WEBVTT - Pregame Show - Mark Returns, RIP Donnie Iris 0:00:00.790 --> 0:00:04.960 As Twitter said today, Donnie Iris was the best of us. 0:00:06.260 --> 0:00:11.320 He was a yinzer's yinzer. Some Pittsburghers leave, get famous, 0:00:11.360 --> 0:00:16.860 and never come back. But Donnie Iris never left. Donnie 0:00:16.920 --> 0:00:21.710 never big-timed anybody. Donnie never forgot where he came from. 0:00:22.860 --> 0:00:24.980 I would say Donnie's in a better place, but to 0:00:25.020 --> 0:00:30.910 Donnie Iris, the better place was Newcastle, Elwood City, or Coriopolis. 0:00:32.490 --> 0:00:37.150 Donnie Iris passed away yesterday. He was 83. Donnie was 0:00:37.229 --> 0:00:40.470 small in stature, but yet larger than life. 0:00:41.430 --> 0:00:42.170 A giant. 0:00:43.510 --> 0:00:47.209 His voice had that sonic quality, especially at the top end, 0:00:47.710 --> 0:00:52.900 like a plaintive primal wail. And Donnie worked for it, too. 0:00:53.760 --> 0:00:56.860 Even at Donnie's last show to Chris and the Wiley, 0:00:57.900 --> 0:01:00.680 Donnie sat in a chair, and he was clearly in 0:01:00.720 --> 0:01:01.360 a bad way. 0:01:02.000 --> 0:01:05.140 But Donnie went for it, and he sparkled. 0:01:06.160 --> 0:01:11.470 It was the last stand, and it was magnificent. Donnie 0:01:11.490 --> 0:01:14.430 was 83. He didn't get cheated. He had a great run, 0:01:14.450 --> 0:01:20.130 a great life, personally and professionally. Everybody loved Donnie Iris. 0:01:21.069 --> 0:01:25.069 He was the model of perseverance. Donnie didn't hit big 0:01:25.110 --> 0:01:32.780 till 1980, till he was 36. But Donnie had that short, skinny, timeless, 0:01:33.380 --> 0:01:36.300 Buddy Holly type of look. And before you knew it, 0:01:36.319 --> 0:01:41.970 Aaliyah was everywhere. And what a song it is, the layers, 0:01:42.650 --> 0:01:46.970 the passion. Donnie was a fantastic singer, but he was 0:01:47.010 --> 0:01:51.130 an even better songwriter. Him and Mark Avseck. And that's 0:01:51.190 --> 0:01:55.420 the hard part. That is what's tough to do. To 0:01:55.460 --> 0:01:59.400 write a hit song. To write an anthem to be 0:01:59.440 --> 0:02:02.300 played live that the crowd's going to sing along with. 0:02:03.120 --> 0:02:05.720 To get on the radio back when that really mattered. 0:02:06.540 --> 0:02:09.880 And Donnie and Mark did all the above. Donnie was 0:02:10.030 --> 0:02:15.829 great live. Every time. Never disappointed. The Cruisers are a 0:02:15.870 --> 0:02:20.600 great band. But as much as anything... Donny Iris was 0:02:20.680 --> 0:02:25.280 one of us. Like I said, he never left. Donny 0:02:25.380 --> 0:02:29.919 Iris was never not ours. Not even for a second. 0:02:30.000 --> 0:02:31.000 A yinzer's yinzer. 0:02:31.400 --> 0:02:35.310 The best of us. And I'm honored that Donny was 0:02:35.370 --> 0:02:35.870 my friend. 0:02:37.860 --> 0:02:40.919 Sometimes it'd turn up at one of my appearances, like 0:02:41.000 --> 0:02:44.840 at Sensi's in Mars, and that's only right, because I 0:02:44.880 --> 0:02:48.280 went to dozens of his appearances, as in concerts. 0:02:49.100 --> 0:02:51.300 Or I'd see him at Jurgle's at the cigar bar. 0:02:52.040 --> 0:02:56.120 I remember one night, it was Michael Schenker on stage 0:02:56.160 --> 0:03:01.040 from UFO, and Donny Iris in the cigar bar. What 0:03:01.080 --> 0:03:06.739 could be better? Donnie loved music, all music, new music. 0:03:07.280 --> 0:03:12.270 Donnie loved the Steelers. Donnie loved Pittsburgh. And Donnie Iris 0:03:12.310 --> 0:03:16.250 loved all of you. A day will never go by 0:03:17.310 --> 0:03:20.320 when I don't miss him and wonder what his next 0:03:20.360 --> 0:03:20.800 show is. 0:03:22.290 --> 0:03:24.709 And now the super genius, Mark Madden. 0:03:24.770 --> 0:03:27.389 The cream comes to the top. I feel like I'm 0:03:27.410 --> 0:03:28.290 just bubbling over. 0:03:28.330 --> 0:03:29.730 You wear pants while you're on the air? 0:03:29.750 --> 0:03:34.090 Because I wouldn't. Who told you? The X at 105.9. 0:03:49.040 --> 0:03:49.860 It's Double M. 0:03:49.840 --> 0:03:52.400 Back in town for my one day per week of work. 0:03:53.310 --> 0:03:56.790 Although I think I'm doing Friday's show from Hollywood in 0:03:56.810 --> 0:04:03.050 between the Aerosmith shows. Randy Bauman's going to join the 0:04:03.110 --> 0:04:07.530 show at 4.30 to talk more about Donny Iris. Obviously, 0:04:07.570 --> 0:04:13.540 that's the biggest story in Pittsburgh today. Randy has the 0:04:13.640 --> 0:04:17.099 idea that they should erect a statue of Donnie in 0:04:17.120 --> 0:04:20.260 front of the Wiley, the new venue right by PPG 0:04:20.300 --> 0:04:23.420 Paints Arena. I think that is an excellent idea, and 0:04:23.440 --> 0:04:28.810 the sooner the better. Okay, so let's talk about more 0:04:28.870 --> 0:04:35.470 mundane stuff. I watched the Steeler game on VCR. And boy, 0:04:35.510 --> 0:04:38.750 you talk about mundane. The Steelers are meh. 0:04:39.830 --> 0:04:40.070 But. 0:04:40.820 --> 0:04:45.720 Disclaimer, the whole NFL is met, just about. But the 0:04:45.740 --> 0:04:49.640 Steelers are no better. Y'all excited about being 5-2, but 0:04:50.250 --> 0:04:54.710 one touchdown and three field goals against a really blah 0:04:54.750 --> 0:04:55.670 New Orleans team? 0:04:56.830 --> 0:05:00.410 And you lean on the run game and the jumbo package? 0:05:01.150 --> 0:05:03.490 It's like Mike McCarthy went to sleep and woke up 0:05:03.710 --> 0:05:06.029 in 1966. 0:05:06.130 --> 0:05:08.670 Warren was good. Dowdle was good. 0:05:09.950 --> 0:05:14.570 They're different. They're a good fit together. I like that 0:05:14.630 --> 0:05:19.930 division of duty. And maybe running the ball and using 0:05:19.970 --> 0:05:22.950 that jumbo package is all the Steelers can really do well. 0:05:24.089 --> 0:05:26.890 Here's something you're going to disagree with, but watch the tape. 0:05:27.029 --> 0:05:27.370 I did. 0:05:28.210 --> 0:05:33.169 Rodgers' arm is mostly dead. Not the brain, but the 0:05:33.290 --> 0:05:38.610 arm is. He can't zing it outside the numbers. More 0:05:38.650 --> 0:05:42.410 than five, six yards away. He can't hit the deep 0:05:42.470 --> 0:05:47.190 ball without floating it. The Steelers are 5-2 and not 0:05:47.290 --> 0:05:52.300 at all inspiring. And now Cleveland comes to town this Sunday. 0:05:52.360 --> 0:05:56.580 They're 5-2. And it's a big game out of nowhere 0:05:57.279 --> 0:06:04.520 at Akershire on Sunday. And Pittsburgh will probably win, but boy, 0:06:04.560 --> 0:06:11.390 these Steelers look Tomlin-y. Rock fights, low scores, not many touchdowns, 0:06:11.970 --> 0:06:13.210 boring AF. 0:06:14.490 --> 0:06:15.050 Tomlin-y. 0:06:15.910 --> 0:06:16.250 Yuck. 0:06:17.370 --> 0:06:20.589 If you want to be excited, go ahead. 0:06:20.610 --> 0:06:24.430 Hey, at least Marie Antoinette didn't get her head chopped 0:06:24.550 --> 0:06:29.880 off in Paris. Now, you look ahead to this game, 0:06:29.940 --> 0:06:32.740 Steelers defense and offense both rank above Cleveland's. 0:06:33.880 --> 0:06:35.880 Steelers defense is sixth in the league in yardage. 0:06:35.880 --> 0:06:43.630 15 scoring defense. But I'm still not sold on that defense. 0:06:45.070 --> 0:06:47.070 Let's bring on Tommy Football. Tom, are you sold on 0:06:47.110 --> 0:06:49.610 the Steelers? I'm starting to get sold on the Steelers. 0:06:49.630 --> 0:06:51.789 And let me make my argument to you here. I 0:06:51.810 --> 0:06:53.450 get where you're coming from as far as the Tomlin-y 0:06:53.470 --> 0:06:54.830 thing for them not scoring points. 0:06:55.130 --> 0:06:56.610 No excuse for that. You got to put the ball 0:06:56.650 --> 0:06:58.540 in the end zone against the Saints more than they did. 0:06:59.120 --> 0:07:01.050 But I feel like Tomlin loses that game or the 0:07:01.070 --> 0:07:03.770 Tampa Bay Buccaneers game and doesn't have the Steelers set 0:07:03.830 --> 0:07:05.849 up to go 4-0 in this stretch of four games 0:07:05.890 --> 0:07:08.089 to be 6-2 at the bye week if they can 0:07:08.130 --> 0:07:08.650 get past the Browns. 0:07:08.670 --> 0:07:10.830 I agree with all that. I'm sold on McCarthy more 0:07:10.850 --> 0:07:12.920 than I am his roster. And here's the other thing, too. 0:07:13.500 --> 0:07:15.660 I know that they went jumbo package against the Saints, 0:07:16.020 --> 0:07:17.640 and that is not what Mike McCarthy has done in 0:07:17.680 --> 0:07:21.100 his past. But the opponent dictated them to do that. 0:07:21.160 --> 0:07:23.080 They stunk against the run. You had to run it 0:07:23.120 --> 0:07:23.680 down their throat. 0:07:23.700 --> 0:07:23.940 And what. 0:07:24.660 --> 0:07:28.060 McCarthy has to work with dictates that. His receiving room stinks. 0:07:28.080 --> 0:07:31.400 But I've been seeing week to week a new approach 0:07:31.580 --> 0:07:34.980 to the opponent specifically designed for that opponent as opposed 0:07:35.000 --> 0:07:36.320 to in the years past with Mike Tomlin. 0:07:36.340 --> 0:07:37.400 It was, we're the Steelers. 0:07:37.760 --> 0:07:39.679 We show up and we play our brand of football 0:07:39.700 --> 0:07:41.300 and that's always going to be good enough. There's an 0:07:41.340 --> 0:07:42.920 adaptability now to the team. 0:07:43.080 --> 0:07:47.059 Tomlin did that because to do otherwise, to practice adaptability 0:07:47.460 --> 0:07:50.460 requires actually coaching. And work during the week, yeah. 0:07:50.900 --> 0:07:51.890 Exactamundo. 0:07:52.230 --> 0:07:54.190 Now, are you sold on the Steelers defense? I'm not. 0:07:55.240 --> 0:07:57.640 I'm not sold on the Steelers defense because we're not 0:07:57.680 --> 0:08:00.390 seeing the edge rushers have the impact that they're supposed 0:08:00.410 --> 0:08:03.290 to have yet. I'm real skeptical still on the Steelers 0:08:03.330 --> 0:08:06.610 secondary shock through for 278 yards like that just cannot 0:08:06.650 --> 0:08:09.190 be ignored. When you look at that Saints game, I 0:08:09.270 --> 0:08:11.810 am sold on one aspect of them though. And that's 0:08:11.830 --> 0:08:14.170 their defensive line. Their front is as good as it 0:08:14.210 --> 0:08:16.190 was advertised at the beginning of the season. And they 0:08:16.210 --> 0:08:18.790 have to rely on depth, and they've gotten by beautifully. Yeah, 0:08:18.810 --> 0:08:20.790 they've gotten by without harm, and that says a lot 0:08:21.190 --> 0:08:23.130 about them guys in the trenches. Are you sold on 0:08:23.150 --> 0:08:26.070 the Steelers' offense? Only one touchdown in Paris, they could 0:08:26.090 --> 0:08:28.360 have played that game in a railroad car. Similarly to 0:08:28.380 --> 0:08:30.580 the defense, I'm sold on aspects. I think they can 0:08:30.600 --> 0:08:32.600 run the football. I think that they're good at that. 0:08:32.720 --> 0:08:36.580 Warren is a legitimate, not a superstar, but a star 0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:38.840 in the making. He's having a breakout year as far 0:08:38.900 --> 0:08:42.380 as that's concerned. But I still need to see them 0:08:42.570 --> 0:08:47.290 against a real, legit, strong defense. and how they handle 0:08:47.350 --> 0:08:49.850 pressure from a real strong defense. I know the Saints 0:08:49.929 --> 0:08:51.810 pressured Rodgers. He was able to get away from it. 0:08:52.230 --> 0:08:54.309 The Bucs did too. He was able to make enough 0:08:54.429 --> 0:08:56.650 out of it to win those games. But what about 0:08:56.690 --> 0:08:59.230 when a real team like Denver, or I know Houston's 0:08:59.250 --> 0:09:00.770 been sucking lately, but they can still get a lot 0:09:00.790 --> 0:09:03.040 of pressure on the quarterback. What happens then? I'm not 0:09:03.080 --> 0:09:04.140 sold on that aspect. 0:09:04.380 --> 0:09:06.079 Are you happy with the running back split? 0:09:06.360 --> 0:09:08.300 A lot of people want Warren to get more carries, 0:09:08.340 --> 0:09:10.900 but I think Donald's more than earning his key. I'm 0:09:11.000 --> 0:09:11.640 absolutely happy. 0:09:12.100 --> 0:09:14.839 Happy with what they've done it was 15 touches total 0:09:14.900 --> 0:09:18.040 for dowdle uh 21 touches total for jaylen warren i 0:09:18.059 --> 0:09:20.600 think that's perfect as long as warren's over that 20 0:09:20.600 --> 0:09:24.479 touch threshold i think you're using him appropriately and the 0:09:24.500 --> 0:09:26.040 other thing you just said there that's the most important 0:09:26.059 --> 0:09:27.600 as far as the split is concerned it's not like 0:09:27.620 --> 0:09:29.360 you put dowdle out there for 15 touches and he 0:09:29.420 --> 0:09:32.000 averaged like a yard per carry he was having impact 0:09:32.020 --> 0:09:33.940 in the game as well he was their leading receiver 0:09:33.960 --> 0:09:34.959 pass catching wise you. 0:09:34.900 --> 0:09:38.020 Know why people want warren to get more carries fantasy 0:09:38.040 --> 0:09:40.990 football But he had a good fantasy game anyway. He 0:09:41.000 --> 0:09:42.300 had 100 yards. That's good. 0:09:42.350 --> 0:09:43.380 But more is more. 0:09:43.400 --> 0:09:47.630 More is more, yeah. It's amazing how fantasy culture permanates 0:09:48.190 --> 0:09:51.870 how you look at your favorite team or you make 0:09:51.910 --> 0:09:54.040 a guy like Warren your favorite player because you drafted him. 0:09:54.470 --> 0:09:56.010 But nobody drafted Rico Donald. 0:09:56.260 --> 0:09:59.360 In that specific position i think is where that factors 0:09:59.400 --> 0:10:01.540 in maybe the most because you see splits at that 0:10:01.590 --> 0:10:04.089 position throughout the nfl and a team like the steelers 0:10:04.150 --> 0:10:07.079 i mean it's in their best interest to keep that 0:10:07.080 --> 0:10:11.380 20 touches Warren, 15 touches Rico Dowdle line of thinking 0:10:11.440 --> 0:10:13.420 going for the season. It'll help Warren out in the 0:10:13.460 --> 0:10:13.900 long run. 0:10:14.120 --> 0:10:15.720 You know, it reminds me of Tom when the Steelers 0:10:15.740 --> 0:10:19.060 were 11 and 0 in 2020. And I said, I 0:10:19.120 --> 0:10:20.870 just don't think they're very good. And it turned out 0:10:20.910 --> 0:10:23.730 they indeed weren't very good. This isn't that foolish. I mean, 0:10:23.750 --> 0:10:25.809 they have five and two is not seven and 0, 0:10:25.809 --> 0:10:26.950 let alone 11 and 0. 0:10:26.950 --> 0:10:28.390 But, but I don't know. 0:10:28.490 --> 0:10:31.790 I just can't buy in. I, I, I feel like again, 0:10:31.809 --> 0:10:33.630 and I don't mean this in a good way. 0:10:33.850 --> 0:10:34.730 It's very Tomlin-y. 0:10:35.800 --> 0:10:39.980 But the caveat is the league's stinking, and there's no 0:10:40.040 --> 0:10:42.020 one in the AFC North that looks like they're really 0:10:42.059 --> 0:10:44.559 ready to reach up and take control of the division. 0:10:44.620 --> 0:10:46.140 Maybe it's going to be the winner of this game 0:10:46.200 --> 0:10:47.840 on Sunday between the Steelers and the Browns. 0:10:48.140 --> 0:10:53.730 Well, if you beat Cleveland, then you play Cincinnati. After 0:10:53.770 --> 0:10:56.230 a bye. Right, but I think Cincinnati's going to beat them. 0:10:56.620 --> 0:10:58.920 They have to fly back from Madrid, though, the week before. 0:10:59.090 --> 0:11:01.030 That's a little bit of a tricky travel spot for them. 0:11:01.050 --> 0:11:02.530 Yeah, I think Cincinnati's going to beat them. 0:11:03.350 --> 0:11:05.390 And then the week after, though, you're at Philadelphia, but 0:11:05.429 --> 0:11:07.650 there's no Jalen Hurts, and they're clearly in a downward 0:11:07.690 --> 0:11:10.600 spiral being 2-5. But you never win there. Yeah, but 0:11:10.640 --> 0:11:12.220 they win two of the next three, no matter who 0:11:12.260 --> 0:11:14.020 the two are against. You've got to beat Cleveland. If 0:11:14.040 --> 0:11:15.880 you win one of the next two after that, you're 0:11:15.900 --> 0:11:17.020 in the playoffs. Yeah, I agree. 0:11:17.179 --> 0:11:19.810 And it's totally fine as far as the division is concerned, too, 0:11:19.850 --> 0:11:21.430 because you would have taken a split with the Bengals 0:11:21.450 --> 0:11:23.270 at the beginning of the year, right? And said that 0:11:23.290 --> 0:11:25.210 that would have been probably good enough to compete for 0:11:25.230 --> 0:11:28.070 the AFC North division. You already accomplished the win aspect 0:11:28.110 --> 0:11:31.010 of that split. So if you go win Browns, lose Bengals, 0:11:31.030 --> 0:11:32.550 win Eagles, you're set. 0:11:33.000 --> 0:11:34.580 You do agree that the Steelers are boring. 0:11:35.540 --> 0:11:37.040 I don't know about that. I don't know if I 0:11:37.080 --> 0:11:37.620 agree with that. 0:11:37.640 --> 0:11:38.720 You're a Mark. You're a Yenzer. 0:11:40.800 --> 0:11:41.420 I don't know, Mark. 0:11:41.440 --> 0:11:44.990 I mean, they're actually executing this stretch like they're supposed to. 0:11:45.070 --> 0:11:47.210 And to me, that's not boring. They didn't stub their toe. 0:11:47.220 --> 0:11:49.020 If they're executing like they're supposed to, how come they 0:11:49.040 --> 0:11:50.840 only got one touchdown? But they're winning the games. 0:11:51.040 --> 0:11:53.219 They had not won these games in years past. They'd 0:11:53.340 --> 0:11:55.200 always stubbed their toe. The Tampa game would have been 0:11:55.220 --> 0:11:56.559 a loss, no doubt. You've got to play better than 0:11:56.580 --> 0:11:57.600 this to win real games. 0:11:57.720 --> 0:11:59.620 And Rodgers said that after the game against the Saints. 0:11:59.640 --> 0:12:00.540 Yeah, I give credit for that. 0:12:01.059 --> 0:12:02.880 He didn't, you know, rest on his laurels and say, 0:12:02.920 --> 0:12:04.990 this was fantastic. We've won three in a row. Everything 0:12:05.050 --> 0:12:07.590 is clicking perfectly. Do you agree that we're kidding ourselves 0:12:07.630 --> 0:12:10.070 about his arm? I think there are aspects of his 0:12:10.110 --> 0:12:11.489 arm that have faded. I do. 0:12:11.750 --> 0:12:13.770 I still think when he has to, though, he can get— like, 0:12:13.490 --> 0:12:14.929 the deep ball to DK was pretty good. 0:12:15.470 --> 0:12:17.689 It's not when he has to. It's once in a while. 0:12:17.710 --> 0:12:21.000 I'm not sure there's anything clutch in Brad, and sometimes 0:12:21.059 --> 0:12:23.480 it happens, sometimes it doesn't. And I'm more worried about 0:12:23.520 --> 0:12:25.420 throwing outside the hash marks than I am deep. 0:12:25.640 --> 0:12:26.719 You don't throw deep that much. 0:12:26.920 --> 0:12:29.340 I think he's able to hide the inefficiencies though, with 0:12:29.380 --> 0:12:31.740 his brains. Like he knows where to throw the ball. 0:12:31.780 --> 0:12:32.880 I'm not ripping the guy at all. 0:12:32.900 --> 0:12:35.420 I think he's been fine. He's 90 years older. However, 0:12:35.520 --> 0:12:37.650 I mean, he's going to turn to dust. One of 0:12:37.690 --> 0:12:39.770 these days, he's going to throw a ball, Tom, and 0:12:39.790 --> 0:12:40.630 his arm's going to fall off. 0:12:42.429 --> 0:12:43.610 You know what he has been doing a lot of 0:12:43.830 --> 0:12:46.870 is taking sacks himself. Like he's the second most sack 0:12:46.890 --> 0:12:48.670 quarterback in the NFL this year. And I don't know 0:12:48.690 --> 0:12:50.770 if that's on the offensive line. I think the line's 0:12:50.790 --> 0:12:52.880 been doing a better job week to week to week. 0:12:53.320 --> 0:12:55.700 He hangs onto the ball a lot longer this year. And, 0:12:56.070 --> 0:12:58.930 He's taken some boneheaded sacks, too. Like the fire drill 0:12:58.970 --> 0:13:00.630 sack he took before the end of the first half. 0:13:01.010 --> 0:13:02.010 Why are you taking that sack? 0:13:02.030 --> 0:13:03.890 Get rid of that. They're reminding me of all the 0:13:03.950 --> 0:13:07.910 protesters running around trying to avoid the water cannons. In France. 0:13:08.110 --> 0:13:12.390 Nothing happened, though, Tom. The NFL conquers all. 0:13:12.429 --> 0:13:17.630 They did, yes. Their security force. You know who else 0:13:17.710 --> 0:13:19.390 had a big weekend was T.J. Watt's wife. 0:13:20.830 --> 0:13:22.550 Complaining about almost safety. 0:13:22.670 --> 0:13:23.050 Yeah. Yeah. 0:13:23.070 --> 0:13:25.569 Complaining about like, you know, like stats. I mean, like 0:13:26.050 --> 0:13:27.690 they won the game. Why are you complaining? 0:13:27.710 --> 0:13:30.730 I don't know. And then she was also complaining about 0:13:30.750 --> 0:13:32.740 the team going over, right? Like I saw that she 0:13:32.770 --> 0:13:34.700 had some posts on Instagram. Like this is ridiculous that 0:13:34.720 --> 0:13:36.340 we have to fly over and play this game in Paris, 0:13:36.380 --> 0:13:38.740 France and all this turmoil and unrest. 0:13:39.020 --> 0:13:41.520 Meanwhile, the protesters probably like saw that and saw her 0:13:41.540 --> 0:13:42.740 and say, we're not going to mess with her. 0:13:42.760 --> 0:13:43.380 You know what? 0:13:43.400 --> 0:13:45.660 That's like, remember old country for no men. Yes. 0:13:45.880 --> 0:13:47.070 Remember the mother-in-law? 0:13:47.429 --> 0:13:48.069 Don't you worry. 0:13:48.150 --> 0:13:49.390 Nobody's going to bother her. 0:13:49.390 --> 0:13:51.360 105.9 The X. 0:13:52.260 --> 0:13:56.220 It's the Woody Show. Weekday mornings at 6 on 105.9 0:13:56.220 --> 0:13:56.640 The X. 0:13:57.140 --> 0:13:59.199 This hour of the Mark Madden Show is brought to 0:13:59.220 --> 0:14:03.380 you by Bud Light. Proudly served at Mountain. Super genius. 0:14:03.540 --> 0:14:04.420 I love the show. 0:14:04.440 --> 0:14:07.580 What he likes ain't legal nowhere but Medellin. 0:14:08.000 --> 0:14:11.600 The X at 105.9. 0:14:11.880 --> 0:14:14.040 I'm not sure what to make of this game Sunday 0:14:14.080 --> 0:14:17.479 between the Steelers and Cleveland at Accresure. I know they're 0:14:17.500 --> 0:14:20.280 both five and two. I know they're tied for first 0:14:20.340 --> 0:14:24.860 place atop the AFC North. But I think they're just 0:14:24.900 --> 0:14:29.300 playing for the title of slumlord of slop town. As 0:14:29.330 --> 0:14:32.870 somebody said on Twitter a couple weeks back, Tom, do 0:14:32.890 --> 0:14:36.700 you buy into Cleveland? Not yet entirely, but. 0:14:37.620 --> 0:14:39.920 It's pretty clear that Deshaun Watson isn't going to flash 0:14:39.950 --> 0:14:41.760 all the way back into his pan of his form 0:14:41.780 --> 0:14:45.090 in recent couple of years. Like he's a solid quarterback 0:14:45.130 --> 0:14:46.410 right now. And we said at the beginning of the year, 0:14:46.430 --> 0:14:47.510 the Browns have a good roster. 0:14:47.650 --> 0:14:49.810 He was just going to suck, but that's not been 0:14:49.830 --> 0:14:51.830 the case. I didn't think he was going to suck. 0:14:52.130 --> 0:14:55.870 I thought, well, I entertained the possibility he might suck, 0:14:56.450 --> 0:14:58.530 but I thought he was by far their best choice 0:14:58.570 --> 0:15:01.890 to start over Sanders. People didn't like that. All those 0:15:02.750 --> 0:15:07.030 bleeding morality and, and hand jobs and, and masseurs and, 0:15:07.930 --> 0:15:11.470 whatever he was into, you know, which was reprehensible, but 0:15:11.990 --> 0:15:13.930 you know, he, he did his time. 0:15:13.950 --> 0:15:15.390 You know what I mean? 0:15:15.430 --> 0:15:17.820 Went through the process and you got to let the 0:15:17.860 --> 0:15:20.380 guy play again and he's playing pretty good. No, he is. 0:15:20.680 --> 0:15:23.540 And that's why you start to buy into them somewhat 0:15:23.660 --> 0:15:26.480 because the roster around him is a legitimately good roster 0:15:26.540 --> 0:15:29.180 building towards something, a young roster, two really good young 0:15:29.220 --> 0:15:31.990 receivers that are rookies. Schlesinger on the defensive side of 0:15:32.010 --> 0:15:34.390 the ball is a great off ball linebacker developing into 0:15:34.430 --> 0:15:36.310 his own. It was just going to be the quarterback 0:15:36.330 --> 0:15:38.190 that we thought would hold them back. But instead, he's 0:15:38.210 --> 0:15:41.310 leading fourth quarter comebacks and making them pull out road 0:15:41.330 --> 0:15:42.690 wins against the Titans when it looks like they would 0:15:42.710 --> 0:15:43.390 blow that game. 0:15:43.600 --> 0:15:45.770 Before the season started, would you have started him? How'd 0:15:45.790 --> 0:15:46.240 you weigh in? 0:15:46.550 --> 0:15:49.060 I probably would have started Deshaun Watson, but I expected 0:15:49.100 --> 0:15:50.560 him to stink. And then they would have made the 0:15:50.600 --> 0:15:52.540 transition to Shador Sanders at some point. 0:15:52.580 --> 0:15:54.960 See, I don't want that guy on my team, let 0:15:54.980 --> 0:15:59.290 alone playing quarterback. But A, I'm paying him anyway. And B, 0:15:59.740 --> 0:16:01.320 the other option is Shador Sanders. 0:16:01.700 --> 0:16:03.740 Well, and I know this is the benefit of hindsight, 0:16:03.760 --> 0:16:06.120 but C, it was clearly the right choice. He's clearly 0:16:06.160 --> 0:16:08.100 a far better quarterback than Shador Sanders is. 0:16:08.940 --> 0:16:14.400 Yeah, no question about that. Tom, did you see what 0:16:14.460 --> 0:16:20.090 Pat McAfee said? Yes. He got kind of heckled on 0:16:20.110 --> 0:16:23.530 the Utah Instagram page, right? The official Utah Instagram page. 0:16:24.380 --> 0:16:26.480 And he said he never wanted to go back to Utah. 0:16:27.100 --> 0:16:30.920 And he talked about being uncomfortable in a place where 0:16:31.480 --> 0:16:34.280 he drew a parallel between him getting a hard time 0:16:34.320 --> 0:16:37.860 in Utah and Charlie Kirk being assassinated. And it goes 0:16:37.900 --> 0:16:40.660 to show how much power Pat has because, to me, 0:16:40.710 --> 0:16:44.150 that's a suspendable offense, being that tasteless. To draw that comparison. 0:16:44.170 --> 0:16:45.390 Yeah, to draw that comparison. 0:16:45.450 --> 0:16:48.989 And yet he got Utah... And who else apologized? I 0:16:49.030 --> 0:16:52.470 think ESPN even. I saw Utah officially apologize. 0:16:52.570 --> 0:16:53.030 Yeah. 0:16:53.070 --> 0:16:54.910 There was another apology, too. I forget who. 0:16:55.330 --> 0:16:57.430 People just apologizing to him, just walking down the hallways 0:16:57.490 --> 0:16:59.170 at ESPN and saying they're sorry just to be safe. 0:16:59.190 --> 0:17:01.690 Well, there was somebody tweeted. I think this is such 0:17:01.790 --> 0:17:05.250 a great comparison. So I'm lifting it for my very own. 0:17:05.310 --> 0:17:07.889 I will, after acknowledging it now, pass it along as 0:17:07.930 --> 0:17:11.960 my original idea. pat has turned into biff tannin from 0:17:12.000 --> 0:17:13.360 back to the future too oh. 0:17:13.280 --> 0:17:15.400 That's so great you know why that's so great because 0:17:15.580 --> 0:17:17.600 as much of a bully biff tannin is he's just 0:17:17.640 --> 0:17:19.659 as much of a dummy too like he's a dumb 0:17:19.720 --> 0:17:22.100 bully like he does the that's as dumb as a 0:17:22.119 --> 0:17:24.629 screen door on a battleship line to marty mcfly and 0:17:24.650 --> 0:17:27.169 he's like it's on a submarine you dummy like he 0:17:27.230 --> 0:17:29.030 bullies people but he doesn't have the brain power to 0:17:29.090 --> 0:17:31.369 do it properly and i'm not saying that pat's a 0:17:31.390 --> 0:17:33.390 big dummy except i kind of am. 0:17:33.310 --> 0:17:39.729 Yes Well, no, Pat isn't dumb. He's just really insecure. 0:17:40.109 --> 0:17:41.250 That's for damn sure. 0:17:41.410 --> 0:17:44.280 Here's a guy who has the best media deal, the 0:17:44.300 --> 0:17:46.939 biggest media profile in the country. 0:17:47.730 --> 0:17:49.629 And that might include besides sports. 0:17:49.670 --> 0:17:52.520 It might include everything, but he can't take even an 0:17:52.600 --> 0:17:54.140 iota of criticism, not one. 0:17:54.380 --> 0:17:57.220 And you saw the video, right? That the Utah kids posted. 0:17:57.700 --> 0:18:01.200 It was innocuous thing ever. And most of the kids 0:18:01.220 --> 0:18:03.370 were just making fun of him for that gimmick that 0:18:03.380 --> 0:18:05.850 he does every week of taking off his shirt, which 0:18:05.950 --> 0:18:08.030 is just so old and played out now. 0:18:08.050 --> 0:18:08.730 Oh, it's cringy. 0:18:08.970 --> 0:18:11.590 And he definitely got butthurt over that. He saw them 0:18:11.650 --> 0:18:14.770 making fun of his gimmick. And then the insecurity just 0:18:15.050 --> 0:18:16.600 overran his thought process. 0:18:17.080 --> 0:18:21.929 And, uh, Like I said, he can't stand any criticism. 0:18:23.190 --> 0:18:25.230 He wants everything run exactly his way. 0:18:25.250 --> 0:18:28.300 I don't know. 0:18:28.340 --> 0:18:32.020 The Biff Cannon comparison is just so right on the money. 0:18:32.060 --> 0:18:35.280 And the Charlie Kirk comparison, that parallel was absolutely tasteless. 0:18:35.580 --> 0:18:36.280 It's insane. 0:18:36.320 --> 0:18:38.560 If I said that, I'd be in hot water. I 0:18:38.760 --> 0:18:39.570 wouldn't get fired. 0:18:39.609 --> 0:18:40.649 You should be in hot water. But I'd be in 0:18:40.810 --> 0:18:44.690 hot water. It's an insane parallel to draw. Literally, that's 0:18:44.810 --> 0:18:48.490 mentally not okay to go there in your head to say, Hey, 0:18:48.530 --> 0:18:50.149 there's a bunch of kids saying I shouldn't take my 0:18:50.210 --> 0:18:52.180 shirt off. I think they want to assassinate me. 0:18:52.480 --> 0:18:52.760 What? 0:18:53.940 --> 0:18:55.490 Oh, and I know what I was going to say. 0:18:57.230 --> 0:18:57.730 I guess. 0:18:58.660 --> 0:19:01.859 Last week, wherever game day was, it was $ 3 million to. 0:19:01.740 --> 0:19:03.000 The kicking contest. 0:19:03.060 --> 0:19:04.820 Oh, that's right. It was in BYU, right? It was 0:19:04.880 --> 0:19:07.679 only because some other donors came through, some backers. And 0:19:07.720 --> 0:19:09.560 this week, it was only $ 1 million. And I guess 0:19:09.580 --> 0:19:12.080