January 12, 2023 • 39 mins
Wolf and Max continue to share final thoughts on the Steelers season in the power hour.
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Speaker 1 (00:15):
This is in the locker room with Wolf and Starks
on ESPN Pittsburgh against Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your
neighborhood Forward Store. The F one is the official truck
of the Pittsburgh Steelers Huckley empty set four man rush.
He dances out of there, he runs to his right,
throws it down the field and accepted make up Fitzpatrick
(00:37):
number six of the year, and the Steelers seeing the
deal in Dollimore. Nah, there's nothing like a little makeup
magic moments and the you know transpired during the season,
my friend, you think about it. He was Steelers m
v P. He was voted All Pro back in nineteen
(00:58):
and twenty, but this year he also It's a newly
formed uh All Pro vote, the nfl p a All
Protein and the voting is by its position specific, meaning
that those who play the position and those who compete
one on one with that position they're the ones that
get to vote. You can't vote for a teammate, for instance,
(01:20):
if you're a center, you can vote for the interior
defensive line and one second level linebacker or something like that.
So it's gotta be that's gotta be a great sort
of um I don't know, it's a great, great recognition
for uh, for Manka because the fact that comes from
other players. Yeah, no, I mean, and that that's that's
(01:40):
what makes it so special, right, is that it's it's
an award by your peers. Right, Yes, here's are the
ones that say, you know what, this guy is the
best to do it at that position. That that's essentially
what it is, that acknowledgement that you know, hey, also
want to see this guy, you know what I'm saying, Like,
(02:02):
that's also what it means. It's like, this guy is
so good at his position, I'm gonna vote for him.
Also I also hate playing against him at the same time,
you know. Or the fact of the matter is, if
you're a safety, you can vote for a safety you
know or you know or or you know a wide
receiver would vote again or for a safety that he
(02:24):
played against. But it wouldn't be like one of us
being able to vote for Manka or anything like that,
because it's it's about position players. And that's why I
love that, and I think it's it's great. It's all
totally based on players voting. Yeah, exactly, And I think
that's that's a testament to just the skill set that
(02:47):
he possesses, and people recognize it. Even when the stats
aren't so eye gouging. People also realize that, you know,
there's a reason for that. Like you know, if if
a safety he doesn't have a bunch of interceptions in
a year, it's because they figured out for the previous
year that we don't want to throw in his direction
because he takes them all away, you know what you know,
(03:08):
And that's also the nod And that's also what makes
it tough, right because you know, just like with solitary corners,
I know, you know for many years, you know, and
I say this because Darrell Reeves is up for the
Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back position. I mean
his his numbers weren't tremendous, but his numbers were tremendous.
But when you think of the lack of froz in
(03:30):
his direction because he was that good. Yes, you know,
if you if you have twelve interceptions a year, guess
what that was luck Because people obviously didn't see anything
in film that made them scared of you, and they
and they threw your direction constantly. But when they don't
throw it in your direction and you have like five interceptions,
(03:51):
but you only get thrown to like three times a
game over the season. That's a heck of a number.
That that's a powerful number versus, Hey, you know what
this this is, um, this is boom or bust with
this guy. He's either get getting interceptions, You're gonna throw
up or give up a touchdown, you know, uh, you know,
And I think that's kind of how you have to
look at me. Like Mieko was asked to do so
(04:12):
much a year ago, and you know it kind of
gave a hiccup in the in the consistency because he
wasn't playing that roving position like he did this year,
you know, having that comfortability that he could sit back
and truly play a safety position versus having to be
a box backer versus having to be online Blitzer right,
(04:34):
drop down into the nickel and play press like he
he was doing everything and all over the field. But
when you get to lock in, you need to just
be one thing. Man. You see what happens. I mean,
he he is truly like a center fielder. Right, he's
catching pop flies left and right. Think about this. I mean,
the Steelers led the entire NFL and interceptions twenty of
(04:56):
them make adds six of them, he's tied for the
lead in the NFL. I mean, it just speaks to
the ability for him. And again I always go, some
guys just have that knack of the ball finding them
as well as them finding the ball, you know what
I mean, It's hard enough to go find one, but
it seems like with Minka, he's almost like a magnet
for that at times. You know, like you just his
(05:19):
his intellect is is scouting everything and guys just have it.
You know, you don't know what that it exactly is,
but it's it, you know what when you see it. Yeah, No,
it's it's easy that it is magnets. He has magnets
in his hands. It's crazy. You never see anything like it,
really totally crazy. That's why that's why he never brings
(05:39):
his hands together in prayer, you know what I'm saying,
Like it's because he knows that he won't be able
to pull them apart um because there's leather on the gloves.
I'm just saying, I don't know, um, but no, I mean,
it's it's crazy to think that you know, where we
were a year ago with Minca to where we're at
this year right, And when you get to have consistency
(06:03):
at the position, you get consistent results like Minka has
had with those six interceptions, when you get to play
the field and play into your zones. But like you said,
the studying comes in so now it's not it's not guessing.
It's making informed decisions about what you expect to happen
(06:24):
versus praying it happens. You know what I'm saying. Like
it's a different expectation versus a hope. And and Minka
has the expectation when the ball is in this area
that not only is it coming here, but I should
be able to pick it off. I should be able
to make the better decision because I already know what
(06:45):
the quarterback wants to do, even before he knows what
he wants to do. And I'm going to take advantage
of that fact. You know what's really interesting is when
you have a conversation with, you know, somebody like Rod Woodson.
I can see Rod, you know, when he's he's the
colored guy now for the rave. And one of the
things I always find fascinating is that opportunity to talk
to him about some of the technical aspects of of
(07:08):
playing the secondary. What he looks for. How he talked
about the down distance and personnel. The packages were so
important to him. You know. It's interesting to me because
it tells you what a great mind it takes to
play in that secondary with great eyes. You know, when
you see a Troy Polamalu and you you you kind
(07:30):
of exalt over the great physical stuff that he does,
flying over the top of the line of scrimmage, you know,
tackling a guy you know out in the open field
that's that's a four to forty guy. All those things
are great, but it almost it overrides the fact that
this guy is such a student of the game and
he's locked into you know, seeing things like like a
(07:51):
falcon hunters You ever see those falcons, man. I love
when they go off and they hunt, you know, and
they got the falconry that existed. We're in Europe and stuff,
and they come back and they light on the hand,
but they dive down and they are hunters, man. And
it's kind of I think of Nia the same way.
You know, what he does from the top end and
the back end of that defense to to the front
(08:13):
end he is he is, I'm the present up there. Yeah, no,
I mean, he's truly the eagles soaring above. You know,
we have a hawk outside of our house neighborhood. Is
he the one that killed the rattlesnake? Probably? It was
probably him, um, But it's it's funny because you know,
(08:35):
at certain points, you know, when I'm out there, either
walking the dog or whatever, you know, it's like a
nice brisk day, they'll just put their wings out and
they just hang and they just scout and they just
look at it almost looks like he's standing still, almost
as if he's not real, or somebody's holding a kite
right with the string and it's just floating up there.
And then when he makes a decision right, it is
(08:56):
like it's like a dive bomber and you know, you
get that little role the wings come in and boom,
it makes the attack and gets right back out of there.
That's what Minka reminds me of, you know, and it's
just it's it's graceful and beautiful. You know, violence at
as pure as form, right, but it's it's obviously for
(09:18):
a survival, and when you're on the football field, it's
not as much survival as opposed to creating an opportunity
to get out of harm's way. And I think that's
funny to say that, but when you think about it defensively,
you're always in harm's way because the harm is when
a team encroaches upon your fuel position and also is
(09:41):
trying to get into your the end zone you're defending.
So that is the harm's way that you're trying to prevent.
And Minca does such a great job of realizing that
threat and then going and neutralizing it to the best
of his ability, which to the tune of six interceptions
and countless tackles um in that process. And and you know,
and like you said, he gets rewarded for that. His
(10:02):
piers see what he does. And I'm sure they probably
tried to score him and didn't and got mad about
it and begrudgingly probably wrote his name in extra hard
and dark with the number two lead pencil well you know,
like clinched teeth when he's when they're writing it, because
it's like, you know what could have been, But it's
(10:24):
like you can't deny the skill set. No, you just can't.
You just can't. And by the way, I think what
we need to do is open up the phone lines
FO six. If the folks you want to jump in. Certainly,
I gotta say one thing about Maca. Think about the
Mount Rushmore of Steeler safeties you could have with the
Donnie Shell, you know, with with Troy Paulamalo, with Minca Fitzpatrick.
(10:48):
Great googly googly, that's some really Carnel Lake. How could
I even overlook Carnel Lake. I mean, you got Ryan
Clark is a guy that it puts right. Ryan has
an inscription somewhere at the foot of that of that mountain.
You know, there's I don't even know, you know, Mount Rushmore.
How many can you have? But that's a lot of
great safeties. J. C. Thomas was the next half. We
(11:12):
could We could put as many as we want to.
It's our Mount Rushmore. There you go. That's right. I forget.
It doesn't have to be four You know, this isn't
a national park. This is you know, a net a
National treasure in Pittsburgh right absolutely. By the way, have
you ever seen four one one, the the documentary about
(11:34):
people that disappear in the national parks? Oh, you gotta
see this. Something's going on, man, you gotta you gotta
see this. Some people disappear and they reappear in places
where um, they've already searched and there was nobody there.
I mean, it's wild, it's crazy. So check me is
(11:55):
that after watching this, I'm not taking my kids on
national park No, I'm just saying the perfectly worse probably
documentary to watch if you plan on. We planned on
doing an RV trip with the kids and taking him
to the national parks. So great, Well did past tense
not anymore? Not after this documentary GPS on you'll watch
(12:20):
over your buddy. Okay, they disappeared? What happened? So you're
saying I need to carry nothing but signal flares, is
what you're telling me? Oh no, I just thought of that.
It was crazy. That's a crazy documentary though. I mean, yeah,
no it is. It is, and it's so crazy. I
don't want to watch it because I I want my
(12:42):
naive ignorance to carry me through on these parks trips exactly.
So I mean, hey, I love our vs. R VS
are tremendous. Did you do Do you do much of
our van? I do not, but I have been to
a lot of r V shows inside r V and
they are amazing because we're like, Okay, which one will
(13:02):
be rent because obviously I don't have the space to
buy and maintain. And the best way to get in
our V is have a friend who has an r V. Yes,
that that's also the same as boat rules, right, you know,
you never want to own the boat, you just want
to know the guy who owns them. Yeah, exactly, exactly. Yeah, No,
I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna make sure I key that
(13:23):
in my mind. But we do have fantastic RV rentals
out here in Arizona. So that's what I was looking at,
you know, the one that expands, you know, like a transformer,
Like it goes from just like like a bus type
of situation to almost like a mobile penthouse condo, you know.
I mean, it's crazy what they can do. But you
know what the best place to see those at is
(13:45):
that NASCAR events because NASCAR, you know, I know, you know,
you see you see the race on Sunday. He's like,
oh my gosh, that's what it is. No, it's like
a week long type of thing. And we have Phoenix
International Raceway out here. We used to have the fresh
Fit four hundred UM and I went out there back
when Dave Lockett was was ahead of pr for it,
(14:08):
and yeah, you go out there there there's all these
other like you know, younger races and and all these
other type funny car and everything else. So they do
all of these races like during the week, so people
when they come they stay all week. So there's these
humongous r vs, and the closer you get to the
race track, the bigger the RVs get. You know, you
(14:31):
you first you start out, it's like a camper van,
you know, one of those trucks with a little conversion
on it. And then by the time you get to
buy the track, it's like these full on prevostes that
like double in size, you know, they expand out. They
got a porch, they got a can of feed. There's
like three grills that roll out from underneath it. It's
it's like ridiculous. And so that's the best place where
(14:53):
I go. I'm like, because you get to see all
the ranges um of of these different types of RVs.
And then of course we do have on r V
show out here that I also go to, taking my
family too, and my kids. Everyone they walk in, I
want this one. I want this one that like why
are you getting in the bunk bed. Well, there's a
bunk bed. Dad. I'm like, no, no, these are for looks.
(15:13):
These are we're not keeping it. Don't use the bathroom, definitely,
don't use the bathroom on here. Okay, Well, it's so
funny because up at Hoopies we stay. I bring the
family up and we have Hohopie Pelooza. There's not enough
rooms in Hoopie's house for all the family to come, right,
So one of us we part. We get an RV
and Park went outside there and we we hang out.
(15:34):
We're the r v rs, you know, we're like cousin Eddie. There.
It is cousin Eddie. It's like, hey, hey, where do
I drain this at? Oh yeah, that's about the r
V Oh my gosh, I have to ask you about
that next time I see her. But hey, well, we're
gonna step aside. Takes a break real fast, and we'll
come back with more here in the locker room, Wolf
(15:55):
and Starks ESPNS in our radio. This is in the
locker room with Wolf and Starks on ESPN Pittsburgh against
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store. The
(16:18):
f one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers the phones with the question of the day, are
you optimistic or pessimistic about this year and next year
based on what you've seen thus far? I'm big optimist, Max,
But you know what, We're gonna go to Jason in
(16:38):
New Hampshire and four numbers four, one, three, one six.
I can't get how Touch would do that inflection, but
I'm doing my best, Jason, even I can't do it
the way it Touch today. I think it's watch what
about Bob too many times? Yes, yes, exactly. Um Now,
(16:58):
you know, I just on the question, I'm I'm extremely positive.
I spoke to Moates and um West about it yesterday
and I don't know how you can't be after seeing
what took place, you know, this especially the latter half
of the season. You know, I had mentioned to them.
We've done at three games this year, once in the beginning,
once in the middle, and once at the end the beginning,
(17:21):
you know, New England and in Cincinnati. It was horrible.
The feeling of the stadium was horrible. Leaving against Cleveland,
even knowing that we weren't making the playoffs, we felt ecstatic,
you know, I mean, this team just looks like it's
got what it takes to move forward, you know. Um,
but yeah, you know, I got a comment on your
(17:43):
whole national park thing. Luckily I realized I realized my
stepdaughter doesn't enjoy football very much when we went to
the New England game and she said she doesn't want
to go again. Um, but uh so I know she's
not listening. So that helped that she wasn't. Because we're
staying in a York and Joshua three National Park later
(18:05):
this year, and it's a national park. Well, you gotta
be careful what you're saying out there. There's children listening. Okay.
I've been reprimanded by both Max and by you. Okay,
but you know, my biggest point and why I wanted
to call is that with the amount of the years
(18:26):
that I listened, you know, to you in Tonts, last
year was difficult to um, to listen with as much
gusto and with as much passion. And you know, this year, though,
you guys have really put your stamp on it. You know,
you've made it your locker room, you know, our locker room,
if you will, And you know, of course the pitching
to Johnny does add quite a bit in you know,
(18:51):
I kind of look at the hell of a three
person team. Well, thank you so very much. I kind
of look at it like the way, um, the way
Mike tom On thinks about his inside linebackers. There's a
pair and a spare, you know, and it doesn't matter
which one of this is the spare because Dunch is
always a part of the locker room. And Tounch love
Max just as much as I do. You know, he
(19:12):
was and this is what He's the perfect fit absolutely,
you know, no Max, and nothing against him. Man, it
was just it was difficult. Like it was cool listening
to you because I was always a pan obviously watching
it play, um, but this year it's like I really
felt like this is his luck room now too, you
know what I mean. So, I mean, I appreciate you
(19:33):
coming on and filling that role and making it your
own and not just in a shadow if you will. Yeah, no,
I I appreciate it. And trust me, I I take
no offense. I you know, I love I love touch
and you know, and just as much as I love
Wolf and and so it was it was tough for me,
you know. I mean, it's also tough when You're asked
(19:53):
to come and step in place of someone that has
a larger than life personality and you know has meant
so much to so many people. I mean, heck, I
talked about it all the time. I mean I was
first really introduced to the Steelers, like in earnest watching
Touches Punches my freshman year of college and first week
(20:15):
the job. Yeah, first week on the job. My coach
Jimmy Ray Stevens, he says, watch this video, and I'm like,
what what I just got here? I was like, first
of all, I got to find a VHS player. I
just moved into a dorm, you know. And he's like,
watch this video and and that's the first thing I
really see, and I see and so to come to
to then get drafted by Pittsburgh and then you see
(20:37):
the same guy you were seeing on the VHS. Is
that you're trying to mimic? Um? You know? It's it was.
It was. It was very humbling and now even humbling
to step in this role now. But like you said,
I mean, you know, we we we come in you know,
year one? Is that feel up? Because like I said,
for for for listeners like you, like, there's an expectation,
(20:59):
and there's a certain thing that they expect because of
the consistency over the years. You're talking decades of doing it.
And then there's this new guy here that's gonna come
in and quote unquote, he's taking the place of and
it's like I am in a sense, but I'm also
you know, coming to bring a different perspective as well.
(21:19):
But yeah, it it takes a while. And even for
for Wolf and I getting it together. We don't use
zoom anymore. Zoom was Zoom was terrible a year ago
for us trying to look at each other to give
each other maze and connections. So now we've gotten into
a group to where we already we sense what each
other is. And I'm glad that you feel that, you
(21:39):
know that there's a genuineness, but also you know a
difference in it, but still trying to keep the base
concepts of making sure that people feel welcome, they feel warmed,
they feel informed and entertained at the same time. So
you know, I really appreciate that. And trust me, no
offense taken. And I completely understand. And I grew up,
I grew up completely as a fan. You know, I
(22:01):
played football in junior high. But I could never and
my body just wasn't for football. I was the mentality was,
you know. But if you all remember ABC Wide World
of Sports, Yeah, okay, that's where that's where, you know,
because I got limited exports. We lived in the Northwestern
(22:21):
p A and we got like three channels to watch,
you know, so I was limited on when I got
to see the Stealers play. But I learned about Tounch
because they had that special there with him and his
Tounch punch on ABC World Wide World of Sports. I
think it was that show. It could have been another
one I was ten. It was just that's how I
got to know him. And obviously you know, watching him
(22:44):
and Wolf play and you know, and got to love
for the offensive line at a younger age. But now
you guys are great. You guys are great. Now. I'll
defer my time to the appreciate so much. Just remember
this the Wide World of Sports. My dad used to
go that ports he jumper. How does he crash like that?
Every week? Every week? Every week man, he went down.
(23:09):
Thanks can't wait to talk to you or here your
next year and talk to you next year. Alright, brother,
we'll tune in tomorrow. We got one more day in
the in the locker rooms, so you get us. Forget
about us tomorrow, all right, I talk too much though
I can't talk to you tomorrow. Yeah, that's all right.
We love you anyhow, Thanks brother. All Right, man, let's
(23:30):
let's keep on going. We got CR in Chicago. The
numbers four one to nine, one nine, one three one six. CR.
Are you optimistic or pessimistic? I think I already know. Uh,
let's see you go with a big words. Well, come on,
like all I was getting along with the show and
to this other dude, you got what you sold up
with all the big words. Man, listens, Hey, it's a challenge.
(23:56):
I want you to go to the dictionary afterwards. CR.
That's all right there you you you said something about
a v H S. You know what what the heck
is the v A What is that? VHS? What? What?
What do you mean? Exactly? The VHS these the video
cassettes back in the day. Okay, Well, what is VHS
(24:17):
stands for? I have no clue with VH. Hey, I
know what a VCR stands for Video cassette recorder. I
just I do not know what a VHS stands for well,
VHS stands for video Home System. I looked it up
just like you told me too. There we go, Thank
you man. Sharing is carrying and learning and right there. Okay,
(24:43):
and first let's you get down in the business. This
one has been optimistic or pessimistic. Come on, man, if
you can't be optimistic about this, I mean, what what
is your problem? I put out a comment the other
day about about us as still a fans and and
you know, we have a lot to be excited about
and happy about. And uh, because we didn't win the
(25:04):
Super Bowl every year, I mean, nobody's gonna do that. Man,
nobody's gonna win the NFC Championship every year. Whatever that's impossible.
On team has ever done undefeated with Miam mcdonffin and
adopted that ever happened again in our lifetime. But we
have to be optimistic, especially u uh pick at the
pickings and and and Warren and and uh, you know,
(25:27):
Harris or running together like I just saw a note
here somewhere when somebody said that more than likely if
they if they continued with the offensive like they're doing
now and those guys play together, Uh, there's gonna be
another rocky Plyer and and Franco HAIs for a thousand
yards of piece or comments on that. Well, you know,
(25:48):
I think there's so much to be had here, and
I've already you know, I stated I wrote the whole
article for Jim Wexel and so forth, and by the way,
we put that out there. So I'm obviously an optimist,
you know. But the one guy that that I kind
of really in fired up to see, the guy that
I'm really excited about, is Calvin Austin the third. I mean,
(26:10):
because you don't know, Yeah, all I can say is
you got a four three guy. They're sitting in the
in the wings waiting to explode. I just I think
it could be great. You never know, Mac, Yeah, no,
I completely agree. I think if you can keep a
nucleus together and you can also continue to build around it, right,
(26:33):
you know, you add the bolstering, things get get more offensive, lineman,
make sure that you're you're stabilizing the depths of that.
If an injury happens, you're not decimated, right, right, you
have guys who can fill in. But also I think
if you keep the philosophies consistent, right, be committed to
running that football and then allowing that play action to
(26:54):
work off of it. I mean, one of the axioms
that we always talk about when you get into late
into the year football run game and run defense. If
you could do those two things, you're gonna have a
really good shot. So as long as they continue, however
it goes this offseason leading into next year, as long
as you're keeping constant emphasis on that run game and
(27:14):
Mr Rooney does not have to come out and say
we need to run the ball more, I think we'll
be going in the right direction. Right, So I agree, Well,
one more quick thing I think we need. When you
said run run the ball, I do think and I'm
hoping that the Steeler organization will put some a little
bit more focused on the run defense because you know,
like like the big man is getting old and the
(27:38):
tooth and and all that kind of stuff, and we
do need some other people to put in there. We
did have some injuries and stuff, but I really think
I'll run defense need to pick up. If that picks up,
and uh, that's going to come about the inside linebackers
a lot that's gonna be you know what I'm talking about,
But all right, we gotta run. Okay, thank you in
(28:00):
the meantime and then between time, here we go, here
we go, thank you so much. Alright, alright, we got okay,
I think we got one more before we go to break.
We got Bill and Pittsburgh. Bill, you're in the locker room,
my friend, little sir, how are you? We're doing just fine.
How are you doing? Hey? When you get to be
(28:20):
this agent to gift my friends? All right? How old
are you? How old are you as of December seventh?
I'm sixty five. Well, I'm sixty four. So we're right
in the same club. Brother, It is a gift and
we're both yes, older than Max. We are everything right now.
(28:45):
I got one question, Yes, I got one question. I
don't want to put you guys on the spot, but
tell me why the media and Pittsburgh is so intense
on making time to look like the village idiot and
he be At what point in time did he have
so much power that none of this is put on
(29:07):
the g M. I mean, Tomlin does the decision making
for draftics trades contracts that suppose powerful head coaching his
pd NFL. It don't work that way. Trust me, I
ain't missing nothing minute. No, you know the thing about
(29:29):
it is, what do you I just don't know how
you can quantify Mike Tomlin in a short sentence. You can't.
The guy's impact is too great. And I look, I
go back to this all the time. You look at
what the Steelers head coaches, the lineage, Chuck Noll hall
of famer, Bill Cower, hall of famer. And believe you me,
(29:50):
Mike Tomlin hall of famer. It's coming. Believe right of fame.
Oh absolutely, he don't need nothing else to to check
into the canton. Let me tell you he's already done. Hey,
you gotta ask them, Okay, Yeah, I've watched Mike close
up for his entire career from the sidelines basically except
(30:12):
for the last couple and I gotta tell you something.
I've never seen him at a loss leadership wise, on
the sidelines, at what to do every circumstances. I don't
care what people say. I know that people say, well
that thing when Matt spaith whoever, you know, the touchdown
against the Patriots, and you know this is no. He
has always been larger than charge, always had the answer. Um,
(30:36):
I'm what can I say? I admire him, he is
He's a heck of a man, and I appreciate the
way he goes about his business coaching Max. Yeah. Yeah,
But I could just say this, you know, when you
look at it, there's just some people that get piste
off at a sunny day, you know what I'm saying, like, like,
you know, those people to set out again. Really, I
(30:59):
couldn't have said it, you know, I mean that that's
those people, you know, but those those who appreciate the
sunshine after a rainy day or after a great day
you know in the berg, you know, or or it
was snowing and it was bad and the next thing
you know, boom, the sun comes out, clears out all
the snow. It becomes just wetness and then it goes away.
(31:21):
Like those are the people I run away from, the
people that yell at the sun. But the people that
appreciate those those are the people I clink to. So
there's always gonna be that one. We we all, we all,
we got one in every family. You know. It's it's
that becausein we're like, oh God, he's gotta come again. Okay,
all right, let me just let myself prepared. After a
(31:43):
statement like that, I got to I got to leave
that when lay just were Yeah, like I said, white white, white,
bothers saying that three D words. When Max can put
put it together in twelve you have if you don't
you need one. Hey, listen, I don't preach, but I've
(32:07):
been to enough sermons, so I about it. Bill. Thank
you so much. Brother, We appreciate you checking in. Don't
forget We're here till tomorrow. Man, Thank you so much.
All Right, Max, we got one more break. Yeah, Hey, bell,
Lap Bell, Lap, coming up? Wolf here in the locker room.
(32:27):
We come back if it starts. The ESPN s in
our radio. This is in the locker room with Wolf
(32:53):
and Starks on ESPN Pittsburgh against Steelers Nation Radio, presented
by your neighborhood Forward Store. The F one is the
official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes, Wesley Uler here
(33:14):
at the SNR Breaking News desk, Max and Wolf breaking
news for you once again. The producer of this show,
Wesley Uler and the host of this SNR Breaking News segment. Here,
it's just wondering when we're gonna do our Looney Tunes
all time starting football lineups here. I mean, I'm just
you know, I've been sitting here. We've been talking about
(33:36):
it all week. We've been teasing it already and go
on the Looney Tunes. That's my breaking news. Back to you.
Thank you, Wes a great reminder. We gotta do it tomorrow. Max, Okay,
we gotta do it tomorrow. That would be beautiful. Okay,
we got one one more caller we gotta get and
we got Lawrence from North Carolina. Lawrence, you're in the
(33:58):
locker room, my friend. How are you doing? Wolf and
manage y'all doing? Okay, We're doing good. How are you doing?
I'm doing great. I'm glad that the season we had
started off a little rocky. Praise to coach Tomlins, praise
tunes and staff, coach, Praise to the players. You do
not know, do not understand how hard it was this year.
(34:20):
Listen all these Cowboys fans and everybody else talking about
the record, and I thought at one time, I said, well,
we'll get a top I said, we haven't drafted in
the fifth, you know, top five since uh that running
back from Georgia. I can't remember the worthy, Yeah, I myself.
So I would love to draft her like that and
maybe trade that to get some other draft pick for
lineman and Also, I just want to thank them and
(34:41):
Tom of the job he's doing. Years when they everybody
thought fire Tom, Firetomlin. That's crazy. He's never had a
losing season, So I don't know where it's getting that from.
But thank you all for what you do. And I
can't wait to see what they're gonna do in the draft.
Trade that third is hurt, that last round pick, get
a couple of more linemens for the offensive. Y'all be blessed.
But I'll see you later. Man, all right, thank you.
I like that it comes in strong, comes in hard
(35:04):
to locker room, you know, because that's this is what
it's all about. Max. You know, you you come in
in the morning and before you start with all the
things that go on in one day, you know, getting
leading up to practice and everything else, you gotta get
in there and you've got to solve all the world's
problems at first or whatever is going on in the
locker room. No, absolutely, I mean this is where you come.
(35:26):
You bring your thoughts, your quandaries, your frustrations and everything else.
You air it out in the democratic of course, we
are a tribunal here, including the Euler bomb himself. Johnny
Wesley Euler Um. But we are a tribunal. We're here
to listen to your thoughts. We're here to listen to
you know, all all those things and try and put
(35:47):
your mind at ease or fire you up even more.
We can't be rebel rousers too. I mean it is
in our DNA. Oh yeah, yeah. I tend to think
you've you've you've you've stoked the fire a few times, buddy,
you know, and in your time in the past, maybe
doesn't you know what I mean? You sit there and
you're kind of ranking. I always loved when you you know,
(36:08):
you can get there and you start kind of just
cracking on each other, you know what I mean, And
then it spreads to other units other you know, you
talk about the defensive guys and you know who had
the biggest forehead, and that's sort of you know, I
mean things things quality conversations like that exactly, you know,
bodily habits and odors and smells and five heads and
(36:31):
and is what what what is that? You know? Exactly?
All All is open, All is fair, except for don't
talk about moms and girlfriends are off. Yeah yeah, yeah, exactly, Sorry,
sorry significant others. There we got that that should be
the category. Yeah, yeah, squeak oh man, But but yeah, no,
(36:59):
this this has been wonderful. And like I said, we'll
have our swan song tomorrow. Wolf Um Looney Tunes. Yeah,
the Looney Tunes, Hannah barbera lineup team. I haven't gotten
into Hannah Barbara. I got a lot of Looney tunes,
So I got to do a little more studying. Think
about this is like flint Stone's Jetsons. Think that what
(37:22):
do you think Fred would do? Fred could be a
good center, you know what I mean? I feel like
I feel like Fred is a pulling guard. You know,
you think so? Yeah? I think Barney would be a
good center, A little bit more squatty, big seat. You know,
he's got a big forehead too, I sho flathead, that
is correct, and a big nose, yes, man, But but
(37:44):
I mean I feel like I feel like Barney would
be the center and Fred would definitely be a pulling guard,
especially with the twinkle toes when he's at the bowling.
You know, Scooby Doo, is Hannah barbera as well, right,
Scooby Doo, Yes, yes it is so yeah, so yes,
(38:08):
we can't Scooby would you do it for a Scooby snack.
We are losing it here in the locker room. Yeah,
you know, that's the way it is. That is the
way it is. I mean, it's just gonna be fun.
But definitely you don't want to miss the show tomorrow.
It is our last show of the season. But also
Looney Tuls, Hannah barbera football squad. We're gonna make it up.
(38:31):
We're gonna go offense, we're gonna go defense, and then
of course give you our three specialists and that one,
and we might even throw in like a utility like
designated like you know, return guy, or you know, don't
forget this. You gotta come up with a coach, and
you gotta come up with an equipment manager. Yes, there
you go. All right, we got there. So you got
(38:51):
the assignment Steelers Nation. We want to hear it. We're
gonna take your calls as well. We're gonna give our
thoughts all three teams that we have, and then of
course we want to hear of you as well with
your input. Thank you for listening today. We'll be back tomorrow,
same BAT channel, same BAT time. Here in the locker
room on S and R and ESPN radio,
This is in the locker room with Wolf and Starks
on ESPN Pittsburgh against Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your
neighborhood Forward Store. The F one is the official truck
of the Pittsburgh Steelers Huckley empty set four man rush.
He dances out of there, he runs to his right,
throws it down the field and accepted make up Fitzpatrick
(00:37):
number six of the year, and the Steelers seeing the
deal in Dollimore. Nah, there's nothing like a little makeup
magic moments and the you know transpired during the season,
my friend, you think about it. He was Steelers m
v P. He was voted All Pro back in nineteen
(00:58):
and twenty, but this year he also It's a newly
formed uh All Pro vote, the nfl p a All
Protein and the voting is by its position specific, meaning
that those who play the position and those who compete
one on one with that position they're the ones that
get to vote. You can't vote for a teammate, for instance,
(01:20):
if you're a center, you can vote for the interior
defensive line and one second level linebacker or something like that.
So it's gotta be that's gotta be a great sort
of um I don't know, it's a great, great recognition
for uh, for Manka because the fact that comes from
other players. Yeah, no, I mean, and that that's that's
(01:40):
what makes it so special, right, is that it's it's
an award by your peers. Right, Yes, here's are the
ones that say, you know what, this guy is the
best to do it at that position. That that's essentially
what it is, that acknowledgement that you know, hey, also
want to see this guy, you know what I'm saying, Like,
(02:02):
that's also what it means. It's like, this guy is
so good at his position, I'm gonna vote for him.
Also I also hate playing against him at the same time,
you know. Or the fact of the matter is, if
you're a safety, you can vote for a safety you
know or you know or or you know a wide
receiver would vote again or for a safety that he
(02:24):
played against. But it wouldn't be like one of us
being able to vote for Manka or anything like that,
because it's it's about position players. And that's why I
love that, and I think it's it's great. It's all
totally based on players voting. Yeah, exactly, And I think
that's that's a testament to just the skill set that
(02:47):
he possesses, and people recognize it. Even when the stats
aren't so eye gouging. People also realize that, you know,
there's a reason for that. Like you know, if if
a safety he doesn't have a bunch of interceptions in
a year, it's because they figured out for the previous
year that we don't want to throw in his direction
because he takes them all away, you know what you know,
(03:08):
And that's also the nod And that's also what makes
it tough, right because you know, just like with solitary corners,
I know, you know for many years, you know, and
I say this because Darrell Reeves is up for the
Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back position. I mean
his his numbers weren't tremendous, but his numbers were tremendous.
But when you think of the lack of froz in
(03:30):
his direction because he was that good. Yes, you know,
if you if you have twelve interceptions a year, guess
what that was luck Because people obviously didn't see anything
in film that made them scared of you, and they
and they threw your direction constantly. But when they don't
throw it in your direction and you have like five interceptions,
(03:51):
but you only get thrown to like three times a
game over the season. That's a heck of a number.
That that's a powerful number versus, Hey, you know what
this this is, um, this is boom or bust with
this guy. He's either get getting interceptions, You're gonna throw
up or give up a touchdown, you know, uh, you know,
And I think that's kind of how you have to
look at me. Like Mieko was asked to do so
(04:12):
much a year ago, and you know it kind of
gave a hiccup in the in the consistency because he
wasn't playing that roving position like he did this year,
you know, having that comfortability that he could sit back
and truly play a safety position versus having to be
a box backer versus having to be online Blitzer right,
(04:34):
drop down into the nickel and play press like he
he was doing everything and all over the field. But
when you get to lock in, you need to just
be one thing. Man. You see what happens. I mean,
he he is truly like a center fielder. Right, he's
catching pop flies left and right. Think about this. I mean,
the Steelers led the entire NFL and interceptions twenty of
(04:56):
them make adds six of them, he's tied for the
lead in the NFL. I mean, it just speaks to
the ability for him. And again I always go, some
guys just have that knack of the ball finding them
as well as them finding the ball, you know what
I mean, It's hard enough to go find one, but
it seems like with Minka, he's almost like a magnet
for that at times. You know, like you just his
(05:19):
his intellect is is scouting everything and guys just have it.
You know, you don't know what that it exactly is,
but it's it, you know what when you see it. Yeah, No,
it's it's easy that it is magnets. He has magnets
in his hands. It's crazy. You never see anything like it,
really totally crazy. That's why that's why he never brings
(05:39):
his hands together in prayer, you know what I'm saying,
Like it's because he knows that he won't be able
to pull them apart um because there's leather on the gloves.
I'm just saying, I don't know, um, but no, I mean,
it's it's crazy to think that you know, where we
were a year ago with Minca to where we're at
this year right, And when you get to have consistency
(06:03):
at the position, you get consistent results like Minka has
had with those six interceptions, when you get to play
the field and play into your zones. But like you said,
the studying comes in so now it's not it's not guessing.
It's making informed decisions about what you expect to happen
(06:24):
versus praying it happens. You know what I'm saying. Like
it's a different expectation versus a hope. And and Minka
has the expectation when the ball is in this area
that not only is it coming here, but I should
be able to pick it off. I should be able
to make the better decision because I already know what
(06:45):
the quarterback wants to do, even before he knows what
he wants to do. And I'm going to take advantage
of that fact. You know what's really interesting is when
you have a conversation with, you know, somebody like Rod Woodson.
I can see Rod, you know, when he's he's the
colored guy now for the rave. And one of the
things I always find fascinating is that opportunity to talk
to him about some of the technical aspects of of
(07:08):
playing the secondary. What he looks for. How he talked
about the down distance and personnel. The packages were so
important to him. You know. It's interesting to me because
it tells you what a great mind it takes to
play in that secondary with great eyes. You know, when
you see a Troy Polamalu and you you you kind
(07:30):
of exalt over the great physical stuff that he does,
flying over the top of the line of scrimmage, you know,
tackling a guy you know out in the open field
that's that's a four to forty guy. All those things
are great, but it almost it overrides the fact that
this guy is such a student of the game and
he's locked into you know, seeing things like like a
(07:51):
falcon hunters You ever see those falcons, man. I love
when they go off and they hunt, you know, and
they got the falconry that existed. We're in Europe and stuff,
and they come back and they light on the hand,
but they dive down and they are hunters, man. And
it's kind of I think of Nia the same way.
You know, what he does from the top end and
the back end of that defense to to the front
(08:13):
end he is he is, I'm the present up there. Yeah, no,
I mean, he's truly the eagles soaring above. You know,
we have a hawk outside of our house neighborhood. Is
he the one that killed the rattlesnake? Probably? It was
probably him, um, But it's it's funny because you know,
(08:35):
at certain points, you know, when I'm out there, either
walking the dog or whatever, you know, it's like a
nice brisk day, they'll just put their wings out and
they just hang and they just scout and they just
look at it almost looks like he's standing still, almost
as if he's not real, or somebody's holding a kite
right with the string and it's just floating up there.
And then when he makes a decision right, it is
(08:56):
like it's like a dive bomber and you know, you
get that little role the wings come in and boom,
it makes the attack and gets right back out of there.
That's what Minka reminds me of, you know, and it's
just it's it's graceful and beautiful. You know, violence at
as pure as form, right, but it's it's obviously for
(09:18):
a survival, and when you're on the football field, it's
not as much survival as opposed to creating an opportunity
to get out of harm's way. And I think that's
funny to say that, but when you think about it defensively,
you're always in harm's way because the harm is when
a team encroaches upon your fuel position and also is
(09:41):
trying to get into your the end zone you're defending.
So that is the harm's way that you're trying to prevent.
And Minca does such a great job of realizing that
threat and then going and neutralizing it to the best
of his ability, which to the tune of six interceptions
and countless tackles um in that process. And and you know,
and like you said, he gets rewarded for that. His
(10:02):
piers see what he does. And I'm sure they probably
tried to score him and didn't and got mad about
it and begrudgingly probably wrote his name in extra hard
and dark with the number two lead pencil well you know,
like clinched teeth when he's when they're writing it, because
it's like, you know what could have been, But it's
(10:24):
like you can't deny the skill set. No, you just can't.
You just can't. And by the way, I think what
we need to do is open up the phone lines
FO six. If the folks you want to jump in. Certainly,
I gotta say one thing about Maca. Think about the
Mount Rushmore of Steeler safeties you could have with the
Donnie Shell, you know, with with Troy Paulamalo, with Minca Fitzpatrick.
(10:48):
Great googly googly, that's some really Carnel Lake. How could
I even overlook Carnel Lake. I mean, you got Ryan
Clark is a guy that it puts right. Ryan has
an inscription somewhere at the foot of that of that mountain.
You know, there's I don't even know, you know, Mount Rushmore.
How many can you have? But that's a lot of
great safeties. J. C. Thomas was the next half. We
(11:12):
could We could put as many as we want to.
It's our Mount Rushmore. There you go. That's right. I forget.
It doesn't have to be four You know, this isn't
a national park. This is you know, a net a
National treasure in Pittsburgh right absolutely. By the way, have
you ever seen four one one, the the documentary about
(11:34):
people that disappear in the national parks? Oh, you gotta
see this. Something's going on, man, you gotta you gotta
see this. Some people disappear and they reappear in places
where um, they've already searched and there was nobody there.
I mean, it's wild, it's crazy. So check me is
(11:55):
that after watching this, I'm not taking my kids on
national park No, I'm just saying the perfectly worse probably
documentary to watch if you plan on. We planned on
doing an RV trip with the kids and taking him
to the national parks. So great, Well did past tense
not anymore? Not after this documentary GPS on you'll watch
(12:20):
over your buddy. Okay, they disappeared? What happened? So you're
saying I need to carry nothing but signal flares, is
what you're telling me? Oh no, I just thought of that.
It was crazy. That's a crazy documentary though. I mean, yeah,
no it is. It is, and it's so crazy. I
don't want to watch it because I I want my
(12:42):
naive ignorance to carry me through on these parks trips exactly.
So I mean, hey, I love our vs. R VS
are tremendous. Did you do Do you do much of
our van? I do not, but I have been to
a lot of r V shows inside r V and
they are amazing because we're like, Okay, which one will
(13:02):
be rent because obviously I don't have the space to
buy and maintain. And the best way to get in
our V is have a friend who has an r V. Yes,
that that's also the same as boat rules, right, you know,
you never want to own the boat, you just want
to know the guy who owns them. Yeah, exactly, exactly. Yeah, No,
I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna make sure I key that
(13:23):
in my mind. But we do have fantastic RV rentals
out here in Arizona. So that's what I was looking at,
you know, the one that expands, you know, like a transformer,
Like it goes from just like like a bus type
of situation to almost like a mobile penthouse condo, you know.
I mean, it's crazy what they can do. But you
know what the best place to see those at is
(13:45):
that NASCAR events because NASCAR, you know, I know, you know,
you see you see the race on Sunday. He's like,
oh my gosh, that's what it is. No, it's like
a week long type of thing. And we have Phoenix
International Raceway out here. We used to have the fresh
Fit four hundred UM and I went out there back
when Dave Lockett was was ahead of pr for it,
(14:08):
and yeah, you go out there there there's all these
other like you know, younger races and and all these
other type funny car and everything else. So they do
all of these races like during the week, so people
when they come they stay all week. So there's these
humongous r vs, and the closer you get to the
race track, the bigger the RVs get. You know, you
(14:31):
you first you start out, it's like a camper van,
you know, one of those trucks with a little conversion
on it. And then by the time you get to
buy the track, it's like these full on prevostes that
like double in size, you know, they expand out. They
got a porch, they got a can of feed. There's
like three grills that roll out from underneath it. It's
it's like ridiculous. And so that's the best place where
(14:53):
I go. I'm like, because you get to see all
the ranges um of of these different types of RVs.
And then of course we do have on r V
show out here that I also go to, taking my
family too, and my kids. Everyone they walk in, I
want this one. I want this one that like why
are you getting in the bunk bed. Well, there's a
bunk bed. Dad. I'm like, no, no, these are for looks.
(15:13):
These are we're not keeping it. Don't use the bathroom, definitely,
don't use the bathroom on here. Okay, Well, it's so
funny because up at Hoopies we stay. I bring the
family up and we have Hohopie Pelooza. There's not enough
rooms in Hoopie's house for all the family to come, right,
So one of us we part. We get an RV
and Park went outside there and we we hang out.
(15:34):
We're the r v rs, you know, we're like cousin Eddie. There.
It is cousin Eddie. It's like, hey, hey, where do
I drain this at? Oh yeah, that's about the r
V Oh my gosh, I have to ask you about
that next time I see her. But hey, well, we're
gonna step aside. Takes a break real fast, and we'll
come back with more here in the locker room, Wolf
(15:55):
and Starks ESPNS in our radio. This is in the
locker room with Wolf and Starks on ESPN Pittsburgh against
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store. The
(16:18):
f one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers the phones with the question of the day, are
you optimistic or pessimistic about this year and next year
based on what you've seen thus far? I'm big optimist, Max,
But you know what, We're gonna go to Jason in
(16:38):
New Hampshire and four numbers four, one, three, one six.
I can't get how Touch would do that inflection, but
I'm doing my best, Jason, even I can't do it
the way it Touch today. I think it's watch what
about Bob too many times? Yes, yes, exactly. Um Now,
(16:58):
you know, I just on the question, I'm I'm extremely positive.
I spoke to Moates and um West about it yesterday
and I don't know how you can't be after seeing
what took place, you know, this especially the latter half
of the season. You know, I had mentioned to them.
We've done at three games this year, once in the beginning,
once in the middle, and once at the end the beginning,
(17:21):
you know, New England and in Cincinnati. It was horrible.
The feeling of the stadium was horrible. Leaving against Cleveland,
even knowing that we weren't making the playoffs, we felt ecstatic,
you know, I mean, this team just looks like it's
got what it takes to move forward, you know. Um,
but yeah, you know, I got a comment on your
(17:43):
whole national park thing. Luckily I realized I realized my
stepdaughter doesn't enjoy football very much when we went to
the New England game and she said she doesn't want
to go again. Um, but uh so I know she's
not listening. So that helped that she wasn't. Because we're
staying in a York and Joshua three National Park later
(18:05):
this year, and it's a national park. Well, you gotta
be careful what you're saying out there. There's children listening. Okay.
I've been reprimanded by both Max and by you. Okay,
but you know, my biggest point and why I wanted
to call is that with the amount of the years
(18:26):
that I listened, you know, to you in Tonts, last
year was difficult to um, to listen with as much
gusto and with as much passion. And you know, this year, though,
you guys have really put your stamp on it. You know,
you've made it your locker room, you know, our locker room,
if you will, And you know, of course the pitching
to Johnny does add quite a bit in you know,
(18:51):
I kind of look at the hell of a three
person team. Well, thank you so very much. I kind
of look at it like the way, um, the way
Mike tom On thinks about his inside linebackers. There's a
pair and a spare, you know, and it doesn't matter
which one of this is the spare because Dunch is
always a part of the locker room. And Tounch love
Max just as much as I do. You know, he
(19:12):
was and this is what He's the perfect fit absolutely,
you know, no Max, and nothing against him. Man, it
was just it was difficult. Like it was cool listening
to you because I was always a pan obviously watching
it play, um, but this year it's like I really
felt like this is his luck room now too, you
know what I mean. So, I mean, I appreciate you
(19:33):
coming on and filling that role and making it your
own and not just in a shadow if you will. Yeah, no,
I I appreciate it. And trust me, I I take
no offense. I you know, I love I love touch
and you know, and just as much as I love
Wolf and and so it was it was tough for me,
you know. I mean, it's also tough when You're asked
(19:53):
to come and step in place of someone that has
a larger than life personality and you know has meant
so much to so many people. I mean, heck, I
talked about it all the time. I mean I was
first really introduced to the Steelers, like in earnest watching
Touches Punches my freshman year of college and first week
(20:15):
the job. Yeah, first week on the job. My coach
Jimmy Ray Stevens, he says, watch this video, and I'm like,
what what I just got here? I was like, first
of all, I got to find a VHS player. I
just moved into a dorm, you know. And he's like,
watch this video and and that's the first thing I
really see, and I see and so to come to
to then get drafted by Pittsburgh and then you see
(20:37):
the same guy you were seeing on the VHS. Is
that you're trying to mimic? Um? You know? It's it was.
It was. It was very humbling and now even humbling
to step in this role now. But like you said,
I mean, you know, we we we come in you know,
year one? Is that feel up? Because like I said,
for for for listeners like you, like, there's an expectation,
(20:59):
and there's a certain thing that they expect because of
the consistency over the years. You're talking decades of doing it.
And then there's this new guy here that's gonna come
in and quote unquote, he's taking the place of and
it's like I am in a sense, but I'm also
you know, coming to bring a different perspective as well.
(21:19):
But yeah, it it takes a while. And even for
for Wolf and I getting it together. We don't use
zoom anymore. Zoom was Zoom was terrible a year ago
for us trying to look at each other to give
each other maze and connections. So now we've gotten into
a group to where we already we sense what each
other is. And I'm glad that you feel that, you
(21:39):
know that there's a genuineness, but also you know a
difference in it, but still trying to keep the base
concepts of making sure that people feel welcome, they feel warmed,
they feel informed and entertained at the same time. So
you know, I really appreciate that. And trust me, no
offense taken. And I completely understand. And I grew up,
I grew up completely as a fan. You know, I
(22:01):
played football in junior high. But I could never and
my body just wasn't for football. I was the mentality was,
you know. But if you all remember ABC Wide World
of Sports, Yeah, okay, that's where that's where, you know,
because I got limited exports. We lived in the Northwestern
(22:21):
p A and we got like three channels to watch,
you know, so I was limited on when I got
to see the Stealers play. But I learned about Tounch
because they had that special there with him and his
Tounch punch on ABC World Wide World of Sports. I
think it was that show. It could have been another
one I was ten. It was just that's how I
got to know him. And obviously you know, watching him
(22:44):
and Wolf play and you know, and got to love
for the offensive line at a younger age. But now
you guys are great. You guys are great. Now. I'll
defer my time to the appreciate so much. Just remember
this the Wide World of Sports. My dad used to
go that ports he jumper. How does he crash like that?
Every week? Every week? Every week man, he went down.
(23:09):
Thanks can't wait to talk to you or here your
next year and talk to you next year. Alright, brother,
we'll tune in tomorrow. We got one more day in
the in the locker rooms, so you get us. Forget
about us tomorrow, all right, I talk too much though
I can't talk to you tomorrow. Yeah, that's all right.
We love you anyhow, Thanks brother. All Right, man, let's
(23:30):
let's keep on going. We got CR in Chicago. The
numbers four one to nine, one nine, one three one six. CR.
Are you optimistic or pessimistic? I think I already know. Uh,
let's see you go with a big words. Well, come on,
like all I was getting along with the show and
to this other dude, you got what you sold up
with all the big words. Man, listens, Hey, it's a challenge.
(23:56):
I want you to go to the dictionary afterwards. CR.
That's all right there you you you said something about
a v H S. You know what what the heck
is the v A What is that? VHS? What? What?
What do you mean? Exactly? The VHS these the video
cassettes back in the day. Okay, Well, what is VHS
(24:17):
stands for? I have no clue with VH. Hey, I
know what a VCR stands for Video cassette recorder. I
just I do not know what a VHS stands for well,
VHS stands for video Home System. I looked it up
just like you told me too. There we go, Thank
you man. Sharing is carrying and learning and right there. Okay,
(24:43):
and first let's you get down in the business. This
one has been optimistic or pessimistic. Come on, man, if
you can't be optimistic about this, I mean, what what
is your problem? I put out a comment the other
day about about us as still a fans and and
you know, we have a lot to be excited about
and happy about. And uh, because we didn't win the
(25:04):
Super Bowl every year, I mean, nobody's gonna do that. Man,
nobody's gonna win the NFC Championship every year. Whatever that's impossible.
On team has ever done undefeated with Miam mcdonffin and
adopted that ever happened again in our lifetime. But we
have to be optimistic, especially u uh pick at the
pickings and and and Warren and and uh, you know,
(25:27):
Harris or running together like I just saw a note
here somewhere when somebody said that more than likely if
they if they continued with the offensive like they're doing
now and those guys play together, Uh, there's gonna be
another rocky Plyer and and Franco HAIs for a thousand
yards of piece or comments on that. Well, you know,
(25:48):
I think there's so much to be had here, and
I've already you know, I stated I wrote the whole
article for Jim Wexel and so forth, and by the way,
we put that out there. So I'm obviously an optimist,
you know. But the one guy that that I kind
of really in fired up to see, the guy that
I'm really excited about, is Calvin Austin the third. I mean,
(26:10):
because you don't know, Yeah, all I can say is
you got a four three guy. They're sitting in the
in the wings waiting to explode. I just I think
it could be great. You never know, Mac, Yeah, no,
I completely agree. I think if you can keep a
nucleus together and you can also continue to build around it, right,
(26:33):
you know, you add the bolstering, things get get more offensive, lineman,
make sure that you're you're stabilizing the depths of that.
If an injury happens, you're not decimated, right, right, you
have guys who can fill in. But also I think
if you keep the philosophies consistent, right, be committed to
running that football and then allowing that play action to
(26:54):
work off of it. I mean, one of the axioms
that we always talk about when you get into late
into the year football run game and run defense. If
you could do those two things, you're gonna have a
really good shot. So as long as they continue, however
it goes this offseason leading into next year, as long
as you're keeping constant emphasis on that run game and
(27:14):
Mr Rooney does not have to come out and say
we need to run the ball more, I think we'll
be going in the right direction. Right, So I agree, Well,
one more quick thing I think we need. When you
said run run the ball, I do think and I'm
hoping that the Steeler organization will put some a little
bit more focused on the run defense because you know,
like like the big man is getting old and the
(27:38):
tooth and and all that kind of stuff, and we
do need some other people to put in there. We
did have some injuries and stuff, but I really think
I'll run defense need to pick up. If that picks up,
and uh, that's going to come about the inside linebackers
a lot that's gonna be you know what I'm talking about,
But all right, we gotta run. Okay, thank you in
(28:00):
the meantime and then between time, here we go, here
we go, thank you so much. Alright, alright, we got okay,
I think we got one more before we go to break.
We got Bill and Pittsburgh. Bill, you're in the locker room,
my friend, little sir, how are you? We're doing just fine.
How are you doing? Hey? When you get to be
(28:20):
this agent to gift my friends? All right? How old
are you? How old are you as of December seventh?
I'm sixty five. Well, I'm sixty four. So we're right
in the same club. Brother, It is a gift and
we're both yes, older than Max. We are everything right now.
(28:45):
I got one question, Yes, I got one question. I
don't want to put you guys on the spot, but
tell me why the media and Pittsburgh is so intense
on making time to look like the village idiot and
he be At what point in time did he have
so much power that none of this is put on
(29:07):
the g M. I mean, Tomlin does the decision making
for draftics trades contracts that suppose powerful head coaching his
pd NFL. It don't work that way. Trust me, I
ain't missing nothing minute. No, you know the thing about
(29:29):
it is, what do you I just don't know how
you can quantify Mike Tomlin in a short sentence. You can't.
The guy's impact is too great. And I look, I
go back to this all the time. You look at
what the Steelers head coaches, the lineage, Chuck Noll hall
of famer, Bill Cower, hall of famer. And believe you me,
(29:50):
Mike Tomlin hall of famer. It's coming. Believe right of fame.
Oh absolutely, he don't need nothing else to to check
into the canton. Let me tell you he's already done. Hey,
you gotta ask them, Okay, Yeah, I've watched Mike close
up for his entire career from the sidelines basically except
(30:12):
for the last couple and I gotta tell you something.
I've never seen him at a loss leadership wise, on
the sidelines, at what to do every circumstances. I don't
care what people say. I know that people say, well
that thing when Matt spaith whoever, you know, the touchdown
against the Patriots, and you know this is no. He
has always been larger than charge, always had the answer. Um,
(30:36):
I'm what can I say? I admire him, he is
He's a heck of a man, and I appreciate the
way he goes about his business coaching Max. Yeah. Yeah,
But I could just say this, you know, when you
look at it, there's just some people that get piste
off at a sunny day, you know what I'm saying, like, like,
you know, those people to set out again. Really, I
(30:59):
couldn't have said it, you know, I mean that that's
those people, you know, but those those who appreciate the
sunshine after a rainy day or after a great day
you know in the berg, you know, or or it
was snowing and it was bad and the next thing
you know, boom, the sun comes out, clears out all
the snow. It becomes just wetness and then it goes away.
(31:21):
Like those are the people I run away from, the
people that yell at the sun. But the people that
appreciate those those are the people I clink to. So
there's always gonna be that one. We we all, we all,
we got one in every family. You know. It's it's
that becausein we're like, oh God, he's gotta come again. Okay,
all right, let me just let myself prepared. After a
(31:43):
statement like that, I got to I got to leave
that when lay just were Yeah, like I said, white white, white,
bothers saying that three D words. When Max can put
put it together in twelve you have if you don't
you need one. Hey, listen, I don't preach, but I've
(32:07):
been to enough sermons, so I about it. Bill. Thank
you so much. Brother, We appreciate you checking in. Don't
forget We're here till tomorrow. Man, Thank you so much.
All Right, Max, we got one more break. Yeah, Hey, bell,
Lap Bell, Lap, coming up? Wolf here in the locker room.
(32:27):
We come back if it starts. The ESPN s in
our radio. This is in the locker room with Wolf
(32:53):
and Starks on ESPN Pittsburgh against Steelers Nation Radio, presented
by your neighborhood Forward Store. The F one is the
official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes, Wesley Uler here
(33:14):
at the SNR Breaking News desk, Max and Wolf breaking
news for you once again. The producer of this show,
Wesley Uler and the host of this SNR Breaking News segment. Here,
it's just wondering when we're gonna do our Looney Tunes
all time starting football lineups here. I mean, I'm just
you know, I've been sitting here. We've been talking about
(33:36):
it all week. We've been teasing it already and go
on the Looney Tunes. That's my breaking news. Back to you.
Thank you, Wes a great reminder. We gotta do it tomorrow. Max, Okay,
we gotta do it tomorrow. That would be beautiful. Okay,
we got one one more caller we gotta get and
we got Lawrence from North Carolina. Lawrence, you're in the
(33:58):
locker room, my friend. How are you doing? Wolf and
manage y'all doing? Okay, We're doing good. How are you doing?
I'm doing great. I'm glad that the season we had
started off a little rocky. Praise to coach Tomlins, praise
tunes and staff, coach, Praise to the players. You do
not know, do not understand how hard it was this year.
(34:20):
Listen all these Cowboys fans and everybody else talking about
the record, and I thought at one time, I said, well,
we'll get a top I said, we haven't drafted in
the fifth, you know, top five since uh that running
back from Georgia. I can't remember the worthy, Yeah, I myself.
So I would love to draft her like that and
maybe trade that to get some other draft pick for
lineman and Also, I just want to thank them and
(34:41):
Tom of the job he's doing. Years when they everybody
thought fire Tom, Firetomlin. That's crazy. He's never had a
losing season, So I don't know where it's getting that from.
But thank you all for what you do. And I
can't wait to see what they're gonna do in the draft.
Trade that third is hurt, that last round pick, get
a couple of more linemens for the offensive. Y'all be blessed.
But I'll see you later. Man, all right, thank you.
I like that it comes in strong, comes in hard
(35:04):
to locker room, you know, because that's this is what
it's all about. Max. You know, you you come in
in the morning and before you start with all the
things that go on in one day, you know, getting
leading up to practice and everything else, you gotta get
in there and you've got to solve all the world's
problems at first or whatever is going on in the
locker room. No, absolutely, I mean this is where you come.
(35:26):
You bring your thoughts, your quandaries, your frustrations and everything else.
You air it out in the democratic of course, we
are a tribunal here, including the Euler bomb himself. Johnny
Wesley Euler Um. But we are a tribunal. We're here
to listen to your thoughts. We're here to listen to
you know, all all those things and try and put
(35:47):
your mind at ease or fire you up even more.
We can't be rebel rousers too. I mean it is
in our DNA. Oh yeah, yeah. I tend to think
you've you've you've you've stoked the fire a few times, buddy,
you know, and in your time in the past, maybe
doesn't you know what I mean? You sit there and
you're kind of ranking. I always loved when you you know,
(36:08):
you can get there and you start kind of just
cracking on each other, you know what I mean, And
then it spreads to other units other you know, you
talk about the defensive guys and you know who had
the biggest forehead, and that's sort of you know, I
mean things things quality conversations like that exactly, you know,
bodily habits and odors and smells and five heads and
(36:31):
and is what what what is that? You know? Exactly?
All All is open, All is fair, except for don't
talk about moms and girlfriends are off. Yeah yeah, yeah, exactly, Sorry,
sorry significant others. There we got that that should be
the category. Yeah, yeah, squeak oh man, But but yeah, no,
(36:59):
this this has been wonderful. And like I said, we'll
have our swan song tomorrow. Wolf Um Looney Tunes. Yeah,
the Looney Tunes, Hannah barbera lineup team. I haven't gotten
into Hannah Barbara. I got a lot of Looney tunes,
So I got to do a little more studying. Think
about this is like flint Stone's Jetsons. Think that what
(37:22):
do you think Fred would do? Fred could be a
good center, you know what I mean? I feel like
I feel like Fred is a pulling guard. You know,
you think so? Yeah? I think Barney would be a
good center, A little bit more squatty, big seat. You know,
he's got a big forehead too, I sho flathead, that
is correct, and a big nose, yes, man, But but
(37:44):
I mean I feel like I feel like Barney would
be the center and Fred would definitely be a pulling guard,
especially with the twinkle toes when he's at the bowling.
You know, Scooby Doo, is Hannah barbera as well, right,
Scooby Doo, Yes, yes it is so yeah, so yes,
(38:08):
we can't Scooby would you do it for a Scooby snack.
We are losing it here in the locker room. Yeah,
you know, that's the way it is. That is the
way it is. I mean, it's just gonna be fun.
But definitely you don't want to miss the show tomorrow.
It is our last show of the season. But also
Looney Tuls, Hannah barbera football squad. We're gonna make it up.
(38:31):
We're gonna go offense, we're gonna go defense, and then
of course give you our three specialists and that one,
and we might even throw in like a utility like
designated like you know, return guy, or you know, don't
forget this. You gotta come up with a coach, and
you gotta come up with an equipment manager. Yes, there
you go. All right, we got there. So you got
(38:51):
the assignment Steelers Nation. We want to hear it. We're
gonna take your calls as well. We're gonna give our
thoughts all three teams that we have, and then of
course we want to hear of you as well with
your input. Thank you for listening today. We'll be back tomorrow,
same BAT channel, same BAT time. Here in the locker
room on S and R and ESPN radio,
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