit here the second uh week of August with two
more preseason games looming. Of course, the only home preseason
game for your Steelers will be this Saturday night at
Aftersure Stadium, seven pm, as it'll be the penultimate preseason
(40:59):
game against the Bucks before the Steelers will have the
final leg down in Carolina, down in Charlotte against the Panthers.
A week from today, another hour of the drive on
the other side when we return West Shooler Matt Williamson.
It's Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
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