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Speaker 1: Your tunes about drive on your twenty four to seven

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Speaker 1: Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

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Speaker 2: Hour number two of the Drive Here as we roll

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Speaker 2: along on a Monday was Shooler and Matt Williamson with

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Speaker 2: you and lot going on around the league. Matt lot

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Speaker 2: going on around the division as well too. Let's go

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Speaker 2: to the state of Ohio. All right, unfortunate. I never

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Speaker 2: like to hear that. It's like, the worst part of

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Speaker 2: our drive to Indianapolis the whole year is how every

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Speaker 2: year is how we have to drive like four hours

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Speaker 2: through Ohio farmland and get whipped around by the wind

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Speaker 2: on the turnpike.

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Speaker 3: I never bring it up because I am such a Pittsburgher,

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Speaker 3: But I was born in Dayton.

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Speaker 4: Where are you?

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Speaker 3: Yeah? Yeah, wow, it kind of doesn't count. I mean,

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Speaker 3: both my parents are from Brookline. There. Everyone's Pittsburgh through

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Speaker 3: and through. But my dad had a job in Dayton

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Speaker 3: and that's where I was hatched, and then before my

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Speaker 3: first like year, my life was there, and then then

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Speaker 3: they moved back home. Sure, sure, got everything, right, you know.

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Speaker 4: Got everything.

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Speaker 2: I never say this on air because you know, I'm Pittsburgh,

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Speaker 2: right right. I actually really don't mind it's not that bad.

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Speaker 3: That's fine. It's even you're living in Cleveland. Wasn't terrible.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I've been to Cleveland and Cincinnati plenty of times.

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Speaker 4: I've enjoyed myself every time I have. Yeah, I don't

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Speaker 4: tell anybody I said that. All Right, we're striking that quiet.

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Speaker 4: We're striking this from the record. Okay, but the background.

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Speaker 3: In Cleveland, we're a lot chillier than I expected, though.

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Speaker 3: I will say. I was like, I'm from Pittsburgh. It's

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Speaker 3: to say in this lake effect. No, it's a lot right. Yeah,

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Speaker 3: you don't know anything that.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I lived in I lived in Youngstown for two

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Speaker 2: years I got out of college when I worked for

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Speaker 2: the hockey team.

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Speaker 3: You're a little field for it.

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Speaker 2: So yeah, not not quite being on the lake. But no,

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Speaker 2: those Ohio winners are nasty.

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Speaker 3: Sure, Matt, speaking of Ohio, lets go.

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Speaker 2: Yes, Not only is the weather nasty in Ohio, so

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Speaker 2: is the football. The Cleveland Browns naming Joe Flacco their

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Speaker 2: Week one starting quarterback, according to Adam Schefter and some

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Speaker 2: other reporters against the Cincinnati Bengals, not that surprising.

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Speaker 4: I don't think.

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Speaker 3: No, it's not. He's been the kind of leader in

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Speaker 3: the clubhouse, even though from what I understand, he has

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Speaker 3: not been the leader in practice reps. Pickett, Gabriel Sami Huntley.

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Speaker 3: Now they've added, you know, like they've had again. I

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Speaker 3: really have a problem with their draft. But anyway, it's

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Speaker 3: been a real juggling act of who to get reps when.

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Speaker 3: But I think this shows and I agree that your

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Speaker 3: best chance to win in Week one is with Joe Flacco.

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Speaker 3: You know, he's been in this offense. He wasn't last year.

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Speaker 3: He took a year away, but he came off the

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Speaker 3: couch two years ago one comeback player of the year

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Speaker 3: from what I remember in this offense. Hey, I know

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Speaker 3: he's a Brown. I root for him. I've helped recruit him.

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Speaker 3: He's one of the last guys that day one. Yeah, exactly.

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Speaker 3: There are many that I could say I remember him

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Speaker 3: as a high school player I watched them, or you know,

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Speaker 3: still in the league, but he's I think the last

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Speaker 3: of them and he watched right. Oh yeah, so I

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Speaker 3: do kind of root for him. That being said, I

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Speaker 3: don't know what he has left. I mean, he can

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Speaker 3: always sling it, but he is a Jamis Winston level

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Speaker 3: risk taker. Now I mean he is a hot and

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Speaker 3: cold at all, right, I mean he is not bashful,

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Speaker 3: and when he's hot, he's hot, and when he's not,

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Speaker 3: he throws a ball the other team a lot. If

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Speaker 3: you don't mind, can you pull up their schedule because

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Speaker 3: I think the first couple, like the first five weeks

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Speaker 3: of the year are awful, and so if they're one

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Speaker 3: in four or whatever, I don't know that he's even

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Speaker 3: gonna stay the starter all that long. And like, no

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Speaker 3: one expects our season to go great, but I think

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Speaker 3: that the beginning of it is really nasty.

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Speaker 4: Home against Cincinnati.

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Speaker 3: They're an underdog in that game on the road in Baltimore.

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Speaker 2: Home against green Bay on the road in Detroit, home

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Speaker 2: against Minnesota on the road in Pittsburgh.

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Speaker 3: And that Minnesota games after Minnesota is going to stay

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Speaker 3: in Europe, so.

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Speaker 4: They're going to be more well so of their first five.

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Speaker 3: Games, including Steeler game in six.

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Speaker 2: And they're sorry of their first six games. Yes, uh, Cincinnati,

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Speaker 2: you know the team with Joe Burrow and Jamar.

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Speaker 3: Chase, right right right?

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Speaker 4: Is there only one that didn't make the playoffs last year?

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Speaker 3: Right?

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Speaker 2: Steelers made its made it, Lions made it, Packers made

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Speaker 2: it Ravens made it.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it was tough.

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Speaker 4: Go to Baltimore, you gotta got to Detroit.

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Speaker 2: You got to play five playoff teams in your first

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Speaker 2: six games, and the other team that you're playing has

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Speaker 2: one of those unicorns at court back, yes, and would

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Speaker 2: have made the playoffs if their defense had a pulse.

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Speaker 3: So I hate the term like give up, because these

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Speaker 3: guys are professional athletes. They try to tackle, they try

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Speaker 3: to block every time, but it's kind of a thornhill thing.

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Speaker 3: Their defense kind of hung it up last year pretty

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Speaker 3: early and just realized that this is a hopeless environment.

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Speaker 3: By week six, the Browns might not care all that

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Speaker 3: much anymore, let alone by the second time the Steelers

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Speaker 3: get them. I mean, like, I bet Flacca is not

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Speaker 3: still the quarterback. I bet that, but there's another young

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Speaker 3: guy in there and they're zero and five or one

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Speaker 3: and four or whatever when the Steers get.

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Speaker 4: I think you're right.

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Speaker 2: And it's a weird balancing act for that, because like,

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Speaker 2: this is a big year for Kevin Stefanski and that

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Speaker 2: coaching staff.

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Speaker 3: Guys won't coach the year twice and he probably is

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Speaker 3: gonna get fired.

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Speaker 4: And he's probably gonna get fired this year.

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Speaker 2: Unless, like by some miracle, he drags them to eight

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Speaker 2: or nine wins, Right, boy, is the guy or you

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Speaker 2: know down find their quarterback and and and get hot

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Speaker 2: or that type of thing. But that's gonna be the

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Speaker 2: because they have a roster that is certainly not built

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Speaker 2: to win.

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Speaker 4: Now offensively or other than maybe Miles Garrett, you know

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Speaker 4: what I mean?

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Speaker 3: Right, Like I thought that, well, you have a whole segment.

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Speaker 4: I mean, like we got time.

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Speaker 3: When Garrett demanded his trade, I'm like, man, he's doing

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Speaker 3: them a favor. I mean, I think, get you draft picks.

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Speaker 3: This will get my car egged and probably already has.

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Speaker 3: I think Garrett's the best defensive player on the on the.

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Speaker 4: Planet, like yve here today.

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Speaker 3: Yes, by the smallest little bit of care.

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Speaker 2: The last ten years or anything, but as we stand

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Speaker 2: here today August eighteenth, twenty times.

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Speaker 3: They were in such bad shape after the Watson trade

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Speaker 3: and they went three years without any prominent draft picks

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Speaker 3: that when he demanded a trade, I thought this might

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Speaker 3: actually work in their favor. Get a couple handful of

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Speaker 3: really good picks, open up cap space. You're gonna stink

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Speaker 3: next year with or without them. Build a nest you know,

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Speaker 3: draft a lot of linemen, and then even when they

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Speaker 3: made the Hunter trade, they picked up a future first

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Speaker 3: and they had a lot of draft capital in this class.

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Speaker 3: I'm like, well, they's good. You can build a lineman

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Speaker 3: for them, an offensive line, maybe not even invest in

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Speaker 3: a quarterback. That'll be next year when you're talking picking

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Speaker 3: in the top five, and if you're picking four, you

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Speaker 3: could probably even get to two or one because you

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Speaker 3: get all these extra picks. But they're kind of playing

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Speaker 3: it like they think they're better than they are, you know,

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Speaker 3: And I don't know how long that will last. I mean,

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Speaker 3: even this Flacco move, I understand that's a win now move,

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Speaker 3: but I don't expect it to last. And frankly, I

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Speaker 3: think the defense will be on the field a ton

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Speaker 3: and by mid season. It's not gonna be pretty for

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Speaker 3: the Brownies.

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Speaker 4: No, it is not.

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Speaker 2: How many Okay, what's the over under? Let me think

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Speaker 2: three over under three and a half quarterbacks that start

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Speaker 2: games this year for Cleveland, or should be two and

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Speaker 2: a half, because it's absolutely going to be at least two.

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Speaker 3: It should be at least too. I think they'll be

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Speaker 3: at least three, and that's even without injury. You know.

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Speaker 3: I mean, like, I think three get an opportunity due

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Speaker 3: to Benching, Slash and Anders. I mean, does Picket make

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Speaker 3: the team? Like do they keep all four?

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Speaker 2: And listen, I understand that the Browns are not an

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Speaker 2: organization that is unfamiliar with egg on their face. Yeah,

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Speaker 2: but trading for Kenny Pickett this offseason and then him

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Speaker 2: not even making your your initial fifty three man roster

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Speaker 2: would be pretty big egg on your face.

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Speaker 4: Yeah.

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Speaker 3: They gave up Thompson Robinson. I think a fifth round,

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Speaker 3: fifth round pick, which is a real trade. That's not

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Speaker 3: a seventh round pick. Swab nonsense.

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Speaker 4: Our last pick in the seventh round.

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Speaker 3: Right right, and then you draft. They hadn't drafted anybody

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Speaker 3: at that point. They took two, and you knew Flacco

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Speaker 3: was in the mix. And now, because of injuries, they

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Speaker 3: brought in Huntley, who's actually a legit.

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Speaker 2: Quarterback to go with over three and a half. I

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Speaker 2: think I'll see four. I think we'll see four quarterbacks.

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Speaker 3: Yeah. I tend to think so too. They're probably trying

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Speaker 3: to move Picket now for a fifth or six or whatever,

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Speaker 3: and I don't know who's going to take that. He

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Speaker 3: hasn't been he hasn't been healthy. No, it's a mess.

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Speaker 4: It's it's it's a mess.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it's gonna be a mess for this year. Maybe

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Speaker 3: they get arch banning next year, who knows. But I

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Speaker 3: mean for now, I would they.

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Speaker 4: Do to me the biggest They do have two first

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Speaker 4: round picks, Yeah, yeah.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean my goal would be to your point

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Speaker 3: is maybe we have something in Sanders or Gabriel. I mean,

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Speaker 3: if you could find that, you have to find out.

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Speaker 3: I mean the answers probably know, but.

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Speaker 4: You but you got to know for sure by the

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Speaker 4: time you get to January and the season.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, or I like both of them is really good

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Speaker 3: backups to next year's first round pick. Okay, at least

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Speaker 3: you gotta know, Yeah, no doubt. I don't think Flacco

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Speaker 3: lasts long, to.

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Speaker 4: Be honest with you, I don't either.

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Speaker 3: And what percent chance he plays in Week six against

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Speaker 3: the Steelers.

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Speaker 2: I give Kenny Pickett a better chance starting week against

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Speaker 2: the Steelers.

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Speaker 3: I don't think he's in the mix with them.

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Speaker 2: I don't either. And that's just that's not even including

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Speaker 2: the potential to get injured.

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Speaker 3: Right, you know, there are lines don't particularly good easy

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Speaker 3: get hit.

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Speaker 2: I think at least something that you you know, has

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Speaker 2: to be in your in your mind as well too, uh,

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Speaker 2: staying in.

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Speaker 3: Oh I want to do two more Brown's notes, rookie stuff, Judkins,

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Speaker 3: the Ohio State Run.

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Speaker 4: Yeah.

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Speaker 2: How should I feel about this because I got him

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Speaker 2: on one of my fantasy teams?

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Speaker 3: Well better now, I guess Hell, all charges.

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Speaker 2: Were dropped, Yes, but the Browns said they are not

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Speaker 2: going to sign him until the NFL concludes its investigation.

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Speaker 4: Let me let me give you the.

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Speaker 3: Exact h I knew he didn't have a contract yet.

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Speaker 3: He's the only basically draft picks Chefter.

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Speaker 2: This was also right before we went on air. Chefter tweeted,

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Speaker 2: though second round pick quinch On Junkins will not face

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Speaker 2: any charges, he and the Browns have still been unable

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Speaker 2: to reach a deal and may not until the end

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Speaker 2: of any NFL investigations.

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Speaker 3: And that can linger, Yes, it can.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, okay, Which it's one of my It's one

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Speaker 2: of my big money money fantasy football leagues too, Matthew.

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Speaker 3: So yeah, well he hasn't practice with you.

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Speaker 2: Not feeling great about that. I mean, I don't need

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Speaker 2: him like week one right away, you know what I mean.

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Speaker 2: He's like my third or fourth running back. But I'm

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Speaker 2: hoping to have him pretty consistently this season.

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Speaker 3: Okay, so I didn't know that news, so that can

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Speaker 3: change things drastically. I assume he'll be there already running

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Speaker 3: back next year, you know, I would think, assuming absolutely

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Speaker 3: everything gets cleared. I mean, if the charges were dropped.

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Speaker 3: Another move they made I thought it was a little interesting.

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Speaker 3: Is Isaiah Bond was big time player at Bama, went

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Speaker 3: to Texas. He's a wide receiver. Yeah, didn't get drafted

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Speaker 3: because of off the field stuff. See a recurring theme here.

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Speaker 3: M hm, sat around, No, don't even want to bring

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Speaker 3: on the camp as an undrafted free agent.

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Speaker 4: They might have been a Day two pick if he

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Speaker 4: had a clean.

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Speaker 3: He was supposed to run like a four to two,

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Speaker 3: you know, like he didn't run as well as he

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Speaker 3: thought his teammate did. Golden, but there's ability there. But

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Speaker 3: his reputation is less than stellar. I'll just put it

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Speaker 3: that way. But they just gave him three million dollar

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Speaker 3: bonus to sign.

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Speaker 2: Fully guaranteed, fully guaranteed as an undrafted free agent.

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Speaker 4: With all kinds of characters stuff, fully guaranteed.

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Speaker 3: That's a weird move. And I mean, you talk about

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Speaker 3: building culture and stuff. Is that really the best thing going?

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Speaker 3: You know, I don't think right right, So more of

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Speaker 3: Brown's doing Brown stuff, I would put it that way.

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Speaker 4: Yes, Yes, indeed, let's stay in Ohio, Matt.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, this is probably the biggest dudes in the league

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Speaker 3: right now.

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Speaker 2: Trey Hendrickson. Yeah, sounds like he's going to get traded.

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Speaker 2: Sounds like that's the conclusion in Cincinnati. But what's that

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Speaker 2: going to look like? And I don't know for a tea, Like,

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Speaker 2: let's face it with where Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase

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Speaker 2: are right now in their careers.

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Speaker 4: The Bengals are in win now mode.

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Speaker 3: That's the thing.

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Speaker 2: Like, those guys aren't twenty two and on their rookie

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Speaker 2: contracts anymore. They are in the prime of their careers. Yeah,

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Speaker 2: I don't know how you can convince me. Maybe it's

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Speaker 2: the best thing for them to do in the long run,

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Speaker 2: but I don't know how you can convince me that

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Speaker 2: they're going to be a better team this year without

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Speaker 2: Trey Hendrickson.

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Speaker 3: And the word on the story is the Bengals have

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Speaker 3: actually said we will listen to trade offers now. Yes,

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Speaker 3: not Trey Hendrickson saying I went out of here, they're

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Speaker 3: not paying me, so I think they've actually that Bridge

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Speaker 3: is probably burned. You know that he probably will not

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Speaker 3: be a Bengal subject to change. I mean, the Angles

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Speaker 3: are one of the hardest teams in the league to

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Speaker 3: predict because they're the most bullheaded team in the league,

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Speaker 3: and they're well known as the hardest team to trade with,

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Speaker 3: even on a draft day trade, Like, they don't even

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Speaker 3: trade draft picks because.

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Speaker 4: They just they're like more static than anybody.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, Like, so they're the hardest team in the

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Speaker 3: league to trade with. So maybe they're gonna be like, well, yeah,

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Speaker 3: if you give me two first round picks, you're going

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Speaker 3: to trade it. Well, no one's given that that. I'm

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Speaker 3: not even sure you'll get a first. Maybe you will

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Speaker 3: get a first from a contender, Like I keep looking

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Speaker 3: at teams like the Lions, Washington, Green Bay, you know,

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Speaker 3: someone like that, that's a playoff team that could use

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Speaker 3: another force off the edge. But if to your point,

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Speaker 3: if I'm the Bengals, because of the tent this part

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Speaker 3: of the season, this is almost impossible to pull off.

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Speaker 3: You'd love to get something that would help you win

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Speaker 3: in twenty twenty four totally. I mean if you're don't

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Speaker 3: give me two second round picks, that's lovely and I'll

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Speaker 3: use them eventually.

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Speaker 4: But again, that might be the best thing for business

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Speaker 4: in the grand scheme.

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Speaker 3: Rise, but I'm trying to win.

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Speaker 4: I gotta get back to the playoffs, man.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, And I don't just saying this because I'm on

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Speaker 3: these airwaves. I do a lot of different outlets, as

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Speaker 3: everyone knows. And I've said this kind of every the

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Speaker 3: last six months or so. I wouldn't be shocked if

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Speaker 3: a year from now or so. Burrow's like, man, I

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Speaker 3: don't know if I want to be here anymore, you know,

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Speaker 3: Like I don't like the way I saw it with

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Speaker 3: Carson Palmer, you know.

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Speaker 4: And he was very good, but he ain't Joe Burrow great.

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Speaker 3: Right, And It's like, man, you guys keep doing this

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Speaker 3: stuff to hinder my chances of winning. I'm not going

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Speaker 3: to be here forever. I just don't like how the

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Speaker 3: organization is trending. Despite having a superstar quarterback and a

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Speaker 3: great offense.

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Speaker 4: It's very Bengals.

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Speaker 2: Like yeah, and I mean and this, and again, I'm

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Speaker 2: not just saying this now because we're on these airways.

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Speaker 4: Sure, but like.

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Speaker 2: This is the other side of the sky is falling

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Speaker 2: all the time, Steeler fan. This was this was a

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Speaker 2: team that four years ago went to the Super Bowl

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Speaker 2: in the AFC Championship Game back to back and looked

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Speaker 2: like they were going to be in a in a

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Speaker 2: window for a long time. Yeah, and now they've missed

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Speaker 2: the playoffs two straight years.

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Speaker 3: Yeah. One of the worst defenses in the league.

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Speaker 2: Like, despite having one of the true unicorns at quarterback

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Speaker 2: and the best wide receiver who both just did historic

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Speaker 2: things last year.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, and you paid him and they're locked.

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Speaker 4: Down with nine and eight. So I'm with you on

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Speaker 4: that one.

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Speaker 2: And I think even more so now if you know,

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Speaker 2: if this was Bengals Nation Radio, I'd be very concerned

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Speaker 2: about that possibility at Joe Burrow walking at some point, because.

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Speaker 3: I just could see him getting frustrated.

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Speaker 2: The and he knows the history of the organization, and

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Speaker 2: I'm sure him and Carson Palmer have had conversations about

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Speaker 2: this and things like because Carson Palmer gets ripped by

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Speaker 2: Bengals fans all the time about how he talks about

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Speaker 2: the organization, you know, at this point because because he

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Speaker 2: doesn't he's not all sunshine and rainbows with the organization

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Speaker 2: or as he should be.

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Speaker 3: I mean, don't you think Henderson and Burrow talks? Of

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Speaker 3: course they do.

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Speaker 2: And so this is also too, like Joe Burrow is

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Speaker 2: part of this transfer portal, you know era quarterbacks who

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Speaker 2: you know, like I don't have to stay somewhere where

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Speaker 2: the situation isn't right for me and tough it out.

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Speaker 3: And he is an Ohio guy and all that, and

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Speaker 3: he embraces that, and he's all but a couple more

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Speaker 3: years of missing the playoffs when he's like an MVP,

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Speaker 3: it's not gonna settle well Man.

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Speaker 2: A couple more years of them losing games forty two

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Speaker 2: to thirty eight all the time.

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Speaker 3: And if they trade Hendrickson for picks and win seven

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Speaker 3: or eight games and miss playoffs again this year and

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Speaker 3: he's still a top three or four quarterback in the league,

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Speaker 3: you know who to blame if it's not me, as

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Speaker 3: you you know what I mean?

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Speaker 2: Absolutely right, absolutely right. Some more around the NFL stuff

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Speaker 2: when we returned. That's kind of the latest of the

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Speaker 2: division news there, Matt.

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Speaker 4: There's a couple of little trades, a couple other little things.

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Speaker 2: I want to yeah, I want to want to get

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Speaker 2: into you get into with you when we return here

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Speaker 2: on the other side, Well Shooler, Matt Williamson. It is

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Speaker 2: the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

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Speaker 1: Your tuns About Drive on your twenty four to seven

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Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goals.

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Speaker 3: Steelers Nation Radio.

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Speaker 2: Back on the drive here as we continue to look

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Speaker 2: at some of the things going on around the National

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Speaker 2: Football League, some more preseason action.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, Monday, Monday Night football tonight.

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Speaker 3: I wonder Burrow's gonna play or what's going on. They're

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Speaker 3: in Washington, Cincinnati.

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Speaker 2: That's a good point by you, and you know what.

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Speaker 2: Speaking of which, let's just go ahead and start right there.

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Speaker 2: Another trade request from another prominent member of that Commander's offense.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, Brian Robinson. They're starting running back. Not a

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Speaker 3: special player, but he's a starter. He is a free

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Speaker 3: agent after this season. Like there's a very slim chance

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Speaker 3: that they will resign him. So they've so there's been

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Speaker 3: talk of hey, move him on, get something in return,

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Speaker 3: while you can.

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Speaker 4: Will not play in tonight's game.

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Speaker 3: By the way, really I was curious about that.

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Speaker 4: A mid speculation about his future. Okay, this makes sense.

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Speaker 4: You're not gonna put that they get hurt right.

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Speaker 3: That makes all sense in the world. So I guess

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Speaker 3: there is a legit chance he gets traded. They have

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Speaker 3: Austin Eckler who's old, but he's a third down back

405
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Speaker 3: and he's still does that fine. But the big thing

406
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Speaker 3: is this uh crosskey Merritt. I forget his first name,

407
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Speaker 3: but he's hyphenated last name. A six round pick has

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Speaker 3: been like the talk of camp, you know, Like, I mean,

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Speaker 3: I'm not sure that they would move Robinson for a

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Speaker 3: seventh round pick just to get him out of there,

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Speaker 3: and you might as well have the the depth. But

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Speaker 3: if you're a team in running back need, I would

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Speaker 3: think Brian Robinson or Travis Atn with the Jags are

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Speaker 3: guys you could get a hold of that are decent starters,

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Speaker 3: you know what I mean. And there's a really good

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Speaker 3: does everyone remember is a really good running back draft class,

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Speaker 3: and both those teams drafted someone on Day two that

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Speaker 3: apparently they really like and they're cheaper, you know.

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Speaker 4: M hmm, yep.

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Speaker 3: That's so he could be on the move.

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Speaker 4: That's certainly something to keep an eye on.

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Speaker 2: Yeah.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, he's a kind of a household name.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, last year near seven hundred and ninety

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Speaker 2: nine yards eight touchdowns, So basically eight hundred yards, eight touchdowns,

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Speaker 2: four point three yards per carry, added twenty receptions in

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Speaker 2: there as well too, so he's you know a little

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Speaker 2: bit of something in the in the receiving game as well.

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Speaker 3: Podcast I did earlier today, I was like, Bengal should

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Speaker 3: throw Hendrickson on the plane, leave him in Washington, take

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Speaker 3: Robinson home with him, and pair him a Chase Brown

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Speaker 3: and throw a draft pick in the mix and make

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Speaker 3: it make it out.

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Speaker 2: That's not a terrible idea, Right, that's not a terrible idea. Yeah,

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Speaker 2: that'll be that'll be interesting. Maybe there will be some

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Speaker 2: conversations between between those two teams.

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Speaker 4: Tonight.

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Speaker 3: We also had that Mechi trade.

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Speaker 4: Also had the Mechi trade that you mentioned, which.

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Speaker 3: Isn't huge news, but I do think Christian Kirk isn't

441
00:19:57,720 --> 00:19:58,200
Speaker 3: going anywhere.

442
00:19:58,359 --> 00:19:58,720
Speaker 4: That's WoT.

443
00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,000
Speaker 2: Maybe the because the Texans have been one of those

444
00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,600
Speaker 2: teams that you know wide receiver needy.

445
00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:05,760
Speaker 3: Uh right, They drafted two really.

446
00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,000
Speaker 2: High teams have looked at and said, Okay, maybe one

447
00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:09,480
Speaker 2: of these guys will get cut or maybe one of

448
00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,200
Speaker 2: these guys will be on the trade block.

449
00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:12,920
Speaker 3: And they kind of were They traded him for a

450
00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:16,040
Speaker 3: tight end to the Eagles, and so and again Steeler

451
00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:16,639
Speaker 3: pays them.

452
00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:17,960
Speaker 4: For the Eagles where he can kind of fit in

453
00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:18,720
Speaker 4: their pecking order.

454
00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:21,840
Speaker 3: Eagles I have so much respect for I mean, they

455
00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:25,040
Speaker 3: make a lot of player for player trades. We mentioned

456
00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,040
Speaker 3: the picket deal and they've done a lot of that,

457
00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:29,879
Speaker 3: and they make a lot of trades in general. And frankly,

458
00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:33,240
Speaker 3: I think the Steelers look at the Eagles as kind

459
00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,719
Speaker 3: of a role model of the modern team building. I mean,

460
00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,439
Speaker 3: there's Andy Widel came from that team, and they definitely

461
00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:42,720
Speaker 3: have an Eagles influence. I would rather the Steelers go

462
00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,920
Speaker 3: like a Gave Davis route than you know, trading something

463
00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,080
Speaker 3: small for MATCHI. They gave up a backup tight end.

464
00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:49,960
Speaker 3: I guess the Texans needed a tight end. They have

465
00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:51,680
Speaker 3: two main receivers. One of those type of deals.

466
00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:53,720
Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, it makes sense, makes sense?

467
00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:54,479
Speaker 3: Yeah. Uh.

468
00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,560
Speaker 2: And then I guess kind of finally on this trade

469
00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:01,000
Speaker 2: fore front department, Uh, Saints trading Talen Saunders to the

470
00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:05,040
Speaker 2: Jags for a center Luke Fournier Fortner.

471
00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:13,520
Speaker 3: Fortner, he's he's started some games. Fortner, He's a backup center.

472
00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,720
Speaker 3: You can always use o' Liman don't get traded much.

473
00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:18,080
Speaker 3: I mean, in fact, you can get an no lineman

474
00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,720
Speaker 3: at this point that has played and isn't bad, is

475
00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:23,880
Speaker 3: good for the Saints. Fine, you know, no big deal,

476
00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:29,000
Speaker 3: but you're gonna like this. Saunders was drafted by the

477
00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:33,760
Speaker 3: Saints and is a very good athlete. He was a

478
00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,760
Speaker 3: very good tester. He's had some moments in the league.

479
00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:39,640
Speaker 3: And most people thought the Jags were going to take

480
00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:43,560
Speaker 3: a defensive tackle in the first round, probably the Michigan kid,

481
00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:46,119
Speaker 3: but they traded up for Hunter. They never really addressed it,

482
00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,479
Speaker 3: so they kind of got a guy that they at

483
00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:52,440
Speaker 3: least can be part of the rotation, Trusty. So I'm

484
00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,879
Speaker 3: immediately thinking, I'm like, I know, he's a Saint the

485
00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,119
Speaker 3: Saints drafted. I'm right, Why are the Chiefs coming to

486
00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,159
Speaker 3: mind with Halen Saunders? And so I just did a

487
00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,119
Speaker 3: quick search on him, and when you search for Kaylin

488
00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:09,560
Speaker 3: Saunders Chiefs, what comes up is you're gonna love So

489
00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,040
Speaker 3: the Saints are playing the Chiefs a year or so ago,

490
00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,200
Speaker 3: must have been very recently. I think it was Monday

491
00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:19,800
Speaker 3: night football and the Chiefs are driving. They're on the

492
00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:24,240
Speaker 3: one yard line about to go in Mahomes throws a

493
00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:29,439
Speaker 3: pick two Saunders big guy, fat guy interception on the

494
00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,600
Speaker 3: one I remember this now, and he rumbles and bumbles

495
00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:39,160
Speaker 3: to like the fifty And of course they're in Kansas City,

496
00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:44,440
Speaker 3: my girl, Taylor Swift is there and Kaylin Saunders I

497
00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:48,159
Speaker 3: think twin brother, but definitely brother who's built like exactly

498
00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,200
Speaker 3: like him. Like this three hundred and twenty five defensive

499
00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:54,800
Speaker 3: tackle is Taylor Swift's like number one backup dancer. N

500
00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:59,119
Speaker 3: uh yeah, So his brother is way more popular and

501
00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,800
Speaker 3: well known than he is than he is. And right

502
00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,040
Speaker 3: in front of Taylor Swift in Kansas City, he had

503
00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,720
Speaker 3: like the play of his career. And I remember that's

504
00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:09,119
Speaker 3: like all they could talk about, their showing highlights of

505
00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:12,440
Speaker 3: his brother dancing on stage at the Ears Tour or whatever.

506
00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:16,600
Speaker 3: And yeah, so that's his brother's way more famous than

507
00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,200
Speaker 3: him as a backup dancer as opposed to the NFL

508
00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:20,040
Speaker 3: defensive tackle.

509
00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:20,919
Speaker 4: It is funny.

510
00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:22,480
Speaker 3: I'm like, why am I thinking about to do with

511
00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:23,000
Speaker 3: the cheese?

512
00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,240
Speaker 2: Like and he has the most memorable play of his

513
00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:29,000
Speaker 2: career with Taylor Swift there and in the buildings, brother

514
00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,520
Speaker 2: was probably losing his mind, you know, right, hyped up

515
00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,240
Speaker 2: that his brother just just intercepted Patrick Mahomes on the.

516
00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:38,080
Speaker 3: Chis run for the Chiefs, obviously, but I'm sure she

517
00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:42,520
Speaker 3: knows the Saunders family extremely well, right right, crazy though,

518
00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:44,080
Speaker 3: I'm like, why is this adding up to me?

519
00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,160
Speaker 2: Yeah, everything's all that's like the whole six degrees of separation,

520
00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:49,760
Speaker 2: six degrees or seven degrees of.

521
00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:51,600
Speaker 3: Separation whatever Vin Bacon thing.

522
00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:54,119
Speaker 4: It makes sense anyways, That is funny though. That's a

523
00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:55,240
Speaker 4: good that's a good tie in there.

524
00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:57,840
Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, that's the news of the day from what

525
00:23:57,960 --> 00:23:58,320
Speaker 3: I gather.

526
00:23:58,480 --> 00:23:58,679
Speaker 4: I think.

527
00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,400
Speaker 2: So one more for you, not great, but just wanted

528
00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,600
Speaker 2: to get your thoughts on Xavi and Howard signing with

529
00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,400
Speaker 2: the Colts. Yeah, a guy who was, you know, obviously

530
00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:08,320
Speaker 2: one of the best in the league at one point,

531
00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:10,359
Speaker 2: but has been pretty quiet as of late.

532
00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:14,600
Speaker 3: You see this year and there Gilmore, Patrick Peterson, you

533
00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:16,520
Speaker 3: know some of these dudes there. Do I want to

534
00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,480
Speaker 3: retire or not? I've lost a step? Can I get

535
00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,160
Speaker 3: by on Guile? And Smart's at a position that's really

536
00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:25,879
Speaker 3: hard to do that at but maybe you know, I

537
00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:27,640
Speaker 3: mean it's worth a shot. I mean, I guess they'll

538
00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:29,760
Speaker 3: bring him in and probably not giving them a ton

539
00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:33,840
Speaker 3: of guaranteed money. Their corner positions had quite a few injuries.

540
00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,040
Speaker 3: They drafted a kid out of Minnesota, Wally who his

541
00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,359
Speaker 3: first preseason game he blew out his knee and is

542
00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:41,280
Speaker 3: out for the year. He was already penciled in as

543
00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:43,479
Speaker 3: a starter as a third round pick right away. So

544
00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:46,400
Speaker 3: they need a corner bad and Howard had a really

545
00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:46,840
Speaker 3: good career.

546
00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:47,960
Speaker 4: He's had a great career.

547
00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,200
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, so yeah, I think that that's a shot.

548
00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:54,720
Speaker 3: You know, again, I'm sure there's very little investor colts.

549
00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:58,080
Speaker 2: Yeah, you got, you got opportunity, you got space. I

550
00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,439
Speaker 2: wonder how much of it for him was some you know,

551
00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:02,480
Speaker 2: some health and medical stuff as well.

552
00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:04,400
Speaker 3: To maybe maybe just want to go through training camp

553
00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:05,120
Speaker 3: to some of his guys.

554
00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:07,760
Speaker 4: I under that.

555
00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:10,840
Speaker 2: I understand that standpoint as well too. But yeah, that

556
00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:14,600
Speaker 2: kind of I think is the I guess the final.

557
00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,640
Speaker 3: And the cold news and the coordinator is the Bengals

558
00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,280
Speaker 3: former defensive coordinators, and they used to be a very

559
00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:26,040
Speaker 3: vanilla Cover three legion of Boom style, and now that

560
00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,080
Speaker 3: they brought in the new coordinator, they're gonna ask a

561
00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:31,639
Speaker 3: lot more mentally from corners. So a guy like Howard

562
00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,440
Speaker 3: will fit and find you know they're that's what they're

563
00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:33,800
Speaker 3: looking for.

564
00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,080
Speaker 2: Makes a lot of sense. Let's get to our last

565
00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:38,880
Speaker 2: break here, Matt. When we return on the other side. Uh,

566
00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,720
Speaker 2: there was kind of a fun article on ESPN.

567
00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:44,879
Speaker 4: That caught our eye about, uh, you know, the teams

568
00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:47,439
Speaker 4: that will be most improved in the NFL this season.

569
00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:50,399
Speaker 4: We'll kick that around when we returned to close things

570
00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:52,800
Speaker 4: down here on the Drive. It's all happening on Steelers

571
00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,560
Speaker 4: Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

572
00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,119
Speaker 1: Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven

573
00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:36,960
Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

574
00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:26,639
Speaker 2: Down the home stretch here on the final segment of

575
00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,520
Speaker 2: the Drive today. I know Matt mentioned this at the

576
00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:31,600
Speaker 2: top of the show, but it is now the.

577
00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:32,639
Speaker 4: Bottom of the show. Matt.

578
00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:33,600
Speaker 3: Yeah.

579
00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,159
Speaker 2: For those who might have jumped in late or just

580
00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:39,320
Speaker 2: joining us, or maybe you just didn't catch it. We

581
00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:43,879
Speaker 2: will have three shows this week today obviously Monday, Tuesday,

582
00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:45,840
Speaker 2: and then we'll be off Wednesday.

583
00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:46,360
Speaker 4: Thursday.

584
00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:51,520
Speaker 2: Matt going to Kentucky to move his son in Lexington, UK.

585
00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:55,480
Speaker 2: I'll be down in Charlotte flying you know with the

586
00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:56,640
Speaker 2: on the on the team flight on.

587
00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,920
Speaker 4: Wednesday, and then travel Thursday.

588
00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:03,280
Speaker 2: Yep, and we will be back on Friday to recap

589
00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:05,359
Speaker 2: the Stellar's final preseason game.

590
00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,520
Speaker 3: I'm sure a lot of you know too, especially for

591
00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:10,240
Speaker 3: the preseason. You can find me a lot on game day.

592
00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:15,120
Speaker 2: Yeah, pre shows two hours, yeah, and postgame.

593
00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:16,280
Speaker 3: Show absolutely, So give us a call.

594
00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:18,000
Speaker 2: And I said this to Tom, but I'll say it

595
00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:19,680
Speaker 2: to you too. You guys, I've been enjoyed listening to

596
00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:21,160
Speaker 2: you guys on the pre pregame show.

597
00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:21,560
Speaker 4: It's fun.

598
00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:23,600
Speaker 3: It's a fun SOM's first year. It's cool.

599
00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:25,880
Speaker 2: You guys have a good balance and I think it's

600
00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,320
Speaker 2: kind of maybe a similar vibe to what you and I,

601
00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:30,240
Speaker 2: you know, try and do here when we're doing shows

602
00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:32,119
Speaker 2: together as well. But you guys, it's a good balance

603
00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,400
Speaker 2: of good information while not taking yourself too seriously, which

604
00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:37,200
Speaker 2: is kind of what I think is the is the

605
00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:39,159
Speaker 2: nice wheelhouse some we're looking to achieve.

606
00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:42,880
Speaker 3: And the postgame show I only do preseason. Charlie Batch

607
00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,359
Speaker 3: comes back and takes over that. I've done preseason for

608
00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:46,960
Speaker 3: over ten years, but you and Tom are going to

609
00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,200
Speaker 3: continue doing that. But the pre pregame show is for

610
00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:50,800
Speaker 3: the rest of the year.

611
00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,479
Speaker 2: They'll be Yeah, a lot of fun, no doubt. As

612
00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:57,680
Speaker 2: we close this thing down here today, Matt. A article

613
00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,719
Speaker 2: that caught both of our eyes by Bill Barnwell on ESPN,

614
00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:03,879
Speaker 2: predicting the NFL teams that are the most likely to

615
00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,760
Speaker 2: improve this season, and he gives five.

616
00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:10,440
Speaker 4: All right, so, and they're not. I don't think he

617
00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,680
Speaker 4: hasn't listed in any particular order, to be fair.

618
00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:14,119
Speaker 3: I don't think I think scanning.

619
00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:17,719
Speaker 4: I think that they are. I think that they are

620
00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,160
Speaker 4: just in alphabetical world.

621
00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:24,240
Speaker 2: Yeah, the New York Giants, the first one listed here

622
00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,240
Speaker 2: is an interesting one, which is an interesting one to

623
00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:30,600
Speaker 2: me because a couple of things. One, their quarterback situation

624
00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:32,640
Speaker 2: is still up in flux. Is it going to be Russ?

625
00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:34,480
Speaker 2: Is it going to be the first rounder Jackson Dart?

626
00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,639
Speaker 2: A lot of questions there, And two, their schedule is

627
00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:38,600
Speaker 2: crazy difficult.

628
00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,480
Speaker 3: I didn't know if you knew that. That's I think

629
00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:43,480
Speaker 3: that I agree they would be in my list of

630
00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:47,479
Speaker 3: teams that are most improved, but I don't know if

631
00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:49,320
Speaker 3: the record will be any better. I mean, like, their

632
00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:53,360
Speaker 3: schedule is horrendous. I mean it's really really bad.

633
00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:56,840
Speaker 4: Their division, I mean yeah, and just even the nature of.

634
00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:00,080
Speaker 3: It of when they go places is all bad. And

635
00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:05,800
Speaker 3: but I do think compared to Daniel Jones and Tommy

636
00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:09,280
Speaker 3: Cutlet's say we wanted about Russell Wilson. They'll be better

637
00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:10,880
Speaker 3: at quarterback.

638
00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:13,240
Speaker 4: And their defense is pretty legit, particularly that defensive front.

639
00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:16,120
Speaker 3: I think their defensive front the league might be only

640
00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:18,360
Speaker 3: behind the Steelers. I mean, and now that they had

641
00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:22,360
Speaker 3: Abdul Carter, Dexter Lawrence is an utter superstar. Thibodeaux et cetera,

642
00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,800
Speaker 3: et cetera, and one of their most important players, Andrew

643
00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:29,640
Speaker 3: Thomas are left tackle, missed the entire year. I mean,

644
00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:32,320
Speaker 3: like one of the few guys you could really afford

645
00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:34,920
Speaker 3: to miss. Now, it's like all these teams. That doesn't

646
00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,280
Speaker 3: mean they're going to be super healthy and nothing bad

647
00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:39,720
Speaker 3: is going to happen to them, but they're trending the

648
00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:42,960
Speaker 3: right direction. They may have even found a quarterback. Darts

649
00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,160
Speaker 3: had a good preseason. He was really good this weekend.

650
00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:50,400
Speaker 3: I didn't love him coming out, you know, But unfortunately,

651
00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:53,280
Speaker 3: the way this league works is they might be noticeably improved,

652
00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:58,400
Speaker 3: might have fined a quarterback, and ever gets fired, you

653
00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,160
Speaker 3: start all over, you know, like it's it's it's a

654
00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:01,800
Speaker 3: rough business.

655
00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:04,040
Speaker 2: That's a good way to put it, too. They surprised

656
00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:06,040
Speaker 2: me on this list. Yeah, but I think you're right

657
00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,080
Speaker 2: they should be improved. Yeah, I just am thinking of

658
00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,320
Speaker 2: it more in terms of on paper, the win and

659
00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,480
Speaker 2: loss record might not be Probably they'll probably be picking

660
00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:16,640
Speaker 2: them the top five again. Really good chance that they're

661
00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:17,760
Speaker 2: making in the top five again.

662
00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:20,040
Speaker 3: And in a way they're also a nowhere to go

663
00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:21,600
Speaker 3: but up team. I mean they had the second pick

664
00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:22,040
Speaker 3: in the draft.

665
00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:23,480
Speaker 4: It's very draft, very good point.

666
00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:25,760
Speaker 2: A team that's a interesting case and I think definitely

667
00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,040
Speaker 2: belongs on this list as the San Francisco forty nine ers.

668
00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:30,880
Speaker 2: They were six and eleven last year, but a lot

669
00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:32,200
Speaker 2: of that was due to I mean you want to

670
00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:33,360
Speaker 2: talk key injuries they had.

671
00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:36,280
Speaker 4: They got hit as hard as anybody. It's it's some

672
00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:37,480
Speaker 4: very important positions.

673
00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:42,280
Speaker 3: And I'm a Shanahan fan and by no means my

674
00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:44,560
Speaker 3: saying his seat is hot, but I think people need

675
00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:46,520
Speaker 3: to know this. I mean he's been their head coach

676
00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:50,040
Speaker 3: a long time now, eight years. Four of them they

677
00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:52,640
Speaker 3: have won double digit games, and they have Super Bowl

678
00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:56,320
Speaker 3: appearances and the NFC Championship games. The other four they've

679
00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:59,600
Speaker 3: lost double losing records. Yeah, ten picks end up with

680
00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:01,560
Speaker 3: a second picking the draft and take Nick Bosa, Like

681
00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:03,640
Speaker 3: it's all or nothing with this team, and a lot

682
00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:06,080
Speaker 3: of it's because they're so top heavy with their build

683
00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:08,880
Speaker 3: that if you lose the wrong guys, it gets pretty ugly.

684
00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:12,040
Speaker 4: Louis Caffrey and Yearrent Williams, those guys.

685
00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:14,280
Speaker 3: But they also have a lot of luck going for

686
00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:16,360
Speaker 3: him this year. I mean it sounds like McCaffrey's one

687
00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:16,880
Speaker 3: hundred percent.

688
00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:22,000
Speaker 4: Their schedule is the easiest and easiest, which helps.

689
00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:25,760
Speaker 3: So I'm sure their record will be better. But I

690
00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:28,560
Speaker 3: was not gonna play for a while. Jennings is hurt.

691
00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,320
Speaker 3: They're kind of short of receiver now. Trent Williams hasn't

692
00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,120
Speaker 3: played a full season in like three or four years.

693
00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:36,000
Speaker 3: I think he's like thirty eight years old. And the defense.

694
00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:38,000
Speaker 3: I host a podcast. I know this so well because

695
00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,480
Speaker 3: my podcast partner, Brian Peacock is the locked on Niners guys,

696
00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:44,280
Speaker 3: so we talk a lot of Niners and Steelers. So

697
00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:47,160
Speaker 3: but he thinks they're gonna have five rookies starting on defense,

698
00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:51,080
Speaker 3: So yeah, they could, they should be better, but they

699
00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,160
Speaker 3: still got some things to overcome, Oh, without a doubt. Yeah,

700
00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:55,160
Speaker 3: And I think you're right.

701
00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:59,120
Speaker 2: I kind of Trent Williams aside because of his age

702
00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:01,520
Speaker 2: so much of it. If those if those top heavy

703
00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:02,920
Speaker 2: guys can stay healthy and stay.

704
00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:04,240
Speaker 3: On the field, then they're really good.

705
00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:05,440
Speaker 4: I think they've got a pretty high floor.

706
00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:05,720
Speaker 3: Yeah.

707
00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:07,680
Speaker 2: Are they going to get back to the NFC championship

708
00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:10,840
Speaker 2: games and Super Bowls? Again, different conversation, But I don't

709
00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:12,800
Speaker 2: think they're going to be a six win team again either.

710
00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:15,400
Speaker 4: But yeah, that's that's a that's a tricky one and

711
00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:17,080
Speaker 4: a big year for brock perty as well too.

712
00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:20,760
Speaker 3: As I say that's stars and scrub that star games

713
00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:23,560
Speaker 3: and say that stars and scrubs things works well. When

714
00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:28,560
Speaker 3: your quarterback's making a seventh round pick money not fifty

715
00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:31,160
Speaker 3: million a year, that's quite a difference.

716
00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:33,920
Speaker 2: That's quite a difference number three on this list, And

717
00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:35,720
Speaker 2: I think you and I would both agree for a

718
00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:38,240
Speaker 2: lot of different reasons. I know we've talked about this

719
00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:40,560
Speaker 2: team when we've done some around the league stuff throughout

720
00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:45,040
Speaker 2: training camp, the Las Vegas Raiders. Improvement at head coach,

721
00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:50,600
Speaker 2: improvement at quarterback, improvement in the ownership group. A yeah,

722
00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:53,440
Speaker 2: well yeah, Chip Kelly. What it all means in the

723
00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:55,640
Speaker 2: grand scheme of things for this year with a very

724
00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:59,320
Speaker 2: tough division is still to be seen. But I definitely

725
00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:03,040
Speaker 2: think the Raiders, uh maybe even should be the most

726
00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:05,120
Speaker 2: improved team in the NFL this year after only winning

727
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:05,920
Speaker 2: four games last year.

728
00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:07,520
Speaker 3: Yeah. I don't have much more to add to other

729
00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:10,320
Speaker 3: than that. I mean, they're they're their roster still needs

730
00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:13,760
Speaker 3: a lot of work, especially the defense. Back sevens as

731
00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:15,960
Speaker 3: bad as any in the league. So they're a year

732
00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:19,200
Speaker 3: away or a year or two away from maybe being

733
00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:22,160
Speaker 3: a playoff team, a contender, et cetera. But man, I

734
00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:25,720
Speaker 3: love what they did this offseason. I mean, if you

735
00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:29,960
Speaker 3: want to fix a franchise, improve ownership, general manager, head coach,

736
00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:33,480
Speaker 3: offense coordinator, coordinator, quarterback, like every run on the line,

737
00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:36,120
Speaker 3: check throw a first round running back in the mix too,

738
00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:37,320
Speaker 3: to hand the ball to a bunch.

739
00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:39,520
Speaker 4: Yeah, and brock Bauer is going to continue to be

740
00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:40,080
Speaker 4: a problem.

741
00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:41,640
Speaker 3: Yeah, Yeah, So you're right.

742
00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:45,520
Speaker 2: I the once you get on their defense, once you

743
00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:47,680
Speaker 2: get past the defensive front, there's a lot of question

744
00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:49,880
Speaker 2: mark there is. But I think the offense will be

745
00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:53,720
Speaker 2: noticeably improved, and I think that defensive front will at

746
00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:55,520
Speaker 2: least be able to do enough to you know, be

747
00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:56,600
Speaker 2: able to present prevent them.

748
00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:58,120
Speaker 3: For the first time in a while. I kind of

749
00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,360
Speaker 3: like understand what they're doing, and like, Okay, the train's

750
00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:02,080
Speaker 3: on the right.

751
00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:04,400
Speaker 2: They got to play tracks now, Yeah, yeah, I think

752
00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,600
Speaker 2: so again. And only win in four games last year,

753
00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:09,319
Speaker 2: there's not many places to go but up right.

754
00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:11,560
Speaker 3: But they're probably still fourth in their division.

755
00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:14,000
Speaker 2: I mean, the Giants, they could go eight to nine

756
00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,440
Speaker 2: and still be fourth in their division. Possible, you know,

757
00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:19,000
Speaker 2: and I think there's a chance that that could happen.

758
00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:23,800
Speaker 2: Number four on this list Jacksonville Jaguars.

759
00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:26,399
Speaker 3: Hmm, okay, I don't know if they would have made

760
00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:26,839
Speaker 3: my list.

761
00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:29,919
Speaker 2: Interesting one to me, new head coach and Liam Cohen,

762
00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:31,960
Speaker 2: who had a lot of success as an offensive coordinator.

763
00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:32,799
Speaker 3: I like the higher.

764
00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:35,839
Speaker 4: I like the higher. You know, if they can get

765
00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:39,560
Speaker 4: Trevor Lawrence just playing some semblance of consistency.

766
00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:42,160
Speaker 3: I'm still a believer. That's That's the whole key to

767
00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:42,520
Speaker 3: this one.

768
00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:42,759
Speaker 2: To me.

769
00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:45,640
Speaker 4: You catch a lot of flak for that from time

770
00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:46,120
Speaker 4: to time.

771
00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:49,200
Speaker 3: Because he's got a lot of low lights. And it's

772
00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:50,839
Speaker 3: not just because he was the first pick in the draft.

773
00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:53,640
Speaker 3: And I don't think he's this transcendent player that everyone

774
00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:56,000
Speaker 3: else thought. You know that he's the best quarterback prospect

775
00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:58,000
Speaker 3: we've ever seen. Since John Elway or anything like that.

776
00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:03,359
Speaker 3: He's had a lot of come and I think Jacksonville

777
00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:08,880
Speaker 3: was smart to Cohen Travis Hunter. Let's finally give this

778
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:11,040
Speaker 3: guy nest, you know what I mean, like and put

779
00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:13,440
Speaker 3: up a shot up and I think he'll be the

780
00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:15,839
Speaker 3: tenth best quarterback in the league and that probably makes

781
00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:16,600
Speaker 3: you an improved team.

782
00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:17,320
Speaker 4: Oh absolutely.

783
00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:19,040
Speaker 2: If it's the tenth best quarterback in the league, that's

784
00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:22,040
Speaker 2: a huge improvement and a big key thing for them. Matt.

785
00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:24,200
Speaker 2: And this is another one of the things that we

786
00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:26,960
Speaker 2: referenced all of the shows here and something that's well known.

787
00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,440
Speaker 2: You know, if you're kind of a football person junkie

788
00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:30,680
Speaker 2: who's in this stuff all the time.

789
00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:33,600
Speaker 4: One score games, how.

790
00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:36,040
Speaker 2: Typically if you're really good one year, you typically come

791
00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:38,279
Speaker 2: back down to earth. If you're really poor one year,

792
00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:40,440
Speaker 2: you get a little bit. It kind of regresses to

793
00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:41,799
Speaker 2: the me in a lot of ways.

794
00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:42,759
Speaker 4: They were three.

795
00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,839
Speaker 2: They played thirteen one score games last year and only

796
00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:47,960
Speaker 2: won three of them. They were three and ten and

797
00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:48,960
Speaker 2: one score games.

798
00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:51,239
Speaker 3: If they just probably if they even they are like

799
00:35:51,239 --> 00:35:52,759
Speaker 3: five hundred, If they make that.

800
00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:55,600
Speaker 2: Six and five for five and six, you know, all

801
00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:58,280
Speaker 2: of a sudden, just don't be the worst three.

802
00:35:58,200 --> 00:35:59,520
Speaker 4: And ten and one score game?

803
00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:03,000
Speaker 3: Is that bad? But real bad? That's Barnwall's got a hit.

804
00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:05,160
Speaker 3: Who wrote the article, Bill Barnwall. He's got a big

805
00:36:05,239 --> 00:36:08,719
Speaker 3: analytics background. You started out a football siders. You can

806
00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:11,759
Speaker 3: see why. That's why he's citing these things part of

807
00:36:11,840 --> 00:36:12,440
Speaker 3: why he's.

808
00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:19,480
Speaker 2: Move And the last one here, mister Williamson, a team

809
00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:21,520
Speaker 2: that I think is you know, you take off your

810
00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:27,280
Speaker 2: Steelers glasses and the enigma polarizing personality that is Aaron Rodgers,

811
00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:29,279
Speaker 2: everything that they've done with the defense, the Steelers are

812
00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:31,759
Speaker 2: certainly a team from a national perspective to keep an

813
00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:35,400
Speaker 2: eye on. Has improved unit or just I mean in general,

814
00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:37,759
Speaker 2: just most intriguing teams this year. Are they gonna be

815
00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:39,839
Speaker 2: really good? Are they gonna be average? Could they even

816
00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:41,759
Speaker 2: take a step back with all the moves that they've made.

817
00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:44,480
Speaker 2: I think the Steelers are one of the most intriguing

818
00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:47,360
Speaker 2: teams from a NFL perspective this season.

819
00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:47,759
Speaker 3: Yeah.

820
00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:49,680
Speaker 4: I think the Chicago Bears are one of those as

821
00:36:49,719 --> 00:36:50,080
Speaker 4: well too.

822
00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:52,520
Speaker 2: Yes, And they are the final team on this list,

823
00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:54,600
Speaker 2: and man, it feels like you can draw a direct

824
00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:58,120
Speaker 2: line between their improvement in Caleb Williams improvements.

825
00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:01,680
Speaker 3: Yeah, I know, hesitation putting them on the list either,

826
00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:05,640
Speaker 3: I mean first round pick, second round pick, are very

827
00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:10,480
Speaker 3: talented past catchers. They like the Vikings totally rebuilt the

828
00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:13,719
Speaker 3: entire interior through line guard, center guard is all new

829
00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:18,880
Speaker 3: and presumably noticeably improved. Great coaching hire, at least for

830
00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:22,560
Speaker 3: your quarterback and offensive minded guy from the from the Lions.

831
00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:28,560
Speaker 3: That all adds up. The reports haven't been great about

832
00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:33,000
Speaker 3: Williams thus far though in camp, but there's a lot

833
00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:33,640
Speaker 3: of adjustments.

834
00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:37,640
Speaker 2: Speaking of the overreaction in the negativity on Twitter, man,

835
00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:39,520
Speaker 2: it is all over the place around capable.

836
00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:43,160
Speaker 3: Yes, and Bears fans have never seen a good quarterback,

837
00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:46,320
Speaker 3: you know, like no one's ever thrown for four thousand

838
00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:51,200
Speaker 3: yards and Bear's history is insane. And I kind of

839
00:37:51,239 --> 00:37:52,799
Speaker 3: make the joke, but I don't really know that it's

840
00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:55,960
Speaker 3: a joke that after a while maybe it's not me,

841
00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:58,480
Speaker 3: it's you, you know, or it's not you, it's me,

842
00:37:58,719 --> 00:38:03,440
Speaker 3: like when you break up with someone like maybe Trubisky,

843
00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:06,400
Speaker 3: And all these dudes that were drafted high might have

844
00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:08,399
Speaker 3: thrown for four thousand yards if they were.

845
00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:12,160
Speaker 4: A chief and not like Patrick Mahomes career looked like.

846
00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:18,560
Speaker 3: Like maybe it's the weather and the the organization, and

847
00:38:18,840 --> 00:38:20,680
Speaker 3: maybe they're just never going to have that guy. Man,

848
00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:22,480
Speaker 3: I don't know how to develop quarterbacks in Chicago.

849
00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:25,600
Speaker 2: It is pretty crazy when you have like outliers like

850
00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:28,680
Speaker 2: that with organizations that span longer than my life.

851
00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:30,880
Speaker 4: GM's coaches.

852
00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:37,120
Speaker 2: Crazy, right, Okay, Matt, last one, and I think I

853
00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:40,360
Speaker 2: know the answer. Maybe just because of their division, but

854
00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:44,799
Speaker 2: of these five teams, Niners, Bears, Giants, Jags, Raiders most

855
00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:46,560
Speaker 2: likely to make the playoffs this year, if you had

856
00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:48,520
Speaker 2: to pick one, Niners.

857
00:38:48,239 --> 00:38:48,799
Speaker 3: That's what I mean.

858
00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:51,520
Speaker 2: I think that's the their their division is the most

859
00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:56,240
Speaker 2: why yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, their head coach has proven

860
00:38:56,280 --> 00:38:59,400
Speaker 2: that he can do that. Bears tough division, Giants tough division.

861
00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:00,640
Speaker 2: Maybe the jag as well too.

862
00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:04,239
Speaker 3: I'll probably pick the Bears last in their division. I'll

863
00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:06,520
Speaker 3: probably pick the Raiders last in their division, and the

864
00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:09,200
Speaker 3: Giant Giants, even though they all could be improved.

865
00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:12,160
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think it's definitely the Niners, and

866
00:39:12,280 --> 00:39:14,719
Speaker 2: maybe you'd give the Jags as well too.

867
00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:15,040
Speaker 3: Yeah.

868
00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:18,120
Speaker 2: I still think they got a sizable gap to bridge

869
00:39:18,160 --> 00:39:21,240
Speaker 2: with Houston. But hey, it's not like there could.

870
00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:23,080
Speaker 3: They win nine team and they win nine or ten

871
00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:25,680
Speaker 3: if they win more one score games and seeking the

872
00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:27,800
Speaker 3: playoffs war card. Yeah, that's not insane to me.

873
00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:30,080
Speaker 4: You know, Titans aren't gonna be very good. Colts aren't

874
00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:30,759
Speaker 4: going to be very good.

875
00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:31,080
Speaker 3: Yeah.

876
00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:33,839
Speaker 4: Yeah, they go four to zero against those two teams, may.

877
00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:35,480
Speaker 3: Go five and one in the division, five and one

878
00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:36,000
Speaker 3: of the division.

879
00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:36,480
Speaker 2: Start.

880
00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:40,120
Speaker 4: That's a pretty darn good start. Good start to this week.

881
00:39:41,160 --> 00:39:42,560
Speaker 4: What do you say we do it again tomorrow?

882
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Speaker 2: That we will Monday, Tuesday, Friday this week with some

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Speaker 2: days off on Wednesday and Thursday. Of course tomorrow we

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Speaker 2: will get you ready for that final preseason game down

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Speaker 2: in Charlotte against the Carolina Panthers. And I do think

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Speaker 2: Matt not positive, but I think that Mike Tomlin is

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Speaker 2: speaking tomorrow as well too.

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Speaker 4: Good ahead, you know, so we'll know hopefully.

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Speaker 2: Who's gonna play, who's not gonna play, that kind of stuff,

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Speaker 2: which will give us some good talking points for that

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Speaker 2: final pre.

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Speaker 3: Last chance to preview the game too, so maybe we

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Speaker 3: can have a little insight on that.

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Speaker 2: Absolutely, we'll do all of that tomorrow. Big thanks to

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Speaker 2: Matt Williamson. I am west Shuler. You know where to

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Speaker 2: find us. As always, we will talk to you on

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Speaker 2: your twenty four to seven home of the Black and Gold.

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Speaker 2: It's Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.