May 29, 2025 • 28 mins
Is it a big deal, little deal, or no deal that both Aaron Rodgers (granted he’s not a member of the team yet) and TJ Watt are not at Steelers OTAs this week.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Jacob. I was at OTA's yesterday. I was there.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I was boots on the ground, Jelly, boots on the ground, Jelly,
of course, in all seriousness.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
And I said this when I was on the air
yesterday with Matt and Dale hanging out with the Drive
guys so smart by the way, I mean, i just
sit there like as good as it gets. I'm an idiot,
Like I don't even know what the hell I'm talking
about when it comes to it's ridiculous. Yeah, but it
was fun to sit in with them yesterday. And maybe
I get to do that next week or a mini camp,
who knows. But anyway, we were talking about this kind
of in our first segment. But and this is nothing
(00:41):
really new, because I've been going down to OTAs for
god like five years now. I've been at training camps,
practices like it's it's nothing new, right, But every time
I'm there and I'm sitting on the sidelines at the
upmc rooney Sports Complex and those mammoths walk by me,
those monstrosities.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
A couple of years ago. We just referenced this earlier
in the week. Najoria Harris was that spectacle? Was there
was there anyone that stood out to you.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Okay. My point was just everybody yeah on field is
not of the same species that I am, because they
are bigger, stronger, and then also move so much faster.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
They so eyegile despite the size of which they was.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Cam Hayward eight years old, and he looked like he
did yesterday when I was out there. And by the way,
I mean aura, Okay, you want to talk.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
About textbook definition aura, like the the man walks onto
the field, you know it.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And I'm not just talking about from our perspective, like
we're like, oh cool, there's Cam, there's anything. It's almost
more so with the players on the team, like Derek Harmon,
Like this is Cam freaking Hayward. Now he's not even
in the same class as me and Joe Green because
he's mean Joe Green. But that's the kind of aura
you're getting out of him, is just like this, holy crap,
(02:03):
that dude I was. I'm Derrek Carmen. I was nine
years old when I was watching Cam Hayward play football.
Now I'm lining up next to them and now he's
telling me do this, do that. We're eating lunch together.
Like the aura on that man is just unbelievable. He
just commands a presence out on that field, him and
Tomlin obviously, but just the sheer size of these people,
(02:26):
it's really really jaw dropping. And you're not really allowed
to talk about what happens in practice, but that is
is for really a big takeaway for me, and a
very basic one is just like, these are not human
beings like these are champions of our race, of our species.
(02:47):
These are chap of the human race. These are if
we had to go and fight like inter like, these
guys suit up like these are our champions. It's incredibly impressive.
And every time I'm go down there, it's it's always
kind of shocking. It's always kind of just like a wow,
that guy could snap me in half at any second.
(03:09):
Got to see the quarterbacks. Got to see our guy
Will Howard stroll out onto the field, Mason Rudolph, they
took a stroll just those two earlier than everybody else.
Skyler Thompson out there as well. Those were the three
quarterbacks in camp for the Pittsburgh c or days for
the Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
The only ones on the Rocks.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Sometimes they bring in like a non you know, drafty
kind of local kid maybe, but no, it was just
those three this year more than enough to do what
you need to do in this stage of the offseason.
But those are your three quarterbacks. Obviously there is no
Aaron Rodgers. We talked earlier this week about Mini Camp
probably being the next, you know, drop dead date for
(03:48):
him to show up or not. Dale actually brought up
a really good point. He could see in a couple
of weeks him going to the open at Oakmont, Aaron
Rodgers going and then while he's there just you know,
sliding over and being like, yeah, I'm a Steeler like Youah,
come come, put a hat on and throw the football around.
And now I'm gonna have to get a little serious.
All right, I'm let's put on my big book. You are.
I'm not saying that it's the the drop dead date
(04:10):
for the Steelers because I don't know that if he's
not here by Mini camp. But look, you're going on
like we like we mentioned on Tuesday, you're going on podcasts, right,
You're you're you're making the rounds at the Kentucky Derby.
You have personal issues, fine, if you can't spare three days,
(04:32):
three days to come to Pittsburgh and practice football come on, bro,
And again I'm not speaking for the Steelers where it's
like they have to move on if that happens. They
do what they want and they do what they feel
is best for the team. They know better than me.
But come on, bro, you can't take three days. We're
(04:52):
not that bad. We're a fine city.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yes, it's the best. You're coming here in the middle
of January.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Golfing, go to the zoo, I don't know what. Go
to Yeah, play it, They'll let you play it. I
bet like go. If not, mister Rooney, make a phone
call and come on, we need him. We need him here.
Like you got to be able to spare those three days.
You just have to. And it's kind of funny, you know,
(05:20):
we as fans have often like seen through the veil
of like the team being like, oh, it's important to
be here at OTA's and making sure you get the
work in, and it is. But we're always like, eh,
I mean it's not that important. I mean, as long
as you know, show up for the mandatory mini camp
and then you're there for training camp, it's all good.
But it is a little different when it comes to
the quarterback position. I think, yeah, and it's a little
(05:42):
different when you just still don't know if he is
your like I think actually, and we talked about this,
how he's trying to avoid criticism by not signing the
contract so he can be like, what do you mean
I didn't show up to the off season programs? What
off season programs? I wasn't on a team, Like, we
see right through that. But honestly, dude, if you would
(06:03):
just at this point now the criticisms louder for you
doing what you're doing, then if you were to sign
and just not come to.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Ota, you can sign and say, hey, guys, I'm not
gonna be for me, but I'm on the team, Like
I got you.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Not doing that. DK's not even there, Okay, I don't
need I don't have to.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Throw Stefan Nigs ain't there in New England too.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I don't think DK's doing what stuff?
Speaker 3 (06:27):
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Wow. Yeah that was a crazy video. That was what
was that pink stuff?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Do you think I don't know? I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
We're not speculating, I'm on the boat. Nope, we're not speculating.
It's just wow, that's a tough spot to be and
Rabel wasn't very pleased by that.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
No, not at all.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
But anyway, like at this point, like if you just
put the pen to paper, send the facts, have the
Instagram Twitter post come out, have the I don't know
who would break it because you break your own news,
go on McAfee and say it real quick, or just
text him and say, hey, break this new for me, Like,
just do that. And I think honestly you would quiet
criticism even though you're not at the OTAs. I think
(07:09):
it's come full circle like that, where he has spent
so much time trying to avoid this criticism, and if
he would just actually sign the paper and still skip OTAs,
we'd almost have a sense of relief. Now we'd be like, Okay,
well he's not at OTAs and I'd like him to
be there, but at least he's a stealer, Like at
(07:29):
least we know that this is our quarterback. Now. Now
we can pencil that guy in at our lads and
plan on things for Rogers as the quarterback and do
the win loss thing again with him now as that guy.
So it's funny that it's kind of come full circle
that way. Maybe Dale's right, Maybe he comes and enjoys
(07:53):
some US Open golf and then stops on down to
the facility, signs a contract and enjoys himself some mini camp.
But there's no real point of speculating or talking through that. Again,
We're just gonna have to wait and see. I know
he won't be there for the second session of ot AS.
(08:14):
Some other players that aren't there right now are DK
Metcalf as we mentioned, and t J. Watt is not
at ot AS. I wonder if Watt will show up
for the second week of ot AS next week. I'm
curious about mandatory mini camp. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I don't think. I don't know if he skipped that
when he was holding in.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, I don't know, though I'll be I got to
ask somebody who's a lot smarter than us to to
clue me in on that. But where I'm heading with
that is that hold in en route and they're not
going to get this contract done until training camp starts.
I think that's just kind of what the Steelers MO is.
But does that lead to TJ. Watt holding in or not?
(08:59):
And yesterday down there, you know, just talking to people
off the air a little bit, would it be in
the Steelers' worst interest if he does indeed practice a
hold in for a little bit, like that's what I
was bouncing off of somebody. I forget who, and I
was like, you know, do you think he's gonna hold in?
(09:20):
And they were just like, is that really the worst
thing for the Steelers to take it easy in the
training camp period, take it easy in the preseason period.
And if you remember, as it was reminded to me,
the last time that TJ. Watt had to hold in Jacob,
the last time that TJ. Watt kind of you know,
took it easy in the training camp portion. He came
out in week one and single handedly beat Josh Allen
(09:43):
and Buffalo in Buffalo and then had an nbelievable.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
I don't know what that was. That was the that
was the deep point season.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Was a freak of nature. That year is the Deepoy season.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
And that game against Buffalo, that was when he had
that trip sack against Josh Allen early on.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Yep, exactly, defense and special teams block punt in that game,
right won that football game.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
For what it was, the name of that guy on defense.
Wolf loved him, Oh, I forget you forget. We loved
everyone though Wolf loves everybody. But anyway, that is what
happened the last time that you know elsis Gilbert.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
That's what it was.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
The president. He sounded like a president from because he
sounded like Helisa says Grant. But anyway, you saw him
go from not really participating in training camp, doing his
hold in, doing his individual stuff, getting a record breaking
contract back with the team ramp up for the season.
I have my best season of my career. I have
(10:38):
a record setting season, and I set the tone immediately
up in Buffalo beating a team that is better than
us on paper, that has a better quarterback than we do.
And I went up there and I kicked their ass.
So you know what, maybe it's not such a bad
thing for TJ. Wat to hold in. Maybe there is
a little bit of a method to that madness. This
guy gets fatigued, right, this guy has injury problems.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Look whatever last season.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Maybe slow play it with him early in the year,
because what's the point of TJ. Watt in August if
you can't have him in December. Yep. So I think
that as much as people will be like, get this done,
and JJ's going on, you know, McAfee and being like,
the longer you wait, the more expensive it gets. Look, guys,
I think Steelers are gonna pay him what he wants.
(11:23):
They're gonna pay him the money that's required to make
him happy to reach the bar that he wants price wise,
and I think they're gonna do it on a timetable
that you know, maybe doesn't please wat as much like
he'd maybe like to get it done, but might be
in our best interest. You know, don't have to really
worry about that. Cap wise, at this point in the season.
(11:44):
We still got to get our quarterback Aaron Rodgers under contract.
We might won't go to rond Re Fever, you know
what I mean. Like, there's some other moves that we
got to do here cap wise. And then when we
have all the chips settled and we're sitting down at
Saint Vincent and we're getting right to start training camp, Okay, TJ.
Watt extension time. Let's start to figure out what we
(12:06):
need to meet for you and what you need to
meet for the team, and we'll kind of wait a
little bit into training camp. We'll let you do the
hold in if you would like to. So they can't
force him steel You have to hold in, but like
it might work in a way that benefits the Steelers
if he kind of takes it easy in that training
camp period. You give him the boatload of money, and
(12:28):
then he comes out Week one and he sacks Justin
Fields five times in a row in a row. Jacob,
How that's impossible, right? I don't know how it works.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
No, if you get four sacks, if you sack them
on first, second, third, and fourth down, you get an
extra fifty fifth one.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I guess yep, But you get my point, Like, maybe
history repeats itself and he just goes bananas in this
first season after a contract extension. Hey, the only track
record we have to go off of is he set
a sack record in won DePoy when he got his
last bag. So we's see what happens this time. Good
luck with that on court, Tea.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I don't think that there's much doubt that TJ.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Want is capable of recreating numbers like that, and I
think he'd feel more comfortable in his ability to do
so getting paid accordingly. I think he believes in himself
that he can put up those record breaking numbers or
even record tying numbers any given season.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
But and he's he's not someone that.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Needs an extra motivation, right, I know he's always saying
like since since Miles Garrett won the Dpot a couple
of years ago. You remember what TJ tuned out, he said, nothing,
I'm not used to like this guy doesn't need extra motivation.
He's an internal guy. He can get himself pumped up
for anything. But I'm sure it'll be a little bit
easier on him if he's got that that.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Money, no, no doubt. Yeah, I mean life is easy
when you get paid.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Like when you when you when you know your worth
and you're not giving your worth, it's gonnaaye you a
little bit. So why why let this be a distraction
to him?
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yeah, but it's not gonna be a distress. It's gonna
be I think we're gonna watch the same movie that
we watched three years ago whenever we went through this again,
is hold In?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, exactly, he'll show up for OTA.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Record break was not showing up for OTAs so yet
he might next week next week. Yeah, he has got
a chance to show up next week. And maybe that
was just his plan all along. Right, It's like, hey,
two weeks, three weeks in the offseason, I'm good on that,
but I'll show up for the last one and then
Mini camp. Plus I gotta do some painting in the
house around Pittsburgh and do some other yardwork stuff down there,
(14:31):
So yeah, that works out for my schedule. But anyway,
I think we're gonna watch the same movie. We're gonna
see him go through this offseason period, hold in and
get the contract, and then hopefully that translates to that
game against the Jets just being an absolute monster and
eating them alive.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
I want him to. I mean, it's me too.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
We we talked about this being a double revenge game
potentially between Justin Fields with the Steelers Aaron Rodgers against
the Jets. Even if it's not that double revenge game,
I'm happy for tg Watt to be the story of
that game and say, oh, this was the potential Justin
Field's revenge game.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
But guess what, tg Watt had other plans.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yeah, and you know what with that game, you know,
Pete Mark, I'm producing the show for and I'm on
the show with said, you know they're gonna lose that
game against the Jets, and the main angle for him
is about how Fields is there and he's getting prepped
and and he is learning the Jets offense, He's learning
(15:34):
the Jets team under first year coach Aaron Glenn, where
Rogers is not with the Steelers, and he's going to
be way more prepared than Rogers's for that game. And
he's not wrong about that because he is going to
be more acclimated to the team. He's not going to
be kind of surprised when he gets the training camp
and excuse me, and has to learn I'm drinking cocin
here and had to learn people's names, But like Rogers
(15:56):
might a little bit, but I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
I mean, there isn't a quarterback in the NFL. If
Rogers decides to come here that isn't being prepared, then
exactly right. That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
And also where I was going with this too, is
we do this so often Rogers versus fields because it's
the headline and you grab it. Yeah, but it's not
Rogers versus fields, it's fields versus The Steelers defense has
a ton of Roger and has been together forever and
plays pretty balls out in the first weeks of the season,
plays all like think about last year guys Ley went
(16:30):
to Atlanta and didn't score a touchdown Underdresin fields is quarterback.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
And still on that they're still won the football game.
The defense unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
I mean, was the best player in four.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
We said this a lot each of the last like
five to six seasons. The defense starts off elite because
they haven't played an entire season where the offense is
going three and out ninety percent of the game.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
They're just not for ninety percent of the season.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
They're not fatigued, right, they have their legs underneath them. Yeah.
So the Steelers, you know, it'd just.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Be great if we could play on like the Matt
and cheeko where you say fatigue not a thing, but
the steel.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
That'd be great. But the Steeler, there's like one I
ignore payroll in MLB. The show and Pirates are worth
trillions of dollars. But anyway, and I have a tear
streaming down my face as I keep paying more and
more contracts. But anyway, o TAWNI for five hundred billion, Yes, sure,
but anyway, the Steelers I think are going to be
ahead of the curve defensively as opposed to that Jets offense.
(17:31):
In that first week, I just think you win a
game like thirteen to ten, like the Steelers just classically do.
And furthermore, I mean, look, a Rod might be as
up to speed as justin Fields by a week one.
I'm sorry, Justin, but that has always been something when
you were here in Pittsburgh that I was a little
more critical of of you, is that you have all
(17:52):
the talent in the world. But I'm not calling you dumb,
but between the years, you know, I just don't know
if you're as quick as some of the other quarterbacks
in this league. Is the elite quarterbacks in this league,
and Rogers is just one of the goats at that
And when you are one of the best processors in
the NFL, you know that just gets better and better
and better and better with age. It's your physical tools
to deplete. Like and remember what Michael Jordan said at
(18:14):
the end of the last dance, Like he was like, mentally,
I was at the height of my game, Like I
knew exactly what people were gonna do before they even
did it. I just couldn't play anymore, Like I couldn't
physically do it. And he was like there was this
thing that you could see in his he was talking
and recounting it, he was just like, it sucks to
have that kind of height of knowledge and be like,
I am literally a god at this, but your body
(18:35):
can't can't keep up anymore. Yeah, Whereas when your body
could keep up, yeah you didn't know, but you weren't
at this peak, right, And that's like with like Brady
at the end, Brady was the smartest guy Brady.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Brady was as good as he was for as deep
into his age as he was because his body was
He did it up. He did as good of a
job as anybody age forty or older keeping his body.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
In shape with his mind to keep pace with his mind. Right.
But Brady was by the time he was in his
forties like the forty year old Brady era, which is
which is crazy that it exists, and it's the Hall
of Fame ever, yeah it's own right, But anyway, he
was the smartest guy coach, coordinators, ball boys, NASA scientists
(19:19):
in the house just watching the game. He was the
smartest guy in the building every every single time that
he was on that field. And I'm not saying Rogers
is at that level, but he's pretty damn close like Rogers.
You now, maybe the drugs have kind of soaked some
of this away from his brain. You can't tell me that,
you know, you line up a bunch of quarterbacks in
(19:40):
a room and you say, Okay, for this next test
or drill, we don't need any physical tool sets. We're
gonna test your minds. We're gonna test reading defenses, We're
gonna test just mental acuity on the field. He's one
of the top five that you're picking even right now.
I mean there's no rushing in my mind about that. Like,
(20:02):
you're picking Pat obviously because he processes things like a
god already. You're picking Dak honestly, because Dak has always
been known to be one of the Stafford's one that
you're definitely plucking from that tree to come in and
be like yeah, and then.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Take one of the three young guys between Burrow al.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Lamar, a Burrow al Lamar, and then you're at Rogers
probably after that, Like and honestly, I might be more
interested in picking from Rogers tree than even a Burrow
Allan or Lamar's tree, just because that thing's been around
this block for so much longer. And look, Lamar Alan,
(20:38):
he's been to a super Bowl and won it and
Burrow he won the Super Bowl when he was there.
So there's just a little bit more knowledge that I
can get from somebody that's been in the game and
soaked so much up as he has. So you know,
as far as that like juxtaposition of like Well, Fields
will just be light years ahead of him. Prep wise,
he'll probably he has an advantage. For sure, he's ahead
(21:00):
of the curve right now. But I don't know how
long it takes someone like Rogers, an all time great,
to close the gap on someone like Fields. Not a bust,
but not a great quarterback by any stretch.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Not a bust yet, But if it doesn't work out
for him in New York, then that would be his.
If he goes somewhere else, sets his fourth team, and
how many years.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
That gets us down the rabbit hole of the debate
of what truly makes a bust to bust, Like is
it JaMarcus Russell where it's a flame out? Is it
Colney Record kind of where it's like a total like
like Fields is still getting starting opportunities into year five.
I guess from the perspective of what his ceiling could
have been, Yeah, he busted. He didn't reach that potential.
(21:43):
But he also didn't completely bottom out, you know what
I mean, He didn't flame like Josh Rosen bust, complete lance,
complete bust, like not even not even a question about it.
I don't know if i'd call him a bust, but
he is definitely an underachiever as far as his achiever. Yeah,
that's a and I just you know, there's a little bit. Look,
(22:06):
if you want to from the context of we should
have just brought Justin Fields back, it would have been
a better thing to do because of what we're going
through right now. Yeah, sure, But if you want to
sell me on Justin Fields potentially still being somebody and
he's not that good.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
That clock is ticking expired a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
And I I really don't understand why. Sometimes you'll see
Pittsburgh's be like Fields was good, like you should have
gone even you hear people say you should have gone
back to Russ or you should have gone back to
Fields when Russ was kind of struck. No one was
saying that in the moment, at least no one seriously, Like,
no one when the Steelers were going down their flame
out path was saying, I think we should put Justin
(22:43):
Fields back in there. No, Justin Fields is fine, but
he's not that good, and we make him out to
be I think something that he's not, and in him
leaving Pittsburgh for a little bit more guaranteed money, it's
not going to be this turning point with the franchise
where in five years he's lifting his second Lombardi Trophy
with the Jets and we're like, oh my god, if
(23:03):
only we would have ponied up like five million more,
what could have been. It's not gonna go well for
him in New York.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
And back to what it rarely does for anyone who
goes to me or I'm.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Not I'm the one that's betting easy money here. You know,
you're the one that's bet in the long shot odds.
If you're saying that Fields is gonna be great, I'm
putting up a ton of juice here. You know, the
house is like minus eight thousand on this. Him not
working just because, like you said, of where he's at
in New York for that team. That's sorry franchise, But
you know, I just I don't think that you know,
(23:35):
it's it's it's really necessary to view it as this. Uh,
he was the guy, he was the answer, he would
have been nothing more than a bridge, a bridge that
would have caused less headaches than the one that you're
potentially gonna go over.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
But maybe in a way, not headaches, but a little
more confusion, simply because what if he gets you again
to like nine or ten wins and you're thinking.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
It's the temptation, there is the carrot.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Do you keep bringing him back?
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Building the team around that guy rather than just saying, hey,
you know what, this is the bridge year singular twenty
twenty six draft is in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
You get your guy, let's get to that, you know,
like that that's when I get to a franchise. Yeah,
I mean I think there's more.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
And then I mean, like in terms of the headache,
sorry to interrupt you, like maybe the headings come in
hindsight because Fields, you ride with him for a couple
of years, but this doesn't pan out, and you look
back and say, man, if we just moved off from
justin after that one year, brought in a bridge guy
for one more year than twenty twenty six, you can
nab the guy like arch or Sellers, who are now
(24:33):
in their third year in the league and taking off. Man,
what could have been the headings would have come late
much later than just right now.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
And look, the team didn't want to meet guaranteed money
that the Jets were offering, and the team Tomlin made
a quarterback change when they were winning. Team was criticized
for it, Yeah, and it turned out to be the
right move for seven straight weeks when they had the.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Best offense one we've ever seen in front of their
seven other necks eight games.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
And the offensive output was like old times. It was like, well,
they can score thirty points and they can go into
shootouts with the Washington Commanders and with the Cincinnati Bengals
both on the road and pull out games of that
nature instead of getting into rock fights with teams like that. So,
you know, the team and the coaching staff are seeing
(25:25):
what I'm kind of saying that he's fine, but he's
nobody that you came to e write your plans for
the future over.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
He's not going to alter your franchise exactly.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
And when you look at it, to bring it back
to what we were just talking about with the Jets
at the week one spot, you know, I know that
there's a lot of turmoil and up in the air
nature about your quarterback in Pittsburgh. But if we just
play the prediction game based on what's happening now, who's
(25:59):
in house now, I'm still picking the Steelers with Mason
Rudolph to go into New York and to beat the Jets.
I think that they are going to be, like I said,
much further ahead of the curve on the defensive side
of the football. Then the Jets will be on the
offensive side with with Justin Fields, no matter how long
(26:21):
he's been prepping with this team and how much Ota
mini camp and training camp time he has. So even
if things hold and it's Rudolph, still pick the Steelers
to get out of the gate one to zero against
the Jets. I ride that defense and no.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Just and again, like week one, we've seen crazy things
happen in Week one. Just because you're the odds on favorite,
especially that week, does not mean much.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
I also think Fields is gonna want revenge and he
might press a little bit.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
And make up Justin Fields ask mistake here and there.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Yeah, And you know what would be just great, would
really set you out of the gates running is if
maybe Minka Fitzpatch could have a little as Bill Hillgrove
would say Oski early in the year and maybe take
one to the house like he did against Cincinnati. So
I'm not really that worried about the Jets as it
stands right now and feeling like, oh, they won't win
(27:15):
this football game. Oh the Steelers will lose right out
of the gate. I think the Steelers are going to
struggle this year. I had him winning seven games in
my first iteration of win loss win loss, win loss.
But I don't think it's going to be a struggle
right away. I think it's going to be happy times
for the people with a one to h start, no
matter who your quarterback is. Just seen too many times
(27:35):
the defense early in a year dominate, and the only
time that I can really remember that they didn't and
the defense kind of got blown away recently was in
that game against San Francisco. Yeah, but that offense that
year was one of the most crazy and that team
went to the Super Bowl that season, So like that
was one of the craziest offenses that you've seen, and.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
We were drinking the kool aid for offense, yes exactly.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Kenny Pickett looked hot and then he had himself a game.
But other than that, like the Steelers defense usually carries
the day in the beginning portions of the season.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
All Right, when we come back, we're.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Gonna shift some focus to the offensive line. Talk about
those monsters. They looked huge out there at OTAs, so
we'll do that. We come back on the Steelers standard
Steeers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network,
Jacob. I was at OTA's yesterday. I was there.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I was boots on the ground, Jelly, boots on the ground, Jelly,
of course, in all seriousness.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
And I said this when I was on the air
yesterday with Matt and Dale hanging out with the Drive
guys so smart by the way, I mean, i just
sit there like as good as it gets. I'm an idiot,
Like I don't even know what the hell I'm talking
about when it comes to it's ridiculous. Yeah, but it
was fun to sit in with them yesterday. And maybe
I get to do that next week or a mini camp,
who knows. But anyway, we were talking about this kind
of in our first segment. But and this is nothing
(00:41):
really new, because I've been going down to OTAs for
god like five years now. I've been at training camps,
practices like it's it's nothing new, right, But every time
I'm there and I'm sitting on the sidelines at the
upmc rooney Sports Complex and those mammoths walk by me,
those monstrosities.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
A couple of years ago. We just referenced this earlier
in the week. Najoria Harris was that spectacle? Was there
was there anyone that stood out to you.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Okay. My point was just everybody yeah on field is
not of the same species that I am, because they
are bigger, stronger, and then also move so much faster.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
They so eyegile despite the size of which they was.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Cam Hayward eight years old, and he looked like he
did yesterday when I was out there. And by the way,
I mean aura, Okay, you want to talk.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
About textbook definition aura, like the the man walks onto
the field, you know it.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And I'm not just talking about from our perspective, like
we're like, oh cool, there's Cam, there's anything. It's almost
more so with the players on the team, like Derek Harmon,
Like this is Cam freaking Hayward. Now he's not even
in the same class as me and Joe Green because
he's mean Joe Green. But that's the kind of aura
you're getting out of him, is just like this, holy crap,
(02:03):
that dude I was. I'm Derrek Carmen. I was nine
years old when I was watching Cam Hayward play football.
Now I'm lining up next to them and now he's
telling me do this, do that. We're eating lunch together.
Like the aura on that man is just unbelievable. He
just commands a presence out on that field, him and
Tomlin obviously, but just the sheer size of these people,
(02:26):
it's really really jaw dropping. And you're not really allowed
to talk about what happens in practice, but that is
is for really a big takeaway for me, and a
very basic one is just like, these are not human
beings like these are champions of our race, of our species.
(02:47):
These are chap of the human race. These are if
we had to go and fight like inter like, these
guys suit up like these are our champions. It's incredibly impressive.
And every time I'm go down there, it's it's always
kind of shocking. It's always kind of just like a wow,
that guy could snap me in half at any second.
(03:09):
Got to see the quarterbacks. Got to see our guy
Will Howard stroll out onto the field, Mason Rudolph, they
took a stroll just those two earlier than everybody else.
Skyler Thompson out there as well. Those were the three
quarterbacks in camp for the Pittsburgh c or days for
the Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
The only ones on the Rocks.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Sometimes they bring in like a non you know, drafty
kind of local kid maybe, but no, it was just
those three this year more than enough to do what
you need to do in this stage of the offseason.
But those are your three quarterbacks. Obviously there is no
Aaron Rodgers. We talked earlier this week about Mini Camp
probably being the next, you know, drop dead date for
(03:48):
him to show up or not. Dale actually brought up
a really good point. He could see in a couple
of weeks him going to the open at Oakmont, Aaron
Rodgers going and then while he's there just you know,
sliding over and being like, yeah, I'm a Steeler like Youah,
come come, put a hat on and throw the football around.
And now I'm gonna have to get a little serious.
All right, I'm let's put on my big book. You are.
I'm not saying that it's the the drop dead date
(04:10):
for the Steelers because I don't know that if he's
not here by Mini camp. But look, you're going on
like we like we mentioned on Tuesday, you're going on podcasts, right,
You're you're you're making the rounds at the Kentucky Derby.
You have personal issues, fine, if you can't spare three days,
(04:32):
three days to come to Pittsburgh and practice football come on, bro,
And again I'm not speaking for the Steelers where it's
like they have to move on if that happens. They
do what they want and they do what they feel
is best for the team. They know better than me.
But come on, bro, you can't take three days. We're
(04:52):
not that bad. We're a fine city.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yes, it's the best. You're coming here in the middle
of January.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Golfing, go to the zoo, I don't know what. Go
to Yeah, play it, They'll let you play it. I
bet like go. If not, mister Rooney, make a phone
call and come on, we need him. We need him here.
Like you got to be able to spare those three days.
You just have to. And it's kind of funny, you know,
(05:20):
we as fans have often like seen through the veil
of like the team being like, oh, it's important to
be here at OTA's and making sure you get the
work in, and it is. But we're always like, eh,
I mean it's not that important. I mean, as long
as you know, show up for the mandatory mini camp
and then you're there for training camp, it's all good.
But it is a little different when it comes to
the quarterback position. I think, yeah, and it's a little
(05:42):
different when you just still don't know if he is
your like I think actually, and we talked about this,
how he's trying to avoid criticism by not signing the
contract so he can be like, what do you mean
I didn't show up to the off season programs? What
off season programs? I wasn't on a team, Like, we
see right through that. But honestly, dude, if you would
(06:03):
just at this point now the criticisms louder for you
doing what you're doing, then if you were to sign
and just not come to.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Ota, you can sign and say, hey, guys, I'm not
gonna be for me, but I'm on the team, Like
I got you.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Not doing that. DK's not even there, Okay, I don't
need I don't have to.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Throw Stefan Nigs ain't there in New England too.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I don't think DK's doing what stuff?
Speaker 3 (06:27):
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Wow. Yeah that was a crazy video. That was what
was that pink stuff?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Do you think I don't know? I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
We're not speculating, I'm on the boat. Nope, we're not speculating.
It's just wow, that's a tough spot to be and
Rabel wasn't very pleased by that.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
No, not at all.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
But anyway, like at this point, like if you just
put the pen to paper, send the facts, have the
Instagram Twitter post come out, have the I don't know
who would break it because you break your own news,
go on McAfee and say it real quick, or just
text him and say, hey, break this new for me, Like,
just do that. And I think honestly you would quiet
criticism even though you're not at the OTAs. I think
(07:09):
it's come full circle like that, where he has spent
so much time trying to avoid this criticism, and if
he would just actually sign the paper and still skip OTAs,
we'd almost have a sense of relief. Now we'd be like, Okay,
well he's not at OTAs and I'd like him to
be there, but at least he's a stealer, Like at
(07:29):
least we know that this is our quarterback. Now. Now
we can pencil that guy in at our lads and
plan on things for Rogers as the quarterback and do
the win loss thing again with him now as that guy.
So it's funny that it's kind of come full circle
that way. Maybe Dale's right, Maybe he comes and enjoys
(07:53):
some US Open golf and then stops on down to
the facility, signs a contract and enjoys himself some mini camp.
But there's no real point of speculating or talking through that. Again,
We're just gonna have to wait and see. I know
he won't be there for the second session of ot AS.
(08:14):
Some other players that aren't there right now are DK
Metcalf as we mentioned, and t J. Watt is not
at ot AS. I wonder if Watt will show up
for the second week of ot AS next week. I'm
curious about mandatory mini camp. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I don't think. I don't know if he skipped that
when he was holding in.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, I don't know, though I'll be I got to
ask somebody who's a lot smarter than us to to
clue me in on that. But where I'm heading with
that is that hold in en route and they're not
going to get this contract done until training camp starts.
I think that's just kind of what the Steelers MO is.
But does that lead to TJ. Watt holding in or not?
(08:59):
And yesterday down there, you know, just talking to people
off the air a little bit, would it be in
the Steelers' worst interest if he does indeed practice a
hold in for a little bit, like that's what I
was bouncing off of somebody. I forget who, and I
was like, you know, do you think he's gonna hold in?
(09:20):
And they were just like, is that really the worst
thing for the Steelers to take it easy in the
training camp period, take it easy in the preseason period.
And if you remember, as it was reminded to me,
the last time that TJ. Watt had to hold in Jacob,
the last time that TJ. Watt kind of you know,
took it easy in the training camp portion. He came
out in week one and single handedly beat Josh Allen
(09:43):
and Buffalo in Buffalo and then had an nbelievable.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
I don't know what that was. That was the that
was the deep point season.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Was a freak of nature. That year is the Deepoy season.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
And that game against Buffalo, that was when he had
that trip sack against Josh Allen early on.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Yep, exactly, defense and special teams block punt in that game,
right won that football game.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
For what it was, the name of that guy on defense.
Wolf loved him, Oh, I forget you forget. We loved
everyone though Wolf loves everybody. But anyway, that is what
happened the last time that you know elsis Gilbert.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
That's what it was.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
The president. He sounded like a president from because he
sounded like Helisa says Grant. But anyway, you saw him
go from not really participating in training camp, doing his
hold in, doing his individual stuff, getting a record breaking
contract back with the team ramp up for the season.
I have my best season of my career. I have
(10:38):
a record setting season, and I set the tone immediately
up in Buffalo beating a team that is better than
us on paper, that has a better quarterback than we do.
And I went up there and I kicked their ass.
So you know what, maybe it's not such a bad
thing for TJ. Wat to hold in. Maybe there is
a little bit of a method to that madness. This
guy gets fatigued, right, this guy has injury problems.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Look whatever last season.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Maybe slow play it with him early in the year,
because what's the point of TJ. Watt in August if
you can't have him in December. Yep. So I think
that as much as people will be like, get this done,
and JJ's going on, you know, McAfee and being like,
the longer you wait, the more expensive it gets. Look, guys,
I think Steelers are gonna pay him what he wants.
(11:23):
They're gonna pay him the money that's required to make
him happy to reach the bar that he wants price wise,
and I think they're gonna do it on a timetable
that you know, maybe doesn't please wat as much like
he'd maybe like to get it done, but might be
in our best interest. You know, don't have to really
worry about that. Cap wise, at this point in the season.
(11:44):
We still got to get our quarterback Aaron Rodgers under contract.
We might won't go to rond Re Fever, you know
what I mean. Like, there's some other moves that we
got to do here cap wise. And then when we
have all the chips settled and we're sitting down at
Saint Vincent and we're getting right to start training camp, Okay, TJ.
Watt extension time. Let's start to figure out what we
(12:06):
need to meet for you and what you need to
meet for the team, and we'll kind of wait a
little bit into training camp. We'll let you do the
hold in if you would like to. So they can't
force him steel You have to hold in, but like
it might work in a way that benefits the Steelers
if he kind of takes it easy in that training
camp period. You give him the boatload of money, and
(12:28):
then he comes out Week one and he sacks Justin
Fields five times in a row in a row. Jacob,
How that's impossible, right? I don't know how it works.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
No, if you get four sacks, if you sack them
on first, second, third, and fourth down, you get an
extra fifty fifth one.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I guess yep, But you get my point, Like, maybe
history repeats itself and he just goes bananas in this
first season after a contract extension. Hey, the only track
record we have to go off of is he set
a sack record in won DePoy when he got his
last bag. So we's see what happens this time. Good
luck with that on court, Tea.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I don't think that there's much doubt that TJ.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Want is capable of recreating numbers like that, and I
think he'd feel more comfortable in his ability to do
so getting paid accordingly. I think he believes in himself
that he can put up those record breaking numbers or
even record tying numbers any given season.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
But and he's he's not someone that.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Needs an extra motivation, right, I know he's always saying
like since since Miles Garrett won the Dpot a couple
of years ago. You remember what TJ tuned out, he said, nothing,
I'm not used to like this guy doesn't need extra motivation.
He's an internal guy. He can get himself pumped up
for anything. But I'm sure it'll be a little bit
easier on him if he's got that that.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Money, no, no doubt. Yeah, I mean life is easy
when you get paid.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Like when you when you when you know your worth
and you're not giving your worth, it's gonnaaye you a
little bit. So why why let this be a distraction
to him?
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yeah, but it's not gonna be a distress. It's gonna
be I think we're gonna watch the same movie that
we watched three years ago whenever we went through this again,
is hold In?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, exactly, he'll show up for OTA.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Record break was not showing up for OTAs so yet
he might next week next week. Yeah, he has got
a chance to show up next week. And maybe that
was just his plan all along. Right, It's like, hey,
two weeks, three weeks in the offseason, I'm good on that,
but I'll show up for the last one and then
Mini camp. Plus I gotta do some painting in the
house around Pittsburgh and do some other yardwork stuff down there,
(14:31):
So yeah, that works out for my schedule. But anyway,
I think we're gonna watch the same movie. We're gonna
see him go through this offseason period, hold in and
get the contract, and then hopefully that translates to that
game against the Jets just being an absolute monster and
eating them alive.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
I want him to. I mean, it's me too.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
We we talked about this being a double revenge game
potentially between Justin Fields with the Steelers Aaron Rodgers against
the Jets. Even if it's not that double revenge game,
I'm happy for tg Watt to be the story of
that game and say, oh, this was the potential Justin
Field's revenge game.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
But guess what, tg Watt had other plans.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yeah, and you know what with that game, you know,
Pete Mark, I'm producing the show for and I'm on
the show with said, you know they're gonna lose that
game against the Jets, and the main angle for him
is about how Fields is there and he's getting prepped
and and he is learning the Jets offense, He's learning
(15:34):
the Jets team under first year coach Aaron Glenn, where
Rogers is not with the Steelers, and he's going to
be way more prepared than Rogers's for that game. And
he's not wrong about that because he is going to
be more acclimated to the team. He's not going to
be kind of surprised when he gets the training camp
and excuse me, and has to learn I'm drinking cocin
here and had to learn people's names, But like Rogers
(15:56):
might a little bit, but I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
I mean, there isn't a quarterback in the NFL. If
Rogers decides to come here that isn't being prepared, then
exactly right. That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
And also where I was going with this too, is
we do this so often Rogers versus fields because it's
the headline and you grab it. Yeah, but it's not
Rogers versus fields, it's fields versus The Steelers defense has
a ton of Roger and has been together forever and
plays pretty balls out in the first weeks of the season,
plays all like think about last year guys Ley went
(16:30):
to Atlanta and didn't score a touchdown Underdresin fields is quarterback.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
And still on that they're still won the football game.
The defense unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
I mean, was the best player in four.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
We said this a lot each of the last like
five to six seasons. The defense starts off elite because
they haven't played an entire season where the offense is
going three and out ninety percent of the game.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
They're just not for ninety percent of the season.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
They're not fatigued, right, they have their legs underneath them. Yeah.
So the Steelers, you know, it'd just.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Be great if we could play on like the Matt
and cheeko where you say fatigue not a thing, but
the steel.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
That'd be great. But the Steeler, there's like one I
ignore payroll in MLB. The show and Pirates are worth
trillions of dollars. But anyway, and I have a tear
streaming down my face as I keep paying more and
more contracts. But anyway, o TAWNI for five hundred billion, Yes, sure,
but anyway, the Steelers I think are going to be
ahead of the curve defensively as opposed to that Jets offense.
(17:31):
In that first week, I just think you win a
game like thirteen to ten, like the Steelers just classically do.
And furthermore, I mean, look, a Rod might be as
up to speed as justin Fields by a week one.
I'm sorry, Justin, but that has always been something when
you were here in Pittsburgh that I was a little
more critical of of you, is that you have all
(17:52):
the talent in the world. But I'm not calling you dumb,
but between the years, you know, I just don't know
if you're as quick as some of the other quarterbacks
in this league. Is the elite quarterbacks in this league,
and Rogers is just one of the goats at that
And when you are one of the best processors in
the NFL, you know that just gets better and better
and better and better with age. It's your physical tools
to deplete. Like and remember what Michael Jordan said at
(18:14):
the end of the last dance, Like he was like, mentally,
I was at the height of my game, Like I
knew exactly what people were gonna do before they even
did it. I just couldn't play anymore, Like I couldn't
physically do it. And he was like there was this
thing that you could see in his he was talking
and recounting it, he was just like, it sucks to
have that kind of height of knowledge and be like,
I am literally a god at this, but your body
(18:35):
can't can't keep up anymore. Yeah, Whereas when your body
could keep up, yeah you didn't know, but you weren't
at this peak, right, And that's like with like Brady
at the end, Brady was the smartest guy Brady.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Brady was as good as he was for as deep
into his age as he was because his body was
He did it up. He did as good of a
job as anybody age forty or older keeping his body.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
In shape with his mind to keep pace with his mind. Right.
But Brady was by the time he was in his
forties like the forty year old Brady era, which is
which is crazy that it exists, and it's the Hall
of Fame ever, yeah it's own right, But anyway, he
was the smartest guy coach, coordinators, ball boys, NASA scientists
(19:19):
in the house just watching the game. He was the
smartest guy in the building every every single time that
he was on that field. And I'm not saying Rogers
is at that level, but he's pretty damn close like Rogers.
You now, maybe the drugs have kind of soaked some
of this away from his brain. You can't tell me that,
you know, you line up a bunch of quarterbacks in
(19:40):
a room and you say, Okay, for this next test
or drill, we don't need any physical tool sets. We're
gonna test your minds. We're gonna test reading defenses, We're
gonna test just mental acuity on the field. He's one
of the top five that you're picking even right now.
I mean there's no rushing in my mind about that. Like,
(20:02):
you're picking Pat obviously because he processes things like a
god already. You're picking Dak honestly, because Dak has always
been known to be one of the Stafford's one that
you're definitely plucking from that tree to come in and
be like yeah, and then.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Take one of the three young guys between Burrow al.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Lamar, a Burrow al Lamar, and then you're at Rogers
probably after that, Like and honestly, I might be more
interested in picking from Rogers tree than even a Burrow
Allan or Lamar's tree, just because that thing's been around
this block for so much longer. And look, Lamar Alan,
(20:38):
he's been to a super Bowl and won it and
Burrow he won the Super Bowl when he was there.
So there's just a little bit more knowledge that I
can get from somebody that's been in the game and
soaked so much up as he has. So you know,
as far as that like juxtaposition of like Well, Fields
will just be light years ahead of him. Prep wise,
he'll probably he has an advantage. For sure, he's ahead
(21:00):
of the curve right now. But I don't know how
long it takes someone like Rogers, an all time great,
to close the gap on someone like Fields. Not a bust,
but not a great quarterback by any stretch.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Not a bust yet, But if it doesn't work out
for him in New York, then that would be his.
If he goes somewhere else, sets his fourth team, and
how many years.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
That gets us down the rabbit hole of the debate
of what truly makes a bust to bust, Like is
it JaMarcus Russell where it's a flame out? Is it
Colney Record kind of where it's like a total like
like Fields is still getting starting opportunities into year five.
I guess from the perspective of what his ceiling could
have been, Yeah, he busted. He didn't reach that potential.
(21:43):
But he also didn't completely bottom out, you know what
I mean, He didn't flame like Josh Rosen bust, complete lance,
complete bust, like not even not even a question about it.
I don't know if i'd call him a bust, but
he is definitely an underachiever as far as his achiever. Yeah,
that's a and I just you know, there's a little bit. Look,
(22:06):
if you want to from the context of we should
have just brought Justin Fields back, it would have been
a better thing to do because of what we're going
through right now. Yeah, sure, But if you want to
sell me on Justin Fields potentially still being somebody and
he's not that good.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
That clock is ticking expired a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
And I I really don't understand why. Sometimes you'll see
Pittsburgh's be like Fields was good, like you should have
gone even you hear people say you should have gone
back to Russ or you should have gone back to
Fields when Russ was kind of struck. No one was
saying that in the moment, at least no one seriously, Like,
no one when the Steelers were going down their flame
out path was saying, I think we should put Justin
(22:43):
Fields back in there. No, Justin Fields is fine, but
he's not that good, and we make him out to
be I think something that he's not, and in him
leaving Pittsburgh for a little bit more guaranteed money, it's
not going to be this turning point with the franchise
where in five years he's lifting his second Lombardi Trophy
with the Jets and we're like, oh my god, if
(23:03):
only we would have ponied up like five million more,
what could have been. It's not gonna go well for
him in New York.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
And back to what it rarely does for anyone who
goes to me or I'm.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Not I'm the one that's betting easy money here. You know,
you're the one that's bet in the long shot odds.
If you're saying that Fields is gonna be great, I'm
putting up a ton of juice here. You know, the
house is like minus eight thousand on this. Him not
working just because, like you said, of where he's at
in New York for that team. That's sorry franchise, But
you know, I just I don't think that you know,
(23:35):
it's it's it's really necessary to view it as this. Uh,
he was the guy, he was the answer, he would
have been nothing more than a bridge, a bridge that
would have caused less headaches than the one that you're
potentially gonna go over.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
But maybe in a way, not headaches, but a little
more confusion, simply because what if he gets you again
to like nine or ten wins and you're thinking.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
It's the temptation, there is the carrot.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Do you keep bringing him back?
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Building the team around that guy rather than just saying, hey,
you know what, this is the bridge year singular twenty
twenty six draft is in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
You get your guy, let's get to that, you know,
like that that's when I get to a franchise. Yeah,
I mean I think there's more.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
And then I mean, like in terms of the headache,
sorry to interrupt you, like maybe the headings come in
hindsight because Fields, you ride with him for a couple
of years, but this doesn't pan out, and you look
back and say, man, if we just moved off from
justin after that one year, brought in a bridge guy
for one more year than twenty twenty six, you can
nab the guy like arch or Sellers, who are now
(24:33):
in their third year in the league and taking off. Man,
what could have been the headings would have come late
much later than just right now.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
And look, the team didn't want to meet guaranteed money
that the Jets were offering, and the team Tomlin made
a quarterback change when they were winning. Team was criticized
for it, Yeah, and it turned out to be the
right move for seven straight weeks when they had the.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Best offense one we've ever seen in front of their
seven other necks eight games.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
And the offensive output was like old times. It was like, well,
they can score thirty points and they can go into
shootouts with the Washington Commanders and with the Cincinnati Bengals
both on the road and pull out games of that
nature instead of getting into rock fights with teams like that. So,
you know, the team and the coaching staff are seeing
(25:25):
what I'm kind of saying that he's fine, but he's
nobody that you came to e write your plans for
the future over.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
He's not going to alter your franchise exactly.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
And when you look at it, to bring it back
to what we were just talking about with the Jets
at the week one spot, you know, I know that
there's a lot of turmoil and up in the air
nature about your quarterback in Pittsburgh. But if we just
play the prediction game based on what's happening now, who's
(25:59):
in house now, I'm still picking the Steelers with Mason
Rudolph to go into New York and to beat the Jets.
I think that they are going to be, like I said,
much further ahead of the curve on the defensive side
of the football. Then the Jets will be on the
offensive side with with Justin Fields, no matter how long
(26:21):
he's been prepping with this team and how much Ota
mini camp and training camp time he has. So even
if things hold and it's Rudolph, still pick the Steelers
to get out of the gate one to zero against
the Jets. I ride that defense and no.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Just and again, like week one, we've seen crazy things
happen in Week one. Just because you're the odds on favorite,
especially that week, does not mean much.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
I also think Fields is gonna want revenge and he
might press a little bit.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
And make up Justin Fields ask mistake here and there.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Yeah, And you know what would be just great, would
really set you out of the gates running is if
maybe Minka Fitzpatch could have a little as Bill Hillgrove
would say Oski early in the year and maybe take
one to the house like he did against Cincinnati. So
I'm not really that worried about the Jets as it
stands right now and feeling like, oh, they won't win
(27:15):
this football game. Oh the Steelers will lose right out
of the gate. I think the Steelers are going to
struggle this year. I had him winning seven games in
my first iteration of win loss win loss, win loss.
But I don't think it's going to be a struggle
right away. I think it's going to be happy times
for the people with a one to h start, no
matter who your quarterback is. Just seen too many times
(27:35):
the defense early in a year dominate, and the only
time that I can really remember that they didn't and
the defense kind of got blown away recently was in
that game against San Francisco. Yeah, but that offense that
year was one of the most crazy and that team
went to the Super Bowl that season, So like that
was one of the craziest offenses that you've seen, and.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
We were drinking the kool aid for offense, yes exactly.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Kenny Pickett looked hot and then he had himself a game.
But other than that, like the Steelers defense usually carries
the day in the beginning portions of the season.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
All Right, when we come back, we're.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Gonna shift some focus to the offensive line. Talk about
those monsters. They looked huge out there at OTAs, so
we'll do that. We come back on the Steelers standard
Steeers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network,
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