May 18, 2023 • 30 mins
Wes Uhler and Arthur Moats open up the Blitz discussing the release of Ahkello Witherspoon, the re-signing of Mason Rudolph, and the addition of Hakeem Butler.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Euler and Moats are on the air.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
This is the Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to
seven Home of the Black and Gold. Skin are Steelers
Nation Radio?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
What's going on Steelers Nation Radio? It is high Dune
on a Thursday afternoon.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
That can only mean one thing. It's time to go
inside the electric factory. Here on your twenty four to
seven Home of the Black and the Gold. It might
be the off season, but we don't go anywhere. It
is the Steelers Blitz on SNR. Wesley Euler, Arthur Motes.
Between the two of us, We've got a decade of
NFL experience and a really good head of hair. It's
up to you to figure out the rest.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
But what's your shoe? Good?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
No?
Speaker 4 (01:00):
By now, Patna's is if you want to get involved
with this program, we take your questions, your comments, your concerns,
and your reactions all via Twitter.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
At Wesley you'll act a body fifty.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Two Duh bond.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Arthur moatees and this is the time. I'm sure I
will say this again, probably at the end of the show,
but I will remind people that it is Thursday May eighteenth.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
As you and I record this edition of Blitz.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
And my wife, if she has not given birth in
the next forty eight hours, will be getting induced on
Saturday morning soon. Where I'm going with all of this
is this is gonna be the last Blitz show for
a couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Now, there is the possibility that something major could happen
in the next two weeks and motes.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
And I are like, hey, you want to jump on
the horn for ninety minutes.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
But all in all likelihood, this is this is We're
gonna be taking a couple of weeks off.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Here is I'll have my my paternity.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Gonna allow Wes to tap off of his paternity lead
the most important months of new mimmy new baby. Okay,
you said it for anything sports related. Okay, So even
if he tries to hit me up, ladies and gentlemen,
I'm gonna be the good friend here and I'm gonna
not answer my phone. I'm gonna say nope. If I
don't answer it, you can't do it. And there it is. Okay,
(02:17):
So you're not going to hear from him because he's
going to be enjoy mommy and new baby to baby.
You know, man, take that time for yourself. Man, nothing
is more important than family. You're right, ghtle right there,
but you can catch my drift.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Yeah, I'm absolutely catching especially this time of year, right whenever.
This is the one time of year that that we
get some wiggle room from this thing. If you'll recall
when we had our first daughter. She was born smack
dab in the middle of October, in the middle of
football season. But Mozi, that kind of worked out all
right because it was right before the Steelers bye week.
So I took the two weeks off, but we were
(02:54):
We did one show before the big game against the Browns.
We made it work. Yeah, this time, I'm gonna take
the full two weeks, I think. Yeah, even if the
Steelers signed J. J. Watt, we ain't doing a show.
Even if the Steelers sign Arthur Motes, we ain't doing
a show.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Oh that's a hundred percent fact that ain't happening.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Uh uh we uh So we'll be we'll be uh
breaking here for a couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
But you know what, don't worry.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Ot as is going on, so there'll be plenty of
Steelers content for you to sink your teeth into. I
know our own Matt Williamson and Dale Lawley. Uh will
be doing shows from O t as on SNR, So
make sure you're tapping into everything that they are doing,
uh as they will have all you Steelers junkies covered
through all those ot A practices here that that actually
just begin here in the next couple of days.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
I know, man, I mean that is kind of the
part that you know we are gonna miss out on.
But for a great reason, you know, we we we we.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Definitely maybe we'll make the sacrifice, right.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
We'll make the sacrifice for for a new little Euler,
a new little Euler rolling around here. Man, we love that.
But you know it is gonna be cool though for
those guys to be out there, you know, practicing and
getting back into the swing of actual football. And we
love that right.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Out a doubt.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
And speaking of actual football, we have some real tangible
Steelers roster decisions, UH to discuss here to get the
shows started today, we got a jam pack show. We'll
catch up with our buddy Brian Bacho about an hour
from now as well too of the Post Gazette.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
But Motzy's some moving and shaking as.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
It relates to the Steelers' roster, and I'm gonna make
you proud here, all right. There's there's three names that
I want to talk about that have been well, one
sign to the Steelers who has no real uh you know,
no past with with with Pittsburgh and the Steelers. Another
guy brought back to the Steelers who were all very
familiar with. And someone that we're all familiar with who's
(04:43):
been a pretty you know, a pretty sizable part of
the defense over the last two years, has been released.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
So we know how we're gonna do this, Arthur Mooches.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
We're gonna start on the defensive side of the football,
all right, because those prom kings on offense, they get
too much loving.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
All the time.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
I would agree.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
We'll talk about a certain quarterback and a certain wide
receiver here in just a few minutes, but to start
where it really matters, on the defensive side of the football,
Arthur Motes. It was announced by the Steelers just a
little under twenty four hours ago, actually from when you
and I were recording this Wednesday afternoon, it was announced
by the Steelers that they are releasing cornerback at Kello. Witherspoon,
(05:17):
of course, has been with the Steelers for the past
two seasons. Twenty eight years old, came to these Steelers
from the Seattle Seahawks after a few years with the Niners.
During his time in Pittsburgh, he started seven games played
in thirteen and let's see here, just real quick had
four interceptions during his time in the Black and Gold.
(05:40):
So there's been additions at the cornerback position this offseason, right.
You signed Patrick Peterson in free agency, You draft Joey
Porter with a pretty high pedigree, pick thirty second overall,
Joey Porter Junior, and you also take Corey Trice in
the final round of the draft as well too. So
motzi initial reaction, initial thoughts on a Kello weatherspoon A,
(06:01):
you know, one of the more veteran guys along with
Patrick Peterson in that secondary now being released by the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Well, I first must say I'm a little upset. I
thought I was gonna get the Corey Trice real game,
no gimmicks.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Corey Trice's real name, no gimmicks.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Thank you. I appreciate that. Now I feel like I'm
able to talk about the DV room. But in terms
of a Kello being released, it's multiple layers to it.
Am I surprised, no, because you talk about availability being
your best ability, and he missed a substantial amount of
time last season. You can't miss time while being highly
(06:38):
compensated at a position that is of need and you
not be available. That's gonna be hard. While they're adding
new talent, both veteran and young. It just makes you
become more expendable. Yeah, because you're not viewed as the
number one corner when we brought into Patrick Peterson. You're
(06:59):
not viewed as the future because we got a Joey
Porter Jr. You're not viewed as the middle class vet
because we got Levi Wallace. You're not the flyer in
the late round draft pick that's Corey Trice's real name,
no gimmicks, and you're not a true slot corner. But
even with that, we already have a chance in Sullivan,
who is a slot corner. But we also know that
(07:20):
we got some other options to put in there. So
when you factor on all of those things with the
price tag, now you're looking at a guy cost him
too much, but not having enough impact, not having enough value,
not checking off the supply versus the mand boxing the
correct way. And when I think of a Kellow like
(07:43):
as a whole his tenure here. This is a prime
example of the NFL. A year, two years ago, we're
paying him. We're talking about he's gonna be our guy,
the future Pro Bowl, the future replacement for Joe Hayden's true.
Not even a year later, he's off the roster. When
we talk about this verity of certain things, we talk
(08:05):
about the detailing and certain things, we talk about your availability,
and at times it may come off like harsh. This
is why, because a Kello is still a good football player.
Dot's not act like he fell off a cliff. It
does not a play, no, But when you factor in
the business along with the last time we saw him
on the field was against the Philadelphia Eagles and it
(08:27):
was not a pretty scene. It's hard to remain on
an NFL roster like that, right right, And to add
insult to injury for a Kello specifically, we talked about
the Patrick Peters, we talked about a Corey Trice, we
talked about a Joey porter Gy, and we talked about
a Lebout Wallace. But I'll even take it a step
(08:49):
further west. Luke Barku, we just signed it from the XFL.
Was with the Jaguars, came out of San Diego State,
was playing in San Antonio Brahmas with Hans Wore, Joey
Porter and all them. They signed him. When you watch
him play, he's a Kello. That's the replacement, that's the Akello.
(09:09):
Let's take a flyer on him before a way cheaper cost,
good lyngth good size, love his ball skills, had nine
picks in one season, very ball QB aware, like we
talked about with Akello and why he was able to
get the interceptions. Part of the pros and cons to
those type of players when you get your eyes in
the backfill is you're going to be able to make
more plays on the ball, but you're also going to
(09:29):
leave yourself exposed potentially to some big plays, which we
also saw happen, whether that would be aj Brown or
for talking Nelson Aglar, right, and we can go down
to listen to some of the other guys. Very Marcus Peters,
like when you're talking about Baltimore Ravens, right, Very Marcus
Peters like, I think he's quicker than fast. But when
you talk about a guy who plays with really good vision,
(09:51):
really good read and reacts skills. Those are the things
we talked about with a kello good lyngth plays with
good physicality. When he's all coverage, he's able to read
the order back man, he's able to attack the ball,
trust his instincts. Those are all these vaccame things we
were saying. The difference is one cost four mil. One
is gonna cause vet men.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
So for economics, it's an economics.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Yes, this is this is business like. It sucks from
the personal standpoint, but from a business standpoint, no, this
is this is smart move this smart business. You already
got your replacement, you got your high and you got
your lower. You can got your middle class. Why pay
four mil to a guy that you're hoping can come
back and return to form. And we were still trying
to figure out if those last five games from his
(10:34):
first season were outliar or the norm for him. So
we still have questions even with that. Yeah, I think
kill though man, because I think he's a good player.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
For honest I do too. But you know, but you
you have to. I mean, you laid it out very simply.
You you have your upper class, You have your you
have your upper class in Patrick Peterson you have your
middle class, and Levi Wallace you have your young guys
now that you just drafted as well too, and you
don't really think it Kello fits into that. He doesn't
into that unless there's something up his sleep that we
haven't seen yet. Into that slot corner role now and
the and the skill set that you need to play
(11:07):
that in the modern NFL. When you combine that with
the fact that, I mean mostly he's he's played forget
forget starts. He's played in just thirteen games for the
Steelers over the last two seasons, so that's about half,
maybe not even not even quite so.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
So when you're when.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
You're kind of deemed surplus in terms of what your
role is going to be in the secondary, you combine
that with the fact that you haven't been readily available
for the team. You haven't necessarily been Terrell Edmunds in
this conversation, right and uh, and they can save a
little bit of money on this as well too. I
think you're right. It's nothing personal, it's just business, it's
just economics. Kello is a is a is a nice player,
(11:48):
and I think he'll find a landing spot in the NFL.
But just uh, was was the right time to let
him go in Pittsburgh? I think when again, like you
laid out all the other business that they've done and
what they have there now currently in that position. Group,
We do wish him all the best as ye as
we hope he's able to stay healthy and stick on somewhere.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Well, because you wanted to land on his feet. The
challenging thing for Kellow is literally gonna be his market
because of how much he had just got paid. That's
technically his current market right now, but we saw in
terms of availability along with production, it didn't necessarily reflect that,
which is why we made the decision that we made.
(12:25):
So he's going to kind of be at that crossroads
of do you take less prove it deal type concept
or do you try to stand on I've earned this
dollar amount and if it's not this, then I'm not
willing to sign that. That's going to be you know
where he's gonna have to have those personal discussions. But yeah, man,
the NFL, man, it does not wait, it does not.
(12:48):
It is just crazy how fast things could change. Man.
A year later, one year later, man.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
You know what, things change very fast in this league.
You've said it before like kind of tongue in cheek
oking lee, but because It's true the NFL stands for
not for long. That's you know, one of those things
that we hear from time to time. Well, that pendulum
can always swing back the other way too. Right, where
it doesn't work out for you at a certain location
or a certain opportunity, maybe it does somewhere else. And
(13:17):
I don't know, maybe Hakeem Butler is a guy that
fits that bill.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
You folks like what I did there?
Speaker 4 (13:22):
I mean, how about that transition professional baby. Hakeem Butler
was a guy who was drafted in the NFL in
twenty nineteen, fourth round pick of the Arizona Cardinals. Bounced
around a little bit. He was with the Panthers for
a little while, with the Eagles for a little bit, mozy,
and then was out of the league, played in the
Canadian Football League for a couple of years, and then
(13:42):
just played with the Saint Louis BattleHawks in the XFL.
Saint Louis Battlehawk's head coach Anthony Beck, former West Virginia
tight end, there's always a Mountaineer connection that I got
to get in there somehow, Mozy, you know it. The
BattleHawks had a really good season, made a run in
the playoffs, you know, one of the better teams this
year in this first year of the rebirth of the XFL.
Hakeem Butler a huge part of their success. I believe
(14:05):
he had eight touchdowns on the season. You could argue
he was the best wide receiver in the XFL. Well,
guess what he's getting his shot back now in the
NFL as the Steelers have signed him as well to Motes.
He's still just twenty seven years old. Just turned twenty
seven actually this week. His birthday was earlier this week,
So just turned twenty seven this week. Had three really
productive seasons at Iowa State in college. Tell me how
(14:28):
you're feeling about again, a guy who came into the
NFL with some promise, didn't necessarily work out for him,
took a route to get back here now and is
getting another opportunity.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Well, actually, I'm a little sad that you shouted out
all these people and didn't even shout out Blues Greg Kowski,
the offensive coordinator for the Saint Louis BattleHawks. Like, am
I missing something here?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
We just shout it up right, Well, we didn't talk
about the head coach, all right.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
No, no, no, you talk about an Eagles connection here
and this, I'm like Bruce. Like Bruce, like you highlight
in the offense, you're highlighting his production at wide receiver,
who's drawing up these plays, who's calling these plays? Can? Can?
Can the Bruce Gradkowski get some love? If that's is
(15:15):
that all right? You know? Yeah? Man, shout out to
the dog Bruce though and shout out to A. J. McCallon,
who was the quarterback for hakin Man, because he was
also delivering some beautiful passes Man, and it's ultimately allowing
Hakain the opportunity to really flourish. When you watch a
King though Man, big speed, elite talent, played up to
(15:36):
his potential in the XFL, it was good to see
good catch, tradious good right after catchability. Not elusive in
the sense of like I'm gonna shake you, but a
tough tackle because of how hard he.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Plays in terms of you know, when you're talking to King,
you watch him in the XFL, and you're asking yourself,
why isn't the end of league the big thing or
the big.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Knock right now? Is just the consistency to me when
you think of Hakuem from a catching standpoint, He's not
George Pickens in the sense of elite hands. He's not
Chase Claypool either. He's closer to a Martevis Briant. The
problem is, we know what Martavis right, He was gonna
have some real weird catches. He was gonna have some drops,
(16:23):
but he was also going to be able to have
them exposive plays. For Hakim, he at the NFL level
hasn't been able to always come back with an exposive
play after the negative wards. In the XFL he was
a lot more consistent, a lot more just even across
the board, and you can just depend on it more.
So I think that's a bigger reason why he's getting
this opportunity and why his numbers reflected that. And hopefully
(16:45):
for him, man, he's motivated because this is essentially, you know,
his last opportunity at getting it going in the NFL,
you know, because he's had to take this journey to
get back in it. So I just hoping that capacity
he's able to continue. You this trajector of production that
we're getting from him, because the talent is there. When
you talk about a guy with his size and speed,
(17:07):
that's tough to find. Oh yeah, it's tough to find,
but you got to make it actually produced and for him,
unfortunately it doesn't start at wide receiver. For him, you
got to beat our miles blanking on special teams before
you can even as a wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Because I got some depth that position.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, that's that's.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
I wonder like how many options he had and if
he decided to come to Pittsburgh, because it is it's
you're not going to an air like if I'm if
I'm his agent, I'm not sitting there and saying, oh yes,
sign with the Steelers because they got nothing in the
wide receiver room.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Right right, it's like our deepest positions out here. But
certainly at the same time, he brings a certain.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Level of different skills set skill set, right, I'm like
five and four to four speed like that.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
You could play him, you play him outside like George
Pickens as a Z wide receiver, which is more of
your vertical downfill threat. You're gold balls, your posts, your
post corners, right, stuff like that. But you can also
put them in the non traditional slot role, which we've
seen with Chase Claypool, we've done with Juju Smith Schuster,
but we'll put a big body receiver to kind of
(18:15):
go instead of the speedy element being the advantage in
the slot with smaller receivers like Steven Simms, Ray Ray McLeod,
gunn rossky Eli Rodgers. Now we're trying to say, well,
let's go with the bigger size mismatch. And now instead
of me running away from Levege, I'm just throwing over
top of it, like we saw with Juju, like we
(18:36):
would see with Claypool at times, and even George Pickens
for a little bit. There was s Frink Glemmer in
there last year. I think a king can give you
some of that versatility because right now you look at
our slot receivers, they're back to like the traditional small.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Jitter bub ago, you know, the Julian Edelman type, right.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Julian Edelman west Walker's right. So Keen could give with
some flexibility here to go size versus just the speed
and quickness in this list. So I do like to
pick up. I think it's a low risk, super high
reward potential. Yeah, but for him he just has to
stay consistent, man, stay consistent.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
It's got the talent certainly, does you know if you're
if you're someone who's a football dork and you're in
love with the regular seat. And I mean that in
the best way possible. Moti and I are football dorks,
but you're in love. You're in love with the regular season.
Both those terms though, nerd, all those terms that used
to have such negative connotations. Now it's like a cool thing. Now,
it's like a cool thing to be a geek, to
be a dork, to be in there. Yeah, I'm in
(19:38):
the Lord of the Rings. Yeah I'm into Star Wars.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
What about it?
Speaker 4 (19:41):
If you're somebody who loves not just the games in
the season, but everything else, right, training camp and the
combine and the draft and all these different things, you'll
you'll certainly remember Hakeem Butler's name. Like we said, six
five four to four speed, Hey, I'm willing to work
with that. Just turn twenty seven years old. Like I
said this week, so plenty in the tank. He will
be certainly one of those that I'll be looking forward
(20:03):
to see. And when we get out to lay Trope
for training camp, since since we will not be at
OTA's this year, since I am about forty eight hours
or so from welcoming a second child into the world,
well my wife is I along with my wife, she's
doing all the work. She's doing all the work and everything. Well,
it is teamwork, but it's teamwork in the sense of
like group project teamwork. And I'm the you know, the
(20:26):
Jabbroni who did five percent of the work, and she's
the really smart one carrying the class doing ninety five
percent of the work.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
But yes, teamwork.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Indeed, Moti, a few minutes here before we got to
go to break the third and final roster decision move,
I almost said shakeup, But it's not really a shakeup.
It's bringing back a familiar name, maybe a guy that
we'll see throwing the football to Akeem Butler during OTAs
and training camp. Certainly, Mason Rudolph has re signed with
(20:53):
the Pittsburgh Steelers once again. You know, gonna be the
QB three, you know, behind Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett.
We would all assume unless something changes injury or performance wise.
There had been some discussion, you know, are they gonna
let Tanner Morgan vie for that spot? Could they bring
in some other people? There had always been whispers that
(21:14):
Mason was a possibility to return. He uh, he has,
as he was announced by the Steelers yesterday. Reported by
some before that but officially announced by the Steelers yesterday
that Mason Rudolph has re signed with the Black and Gold.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
No.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
See, there's a lot of hot takes everywhere on this,
I feel like, but you and I have always said this.
My opinion hasn't changed much on this. I'm fine with this.
If Mason Rudolph is your QB three, you've got a
strong quarterback room because whatever you think about him, he
is a viable quarterback three. You know, one who's won
games in the NFL, one who is a professional and
(21:49):
knows what it takes to prepare. I know a lot
of people don't like this, but I don't know how
you can get fired up about this. If he's your
QB three, Like I said, I think he got a
solid quarterback room.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I agree, you already know how I feel. I'm not
ever trying.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Let's go worst case scenario, right, if something happens, something
happens to Kenny, okay, and then you got Mitch out there,
if if, if Mason Rudolph is your break glass in
case of breaking glass already, Like, don't you think you
think the forty nine Ers would have loved to have
Mason Rudolph last year? When they when they're putting wide
receivers and Christian McCaffrey back in the backfield to play quarterback.
(22:27):
I just I don't understand the outrage over this. It's
a solid it's a solid pickup for a QB three
and a guy who's familiar with the team and the
offense and the organization.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Well, you already know my energy. I'm not trying to
convince people. Nope, if you want to take that approach,
go for it. If that's your energy, go for it.
I hope you enjoy. You know, it's gonna make yourself
work a lot harder't gonna make your hair hurt a
lot moreter, and then eventually you're gonna come back and realize, oh,
they did know what they were talking about. But I
can assure you we are not trying to convince you.
(22:58):
We're not trying to change your mind. How many quarterbacks
have won multiple games in the NFL right now that
are listed as third stream guys? Your thirst stear quarterback
is typically like a practice squad guy, a Tanner Morgan,
like a Morgan. Yep, exactly, show me definitive proof where
(23:19):
Tanna Morgan is better than Mason rut of today, not speculation,
not I hope not. I feel not because I see
this No no, no, definitive. You can't because he's never done it.
Mason has, He's won multiple games in the NFL. It's
like it's comical at times because that is what the
(23:40):
industry does become at times. You know, it's more so
let's not really focus on like facts, it's not really
focused on the tape, it's not really focus on the
things that are legitimate. It becomes more let's just talk
about the opinion and make that opinion be more reality
than what the actual reality is. And Mason is debatable
(24:04):
worst case two depth quarterback. You know, when you're talking
about it's thirty two teams, sixty four quarterbacks. I can't
guarantee that I'm about the name sixty four quarterbacks better
than Mason Rudolph in today's NFL. But the way that
we like to portray it at times because it might
fit that narrative or because it might fit a storyline
that people have created, yea, they just roll with that.
(24:28):
And for the real people that study this game and
watch it and understand the nuances, like how is that
even viewed as like logical or even making sense. I
personally don't get it to me. Man, Mason is a
dope quarterback. If that's your third guy, this is gonna
be a dope quarterback to push Mitch as the number
(24:49):
two guy. Shoot, Mason is still a low key going
to be pushing Kenny because Mason comes with a certain
level of professionalism. Mason understands how to practice. Mason is
a NFL quarterback. Is that that's the.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
That's the That's the biggest part of this to me too, honestly,
is like, how do you feel about about Mason Rudolph?
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Right?
Speaker 4 (25:07):
This is like a thing that Ben talked about all
the time, how great it was to have people like
Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich to go back to the
sideline and picked up. Would you rather have Kenny walking
off the sideline and talking to Tanner Morgan play bro
a rookie, a rookie you know who has never taken us,
or someone like Mason Rudolph who has been in the
league now for what this will be his sixth season,
(25:28):
I think fifth, sixth or seventh season. He's started nine
games in the NFL. He's got a winning record in
those games.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Again, none but no, no, no, that doesn't matter that West,
that doesn't matter West, That does not matter that he
has a winning record. None.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Would you rather have Kenny talking to that guy?
Speaker 1 (25:46):
No, Wes, that does not fit the narrative. Mason is
the worst quarterback that has ever put on a jersey
in Pittsburgh. That's supposed to be the narrative. That's the
narrative that they pushed, and that's the narrative that certain
factions of Stealing Nation decide to find. And it's just comical, man.
Speaker 4 (26:02):
But so he lost his he lost his job. The
Duck Hosseys, that's one. I've seen a bunch this week.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Okay, great, would you would you rather have? Would you
rather have Morgan? That's the question.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
But did Duck not come in and also win games? Absolutely? Like, yeah,
what am I missing here? They make it as if
it's a slight that an NFL guy came in and
provided NFL production. Huh.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
I just say, see, I can't I can't get outraged
over a third quarterback signing, but I can say I
think he's he's arguably the best QB three in the NFL. Maybe,
if we have time this offseason, we'll have to go
through and look at him, and a.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Lot of times it does stem from just as we
talked about, man, people want to feel like they aren't
left out, like they aren't forgotten about it. And if
they feel like a Mason Rudolph is getting this type
of attention, this is the guy they want to tear
it down. So it's like, all right, I got I
gotta be that, I gotta tell And it's like, no,
even though you might be upset and miserable, you still
(27:05):
aren't better than Mason that quarterback. Mason is a high
level player. That's why he's on a NFL roster period.
It's the all season ninety guys on every NFL roster
right now, man, right ninety guys.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
It ain't when you talk about how many talented guys
are not in the NFL right now, whether that be
because they're retired, whether it be because they don't have
a job, whether because they didn't get drafted, it's a
lot of talented dudes walking around. It ain't a lot
of dudes better than Mason Rudolph that played quarterback at
the NFL level. That's what you got to understand. But
you want to r with the narrative that you know.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
You can work around job Doc Hodges, but no other
no other team in the NFL sign.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
It's a third quarterback, third quarterback, six years of experience.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
And let's also talk about his market right in terms
of no other team wanted to sign them. And if
that is the case, cool, But all it takes is
one team and he did have that one team wants
to sign it, which was the Pittsburgh Steelers. So that
actually defeats the whole logic of nobody wanted to sign you.
Correct And if and if you know, to take it
(28:14):
a step further, if he's that bad, the Steelers have
the most knowledge of him because they've seen him every
single day in practice since he's come in the NFL. Correct,
So if he's really as bad as people have made it,
then why would the team even want him back?
Speaker 4 (28:28):
That's where I'm at too, and you don't want to
talk about that. Would he None of this guarantees he's
making the roster. Either Tanner Morgan could go to latrob
but kick his button, take his spot. That that's that's
certainly a possibility. In fact, you know what, I hope
that's a real possibility. And We're give us something else
to talk about out Latrobe pay who you got for
QB three.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
This is a real battle going on right now.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
I'm not fine a time to get worked up about this,
but obviously we did have to have to discuss it
on the show today as it is a like I said,
you real roster, real roster.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Yeah. I love the move, man. I think that it
adds really good depth. When you're talking about our quarterback
room being Kenny Pikett, mister Bisky, Mason Rudolph, and you
include Tanne Morgan. You show me another three DP where
you feel as good depth wise, we can make a
case in terms of high end starter talent. Yeah, we
don't have a Mahomes. We don't have a Josh Allen.
We don't have a Joe Burrow. We don't have Aaron
(29:19):
Rodgers just yet. We're gonna see if Kenny can develop
into that, but currently we don't. But you look at
their depth and you look at our depth, you're not
gonna find one where we're like, hey man, they got
way better depth than That's not the high end part.
That's a legitimate debate. The high end part. We're not
gonna sit here and act like Kenny has already proven
that he's that. No, but to act like we don't
(29:39):
have the legitimate depth that has proven and has won games.
All three of these quarterbacks that I just listed have
won multiple games, not one singular multiple poor. When you
have that type of depth at the position with it
also being youth, it's a good situation, man.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
I completely agree.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
And I tell you what they're You know, a lot
of teams in the NFL losing their first quarterback and
having to go to their second string guy since their season.
I would think pretty much every team in the NFL
you go to your third string quarterback and you I mean,
you're blowing holes in your going down. You're going down
to the bottom of the lake. And there's a couple exceptions.
Certain Yeah, and I think the Steelers might be one
(30:20):
New England.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
This is when they could do this and living.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
And listen, I'm saying if in this if in this
nightmare hypothetical and it does end up being a situation
where where he's out there, I'm not saying the Steelers
are going on to win the super Bowl, but it
ain't sinking your season either. And I don't think you
can ask for much more than that in a n
a QB three. We got to take a break. When
we come back here, we got to do a little early,
way too early schedule predictions, as we'll be off the
(30:44):
air for the next two weeks and this will be
untimely by then. We'll do that before we catch up
with our buddy Brian Backo to close this thing down.
Plenty to get to on the Blitz on SNR
Euler and Moats are on the air.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
This is the Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to
seven Home of the Black and Gold. Skin are Steelers
Nation Radio?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
What's going on Steelers Nation Radio? It is high Dune
on a Thursday afternoon.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
That can only mean one thing. It's time to go
inside the electric factory. Here on your twenty four to
seven Home of the Black and the Gold. It might
be the off season, but we don't go anywhere. It
is the Steelers Blitz on SNR. Wesley Euler, Arthur Motes.
Between the two of us, We've got a decade of
NFL experience and a really good head of hair. It's
up to you to figure out the rest.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
But what's your shoe? Good?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
No?
Speaker 4 (01:00):
By now, Patna's is if you want to get involved
with this program, we take your questions, your comments, your concerns,
and your reactions all via Twitter.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
At Wesley you'll act a body fifty.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Two Duh bond.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Arthur moatees and this is the time. I'm sure I
will say this again, probably at the end of the show,
but I will remind people that it is Thursday May eighteenth.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
As you and I record this edition of Blitz.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
And my wife, if she has not given birth in
the next forty eight hours, will be getting induced on
Saturday morning soon. Where I'm going with all of this
is this is gonna be the last Blitz show for
a couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Now, there is the possibility that something major could happen
in the next two weeks and motes.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
And I are like, hey, you want to jump on
the horn for ninety minutes.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
But all in all likelihood, this is this is We're
gonna be taking a couple of weeks off.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Here is I'll have my my paternity.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Gonna allow Wes to tap off of his paternity lead
the most important months of new mimmy new baby. Okay,
you said it for anything sports related. Okay, So even
if he tries to hit me up, ladies and gentlemen,
I'm gonna be the good friend here and I'm gonna
not answer my phone. I'm gonna say nope. If I
don't answer it, you can't do it. And there it is. Okay,
(02:17):
So you're not going to hear from him because he's
going to be enjoy mommy and new baby to baby.
You know, man, take that time for yourself. Man, nothing
is more important than family. You're right, ghtle right there,
but you can catch my drift.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Yeah, I'm absolutely catching especially this time of year, right whenever.
This is the one time of year that that we
get some wiggle room from this thing. If you'll recall
when we had our first daughter. She was born smack
dab in the middle of October, in the middle of
football season. But Mozi, that kind of worked out all
right because it was right before the Steelers bye week.
So I took the two weeks off, but we were
(02:54):
We did one show before the big game against the Browns.
We made it work. Yeah, this time, I'm gonna take
the full two weeks, I think. Yeah, even if the
Steelers signed J. J. Watt, we ain't doing a show.
Even if the Steelers sign Arthur Motes, we ain't doing
a show.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Oh that's a hundred percent fact that ain't happening.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Uh uh we uh So we'll be we'll be uh
breaking here for a couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
But you know what, don't worry.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Ot as is going on, so there'll be plenty of
Steelers content for you to sink your teeth into. I
know our own Matt Williamson and Dale Lawley. Uh will
be doing shows from O t as on SNR, So
make sure you're tapping into everything that they are doing,
uh as they will have all you Steelers junkies covered
through all those ot A practices here that that actually
just begin here in the next couple of days.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
I know, man, I mean that is kind of the
part that you know we are gonna miss out on.
But for a great reason, you know, we we we we.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Definitely maybe we'll make the sacrifice, right.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
We'll make the sacrifice for for a new little Euler,
a new little Euler rolling around here. Man, we love that.
But you know it is gonna be cool though for
those guys to be out there, you know, practicing and
getting back into the swing of actual football. And we
love that right.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Out a doubt.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
And speaking of actual football, we have some real tangible
Steelers roster decisions, UH to discuss here to get the
shows started today, we got a jam pack show. We'll
catch up with our buddy Brian Bacho about an hour
from now as well too of the Post Gazette.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
But Motzy's some moving and shaking as.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
It relates to the Steelers' roster, and I'm gonna make
you proud here, all right. There's there's three names that
I want to talk about that have been well, one
sign to the Steelers who has no real uh you know,
no past with with with Pittsburgh and the Steelers. Another
guy brought back to the Steelers who were all very
familiar with. And someone that we're all familiar with who's
(04:43):
been a pretty you know, a pretty sizable part of
the defense over the last two years, has been released.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
So we know how we're gonna do this, Arthur Mooches.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
We're gonna start on the defensive side of the football,
all right, because those prom kings on offense, they get
too much loving.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
All the time.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
I would agree.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
We'll talk about a certain quarterback and a certain wide
receiver here in just a few minutes, but to start
where it really matters, on the defensive side of the football,
Arthur Motes. It was announced by the Steelers just a
little under twenty four hours ago, actually from when you
and I were recording this Wednesday afternoon, it was announced
by the Steelers that they are releasing cornerback at Kello. Witherspoon,
(05:17):
of course, has been with the Steelers for the past
two seasons. Twenty eight years old, came to these Steelers
from the Seattle Seahawks after a few years with the Niners.
During his time in Pittsburgh, he started seven games played
in thirteen and let's see here, just real quick had
four interceptions during his time in the Black and Gold.
(05:40):
So there's been additions at the cornerback position this offseason, right.
You signed Patrick Peterson in free agency, You draft Joey
Porter with a pretty high pedigree, pick thirty second overall,
Joey Porter Junior, and you also take Corey Trice in
the final round of the draft as well too. So
motzi initial reaction, initial thoughts on a Kello weatherspoon A,
(06:01):
you know, one of the more veteran guys along with
Patrick Peterson in that secondary now being released by the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Well, I first must say I'm a little upset. I
thought I was gonna get the Corey Trice real game,
no gimmicks.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Corey Trice's real name, no gimmicks.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Thank you. I appreciate that. Now I feel like I'm
able to talk about the DV room. But in terms
of a Kello being released, it's multiple layers to it.
Am I surprised, no, because you talk about availability being
your best ability, and he missed a substantial amount of
time last season. You can't miss time while being highly
(06:38):
compensated at a position that is of need and you
not be available. That's gonna be hard. While they're adding
new talent, both veteran and young. It just makes you
become more expendable. Yeah, because you're not viewed as the
number one corner when we brought into Patrick Peterson. You're
(06:59):
not viewed as the future because we got a Joey
Porter Jr. You're not viewed as the middle class vet
because we got Levi Wallace. You're not the flyer in
the late round draft pick that's Corey Trice's real name,
no gimmicks, and you're not a true slot corner. But
even with that, we already have a chance in Sullivan,
who is a slot corner. But we also know that
(07:20):
we got some other options to put in there. So
when you factor on all of those things with the
price tag, now you're looking at a guy cost him
too much, but not having enough impact, not having enough value,
not checking off the supply versus the mand boxing the
correct way. And when I think of a Kellow like
(07:43):
as a whole his tenure here. This is a prime
example of the NFL. A year, two years ago, we're
paying him. We're talking about he's gonna be our guy,
the future Pro Bowl, the future replacement for Joe Hayden's true.
Not even a year later, he's off the roster. When
we talk about this verity of certain things, we talk
(08:05):
about the detailing and certain things, we talk about your availability,
and at times it may come off like harsh. This
is why, because a Kello is still a good football player.
Dot's not act like he fell off a cliff. It
does not a play, no, But when you factor in
the business along with the last time we saw him
on the field was against the Philadelphia Eagles and it
(08:27):
was not a pretty scene. It's hard to remain on
an NFL roster like that, right right, And to add
insult to injury for a Kello specifically, we talked about
the Patrick Peters, we talked about a Corey Trice, we
talked about a Joey porter Gy, and we talked about
a Lebout Wallace. But I'll even take it a step
(08:49):
further west. Luke Barku, we just signed it from the XFL.
Was with the Jaguars, came out of San Diego State,
was playing in San Antonio Brahmas with Hans Wore, Joey
Porter and all them. They signed him. When you watch
him play, he's a Kello. That's the replacement, that's the Akello.
(09:09):
Let's take a flyer on him before a way cheaper cost,
good lyngth good size, love his ball skills, had nine
picks in one season, very ball QB aware, like we
talked about with Akello and why he was able to
get the interceptions. Part of the pros and cons to
those type of players when you get your eyes in
the backfill is you're going to be able to make
more plays on the ball, but you're also going to
(09:29):
leave yourself exposed potentially to some big plays, which we
also saw happen, whether that would be aj Brown or
for talking Nelson Aglar, right, and we can go down
to listen to some of the other guys. Very Marcus Peters,
like when you're talking about Baltimore Ravens, right, Very Marcus
Peters like, I think he's quicker than fast. But when
you talk about a guy who plays with really good vision,
(09:51):
really good read and reacts skills. Those are the things
we talked about with a kello good lyngth plays with
good physicality. When he's all coverage, he's able to read
the order back man, he's able to attack the ball,
trust his instincts. Those are all these vaccame things we
were saying. The difference is one cost four mil. One
is gonna cause vet men.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
So for economics, it's an economics.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Yes, this is this is business like. It sucks from
the personal standpoint, but from a business standpoint, no, this
is this is smart move this smart business. You already
got your replacement, you got your high and you got
your lower. You can got your middle class. Why pay
four mil to a guy that you're hoping can come
back and return to form. And we were still trying
to figure out if those last five games from his
(10:34):
first season were outliar or the norm for him. So
we still have questions even with that. Yeah, I think
kill though man, because I think he's a good player.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
For honest I do too. But you know, but you
you have to. I mean, you laid it out very simply.
You you have your upper class, You have your you
have your upper class in Patrick Peterson you have your
middle class, and Levi Wallace you have your young guys
now that you just drafted as well too, and you
don't really think it Kello fits into that. He doesn't
into that unless there's something up his sleep that we
haven't seen yet. Into that slot corner role now and
the and the skill set that you need to play
(11:07):
that in the modern NFL. When you combine that with
the fact that, I mean mostly he's he's played forget
forget starts. He's played in just thirteen games for the
Steelers over the last two seasons, so that's about half,
maybe not even not even quite so.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
So when you're when.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
You're kind of deemed surplus in terms of what your
role is going to be in the secondary, you combine
that with the fact that you haven't been readily available
for the team. You haven't necessarily been Terrell Edmunds in
this conversation, right and uh, and they can save a
little bit of money on this as well too. I
think you're right. It's nothing personal, it's just business, it's
just economics. Kello is a is a is a nice player,
(11:48):
and I think he'll find a landing spot in the NFL.
But just uh, was was the right time to let
him go in Pittsburgh? I think when again, like you
laid out all the other business that they've done and
what they have there now currently in that position. Group,
We do wish him all the best as ye as
we hope he's able to stay healthy and stick on somewhere.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Well, because you wanted to land on his feet. The
challenging thing for Kellow is literally gonna be his market
because of how much he had just got paid. That's
technically his current market right now, but we saw in
terms of availability along with production, it didn't necessarily reflect that,
which is why we made the decision that we made.
(12:25):
So he's going to kind of be at that crossroads
of do you take less prove it deal type concept
or do you try to stand on I've earned this
dollar amount and if it's not this, then I'm not
willing to sign that. That's going to be you know
where he's gonna have to have those personal discussions. But yeah, man,
the NFL, man, it does not wait, it does not.
(12:48):
It is just crazy how fast things could change. Man.
A year later, one year later, man.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
You know what, things change very fast in this league.
You've said it before like kind of tongue in cheek
oking lee, but because It's true the NFL stands for
not for long. That's you know, one of those things
that we hear from time to time. Well, that pendulum
can always swing back the other way too. Right, where
it doesn't work out for you at a certain location
or a certain opportunity, maybe it does somewhere else. And
(13:17):
I don't know, maybe Hakeem Butler is a guy that
fits that bill.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
You folks like what I did there?
Speaker 4 (13:22):
I mean, how about that transition professional baby. Hakeem Butler
was a guy who was drafted in the NFL in
twenty nineteen, fourth round pick of the Arizona Cardinals. Bounced
around a little bit. He was with the Panthers for
a little while, with the Eagles for a little bit, mozy,
and then was out of the league, played in the
Canadian Football League for a couple of years, and then
(13:42):
just played with the Saint Louis BattleHawks in the XFL.
Saint Louis Battlehawk's head coach Anthony Beck, former West Virginia
tight end, there's always a Mountaineer connection that I got
to get in there somehow, Mozy, you know it. The
BattleHawks had a really good season, made a run in
the playoffs, you know, one of the better teams this
year in this first year of the rebirth of the XFL.
Hakeem Butler a huge part of their success. I believe
(14:05):
he had eight touchdowns on the season. You could argue
he was the best wide receiver in the XFL. Well,
guess what he's getting his shot back now in the
NFL as the Steelers have signed him as well to Motes.
He's still just twenty seven years old. Just turned twenty
seven actually this week. His birthday was earlier this week,
So just turned twenty seven this week. Had three really
productive seasons at Iowa State in college. Tell me how
(14:28):
you're feeling about again, a guy who came into the
NFL with some promise, didn't necessarily work out for him,
took a route to get back here now and is
getting another opportunity.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Well, actually, I'm a little sad that you shouted out
all these people and didn't even shout out Blues Greg Kowski,
the offensive coordinator for the Saint Louis BattleHawks. Like, am
I missing something here?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
We just shout it up right, Well, we didn't talk
about the head coach, all right.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
No, no, no, you talk about an Eagles connection here
and this, I'm like Bruce. Like Bruce, like you highlight
in the offense, you're highlighting his production at wide receiver,
who's drawing up these plays, who's calling these plays? Can? Can?
Can the Bruce Gradkowski get some love? If that's is
(15:15):
that all right? You know? Yeah? Man, shout out to
the dog Bruce though and shout out to A. J. McCallon,
who was the quarterback for hakin Man, because he was
also delivering some beautiful passes Man, and it's ultimately allowing
Hakain the opportunity to really flourish. When you watch a
King though Man, big speed, elite talent, played up to
(15:36):
his potential in the XFL, it was good to see
good catch, tradious good right after catchability. Not elusive in
the sense of like I'm gonna shake you, but a
tough tackle because of how hard he.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Plays in terms of you know, when you're talking to King,
you watch him in the XFL, and you're asking yourself,
why isn't the end of league the big thing or
the big.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Knock right now? Is just the consistency to me when
you think of Hakuem from a catching standpoint, He's not
George Pickens in the sense of elite hands. He's not
Chase Claypool either. He's closer to a Martevis Briant. The
problem is, we know what Martavis right, He was gonna
have some real weird catches. He was gonna have some drops,
(16:23):
but he was also going to be able to have
them exposive plays. For Hakim, he at the NFL level
hasn't been able to always come back with an exposive
play after the negative wards. In the XFL he was
a lot more consistent, a lot more just even across
the board, and you can just depend on it more.
So I think that's a bigger reason why he's getting
this opportunity and why his numbers reflected that. And hopefully
(16:45):
for him, man, he's motivated because this is essentially, you know,
his last opportunity at getting it going in the NFL,
you know, because he's had to take this journey to
get back in it. So I just hoping that capacity
he's able to continue. You this trajector of production that
we're getting from him, because the talent is there. When
you talk about a guy with his size and speed,
(17:07):
that's tough to find. Oh yeah, it's tough to find,
but you got to make it actually produced and for him,
unfortunately it doesn't start at wide receiver. For him, you
got to beat our miles blanking on special teams before
you can even as a wide receiver.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Because I got some depth that position.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, that's that's.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
I wonder like how many options he had and if
he decided to come to Pittsburgh, because it is it's
you're not going to an air like if I'm if
I'm his agent, I'm not sitting there and saying, oh yes,
sign with the Steelers because they got nothing in the
wide receiver room.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Right right, it's like our deepest positions out here. But
certainly at the same time, he brings a certain.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Level of different skills set skill set, right, I'm like
five and four to four speed like that.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
You could play him, you play him outside like George
Pickens as a Z wide receiver, which is more of
your vertical downfill threat. You're gold balls, your posts, your
post corners, right, stuff like that. But you can also
put them in the non traditional slot role, which we've
seen with Chase Claypool, we've done with Juju Smith Schuster,
but we'll put a big body receiver to kind of
(18:15):
go instead of the speedy element being the advantage in
the slot with smaller receivers like Steven Simms, Ray Ray McLeod,
gunn rossky Eli Rodgers. Now we're trying to say, well,
let's go with the bigger size mismatch. And now instead
of me running away from Levege, I'm just throwing over
top of it, like we saw with Juju, like we
(18:36):
would see with Claypool at times, and even George Pickens
for a little bit. There was s Frink Glemmer in
there last year. I think a king can give you
some of that versatility because right now you look at
our slot receivers, they're back to like the traditional small.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Jitter bub ago, you know, the Julian Edelman type, right.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Julian Edelman west Walker's right. So Keen could give with
some flexibility here to go size versus just the speed
and quickness in this list. So I do like to
pick up. I think it's a low risk, super high
reward potential. Yeah, but for him he just has to
stay consistent, man, stay consistent.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
It's got the talent certainly, does you know if you're
if you're someone who's a football dork and you're in
love with the regular seat. And I mean that in
the best way possible. Moti and I are football dorks,
but you're in love. You're in love with the regular season.
Both those terms though, nerd, all those terms that used
to have such negative connotations. Now it's like a cool thing. Now,
it's like a cool thing to be a geek, to
be a dork, to be in there. Yeah, I'm in
(19:38):
the Lord of the Rings. Yeah I'm into Star Wars.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
What about it?
Speaker 4 (19:41):
If you're somebody who loves not just the games in
the season, but everything else, right, training camp and the
combine and the draft and all these different things, you'll
you'll certainly remember Hakeem Butler's name. Like we said, six
five four to four speed, Hey, I'm willing to work
with that. Just turn twenty seven years old. Like I
said this week, so plenty in the tank. He will
be certainly one of those that I'll be looking forward
(20:03):
to see. And when we get out to lay Trope
for training camp, since since we will not be at
OTA's this year, since I am about forty eight hours
or so from welcoming a second child into the world,
well my wife is I along with my wife, she's
doing all the work. She's doing all the work and everything. Well,
it is teamwork, but it's teamwork in the sense of
like group project teamwork. And I'm the you know, the
(20:26):
Jabbroni who did five percent of the work, and she's
the really smart one carrying the class doing ninety five
percent of the work.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
But yes, teamwork.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Indeed, Moti, a few minutes here before we got to
go to break the third and final roster decision move,
I almost said shakeup, But it's not really a shakeup.
It's bringing back a familiar name, maybe a guy that
we'll see throwing the football to Akeem Butler during OTAs
and training camp. Certainly, Mason Rudolph has re signed with
(20:53):
the Pittsburgh Steelers once again. You know, gonna be the
QB three, you know, behind Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett.
We would all assume unless something changes injury or performance wise.
There had been some discussion, you know, are they gonna
let Tanner Morgan vie for that spot? Could they bring
in some other people? There had always been whispers that
(21:14):
Mason was a possibility to return. He uh, he has,
as he was announced by the Steelers yesterday. Reported by
some before that but officially announced by the Steelers yesterday
that Mason Rudolph has re signed with the Black and Gold.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
No.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
See, there's a lot of hot takes everywhere on this,
I feel like, but you and I have always said this.
My opinion hasn't changed much on this. I'm fine with this.
If Mason Rudolph is your QB three, you've got a
strong quarterback room because whatever you think about him, he
is a viable quarterback three. You know, one who's won
games in the NFL, one who is a professional and
(21:49):
knows what it takes to prepare. I know a lot
of people don't like this, but I don't know how
you can get fired up about this. If he's your
QB three, Like I said, I think he got a
solid quarterback room.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I agree, you already know how I feel. I'm not
ever trying.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Let's go worst case scenario, right, if something happens, something
happens to Kenny, okay, and then you got Mitch out there,
if if, if Mason Rudolph is your break glass in
case of breaking glass already, Like, don't you think you
think the forty nine Ers would have loved to have
Mason Rudolph last year? When they when they're putting wide
receivers and Christian McCaffrey back in the backfield to play quarterback.
(22:27):
I just I don't understand the outrage over this. It's
a solid it's a solid pickup for a QB three
and a guy who's familiar with the team and the
offense and the organization.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Well, you already know my energy. I'm not trying to
convince people. Nope, if you want to take that approach,
go for it. If that's your energy, go for it.
I hope you enjoy. You know, it's gonna make yourself
work a lot harder't gonna make your hair hurt a
lot moreter, and then eventually you're gonna come back and realize, oh,
they did know what they were talking about. But I
can assure you we are not trying to convince you.
(22:58):
We're not trying to change your mind. How many quarterbacks
have won multiple games in the NFL right now that
are listed as third stream guys? Your thirst stear quarterback
is typically like a practice squad guy, a Tanner Morgan,
like a Morgan. Yep, exactly, show me definitive proof where
(23:19):
Tanna Morgan is better than Mason rut of today, not speculation,
not I hope not. I feel not because I see
this No no, no, definitive. You can't because he's never done it.
Mason has, He's won multiple games in the NFL. It's
like it's comical at times because that is what the
(23:40):
industry does become at times. You know, it's more so
let's not really focus on like facts, it's not really
focused on the tape, it's not really focus on the
things that are legitimate. It becomes more let's just talk
about the opinion and make that opinion be more reality
than what the actual reality is. And Mason is debatable
(24:04):
worst case two depth quarterback. You know, when you're talking
about it's thirty two teams, sixty four quarterbacks. I can't
guarantee that I'm about the name sixty four quarterbacks better
than Mason Rudolph in today's NFL. But the way that
we like to portray it at times because it might
fit that narrative or because it might fit a storyline
that people have created, yea, they just roll with that.
(24:28):
And for the real people that study this game and
watch it and understand the nuances, like how is that
even viewed as like logical or even making sense. I
personally don't get it to me. Man, Mason is a
dope quarterback. If that's your third guy, this is gonna
be a dope quarterback to push Mitch as the number
(24:49):
two guy. Shoot, Mason is still a low key going
to be pushing Kenny because Mason comes with a certain
level of professionalism. Mason understands how to practice. Mason is
a NFL quarterback. Is that that's the.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
That's the That's the biggest part of this to me too, honestly,
is like, how do you feel about about Mason Rudolph?
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Right?
Speaker 4 (25:07):
This is like a thing that Ben talked about all
the time, how great it was to have people like
Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich to go back to the
sideline and picked up. Would you rather have Kenny walking
off the sideline and talking to Tanner Morgan play bro
a rookie, a rookie you know who has never taken us,
or someone like Mason Rudolph who has been in the
league now for what this will be his sixth season,
(25:28):
I think fifth, sixth or seventh season. He's started nine
games in the NFL. He's got a winning record in
those games.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Again, none but no, no, no, that doesn't matter that West,
that doesn't matter West, That does not matter that he
has a winning record. None.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Would you rather have Kenny talking to that guy?
Speaker 1 (25:46):
No, Wes, that does not fit the narrative. Mason is
the worst quarterback that has ever put on a jersey
in Pittsburgh. That's supposed to be the narrative. That's the
narrative that they pushed, and that's the narrative that certain
factions of Stealing Nation decide to find. And it's just comical, man.
Speaker 4 (26:02):
But so he lost his he lost his job. The
Duck Hosseys, that's one. I've seen a bunch this week.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Okay, great, would you would you rather have? Would you
rather have Morgan? That's the question.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
But did Duck not come in and also win games? Absolutely? Like, yeah,
what am I missing here? They make it as if
it's a slight that an NFL guy came in and
provided NFL production. Huh.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
I just say, see, I can't I can't get outraged
over a third quarterback signing, but I can say I
think he's he's arguably the best QB three in the NFL. Maybe,
if we have time this offseason, we'll have to go
through and look at him, and a.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Lot of times it does stem from just as we
talked about, man, people want to feel like they aren't
left out, like they aren't forgotten about it. And if
they feel like a Mason Rudolph is getting this type
of attention, this is the guy they want to tear
it down. So it's like, all right, I got I
gotta be that, I gotta tell And it's like, no,
even though you might be upset and miserable, you still
(27:05):
aren't better than Mason that quarterback. Mason is a high
level player. That's why he's on a NFL roster period.
It's the all season ninety guys on every NFL roster
right now, man, right ninety guys.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
It ain't when you talk about how many talented guys
are not in the NFL right now, whether that be
because they're retired, whether it be because they don't have
a job, whether because they didn't get drafted, it's a
lot of talented dudes walking around. It ain't a lot
of dudes better than Mason Rudolph that played quarterback at
the NFL level. That's what you got to understand. But
you want to r with the narrative that you know.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
You can work around job Doc Hodges, but no other
no other team in the NFL sign.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
It's a third quarterback, third quarterback, six years of experience.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
And let's also talk about his market right in terms
of no other team wanted to sign them. And if
that is the case, cool, But all it takes is
one team and he did have that one team wants
to sign it, which was the Pittsburgh Steelers. So that
actually defeats the whole logic of nobody wanted to sign you.
Correct And if and if you know, to take it
(28:14):
a step further, if he's that bad, the Steelers have
the most knowledge of him because they've seen him every
single day in practice since he's come in the NFL. Correct,
So if he's really as bad as people have made it,
then why would the team even want him back?
Speaker 4 (28:28):
That's where I'm at too, and you don't want to
talk about that. Would he None of this guarantees he's
making the roster. Either Tanner Morgan could go to latrob
but kick his button, take his spot. That that's that's
certainly a possibility. In fact, you know what, I hope
that's a real possibility. And We're give us something else
to talk about out Latrobe pay who you got for
QB three.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
This is a real battle going on right now.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
I'm not fine a time to get worked up about this,
but obviously we did have to have to discuss it
on the show today as it is a like I said,
you real roster, real roster.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Yeah. I love the move, man. I think that it
adds really good depth. When you're talking about our quarterback
room being Kenny Pikett, mister Bisky, Mason Rudolph, and you
include Tanne Morgan. You show me another three DP where
you feel as good depth wise, we can make a
case in terms of high end starter talent. Yeah, we
don't have a Mahomes. We don't have a Josh Allen.
We don't have a Joe Burrow. We don't have Aaron
(29:19):
Rodgers just yet. We're gonna see if Kenny can develop
into that, but currently we don't. But you look at
their depth and you look at our depth, you're not
gonna find one where we're like, hey man, they got
way better depth than That's not the high end part.
That's a legitimate debate. The high end part. We're not
gonna sit here and act like Kenny has already proven
that he's that. No, but to act like we don't
(29:39):
have the legitimate depth that has proven and has won games.
All three of these quarterbacks that I just listed have
won multiple games, not one singular multiple poor. When you
have that type of depth at the position with it
also being youth, it's a good situation, man.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
I completely agree.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
And I tell you what they're You know, a lot
of teams in the NFL losing their first quarterback and
having to go to their second string guy since their season.
I would think pretty much every team in the NFL
you go to your third string quarterback and you I mean,
you're blowing holes in your going down. You're going down
to the bottom of the lake. And there's a couple exceptions.
Certain Yeah, and I think the Steelers might be one
(30:20):
New England.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
This is when they could do this and living.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
And listen, I'm saying if in this if in this
nightmare hypothetical and it does end up being a situation
where where he's out there, I'm not saying the Steelers
are going on to win the super Bowl, but it
ain't sinking your season either. And I don't think you
can ask for much more than that in a n
a QB three. We got to take a break. When
we come back here, we got to do a little early,
way too early schedule predictions, as we'll be off the
(30:44):
air for the next two weeks and this will be
untimely by then. We'll do that before we catch up
with our buddy Brian Backo to close this thing down.
Plenty to get to on the Blitz on SNR
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