December 9, 2025 • 24 mins
Labs and Tom break down the Steelers win over Baltimore then get into this weeks questions
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is Asked and Answered Questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
When things aren't going great, sometimes the best thing for
the Steelers is just a trip down to Baltimore to
beat up on the old familiar rival.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Twenty seven to twenty two.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Big win in Baltimore in a game that wasn't without
its warts, for sure, but what matters is you got
the win. Welcome into Ask and Answer, Tom Opferman and
Bob Labriola labs first place in the AFC North is
the Steelers and the Steelers alone, and they really have
a firm grip on the steering wheel.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Now when it comes to the division.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, you know they can split. There's four games left.
They only need to win two as long as one
of them is in the rematch against the Ravens, and
they're the division champions with a home playoff game. Quite
a difference from the last time you and I were
talking after they lost to Buffalo, I'll tell you that.
(01:02):
But there were a lot of things to like about
that game, and for me, top of my list was
the quarterback play. That's why they brought that guy here
to play in games like that. And to give them
a chance to win in games like that. And as
(01:24):
I said, I thought there were a lot of people
who stepped up and played well, But I don't think
you win that game if number eight doesn't play the
way he did.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Oh, there's no question about that. Number eight stepped up
in such a big way.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
And I wanted to start by touching on the connection
between number eight and Number four Labs, because you and
I did the award winning training camp report every day
up at Saint Vincent College this year and we noted, hey,
every single practice, we're seeing a little bit of a
forced feed nature between Rogers and Metcalf. Rogers is trying
to accelerate that relationship as fast as he can shoot.
(02:00):
They were rooming together up at Saint Vincent College this
year and we've been like waiting for that big game,
that big Rogers to Metcalf game.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Well there, it finally was in the biggest game of
the year.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Yeah, and it started off on the first play too.
I mean I don't think that I know, I was
shocked at the play call, but in a happy way. Yeah,
it went deep to Metcalf right away. And again we've
talked about this before and I'm on record as talking
(02:33):
about Mason Rudolph and saying, you know how good he
is as a backup, he fits that role perfectly and
all that stuff. But you saw the difference right away
when Mason Rudolph tried that to Metcalf. It wasn't the
first play of the game. I think it was the
second play of the game. It was underthrown and intercepted.
(02:55):
You know, Rogers put it out there a little farther,
and you know, with Metcalf's size on those kind of
throws deep down the sideline like that, the combat catches,
I think it's better for it to be a little
bit farther than too short. I mean, there are times
when back shoulder throws or those kinds of things are warranted,
(03:17):
But in that situation, when he's running down the sideline,
if you throw it out farther for him, he has
the height in the wingspan and to go up and
get it. And that's exactly what happened. And I think
that really, beyond the yardage and all of the things
that came along with that, I think that also kind
of served a little notice to the Ravens, like, yes,
(03:39):
you know, you may think, you know what's going to happen,
but maybe it's not. So Yeah. I like that a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I was such a huge fan of that too, of
going deep on that first play of the game, and
it was something that Rogers said afterwards, you know, hey,
I recognize one on one coverage with my guy on
the outside.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I got to take that shot just so happens.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
It was the first play of the game that it
presented itself to us, and they just needed to get
their mojo back on offense and as a team in general.
You know, that stat was floating around where it had
been like thirty six or whatever plus days without completing
a pass of twenty plus air yards, and you knew
CBS was ready to, you know, bust that out after
a couple.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Of series that the Steelers didn't do it well.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Rogers wasted no time in ending that drought, and not
only did it help the Steelers labs, you know, kind
of get their mojo back, it put the onus on
the Ravens who had been reeling heading into that game themselves,
and they're sitting back and thinking, oh crap, our problems
aren't fixed at all right now.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah, And I always like to the you know, the
Steelers deferred, the Ravens drove the ball down and kicked
the field goal, and you know, you're you're in a
road venue. Their crowd was into it. First play of
the first offensive play fifty two fifty four yards whatever
(04:57):
it was, you know, just kind of snatch I won't
say control, but you know you're right back in and
whatever kind of momentum might have been building, you kind
of stuffed it a little bit right there, and then
you know, you build the lead seventeen to nine at halftime,
(05:19):
scored ten points in the third quarter, just you know,
a very nice performance in a lot of different ways.
And then while the defense did leak some rushing yards,
made a couple of stands there at the end of
the game. You know, when it was twenty seven to
twenty two, the Ravens had a couple of chances to
(05:43):
try and you know, win, but they did not. And
so you know, I noticed there's some whining from the
Great State of Maryland because Harbor Royalty doesn't believe that,
you know, anything the officials ever do should not be
(06:03):
in his favor. But you know, join the club. Every
team in the NFL can sing that sad song about
we got hosed by the Zebras today, and if that
in fact did happen to the Ravens on Sunday, it
just makes it a more delicious win for me. Yeah,
(06:24):
let them think they got hosed, because, as I said,
Nina nin or niner as he used to say in
the Junior High playground.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yeah, I don't want to beat the Ravens without a
healthy helping of whining on the side of it. I mean,
that's that's part of the best part of doing it,
hearing them cry and whine and complain, and especially from
the head coach. I'm glad you mentioned the defense there though, Labs,
because I wanted to get into that side of the
ball with you as well before we get to the
questions today, because it was a performance that you can't
put like an A plus on it say it was perfect.
(06:57):
They did leak those yardage, like you said, especially on
the ground, but the defensive performance was to defined to
me by stepping up in big moments and having those
big splash plays. The High Smith walk off sack, the
James Pierre one handed interception where it looked like he
was going up to grab a rebound, Patrick Queen breaking
up the pass on Mark Andrews late in the game
when the Ravens were on the doorstep. I mean, there
(07:19):
was just so many big, you know, gotta have it moments,
and it seems like the defense came up every time there.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah, and I don't none of that. Your list is
is good, but it needs to include Joey Porter Junior
too great. You know when will you right? Was that
a catch? Who knows? And that's that's another one of
those you know, I'll still I'll go to my grave
saying Jesse James caught the ball, Yes, but you know
(07:48):
Joey Porter made that happen. He didn't quit, He continued fighting.
He finished the play and you know then the then
they call what they're gonna call. Uh, you know you're
out of it at that point. So yeah, big props
to him. I thought he got neiled with a couple
(08:08):
of tiki TACKI passing Apparence calls the one I forget
who it was, ran into him and he got called
for passing Afarence. But you know the affair, as I said,
everybody can sing the sad song about we got hosed
by the Zebras everybody. So but I just I like
the fact that he didn't get down mentally after a
(08:31):
couple of tough penalty flags on him, didn't give up
on the play. You know, likely had the ball, was
holding it away from him, but he kept fighting to
try and make a play. He did, and they called
what they called. And again, you know, I have an
(08:51):
extra box of Kleenex in in case anybody down there
at whatever their wherever their practice facility is needs it.
I'll be I'll send it overnight.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
You know one thing I did want to mention too,
and it it relates to some of the guys we
talked about on the defense high Smith queen and I'm
gonna throw Keanu Benton in there, labs. The Steelers were
banged up heading into that game and they suffered some
injuries throughout it. Some players could not return because of
their injuries. Malik Harrison got banged up trying to tackle
Derek Henry. He's in the concussion protocol. A few other
guys couldn't make it back onto the field. But Benton
(09:24):
gets hurting, like what the first play of the game,
it looked pretty bad. High Smith had to limp off
the field the play before the pass break up on
Mark Andrews. Patrick Queen looked, you know, limp on the
field looked like he was seriously injured. All three of
those guys playing through injuries that they suffered in that game.
And Queen's been banged up and high Smith's been banged
up all year. I mean, major props to them, because, boy,
(09:46):
if they lost any of those guys labs, I mean,
things were already so thin.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Yeah, and you know, Queen wears the green dot, so
you know, with Leek Harrison out and if Queen goes down,
you're you got Peyton Wilson and Cole Holcombe and I'm
not I'm not throwing shade at any one of those guys,
but you're just down to too, and you need to
and you're playing the Ravens, and you know, you gotta
(10:13):
deal with a lot of things in the middle of
the field, uh not, the least of which is tackling
number twenty two and trying to track number eight all
over the field wherever he might go. So, yeah, Patrick
Queen showed me a lot to get himself his body
back out on the field, even though I got to
believe he was not one hundred percent, but you know,
(10:37):
he was needed he stepped up, as you mentioned, got
a hand on that pass for Mark Andrews that might
have been a completion to DeVante Adams. Yeah, be right, Yeah, sorry.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
Oh, I will say that Joey was close. It would
have been close.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Joey Porter was closing in on it, but I wouldn't
want to risk then, let's put it that way.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Yeah right, No, that, you know, And there's nothing wrong
with being lucky to you know, sometimes you need that.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
No question about that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Steelers seven and six now on the season thanks to
the win and in first place in the North. Let's
get to this week's batch of questions. Our first one
comes from Chip Bennett, who writes from Tampa, Florida. With
all the attention on the tush push, didn't it used
to be a penalty to try to assist the runner?
When did it change and what was the reason the
rules committee changed it?
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Okay, the tush push rule was allowed began to be
allowed in two thousand and five, and at the time,
Mike Pereira, who was then the NFL Director of Officiating
He is now the Fox Sports rules analysts on Telecast
(11:52):
College and NFL. He was doing an interview with Mike
Greenberg or VSPN at that. And this is what Pereira
said about why the rule was changed, and it's this
to me, is so typically NFL logic. Okay, this is
Pereira's quote. What the league found so difficult was were
(12:14):
never sure who was pushing who. You're not necessarily pushing
the runner, You're going to be pushing someone else that's
in contact with the runner. So it became too difficult
to officiate. So we just said, Okay, it's legal to push.
That's all I got. I don't want to talk any
more about it because my blood pressure. I got to
(12:38):
watch my blood pressure.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yes, please, don't we need you for the rest of
the season, for many seasons to come. Ken Wilson from Milton, Florida. Currently,
how many compensatory picks are we getting next year based
on their play this year? What are we getting for
the loss of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields?
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah? I can't answer that right now because all of
the information regarding a team's free agent losses against a
free agent signings doesn't become final until the end of
the season. You know, I saw Russell Wilson on the
CBS desk doing the pregame show on Sunday. You know,
(13:18):
I don't know whether that's his job now or has
he retired or you know whatever. So Justin Fields was
benched and he was back in the game and he
was benched. I don't know what his deal is either,
excuse me. So you can't really all of these, you know,
(13:39):
free agent ads versus losses, you can't really tabulate it
all till the end. Because here's an example that Darius
Slay the Steelers cut him or waived him or whatever.
That goes into the formula too, So things changed too much.
(14:01):
Who was a UFA when he was signed? Who was
waived and then signed as a free agent? How much
did they play? Trying to figure all that out now
a guess And everybody's out there with these projections, they're
just guesses. Let me just say this to the fans.
Just wait for it to happen. They'll tell you know,
and then you know, as opposed to thinking, planning, and
(14:26):
then it's not the case.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Jennifer Engel from Warren, Ohio. In Major League Baseball, you
can only be nominated for the Hall of Fame ten times,
and that's it. Is there a limit to the number
of nominations in the NFL Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I don't really know much about the National Baseball Hall
of Fame, Okay, I'm not familiar with its rules. I
really don't pay attention, So I don't want to try
and speak on that, okay, but I will talk about
the nomination process to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
are informal. It accepts nominations from people in non official
(15:03):
capacities or as Pro Football Hall of Fame dot Com
explains that any fan may nominate any qualified person who
has been connected with pro football in any capacity, simply
by writing to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The
only restriction is that a player must have last played
at least five seasons before he can be considered, and
(15:26):
players must have received at least one generally recognized postseason honor. Okay,
So then for twenty five years you are a considered
part of the modern era and for the Pro Football
Hall of Fame. After that, you're a seniors candidate.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Speaking of the Pro Football Hall of Fame labs, this
just kind of kicked my memory. Did you see the
report yesterday? The twenty twenty six Pro Football Hall of
Fame semi finalist, Philip Rivers is visiting the Indianapolis today
on Tuesday to see if he's gonna sign and join them.
I saw that if he is activated, like if he
goes to the practice squad, his clock is still fine
(16:08):
for Hall of Fame. If he's activated, it starts five
more years again. I mean, come on, Phil, just go to.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
The Hall of Fame. You might not make it this year,
but it's coming soon.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yeah, Or you know, who knows? Maybe you know you've
you've heard the fairy or not the fairy tales of fables,
the children's story about the horse that was drawing the
milk wagon and the milkman would ring the bell and
the horse would you know, move to the next house.
(16:38):
That was how the guy delivered the milk. Maybe Philip
Rivers is hearing the bell ring, you know, and he's
just Pavlov's dog or whatever it is, getting thinks he
needs to play again. I don't know, Hey can't can't
figure out what some people are motivated by or thinking
(16:59):
by when they make decisions. So and that goes for
the colts too, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
And I did not have on my Bengo card that
we'd be finishing the season, potentially with Aaron Rodgers not
being the oldest quarterback playing in the NFL this year.
Michael Paletchko from Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. I remember Elsie Greenwood
being fine for wearing gold colored shoes in the nineteen seventies.
Was such a rule a team rule or a universal
NFL rule? As I watched various NFL games today, I
(17:28):
noticed white, black, and various other colors. Are there presently
rules regarding shoes.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
You know, uniform code violations, which is where the gold
shoes of the seventies would fall under. That's an NFL rule,
so you know, And there were rumors. I cannot substantiate
any of these, and I don't know anybody who's still
around who could tell whether these were true or not.
(17:56):
But the Steelers picked up those fines, that's the rumor.
So the rules currently are players are allowed to wear
shoes that are white, black, or an official team color. So,
for example, for the Steelers, gold shoes now would be allowed. Now.
The exception comes during that might cause Mike Cleet's initiative.
(18:19):
NFL players are allowed to wear customized cleats for charity
causes that they support.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
David Bogner from Germantown, Wisconsin. I'm glad to see hinz
Ward is a semi finalist again for the Hall of Fame.
I'm very surprised Marquise Pouncey didn't make it as.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
A semi finalist.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
He was a nine time pro bowler and was chosen
to be on the NFL twoenty tens All Decade Team.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
I thought he was a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Are you surprised he didn't even make it as a
semi finalist.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
You know, it's very difficult for a center to be
elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It just is.
I'm not saying that it's right. I'm just telling you
that this is the history of it. So you know,
neither Mike Webster nor Demanti Dawson were first ballot Hall
(19:10):
of famers. H And again, I believe Marquise Poncey deserves
to be in the Hall of Fame. All I'm saying
is the fact that he didn't get very far in
a first year of eligibility. I don't know that that
is a harbinger of the future. So all I would
(19:31):
say is be patient. I think he's gonna make it. Well,
let me say this, I hope he's gonna make it. Uh,
And it doesn't surprise me at all that uh. You know,
centers are not automatically forwarded through, you know, unless your
name is Jason Kelsey of course. Oh yeah. Position. He
(19:53):
might be coming out of retirement too after the last night.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
To go join the Eagle.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Yeah, jointing. Yeah, so stay tuned.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, I agree with you with Marquis. Pouncy.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Patience is the virtue that you need to have there.
I think he's going to get in as well. You know,
there is that Steelers fatigue thing that sets in I
think with some of the voters, but Pouncy just is
so deserving and I also think, you know, on one
side of the spectrum you have the Steelers fatigue argument,
but on the other end of the spectrum, you have
this kind of fraternity of centers that this one organization
has had where you can add a third to it
(20:28):
with the guys you just mentioned in Dawson and Webster.
I mean, that's a pretty incredible trio there at one
position for one team to boast.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Yes, it is, and there were some guys even previous
to Mike Webster, you know, Ray Mansfield. I don't think
he's a Hall of Fame kind of player, but certainly
was a you know, an integral part of the Steelers resurrection.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Oh, another question that.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Started with because Ray Mansfield was part of the team
before Chuck Mole was hired in nineteen sixty nine, you know,
and then Mike Bazrack, Chuck Tarundelo also names from the
you know, thirties, forties, fifties, There were pretty good players
at that position. You know. The Steelers have done pretty
(21:14):
well for themselves there.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Yeah, let me center, Let me throw a modern one
out at you too. I mean Jeff Hardings.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Again, not somebody that's going to go to the Hall
of Fame, but he was a first team All Pro
for the Steelers, a free agent pick up by them,
and a hell of one.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
He helped them win the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yes, very good call by you. Yes one and one
of the I think Jeff Hardings and James Ferrier, in
my opinion, are the two best unrestricted free agent signings
in franchise history.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Roy Parrin from Rawle at North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
You answered a question about Dick Lebeaux and the Pro
Football Hall of Fame as a player, and it made
me wonder, could anyone be voted into the Hall of
Fame in multiple categories. Dick lebou and John Madden come
to mind as player and coach for lebau and as
a coach and contributor for Madden.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Is that even a possible ability?
Speaker 1 (22:01):
No, No, it's not. I mean, once you're in, you're in.
They don't you don't get the double dip. You know,
one person one bust one category. H And I don't
think you know, Dick lebou Let's not forget an assistant coach.
So it's hard for head coaches to get in if
(22:22):
they started inducting assistant coaches. I just you know, I
don't think they want to. I don't think they want
to open that Pandora's box. Uh. And the contributed thing
for Madden, I always thought was a stretch, you know,
a broadcaster, because that's as a contributor. That's what he was,
(22:45):
a broadcaster and a video he had his name on
a video game. You know, I think that's quite a
stretch as a contributor to professional football. So yeah, one
one person on bust one category. It's neater and cleaner.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Bob got us from Springdale, Pennsylvania has our last question today.
I understand that communication between the head coach and quarterback
can last fifteen seconds through their headsets. Who actually turns
the microphones off? Is it controlled by the coach or
is it the NFL.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Okay the communications from the sideline to the player on
the field wearing the green dot. It starts when the
ball is spotted by the referee and it lasts until
they're fifteen seconds left on the play clock. And there
are NFL representatives of representatives at every game that handle
that communication, so they they're in control of when it
(23:42):
can begin and when it ends.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
That'll do it for us today on aston answered as always,
thanks for giving us a listen. Steelers Dolphins on Monday Labs.
I hate Monday night football games because it turns me
into a zombie for the week that follows. But I
gotta say that Sunday off is pretty nice before you
have to go to Monday. So I'm not gonna I'm
not gonna lie. I'm gonna enjoy sitting on my couch
this weekend. I'm sure you will too.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Yeah, always look for the always look for the silver lining.
That's my force of.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Se Bob Labriola. I'm Tom Apperman.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Thanks as always, get questions into labs now maybe you'll
hear them on the next edition of Asked and Answered.
This is Asked and Answered Questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
When things aren't going great, sometimes the best thing for
the Steelers is just a trip down to Baltimore to
beat up on the old familiar rival.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Twenty seven to twenty two.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Big win in Baltimore in a game that wasn't without
its warts, for sure, but what matters is you got
the win. Welcome into Ask and Answer, Tom Opferman and
Bob Labriola labs first place in the AFC North is
the Steelers and the Steelers alone, and they really have
a firm grip on the steering wheel.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Now when it comes to the division.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, you know they can split. There's four games left.
They only need to win two as long as one
of them is in the rematch against the Ravens, and
they're the division champions with a home playoff game. Quite
a difference from the last time you and I were
talking after they lost to Buffalo, I'll tell you that.
(01:02):
But there were a lot of things to like about
that game, and for me, top of my list was
the quarterback play. That's why they brought that guy here
to play in games like that. And to give them
a chance to win in games like that. And as
(01:24):
I said, I thought there were a lot of people
who stepped up and played well, But I don't think
you win that game if number eight doesn't play the
way he did.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Oh, there's no question about that. Number eight stepped up
in such a big way.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
And I wanted to start by touching on the connection
between number eight and Number four Labs, because you and
I did the award winning training camp report every day
up at Saint Vincent College this year and we noted, hey,
every single practice, we're seeing a little bit of a
forced feed nature between Rogers and Metcalf. Rogers is trying
to accelerate that relationship as fast as he can shoot.
(02:00):
They were rooming together up at Saint Vincent College this
year and we've been like waiting for that big game,
that big Rogers to Metcalf game.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Well there, it finally was in the biggest game of
the year.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Yeah, and it started off on the first play too.
I mean I don't think that I know, I was
shocked at the play call, but in a happy way. Yeah,
it went deep to Metcalf right away. And again we've
talked about this before and I'm on record as talking
(02:33):
about Mason Rudolph and saying, you know how good he
is as a backup, he fits that role perfectly and
all that stuff. But you saw the difference right away
when Mason Rudolph tried that to Metcalf. It wasn't the
first play of the game. I think it was the
second play of the game. It was underthrown and intercepted.
(02:55):
You know, Rogers put it out there a little farther,
and you know, with Metcalf's size on those kind of
throws deep down the sideline like that, the combat catches,
I think it's better for it to be a little
bit farther than too short. I mean, there are times
when back shoulder throws or those kinds of things are warranted,
(03:17):
But in that situation, when he's running down the sideline,
if you throw it out farther for him, he has
the height in the wingspan and to go up and
get it. And that's exactly what happened. And I think
that really, beyond the yardage and all of the things
that came along with that, I think that also kind
of served a little notice to the Ravens, like, yes,
(03:39):
you know, you may think, you know what's going to happen,
but maybe it's not. So Yeah. I like that a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I was such a huge fan of that too, of
going deep on that first play of the game, and
it was something that Rogers said afterwards, you know, hey,
I recognize one on one coverage with my guy on
the outside.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
I got to take that shot just so happens.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
It was the first play of the game that it
presented itself to us, and they just needed to get
their mojo back on offense and as a team in general.
You know, that stat was floating around where it had
been like thirty six or whatever plus days without completing
a pass of twenty plus air yards, and you knew
CBS was ready to, you know, bust that out after
a couple.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Of series that the Steelers didn't do it well.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Rogers wasted no time in ending that drought, and not
only did it help the Steelers labs, you know, kind
of get their mojo back, it put the onus on
the Ravens who had been reeling heading into that game themselves,
and they're sitting back and thinking, oh crap, our problems
aren't fixed at all right now.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah, And I always like to the you know, the
Steelers deferred, the Ravens drove the ball down and kicked
the field goal, and you know, you're you're in a
road venue. Their crowd was into it. First play of
the first offensive play fifty two fifty four yards whatever
(04:57):
it was, you know, just kind of snatch I won't
say control, but you know you're right back in and
whatever kind of momentum might have been building, you kind
of stuffed it a little bit right there, and then
you know, you build the lead seventeen to nine at halftime,
(05:19):
scored ten points in the third quarter, just you know,
a very nice performance in a lot of different ways.
And then while the defense did leak some rushing yards,
made a couple of stands there at the end of
the game. You know, when it was twenty seven to
twenty two, the Ravens had a couple of chances to
(05:43):
try and you know, win, but they did not. And
so you know, I noticed there's some whining from the
Great State of Maryland because Harbor Royalty doesn't believe that,
you know, anything the officials ever do should not be
(06:03):
in his favor. But you know, join the club. Every
team in the NFL can sing that sad song about
we got hosed by the Zebras today, and if that
in fact did happen to the Ravens on Sunday, it
just makes it a more delicious win for me. Yeah,
(06:24):
let them think they got hosed, because, as I said,
Nina nin or niner as he used to say in
the Junior High playground.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yeah, I don't want to beat the Ravens without a
healthy helping of whining on the side of it. I mean,
that's that's part of the best part of doing it,
hearing them cry and whine and complain, and especially from
the head coach. I'm glad you mentioned the defense there though, Labs,
because I wanted to get into that side of the
ball with you as well before we get to the
questions today, because it was a performance that you can't
put like an A plus on it say it was perfect.
(06:57):
They did leak those yardage, like you said, especially on
the ground, but the defensive performance was to defined to
me by stepping up in big moments and having those
big splash plays. The High Smith walk off sack, the
James Pierre one handed interception where it looked like he
was going up to grab a rebound, Patrick Queen breaking
up the pass on Mark Andrews late in the game
when the Ravens were on the doorstep. I mean, there
(07:19):
was just so many big, you know, gotta have it moments,
and it seems like the defense came up every time there.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah, and I don't none of that. Your list is
is good, but it needs to include Joey Porter Junior
too great. You know when will you right? Was that
a catch? Who knows? And that's that's another one of
those you know, I'll still I'll go to my grave
saying Jesse James caught the ball, Yes, but you know
(07:48):
Joey Porter made that happen. He didn't quit, He continued fighting.
He finished the play and you know then the then
they call what they're gonna call. Uh, you know you're
out of it at that point. So yeah, big props
to him. I thought he got neiled with a couple
(08:08):
of tiki TACKI passing Apparence calls the one I forget
who it was, ran into him and he got called
for passing Afarence. But you know the affair, as I said,
everybody can sing the sad song about we got hosed
by the Zebras everybody. So but I just I like
the fact that he didn't get down mentally after a
(08:31):
couple of tough penalty flags on him, didn't give up
on the play. You know, likely had the ball, was
holding it away from him, but he kept fighting to
try and make a play. He did, and they called
what they called. And again, you know, I have an
(08:51):
extra box of Kleenex in in case anybody down there
at whatever their wherever their practice facility is needs it.
I'll be I'll send it overnight.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
You know one thing I did want to mention too,
and it it relates to some of the guys we
talked about on the defense high Smith queen and I'm
gonna throw Keanu Benton in there, labs. The Steelers were
banged up heading into that game and they suffered some
injuries throughout it. Some players could not return because of
their injuries. Malik Harrison got banged up trying to tackle
Derek Henry. He's in the concussion protocol. A few other
guys couldn't make it back onto the field. But Benton
(09:24):
gets hurting, like what the first play of the game,
it looked pretty bad. High Smith had to limp off
the field the play before the pass break up on
Mark Andrews. Patrick Queen looked, you know, limp on the
field looked like he was seriously injured. All three of
those guys playing through injuries that they suffered in that game.
And Queen's been banged up and high Smith's been banged
up all year. I mean, major props to them, because, boy,
(09:46):
if they lost any of those guys labs, I mean,
things were already so thin.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Yeah, and you know, Queen wears the green dot, so
you know, with Leek Harrison out and if Queen goes down,
you're you got Peyton Wilson and Cole Holcombe and I'm
not I'm not throwing shade at any one of those guys,
but you're just down to too, and you need to
and you're playing the Ravens, and you know, you gotta
(10:13):
deal with a lot of things in the middle of
the field, uh not, the least of which is tackling
number twenty two and trying to track number eight all
over the field wherever he might go. So, yeah, Patrick
Queen showed me a lot to get himself his body
back out on the field, even though I got to
believe he was not one hundred percent, but you know,
(10:37):
he was needed he stepped up, as you mentioned, got
a hand on that pass for Mark Andrews that might
have been a completion to DeVante Adams. Yeah, be right, Yeah, sorry.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
Oh, I will say that Joey was close. It would
have been close.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Joey Porter was closing in on it, but I wouldn't
want to risk then, let's put it that way.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Yeah right, No, that, you know, And there's nothing wrong
with being lucky to you know, sometimes you need that.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
No question about that.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Steelers seven and six now on the season thanks to
the win and in first place in the North. Let's
get to this week's batch of questions. Our first one
comes from Chip Bennett, who writes from Tampa, Florida. With
all the attention on the tush push, didn't it used
to be a penalty to try to assist the runner?
When did it change and what was the reason the
rules committee changed it?
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Okay, the tush push rule was allowed began to be
allowed in two thousand and five, and at the time,
Mike Pereira, who was then the NFL Director of Officiating
He is now the Fox Sports rules analysts on Telecast
(11:52):
College and NFL. He was doing an interview with Mike
Greenberg or VSPN at that. And this is what Pereira
said about why the rule was changed, and it's this
to me, is so typically NFL logic. Okay, this is
Pereira's quote. What the league found so difficult was were
(12:14):
never sure who was pushing who. You're not necessarily pushing
the runner, You're going to be pushing someone else that's
in contact with the runner. So it became too difficult
to officiate. So we just said, Okay, it's legal to push.
That's all I got. I don't want to talk any
more about it because my blood pressure. I got to
(12:38):
watch my blood pressure.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yes, please, don't we need you for the rest of
the season, for many seasons to come. Ken Wilson from Milton, Florida. Currently,
how many compensatory picks are we getting next year based
on their play this year? What are we getting for
the loss of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields?
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah? I can't answer that right now because all of
the information regarding a team's free agent losses against a
free agent signings doesn't become final until the end of
the season. You know, I saw Russell Wilson on the
CBS desk doing the pregame show on Sunday. You know,
(13:18):
I don't know whether that's his job now or has
he retired or you know whatever. So Justin Fields was
benched and he was back in the game and he
was benched. I don't know what his deal is either,
excuse me. So you can't really all of these, you know,
(13:39):
free agent ads versus losses, you can't really tabulate it
all till the end. Because here's an example that Darius
Slay the Steelers cut him or waived him or whatever.
That goes into the formula too, So things changed too much.
(14:01):
Who was a UFA when he was signed? Who was
waived and then signed as a free agent? How much
did they play? Trying to figure all that out now
a guess And everybody's out there with these projections, they're
just guesses. Let me just say this to the fans.
Just wait for it to happen. They'll tell you know,
and then you know, as opposed to thinking, planning, and
(14:26):
then it's not the case.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Jennifer Engel from Warren, Ohio. In Major League Baseball, you
can only be nominated for the Hall of Fame ten times,
and that's it. Is there a limit to the number
of nominations in the NFL Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I don't really know much about the National Baseball Hall
of Fame, Okay, I'm not familiar with its rules. I
really don't pay attention, So I don't want to try
and speak on that, okay, but I will talk about
the nomination process to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
are informal. It accepts nominations from people in non official
(15:03):
capacities or as Pro Football Hall of Fame dot Com
explains that any fan may nominate any qualified person who
has been connected with pro football in any capacity, simply
by writing to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The
only restriction is that a player must have last played
at least five seasons before he can be considered, and
(15:26):
players must have received at least one generally recognized postseason honor. Okay,
So then for twenty five years you are a considered
part of the modern era and for the Pro Football
Hall of Fame. After that, you're a seniors candidate.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Speaking of the Pro Football Hall of Fame labs, this
just kind of kicked my memory. Did you see the
report yesterday? The twenty twenty six Pro Football Hall of
Fame semi finalist, Philip Rivers is visiting the Indianapolis today
on Tuesday to see if he's gonna sign and join them.
I saw that if he is activated, like if he
goes to the practice squad, his clock is still fine
(16:08):
for Hall of Fame. If he's activated, it starts five
more years again. I mean, come on, Phil, just go to.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
The Hall of Fame. You might not make it this year,
but it's coming soon.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yeah, Or you know, who knows? Maybe you know you've
you've heard the fairy or not the fairy tales of fables,
the children's story about the horse that was drawing the
milk wagon and the milkman would ring the bell and
the horse would you know, move to the next house.
(16:38):
That was how the guy delivered the milk. Maybe Philip
Rivers is hearing the bell ring, you know, and he's
just Pavlov's dog or whatever it is, getting thinks he
needs to play again. I don't know, Hey can't can't
figure out what some people are motivated by or thinking
(16:59):
by when they make decisions. So and that goes for
the colts too, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
And I did not have on my Bengo card that
we'd be finishing the season, potentially with Aaron Rodgers not
being the oldest quarterback playing in the NFL this year.
Michael Paletchko from Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. I remember Elsie Greenwood
being fine for wearing gold colored shoes in the nineteen seventies.
Was such a rule a team rule or a universal
NFL rule? As I watched various NFL games today, I
(17:28):
noticed white, black, and various other colors. Are there presently
rules regarding shoes.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
You know, uniform code violations, which is where the gold
shoes of the seventies would fall under. That's an NFL rule,
so you know, And there were rumors. I cannot substantiate
any of these, and I don't know anybody who's still
around who could tell whether these were true or not.
(17:56):
But the Steelers picked up those fines, that's the rumor.
So the rules currently are players are allowed to wear
shoes that are white, black, or an official team color. So,
for example, for the Steelers, gold shoes now would be allowed. Now.
The exception comes during that might cause Mike Cleet's initiative.
(18:19):
NFL players are allowed to wear customized cleats for charity
causes that they support.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
David Bogner from Germantown, Wisconsin. I'm glad to see hinz
Ward is a semi finalist again for the Hall of Fame.
I'm very surprised Marquise Pouncey didn't make it as.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
A semi finalist.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
He was a nine time pro bowler and was chosen
to be on the NFL twoenty tens All Decade Team.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
I thought he was a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Are you surprised he didn't even make it as a
semi finalist.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
You know, it's very difficult for a center to be
elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It just is.
I'm not saying that it's right. I'm just telling you
that this is the history of it. So you know,
neither Mike Webster nor Demanti Dawson were first ballot Hall
(19:10):
of famers. H And again, I believe Marquise Poncey deserves
to be in the Hall of Fame. All I'm saying
is the fact that he didn't get very far in
a first year of eligibility. I don't know that that
is a harbinger of the future. So all I would
(19:31):
say is be patient. I think he's gonna make it. Well,
let me say this, I hope he's gonna make it. Uh,
And it doesn't surprise me at all that uh. You know,
centers are not automatically forwarded through, you know, unless your
name is Jason Kelsey of course. Oh yeah. Position. He
(19:53):
might be coming out of retirement too after the last night.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
To go join the Eagle.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Yeah, jointing. Yeah, so stay tuned.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, I agree with you with Marquis. Pouncy.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Patience is the virtue that you need to have there.
I think he's going to get in as well. You know,
there is that Steelers fatigue thing that sets in I
think with some of the voters, but Pouncy just is
so deserving and I also think, you know, on one
side of the spectrum you have the Steelers fatigue argument,
but on the other end of the spectrum, you have
this kind of fraternity of centers that this one organization
has had where you can add a third to it
(20:28):
with the guys you just mentioned in Dawson and Webster.
I mean, that's a pretty incredible trio there at one
position for one team to boast.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Yes, it is, and there were some guys even previous
to Mike Webster, you know, Ray Mansfield. I don't think
he's a Hall of Fame kind of player, but certainly
was a you know, an integral part of the Steelers resurrection.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Oh, another question that.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Started with because Ray Mansfield was part of the team
before Chuck Mole was hired in nineteen sixty nine, you know,
and then Mike Bazrack, Chuck Tarundelo also names from the
you know, thirties, forties, fifties, There were pretty good players
at that position. You know. The Steelers have done pretty
(21:14):
well for themselves there.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Yeah, let me center, Let me throw a modern one
out at you too. I mean Jeff Hardings.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Again, not somebody that's going to go to the Hall
of Fame, but he was a first team All Pro
for the Steelers, a free agent pick up by them,
and a hell of one.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
He helped them win the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yes, very good call by you. Yes one and one
of the I think Jeff Hardings and James Ferrier, in
my opinion, are the two best unrestricted free agent signings
in franchise history.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Roy Parrin from Rawle at North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
You answered a question about Dick Lebeaux and the Pro
Football Hall of Fame as a player, and it made
me wonder, could anyone be voted into the Hall of
Fame in multiple categories. Dick lebou and John Madden come
to mind as player and coach for lebau and as
a coach and contributor for Madden.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Is that even a possible ability?
Speaker 1 (22:01):
No, No, it's not. I mean, once you're in, you're in.
They don't you don't get the double dip. You know,
one person one bust one category. H And I don't
think you know, Dick lebou Let's not forget an assistant coach.
So it's hard for head coaches to get in if
(22:22):
they started inducting assistant coaches. I just you know, I
don't think they want to. I don't think they want
to open that Pandora's box. Uh. And the contributed thing
for Madden, I always thought was a stretch, you know,
a broadcaster, because that's as a contributor. That's what he was,
(22:45):
a broadcaster and a video he had his name on
a video game. You know, I think that's quite a
stretch as a contributor to professional football. So yeah, one
one person on bust one category. It's neater and cleaner.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Bob got us from Springdale, Pennsylvania has our last question today.
I understand that communication between the head coach and quarterback
can last fifteen seconds through their headsets. Who actually turns
the microphones off? Is it controlled by the coach or
is it the NFL.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Okay the communications from the sideline to the player on
the field wearing the green dot. It starts when the
ball is spotted by the referee and it lasts until
they're fifteen seconds left on the play clock. And there
are NFL representatives of representatives at every game that handle
that communication, so they they're in control of when it
(23:42):
can begin and when it ends.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
That'll do it for us today on aston answered as always,
thanks for giving us a listen. Steelers Dolphins on Monday Labs.
I hate Monday night football games because it turns me
into a zombie for the week that follows. But I
gotta say that Sunday off is pretty nice before you
have to go to Monday. So I'm not gonna I'm
not gonna lie. I'm gonna enjoy sitting on my couch
this weekend. I'm sure you will too.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Yeah, always look for the always look for the silver lining.
That's my force of.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Se Bob Labriola. I'm Tom Apperman.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Thanks as always, get questions into labs now maybe you'll
hear them on the next edition of Asked and Answered.
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