July 22, 2025 • 25 mins
Maybe the biggest question mark facing the Steelers all offseason was finally answered when TJ Watt agreed to a new contract extension last week.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Well, I said last week when I came back from vacation,
I didn't bring any.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
News with me, and I was just so we go
away our week off honestly, because maybe in an off
season full of big news stories, the most important for
the Pittsburgh Steelers finally broke, and that is TJ Watt.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Would you say it's the most important.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I think it is. I think it might might.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I might go second.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Maybe because of Rogers, Yeah, quarterback.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
And and TJ.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
So many people just said the writing was on the wall,
the deal will get done.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Yeah, but you didn't want the headache of the of course,
not especially with of course, after what you just said,
the Rogers thing, and you got this trade for DK,
and you traded for Ramsey and John who like, this
is a big off season, and if it kind of
had a little bit of the wind taken out of
the sales heading into the trope, We're doing this on Tuesday,
the twenty second, in a couple of days. First practice
is thirdday, moving days tomorrow. If that would have kind
(01:03):
of slowed some of this momentum down, man like, or
it would have excuse me, slowed some of this momentum down,
we would have had that be the number one story
when I want the story on Thursday and Friday and
when they pop the pads on next Tuesday to be okay,
is it Jalen Ramsey sliding into safety? A little bit more?
(01:23):
What does the defensive backfield look like? How are they
lining up John new Smith and Pat Fryermith, Aaron Rodgers.
Just what's kind of the vibe you're getting from him
and his impact and how he's getting acclimated to the offense.
Like there's a lot of important football he stuff that's
that's matters this training camp period. And if what was
holding in where he still had that contract thing hanging
(01:46):
over his head, it would lead off with that at
every single show, every single turn would be what about
number nine? Right?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
What are we doing?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
And you avoid that completely. So that's kind of why
I'm framing it as the I get that because you've
made all these moves in the off season, right, and
you have transformed your team. I mean, I think here's
a little spoiler alert. Who knows if I'm gonna be
able to follow through on this because I'm lazy, But
on Thursday, before the train I'm gonna go back to
(02:14):
the Remember the end of the season press conference when
Mike Tomlin they lost to the Ravens, not the end
of the season one, but the end of the Ravens
game one.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Okay, the postgame press conference, and he might have said it.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Too in the end of a year wrap up one,
but just that things need to change, right like we're
doing things maybe a little too We got to change things.
And at the time you're wondering, like, well, what could
that possibly look like because we think, you know, the
staff is going to relatively remain the same, and you know,
how much can they really change the roster? And then
you fast forward and it's like they can change the
roster a lot, like they ripped up the damn floor
(02:45):
boards on the roster and put down a marble floor,
and who knows if it's practical, who knows if it's
gonna work out long term, but it kind of looks
nice right now and it's different. At least you go
into the room and it's got a new vibe to it,
new fun show a like that. So that really did
(03:06):
play out and the team looks incredibly different, and I'm
excited to see what comes out of the Cocoon now
that the season starts. But again, you need to have
your best player a part of it from the beginning,
and you need to have your best player. I don't
want to say that, like t J wouldn't play well
(03:26):
if he wasn't paid well, but like, you get him happy,
you make him at the top of that mountain right
now with the highest paid non quarterback in the NFL.
He gets to live in that moment for as long
as it takes until Michael Parsons probably gets his deal.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I don't know, Jered Jones, what's an idiot?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Do you think? Like, oh, I was gonna say, like
the GM, but he's the GM, he is the coach.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
What's that's who's that guy?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It's see like if I'm shoddy kid shody right, just
go behind my own back and like call Micah after
that press conference immediately and be like like but between
my guy, that was out of line, like and just
be like, you're playing your ass off for this team.
And JJ Watt actually had a tweet about it that
(04:14):
put it.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
In that Micah retweeted.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yes, but like you, he put it in the perspective
of like, guys definitely love the fact that when they
are definitely gonna want to give their all for you.
When they see that, when they give their all for
you and get hurt, you say this about them. So
but anyway, Jerry Jones does this, and what Jerry Jones
also does is he's going to pay him forty three
million dollars a year, Like he just is gonna give
him the deal that he wants because that's what he does.
(04:38):
He did this home yapp and about Dak and how
I don't know if well by he threw a shot
at Dak too in this press conference after throwing a
shot at Michael Parsons saying we Dak and he didn't
play line at all. So like he did this before Dak,
but then guess what, he made Dak a very healthy
paid quarterback. And then also he did this with Ceedee
(04:59):
Lamb and then made Ceedee Lamb one of the highest
paid non quarterbacks in football. So like it's it's like this,
it's a it's all talking now like it's got no
like this, like oh, maybe I'll go public in the
media and put pressure on the other guy. That way,
your actions say that what you're gonna do. But anyway, TJ.
Watt gets to be the highest paid player right now
(05:20):
that isn't taking snaps from under center, although maybe he
will this year. Maybe they'll have a couple of plays
in there where he jumps in and takes a snap.
But anyway he is there. You make him happy. And
the last time you made him happy and gave him
a pay raise like this, he did pretty on the
Defensive Player of the Year. Lot uh lofty of a
goal to set right now, a high bar to set
(05:42):
for him right now now that he is in his thirties.
But Cayle Brand pointed out something really interesting to me,
And we look at TJ and JJ Watt a lot
through the same lens, and even though they were kind
of different positions. You know, JJ bitbeef your foot on
the earth, foot on the hand, down in the dirt
on the line kind of guy. TJ. Watt stand up
more outside linebacker, can drop back into coverage a little
(06:06):
bit more. But they're both masters of sacks and both
have their defensive Players of the Years of DG is
three and Kyle Brant was saying, you know, we say, oh, TJ. Watt,
he's thirty one, he's nine years into the league, Like,
how much more is left on the tank for him,
and he said, you know what, there's a biological comp
like he is not washed up like any stretching the imagination.
(06:28):
And I don't think people mean that when they say that.
I think they're worried about him maybe taking that step
back a little bit. But he's like JJ Watt was
getting double digit sacks in his twelfth season in the
league with the Arizona Cardinals. Like TJ's gonna be just
fine over these next couple of years. And I think
that that actually does hold a lot of weight because
if we say and we do that, ah, TJ. Watt
(06:50):
has some injury problems and look at JJ, it's the
same thing biological comparison. JJ Watt got injured a lot,
missed some time. TJ Watt, same thing happens to him.
You have to say that the same thing is going
to happen to TJ as far as production when he
is healthy in early So you know, you had to
bring your best player back all along. Yeah, And it's see,
(07:12):
it's tough to frame it that way because he was
always here, like you said, like, it's tough to say
we had to bring him back, but you had to
keep him satisfied and keep him in a Steeler uniform,
which is what he clearly wanted as well as wanting
that money that he got. And I know that he
liked the Miles Garrett edge out of making a million
(07:34):
dollars more than him per year. But I think maybe
the tipping point for this contract, and we hear the
reports that the Steelers wanted to go a little lower
on the years, what came in high and maybe what's
doing that old deal maker thing where you come in
with like a crazy offer like six year extension and
then it's like, all right, I'll eat you at three.
(07:56):
And it's like I always wanted three, and so the
Steelers probably wanted to they meet it through. But anyway,
like there's a little compromise there. But what I was
getting at is, on top of the I edged out
Miles Garrett on the highest paid and non quarterback per
year thing, I think you look at the guaranteed money
and the one hundred and eight million dollars of that
(08:16):
one hundred and twenty three million dollars that is guaranteed
at his signing of the contract. Not a check is
cut for one hundred and eight million dollars from the Steelers,
But there is no way to because you know there's
there's guaranteed money, but then there's also in contracts in
the NFL, like fully guaranteed money like so like, even
though it says it's guaranteed money, you might not get
all of that. You got to look into the fine
print sometimes. But he'll get all of this one hundred
(08:39):
and eight million dollars. And this is a contract. If
the Steelers have handed out that has guaranteed money passed
the first year of the contract extension, that is something
that they've never done before. And I believe that that
is a two kit things. One. I think it's the
league is evolving and you just have to do that now.
(09:00):
Teams do that. And if you want to be competitive
in markets where every other team is going to offer
guaranteed money pass this year, you can't just kind of
go into it and be like, well, this isn't how
the Steelers do it. You have to do it our way.
People are going to want that now and you have
to adapt to it for certain but you can't do
it for everybody, but for certain players you adapt to it.
And that's I think the second part of it. He
(09:20):
just reaches that extra level of class in their eyes,
where it's like, well, if we're going to start to
do things, you know, to start to adapt as a team,
like the Steelers, a lot of times it takes that
first unprecedented kind of move for them. And if we're
going to do that first unprecedented kind of move with
guaranteed money, it's got to be with somebody that is
already in our rafters. Not jersey number, but Hall of honor, right,
(09:43):
a lot of somebody who's already got a gold jacket
over his shoulders, like it's a really good guy to
break the protocol for. So it is.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
And let me ask you, this did and I don't
know if you and labs have discussed this, didn't they
do that for Antonio Brown one.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Time, guarantee them past now the first year of an extension. Okay,
I know.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
That because I was trying to see if this was
actually the first time they did what I did.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
I keep caring people say that, so I'm gonna trust it.
What I do know with Antonio Brown is there was
times like Julio Jones would get his contract extension, then
they would reduce some stuff around and make him give
him a raise. You know what I mean, and that
also helps the cap.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
This cap.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
The cap went down for the Steelers this year because
of the deal that they signed with what they were
able to move some money off of it and drop
the cap down. That cap hit over the next couple years, though,
like in two years, it's forty two million. It's forty
two so you have to eat it eventually. We'll get
to eating it in a second, because it's not as
hard as people might be thinking it's going to be
for the Steelers over that time span. But cap goes
(10:47):
down this year, you're kind of in this mode speaking
of unprecedented Steelers things where you're just like grabbing people,
not not to say like you're grabbing scraps off the
side of the road, but you're like kind of, you know,
just hey, build it your if you're building a team
in a new way, in a free agency kind of way,
in a trade kind of way. And you were the
one that tossed this name out there earlier this month
(11:08):
perhaps or maybe it was in June even but like
Justin Simmons is still out there. Just maybe throw a
little something at him, roll the dice on him and
see if you can bring him in. You you have
the money now to do something this year again with
a safety or with a number two wide receiver, and
maybe you want to keep that money pocket so when
(11:30):
the trade deadline comes up this year, you can make
kind of a big aggressive move for a wide.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Receiver, bigger move than Mike Williams right last year, a move.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
That maybe gets you a one b in here, like
a go for it kind of move, and you have
the money that's necessary to pay the rest of the
season or whatever the guy's owed. Maybe it's like the
the twelve fourteen to fifteen million dollar range or something
like that, So you know, maybe that's the strategy. But
either way, for a team that has been adding and
changing through addition methods, not just the draft, this offseason
(12:02):
there's more ability to do that. You can go to
the bank and say, I still have some money that
can buy some players here. And now I'm not saying
that you have to spend all your money, and the
Steelers don't do that going into a season. They want
to have some room in the cap for if they
do make moves players become available throughout the season. But
(12:23):
they have now with him restructuring a little bit this
year and dropping that down a bit, a lot of
room to breathe, and Rogers only making ten million helps
a lot when it comes to that. So if they
want to take a little crag and you know what,
maybe you wait a week see how Thornhill does at camp,
and then maybe you have to make a decision. You
(12:44):
have to move on. Maybe you like how Robert Woods
and Austin and Roman Wilson are kind of all fitting
in to that weird hybrid role on top of Johnny
Smith and Friarmouth really putting up good numbers as a
wide receiver two option or maybe one of those things
doesn't come to fruition and you have to go out
and make a move. But they've got the flexibility to
(13:05):
do that now, and they've got their number one player signed, sealed,
happy and here for a long time and probably.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
The end of the until the end of his career.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Yeah, as a Pittsburgh Steeler, Yes, will be a one
helmet guy.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yes, And him and Cam will be able to kind
of have that tandem together. Maybe Cam will go until what.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Goes maybe the it's it's funny that you say that,
just because you're talking about them as a tandem and
I kind of cringed when you said that, And the
reason I did that was because you kind of look
at them as the Steelers defensive tandem to never have
gotten to the pinnacle of professional football.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
And that's a great transition into where we should go
now because we just set up all this stuff about
how he's best player on the team, and he has
a ton of regular season success for sure. I mean,
he's going into the Hall of Fame. We mentioned that.
But the thing that's missing now and what really needs
to happen in this next contract that he has, is
that success in the playoffs. And hey, it's I get you.
(14:09):
It's it's unfair to leap to hoist those expectations onto
an edge rusher. He's not a quarterback, but he is
making quarterback money. And at the same time, you want
to see great players on big stages, and he's been
to the playoffs before, so he's been on stages like that.
And when the Steelers play Sunday Night Football against the Ravens,
(14:31):
it's a big stage the entire nation is watching. But
a divisional round game, a championship game, definitely, and not
to mention even a super Bowl potentially, but you know,
you you we were comping to JJ Watt earlier in
the show, And yeah, JJ Watt never had that Super
Bowl to hang his hat on, right, but his Texans
(14:51):
team won playoff games. Yeah, Like JJ Watt was in
divisional rounds and I don't was he on the team,
was kind of still there when they got the chamship
game went up twenty four to nothing. I want to
say that he was by I think that was a
year where he was hurt a lot during the regular
season and then kind of just like came back because
(15:13):
of the team having a lot of success and was
able to play in the playoffs. So you know, you
look at jj Watt and he at least has three
playoff wins in his career. He's played in two playoff
games in twenty eleven, twenty twelve, and in twenty nineteen
with the Houston Texans. So that should be right around
(15:36):
when they went on that run, right the twenty nineteen.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
It was the twenty nineteen, twenty twenties. It was the
year that they lost the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl
to UH to the the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay.
That's right, JJ Watt. That was his last season and Houston.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
He never made it to the championships SAT round because
that was the divisional round because right if you remember,
it was Tennessee in the AFC championship game that year.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
When did Houston get there? Did they get to the end.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
I think we're thinking we're conflating the seasonal round with
the championship.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
That's not unfair of us because Houston was the game.
It's because we're talking about two NFC or AFC South teams, Houston's.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Houston went up early in that game and we're up
big on the Chiefs and then.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
They were up twenty four nothing.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
I think that was the game where it was like
the Chiefs were the only team to trail by twenty
four and then win the game by twenty four or more.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Not only that, but I think they were the only
team to be down by twenty four and have it
tied at halftime, because remember they went just like banana.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
It was crazy how quick it was.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
The final score was fifty one to thirty one of
that football game. It's crazy, like that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
I think it was like maybe the first team ever
to trail by twenty but then win the game by twenty.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
It was something like sane work. But anyway, so but
Jig Watt has playoff wins because guess what the week
before that, he went to Buffalo and won twenty two
to nineteen. So he's had those moments where he's been
on those stages and he's won. Player.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
I remember early in his career when they were lining
him up as a tight end, like he had impact
in that game and that kind of role and that,
and I remember them winning. I think like Matt shab
was still the quarterback at that point and they were
winning games with him there.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Either way, he's got that play the end of Matto,
he's got that playoff success.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Yeah, right, And I.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Think you're you're also going to refer to the fact
that I think TJ's played in four games and has
registered registered a total of once.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
One but he has the pick six the scoop isid
sc against at City Chiefs. So he's got a huge
play on a big stage moment. But yeah, you know
there's games where he wrecks it in the regular season
and you're like, there was the only reason the Steelers
won that game was because of t J. Y And
the sample size is a lot smaller because of the playoffs,
(17:51):
and you're playing a lot better competition because of the playoffs,
but you just one of the time you think, like, okay,
not the third one, so it was the fourth one
or is the second one to the third one. He's
gonna it's gonna be one of those games where it's
two and a half sacks, a couple forced fumbles if
he's not getting the sack, the quarterbacks on his ass
before he can get the ball out and like in
a consistent manner and hit his receiver and stride. Maybe
(18:13):
he tips a ball at the line of scrimmage that
gets picked off like just everywhere, just like the best
player on the field type of player. And you haven't
seen it yet in the playoffs to that magnitude, and
I still think it absolutely can happen. And this year,
I mean just the weight of the moves that they've made,
plus giving this contract out to TJ. Watt, I mean
(18:34):
that term all in is being thrown around a ton
when it comes to the Steelers for this season. And
I get it to an extent. I don't think that
they have They think they're gonna win a super Bowl.
They want to win a super Bowl. But I just
don't see it in the way that the AFC landscape
has really taken shape around them, you know what I mean. Sure,
(18:55):
So I just I think that these moves are enough
and with the goal in mind to at least get
that playoff win under your belt, and I do think
that they are enough. I think that they are enough
to win one. I think you're gonna be more competitive
against the really great teams in the AFC this year
(19:15):
than you have been. And maybe you get lucky and
you get the weakest link as the four seed and
you're the five seed or something like that, and maybe
the four seed has a quarterback that got injured and
that's why they fell from the two seed to the
four seed or something like that. Like, you just never
know how this is gonna play out from the same
you know thought exercise Aaron Rodgers could be in a
wheelchair by the time that playoff game rules around, and
(19:36):
now you're going into the playoff game with Rudolph as
your quarterback. But anyway, I'm just I think you're gonna
have a better chance to punch up. I don't think
that they're gonna be able to consistently get a run
going against great teams week after week. But I think
you catch you know, a Baltimore or a Buffalo or
somebody like that, kind of not on their worst day,
(19:56):
but on a day where they're just kind of doubting
themselves a little bit, just ripping on all cylinders and
Watts punching people in the mouth, and Rogers is surgical
kind of having that Dennis Quaid moment in the movie
Any given Sunday before he gets hurt and ultimately they
have to go back to Willie Beaman, but he's just,
you know, forget the soreness, forget the I'm banged up here,
(20:20):
I'm banged up there, forget that I'm forty two years old.
I feel twenty seven again. And I'm just gonna play
like that for one game and then the next week,
I'm only going to throw it for like one hundred
ninety yards and we're gonna lose in the dirt round.
But anyway, I'm gonna for three forty in this one,
and I'm just gonna be so crafty as the way
I go about it. I believe that this team is
capable of doing that. How they're constructed right now, of
(20:44):
getting a win an upset fashion and finally getting into
that divisional round.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
And I think something we've talked about a lot leading
up to the season is what a playoff win does
for you in terms of building momentum. And let's say
in whatever wildcard round that the stealers potentially draw, they
do draw that team that we refer to as how did.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
You what was the term you called it? Just like
the easy draw.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
It's that it's you get the five seed drawing the
four seed, and it's the worst of the division winners,
and even though they are seated ahead of you, you
are the better team. And let's say TG Watt doesn't
show up on the stat sheet, right, Let's say it's
one of those games where he's not TJ Watt to
the level that we know he can be, but just
getting that win, he can get that monkey off his shoulder,
(21:37):
he can get that weight off of his chest. And
then the next game he says to himself, Hey, I
won a playoff game, Like I've done something I've never
done before. And then he comes into that next week
feeling much better because the team around him really rallied
as a unit and they got the win that could
carry momentum for him. On an individual level, and then
(21:57):
by the next week in the divisional round, even if
he didn't have a huge impact in the first week
of the playoffs, second week, like you said, maybe that's
the impact week two and a half sacks and force fumble,
something like that. So we always talk about momentum what
it does for a team. We haven't only talked about
it on an individual level, but I think it could
have huge impact on guys, especially like TJ.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
Wytt and Cam Hayward specifically.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah, and it's time that it does have kind of
effect or that they are allowed to have that kind
of effect and this team.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
That they're allowed to have that momentum behind them.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Now as far as this kind of not handcuffing the
team moving forward money wise financially, yeah, that's a lot
of money to pay somebody that's not a quarterback. But
you're also not paying a quarterback that.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Kind of money, and you don't know the next time
you're going to be paying a quarterback that much money.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
If you do hit next year in the draft and
you get the number one pick, not the number one pick,
but the first round pick that turns into the next guy,
then by the time TJ. Watt is done with this contract,
you'll have to pay that quarterback that you'll start to
think you might not even have to yet, But yeah,
I guess it'll be on the horizon. Sure, maybe you'll
want to get it done, just get it done with.
(23:07):
But it lines up really nicely with what a timeline
the future plans will be. But the future plans could
go wrong if the quarterback that they select they take
a mysterat on he gets injured a lot. But anyway,
that just the way that they're kind of setting up
the chessboard moving forward. As far as the finances are concerned,
it's not gonna hurt them at all. And even if
(23:27):
you know, say they draft that quarterback next year and
Rogers comes back, like, you give Rogers a raise of
six seven million dollars and that's not gonna kill your
twenty million dollars for guy's making.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
And you know, you were kind of going the negative
route saying, oh, it may not work out, but you're
still not okay, then you don't have to pay the quarterback.
I could easily foresee Tom if the quarterback that you
draft next year is the guy. And then however, many
years down the line, you have to pay him.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
TJ. Watt, who has been a part of.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
The recruiting process for quarterbacks on this team, going out
and recruiting Russell Wilson. I could easily foresee him saying,
you know what, even though my contract is up and
I'm a great player, I'm a future Hall of Famer,
I'm gonna be thirty four thirty five this year, but
this team needs a quarterback desperately, and I.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
Don't need the money anymore.
Speaker 4 (24:21):
I don't need the life changing, the record setting money anymore.
This kid does. And this kid is our best chance
to win a Super Bowl. I could easily foresee at
that point of TJ's career saying, go out and pay
this kid, and I'll take whatever pay cut you need,
not something that's like, you know, paying levels of Aaron
Rodgers like you did this year Russell Wilson what you
paid him last year, but just not going out and
(24:43):
having to set another record for a non quarterback contract
for TG one. I could easily foresee him saying, I'll
take one for the team, pay him, and let's go
in this together.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Yep. I could easily see him saying that as well.
And I think that this team is on the horizon
or the precipice, if all health things are considered, if
the line comes together and these players can really fuse
into this roster.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Well that the only missing pieces of the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
But maybe you have them with Rogers, maybe Rogers, And
then talking about this year now and okay, you have
a chance to get at least the momentum going into
the future and people can stop talking about how it's
been X amount of years. You moving on in the playoffs.
When we come back training camp starts on Thursday. We'll
talk about some of the storylines as we enter camp
(25:35):
that we are looking forward to and some of the
important things that need to be decided and need to
be determined by the time at camp adjourns next week
or next week, next month. Jacob Breck to I'm Tom Offerman.
This is a Steelers standard on the Steelers Audio Network.
Well, I said last week when I came back from vacation,
I didn't bring any.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
News with me, and I was just so we go
away our week off honestly, because maybe in an off
season full of big news stories, the most important for
the Pittsburgh Steelers finally broke, and that is TJ Watt.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Would you say it's the most important.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I think it is. I think it might might.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I might go second.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Maybe because of Rogers, Yeah, quarterback.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
And and TJ.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
So many people just said the writing was on the wall,
the deal will get done.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Yeah, but you didn't want the headache of the of course,
not especially with of course, after what you just said,
the Rogers thing, and you got this trade for DK,
and you traded for Ramsey and John who like, this
is a big off season, and if it kind of
had a little bit of the wind taken out of
the sales heading into the trope, We're doing this on Tuesday,
the twenty second, in a couple of days. First practice
is thirdday, moving days tomorrow. If that would have kind
(01:03):
of slowed some of this momentum down, man like, or
it would have excuse me, slowed some of this momentum down,
we would have had that be the number one story
when I want the story on Thursday and Friday and
when they pop the pads on next Tuesday to be okay,
is it Jalen Ramsey sliding into safety? A little bit more?
(01:23):
What does the defensive backfield look like? How are they
lining up John new Smith and Pat Fryermith, Aaron Rodgers.
Just what's kind of the vibe you're getting from him
and his impact and how he's getting acclimated to the offense.
Like there's a lot of important football he stuff that's
that's matters this training camp period. And if what was
holding in where he still had that contract thing hanging
(01:46):
over his head, it would lead off with that at
every single show, every single turn would be what about
number nine? Right?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
What are we doing?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
And you avoid that completely. So that's kind of why
I'm framing it as the I get that because you've
made all these moves in the off season, right, and
you have transformed your team. I mean, I think here's
a little spoiler alert. Who knows if I'm gonna be
able to follow through on this because I'm lazy, But
on Thursday, before the train I'm gonna go back to
(02:14):
the Remember the end of the season press conference when
Mike Tomlin they lost to the Ravens, not the end
of the season one, but the end of the Ravens
game one.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Okay, the postgame press conference, and he might have said it.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Too in the end of a year wrap up one,
but just that things need to change, right like we're
doing things maybe a little too We got to change things.
And at the time you're wondering, like, well, what could
that possibly look like because we think, you know, the
staff is going to relatively remain the same, and you know,
how much can they really change the roster? And then
you fast forward and it's like they can change the
roster a lot, like they ripped up the damn floor
(02:45):
boards on the roster and put down a marble floor,
and who knows if it's practical, who knows if it's
gonna work out long term, but it kind of looks
nice right now and it's different. At least you go
into the room and it's got a new vibe to it,
new fun show a like that. So that really did
(03:06):
play out and the team looks incredibly different, and I'm
excited to see what comes out of the Cocoon now
that the season starts. But again, you need to have
your best player a part of it from the beginning,
and you need to have your best player. I don't
want to say that, like t J wouldn't play well
(03:26):
if he wasn't paid well, but like, you get him happy,
you make him at the top of that mountain right
now with the highest paid non quarterback in the NFL.
He gets to live in that moment for as long
as it takes until Michael Parsons probably gets his deal.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I don't know, Jered Jones, what's an idiot?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Do you think? Like, oh, I was gonna say, like
the GM, but he's the GM, he is the coach.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
What's that's who's that guy?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It's see like if I'm shoddy kid shody right, just
go behind my own back and like call Micah after
that press conference immediately and be like like but between
my guy, that was out of line, like and just
be like, you're playing your ass off for this team.
And JJ Watt actually had a tweet about it that
(04:14):
put it.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
In that Micah retweeted.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yes, but like you, he put it in the perspective
of like, guys definitely love the fact that when they
are definitely gonna want to give their all for you.
When they see that, when they give their all for
you and get hurt, you say this about them. So
but anyway, Jerry Jones does this, and what Jerry Jones
also does is he's going to pay him forty three
million dollars a year, Like he just is gonna give
him the deal that he wants because that's what he does.
(04:38):
He did this home yapp and about Dak and how
I don't know if well by he threw a shot
at Dak too in this press conference after throwing a
shot at Michael Parsons saying we Dak and he didn't
play line at all. So like he did this before Dak,
but then guess what, he made Dak a very healthy
paid quarterback. And then also he did this with Ceedee
(04:59):
Lamb and then made Ceedee Lamb one of the highest
paid non quarterbacks in football. So like it's it's like this,
it's a it's all talking now like it's got no
like this, like oh, maybe I'll go public in the
media and put pressure on the other guy. That way,
your actions say that what you're gonna do. But anyway, TJ.
Watt gets to be the highest paid player right now
(05:20):
that isn't taking snaps from under center, although maybe he
will this year. Maybe they'll have a couple of plays
in there where he jumps in and takes a snap.
But anyway he is there. You make him happy. And
the last time you made him happy and gave him
a pay raise like this, he did pretty on the
Defensive Player of the Year. Lot uh lofty of a
goal to set right now, a high bar to set
(05:42):
for him right now now that he is in his thirties.
But Cayle Brand pointed out something really interesting to me,
And we look at TJ and JJ Watt a lot
through the same lens, and even though they were kind
of different positions. You know, JJ bitbeef your foot on
the earth, foot on the hand, down in the dirt
on the line kind of guy. TJ. Watt stand up
more outside linebacker, can drop back into coverage a little
(06:06):
bit more. But they're both masters of sacks and both
have their defensive Players of the Years of DG is
three and Kyle Brant was saying, you know, we say, oh, TJ. Watt,
he's thirty one, he's nine years into the league, Like,
how much more is left on the tank for him,
and he said, you know what, there's a biological comp
like he is not washed up like any stretching the imagination.
(06:28):
And I don't think people mean that when they say that.
I think they're worried about him maybe taking that step
back a little bit. But he's like JJ Watt was
getting double digit sacks in his twelfth season in the
league with the Arizona Cardinals. Like TJ's gonna be just
fine over these next couple of years. And I think
that that actually does hold a lot of weight because
if we say and we do that, ah, TJ. Watt
(06:50):
has some injury problems and look at JJ, it's the
same thing biological comparison. JJ Watt got injured a lot,
missed some time. TJ Watt, same thing happens to him.
You have to say that the same thing is going
to happen to TJ as far as production when he
is healthy in early So you know, you had to
bring your best player back all along. Yeah, And it's see,
(07:12):
it's tough to frame it that way because he was
always here, like you said, like, it's tough to say
we had to bring him back, but you had to
keep him satisfied and keep him in a Steeler uniform,
which is what he clearly wanted as well as wanting
that money that he got. And I know that he
liked the Miles Garrett edge out of making a million
(07:34):
dollars more than him per year. But I think maybe
the tipping point for this contract, and we hear the
reports that the Steelers wanted to go a little lower
on the years, what came in high and maybe what's
doing that old deal maker thing where you come in
with like a crazy offer like six year extension and
then it's like, all right, I'll eat you at three.
(07:56):
And it's like I always wanted three, and so the
Steelers probably wanted to they meet it through. But anyway,
like there's a little compromise there. But what I was
getting at is, on top of the I edged out
Miles Garrett on the highest paid and non quarterback per
year thing, I think you look at the guaranteed money
and the one hundred and eight million dollars of that
(08:16):
one hundred and twenty three million dollars that is guaranteed
at his signing of the contract. Not a check is
cut for one hundred and eight million dollars from the Steelers,
But there is no way to because you know there's
there's guaranteed money, but then there's also in contracts in
the NFL, like fully guaranteed money like so like, even
though it says it's guaranteed money, you might not get
all of that. You got to look into the fine
print sometimes. But he'll get all of this one hundred
(08:39):
and eight million dollars. And this is a contract. If
the Steelers have handed out that has guaranteed money passed
the first year of the contract extension, that is something
that they've never done before. And I believe that that
is a two kit things. One. I think it's the
league is evolving and you just have to do that now.
(09:00):
Teams do that. And if you want to be competitive
in markets where every other team is going to offer
guaranteed money pass this year, you can't just kind of
go into it and be like, well, this isn't how
the Steelers do it. You have to do it our way.
People are going to want that now and you have
to adapt to it for certain but you can't do
it for everybody, but for certain players you adapt to it.
And that's I think the second part of it. He
(09:20):
just reaches that extra level of class in their eyes,
where it's like, well, if we're going to start to
do things, you know, to start to adapt as a team,
like the Steelers, a lot of times it takes that
first unprecedented kind of move for them. And if we're
going to do that first unprecedented kind of move with
guaranteed money, it's got to be with somebody that is
already in our rafters. Not jersey number, but Hall of honor, right,
(09:43):
a lot of somebody who's already got a gold jacket
over his shoulders, like it's a really good guy to
break the protocol for. So it is.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
And let me ask you, this did and I don't
know if you and labs have discussed this, didn't they
do that for Antonio Brown one.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Time, guarantee them past now the first year of an extension. Okay,
I know.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
That because I was trying to see if this was
actually the first time they did what I did.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
I keep caring people say that, so I'm gonna trust it.
What I do know with Antonio Brown is there was
times like Julio Jones would get his contract extension, then
they would reduce some stuff around and make him give
him a raise. You know what I mean, and that
also helps the cap.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
This cap.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
The cap went down for the Steelers this year because
of the deal that they signed with what they were
able to move some money off of it and drop
the cap down. That cap hit over the next couple years, though,
like in two years, it's forty two million. It's forty
two so you have to eat it eventually. We'll get
to eating it in a second, because it's not as
hard as people might be thinking it's going to be
for the Steelers over that time span. But cap goes
(10:47):
down this year, you're kind of in this mode speaking
of unprecedented Steelers things where you're just like grabbing people,
not not to say like you're grabbing scraps off the
side of the road, but you're like kind of, you know,
just hey, build it your if you're building a team
in a new way, in a free agency kind of way,
in a trade kind of way. And you were the
one that tossed this name out there earlier this month
(11:08):
perhaps or maybe it was in June even but like
Justin Simmons is still out there. Just maybe throw a
little something at him, roll the dice on him and
see if you can bring him in. You you have
the money now to do something this year again with
a safety or with a number two wide receiver, and
maybe you want to keep that money pocket so when
(11:30):
the trade deadline comes up this year, you can make
kind of a big aggressive move for a wide.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Receiver, bigger move than Mike Williams right last year, a move.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
That maybe gets you a one b in here, like
a go for it kind of move, and you have
the money that's necessary to pay the rest of the
season or whatever the guy's owed. Maybe it's like the
the twelve fourteen to fifteen million dollar range or something
like that, So you know, maybe that's the strategy. But
either way, for a team that has been adding and
changing through addition methods, not just the draft, this offseason
(12:02):
there's more ability to do that. You can go to
the bank and say, I still have some money that
can buy some players here. And now I'm not saying
that you have to spend all your money, and the
Steelers don't do that going into a season. They want
to have some room in the cap for if they
do make moves players become available throughout the season. But
(12:23):
they have now with him restructuring a little bit this
year and dropping that down a bit, a lot of
room to breathe, and Rogers only making ten million helps
a lot when it comes to that. So if they
want to take a little crag and you know what,
maybe you wait a week see how Thornhill does at camp,
and then maybe you have to make a decision. You
(12:44):
have to move on. Maybe you like how Robert Woods
and Austin and Roman Wilson are kind of all fitting
in to that weird hybrid role on top of Johnny
Smith and Friarmouth really putting up good numbers as a
wide receiver two option or maybe one of those things
doesn't come to fruition and you have to go out
and make a move. But they've got the flexibility to
(13:05):
do that now, and they've got their number one player signed, sealed,
happy and here for a long time and probably.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
The end of the until the end of his career.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Yeah, as a Pittsburgh Steeler, Yes, will be a one
helmet guy.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yes, And him and Cam will be able to kind
of have that tandem together. Maybe Cam will go until what.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Goes maybe the it's it's funny that you say that,
just because you're talking about them as a tandem and
I kind of cringed when you said that, And the
reason I did that was because you kind of look
at them as the Steelers defensive tandem to never have
gotten to the pinnacle of professional football.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
And that's a great transition into where we should go
now because we just set up all this stuff about
how he's best player on the team, and he has
a ton of regular season success for sure. I mean,
he's going into the Hall of Fame. We mentioned that.
But the thing that's missing now and what really needs
to happen in this next contract that he has, is
that success in the playoffs. And hey, it's I get you.
(14:09):
It's it's unfair to leap to hoist those expectations onto
an edge rusher. He's not a quarterback, but he is
making quarterback money. And at the same time, you want
to see great players on big stages, and he's been
to the playoffs before, so he's been on stages like that.
And when the Steelers play Sunday Night Football against the Ravens,
(14:31):
it's a big stage the entire nation is watching. But
a divisional round game, a championship game, definitely, and not
to mention even a super Bowl potentially, but you know,
you you we were comping to JJ Watt earlier in
the show, And yeah, JJ Watt never had that Super
Bowl to hang his hat on, right, but his Texans
(14:51):
team won playoff games. Yeah, Like JJ Watt was in
divisional rounds and I don't was he on the team,
was kind of still there when they got the chamship
game went up twenty four to nothing. I want to
say that he was by I think that was a
year where he was hurt a lot during the regular
season and then kind of just like came back because
(15:13):
of the team having a lot of success and was
able to play in the playoffs. So you know, you
look at jj Watt and he at least has three
playoff wins in his career. He's played in two playoff
games in twenty eleven, twenty twelve, and in twenty nineteen
with the Houston Texans. So that should be right around
(15:36):
when they went on that run, right the twenty nineteen.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
It was the twenty nineteen, twenty twenties. It was the
year that they lost the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl
to UH to the the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay.
That's right, JJ Watt. That was his last season and Houston.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
He never made it to the championships SAT round because
that was the divisional round because right if you remember,
it was Tennessee in the AFC championship game that year.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
When did Houston get there? Did they get to the end.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
I think we're thinking we're conflating the seasonal round with
the championship.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
That's not unfair of us because Houston was the game.
It's because we're talking about two NFC or AFC South teams, Houston's.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Houston went up early in that game and we're up
big on the Chiefs and then.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
They were up twenty four nothing.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
I think that was the game where it was like
the Chiefs were the only team to trail by twenty
four and then win the game by twenty four or more.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Not only that, but I think they were the only
team to be down by twenty four and have it
tied at halftime, because remember they went just like banana.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
It was crazy how quick it was.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
The final score was fifty one to thirty one of
that football game. It's crazy, like that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
I think it was like maybe the first team ever
to trail by twenty but then win the game by twenty.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
It was something like sane work. But anyway, so but
Jig Watt has playoff wins because guess what the week
before that, he went to Buffalo and won twenty two
to nineteen. So he's had those moments where he's been
on those stages and he's won. Player.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
I remember early in his career when they were lining
him up as a tight end, like he had impact
in that game and that kind of role and that,
and I remember them winning. I think like Matt shab
was still the quarterback at that point and they were
winning games with him there.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Either way, he's got that play the end of Matto,
he's got that playoff success.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Yeah, right, And I.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Think you're you're also going to refer to the fact
that I think TJ's played in four games and has
registered registered a total of once.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
One but he has the pick six the scoop isid
sc against at City Chiefs. So he's got a huge
play on a big stage moment. But yeah, you know
there's games where he wrecks it in the regular season
and you're like, there was the only reason the Steelers
won that game was because of t J. Y And
the sample size is a lot smaller because of the playoffs,
(17:51):
and you're playing a lot better competition because of the playoffs,
but you just one of the time you think, like, okay,
not the third one, so it was the fourth one
or is the second one to the third one. He's
gonna it's gonna be one of those games where it's
two and a half sacks, a couple forced fumbles if
he's not getting the sack, the quarterbacks on his ass
before he can get the ball out and like in
a consistent manner and hit his receiver and stride. Maybe
(18:13):
he tips a ball at the line of scrimmage that
gets picked off like just everywhere, just like the best
player on the field type of player. And you haven't
seen it yet in the playoffs to that magnitude, and
I still think it absolutely can happen. And this year,
I mean just the weight of the moves that they've made,
plus giving this contract out to TJ. Watt, I mean
(18:34):
that term all in is being thrown around a ton
when it comes to the Steelers for this season. And
I get it to an extent. I don't think that
they have They think they're gonna win a super Bowl.
They want to win a super Bowl. But I just
don't see it in the way that the AFC landscape
has really taken shape around them, you know what I mean. Sure,
(18:55):
So I just I think that these moves are enough
and with the goal in mind to at least get
that playoff win under your belt, and I do think
that they are enough. I think that they are enough
to win one. I think you're gonna be more competitive
against the really great teams in the AFC this year
(19:15):
than you have been. And maybe you get lucky and
you get the weakest link as the four seed and
you're the five seed or something like that, and maybe
the four seed has a quarterback that got injured and
that's why they fell from the two seed to the
four seed or something like that. Like, you just never
know how this is gonna play out from the same
you know thought exercise Aaron Rodgers could be in a
wheelchair by the time that playoff game rules around, and
(19:36):
now you're going into the playoff game with Rudolph as
your quarterback. But anyway, I'm just I think you're gonna
have a better chance to punch up. I don't think
that they're gonna be able to consistently get a run
going against great teams week after week. But I think
you catch you know, a Baltimore or a Buffalo or
somebody like that, kind of not on their worst day,
(19:56):
but on a day where they're just kind of doubting
themselves a little bit, just ripping on all cylinders and
Watts punching people in the mouth, and Rogers is surgical
kind of having that Dennis Quaid moment in the movie
Any given Sunday before he gets hurt and ultimately they
have to go back to Willie Beaman, but he's just,
you know, forget the soreness, forget the I'm banged up here,
(20:20):
I'm banged up there, forget that I'm forty two years old.
I feel twenty seven again. And I'm just gonna play
like that for one game and then the next week,
I'm only going to throw it for like one hundred
ninety yards and we're gonna lose in the dirt round.
But anyway, I'm gonna for three forty in this one,
and I'm just gonna be so crafty as the way
I go about it. I believe that this team is
capable of doing that. How they're constructed right now, of
(20:44):
getting a win an upset fashion and finally getting into
that divisional round.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
And I think something we've talked about a lot leading
up to the season is what a playoff win does
for you in terms of building momentum. And let's say
in whatever wildcard round that the stealers potentially draw, they
do draw that team that we refer to as how did.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
You what was the term you called it? Just like
the easy draw.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
It's that it's you get the five seed drawing the
four seed, and it's the worst of the division winners,
and even though they are seated ahead of you, you
are the better team. And let's say TG Watt doesn't
show up on the stat sheet, right, Let's say it's
one of those games where he's not TJ Watt to
the level that we know he can be, but just
getting that win, he can get that monkey off his shoulder,
(21:37):
he can get that weight off of his chest. And
then the next game he says to himself, Hey, I
won a playoff game, Like I've done something I've never
done before. And then he comes into that next week
feeling much better because the team around him really rallied
as a unit and they got the win that could
carry momentum for him. On an individual level, and then
(21:57):
by the next week in the divisional round, even if
he didn't have a huge impact in the first week
of the playoffs, second week, like you said, maybe that's
the impact week two and a half sacks and force fumble,
something like that. So we always talk about momentum what
it does for a team. We haven't only talked about
it on an individual level, but I think it could
have huge impact on guys, especially like TJ.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
Wytt and Cam Hayward specifically.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah, and it's time that it does have kind of
effect or that they are allowed to have that kind
of effect and this team.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
That they're allowed to have that momentum behind them.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Now as far as this kind of not handcuffing the
team moving forward money wise financially, yeah, that's a lot
of money to pay somebody that's not a quarterback. But
you're also not paying a quarterback that.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Kind of money, and you don't know the next time
you're going to be paying a quarterback that much money.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
If you do hit next year in the draft and
you get the number one pick, not the number one pick,
but the first round pick that turns into the next guy,
then by the time TJ. Watt is done with this contract,
you'll have to pay that quarterback that you'll start to
think you might not even have to yet, But yeah,
I guess it'll be on the horizon. Sure, maybe you'll
want to get it done, just get it done with.
(23:07):
But it lines up really nicely with what a timeline
the future plans will be. But the future plans could
go wrong if the quarterback that they select they take
a mysterat on he gets injured a lot. But anyway,
that just the way that they're kind of setting up
the chessboard moving forward. As far as the finances are concerned,
it's not gonna hurt them at all. And even if
(23:27):
you know, say they draft that quarterback next year and
Rogers comes back, like, you give Rogers a raise of
six seven million dollars and that's not gonna kill your
twenty million dollars for guy's making.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
And you know, you were kind of going the negative
route saying, oh, it may not work out, but you're
still not okay, then you don't have to pay the quarterback.
I could easily foresee Tom if the quarterback that you
draft next year is the guy. And then however, many
years down the line, you have to pay him.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
TJ. Watt, who has been a part of.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
The recruiting process for quarterbacks on this team, going out
and recruiting Russell Wilson. I could easily foresee him saying,
you know what, even though my contract is up and
I'm a great player, I'm a future Hall of Famer,
I'm gonna be thirty four thirty five this year, but
this team needs a quarterback desperately, and I.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
Don't need the money anymore.
Speaker 4 (24:21):
I don't need the life changing, the record setting money anymore.
This kid does. And this kid is our best chance
to win a Super Bowl. I could easily foresee at
that point of TJ's career saying, go out and pay
this kid, and I'll take whatever pay cut you need,
not something that's like, you know, paying levels of Aaron
Rodgers like you did this year Russell Wilson what you
paid him last year, but just not going out and
(24:43):
having to set another record for a non quarterback contract
for TG one. I could easily foresee him saying, I'll
take one for the team, pay him, and let's go
in this together.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Yep. I could easily see him saying that as well.
And I think that this team is on the horizon
or the precipice, if all health things are considered, if
the line comes together and these players can really fuse
into this roster.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Well that the only missing pieces of the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
But maybe you have them with Rogers, maybe Rogers, And
then talking about this year now and okay, you have
a chance to get at least the momentum going into
the future and people can stop talking about how it's
been X amount of years. You moving on in the playoffs.
When we come back training camp starts on Thursday. We'll
talk about some of the storylines as we enter camp
(25:35):
that we are looking forward to and some of the
important things that need to be decided and need to
be determined by the time at camp adjourns next week
or next week, next month. Jacob Breck to I'm Tom Offerman.
This is a Steelers standard on the Steelers Audio Network.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.