1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: With the call of today's game on CBS Sports. It's 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: our good friend, I an Eagle. Week eleven is here. 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:11,639 Speaker 1: Can you believe it? I am? How did we get here? JP? It? 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: It feels like a blur in many ways, and I 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: know it's been such strange circumstances, but somehow, week after week, 6 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: the NFL is playing its schedule. And although it's been circuitous, 7 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: here we are at week eleven, Week eleven, but the 8 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: league is on intensive protocol. Every team in the NFL, 9 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 1: the rest of the way it was announced this week, 10 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: has to to do the intensive protocol. The Jacks had 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: to go through it a few weeks ago when they 12 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: had the practice squad. Every team has to be on 13 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: this and they're just doing it to ensure they're doing 14 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: everything they can to make sure all these games are played. Yeah. 15 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: I can just tell you from a personal perspective of 16 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: starting the season, CBS had protocols in place. We've followed 17 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: them from day one. We've had no production meetings in 18 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: person that include team meetings and our own personal group 19 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: Saturday nights. That was always a big part of the weekend, 20 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: getting together, getting into a conference room, swapping ideas, taking 21 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: a look at the graphics and the video and now 22 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: all of that is being done virtually, And what I 23 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 1: have seen over the last few weeks are some cases 24 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: popping up within the broadcast ranks, and that's not surprising. 25 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: Just because you work for a broadcast network doesn't mean 26 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: that you are impervious to this. As the numbers rise 27 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: across the country, it's only natural that some of the 28 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: situations are going to flare up. So the NFL's perspective, 29 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: they want to keep their guys safe. That has been 30 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: the goal from day one, but a lot of it 31 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: is still on the honor system when the players leave 32 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: the facility that they're doing the right things, and that's 33 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: the part that is a helpless feeling if you're the NFL. 34 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: That was the difference with the end be A. When 35 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: they bubbled up, they knew where everybody was, they knew 36 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: what they were doing, and they understood that it was 37 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: going to take a collective effort to stay healthy and 38 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: they had no issues, very few hurdles. The NFL is 39 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: dealing with a completely different animal here. I am eagle 40 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: with us, and yeah, the other part of it too. 41 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: You might know where your immediate family is, but uncle 42 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: Larry and for Thanksgiving, you have no idea where he's been. 43 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: And that's the big challenge with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up. 44 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 1: Steelers Jaguars this week. You know it's always a physical matchup. 45 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 1: Regular season series tied twelve twelve all time, the Jags 46 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 1: won those two playoff games. How many Steelers Jaguars games 47 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: have you called? Just to throw it out there, I 48 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: probably had three or four through the years. When I 49 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: broke into CBS and Jacksonville was starting to ride that 50 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: Tom Coughlin, Mark Brunel, Tony BISSELLI, Fred Taylor wave, they 51 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,639 Speaker 1: were getting the premier game and a lot of times 52 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: it was Greg Gumbel and Phil Sims in town along 53 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: with armand Kitayan who was the sideline reporter, and rightfully 54 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: so they earned it. And then as the years went on, 55 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: like everything, these matchups change and where you are in 56 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: the standings, Pittsburgh has been so consistent. As we know, 57 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: they've probably been the most consistent team in the NFL 58 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: over my twenty three years at CBS. We know that 59 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: New England has been the championship level team for most 60 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 1: of that time, but Pittsburgh, truly, you know what you're 61 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: going to get there so few dips along the way, 62 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: And I find it interesting because, look, I don't take 63 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: a lot out of previous matchups, certainly when the personnel changes. 64 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: To look back at the divisional game that I called 65 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: for CBS a few years ago and try to apply 66 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: that to this Pittsburgh Jacksonville game, you really can't. But 67 00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: you do know what you're gonna get with the Steelers, 68 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: and it doesn't matter who's wearing that uniform. They're gonna 69 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: play physical, they're gonna play hard, and they're gonna step 70 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: on your throat if they have a chance to do so. 71 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin I have a lot of respect for him 72 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: for how he coaches his team, how he leads his guys, 73 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: and the kind of program that they continue to run. 74 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: It's been pretty amazing stretch for this franchise, and right 75 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: now there they're up there with all the teams that 76 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: you would talk about that could win a Super Bowl. 77 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: There in that conversation, of course, undefeated, but even beyond that, 78 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: I'm not sure JP we've seen their offense at their 79 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: best just yet. There are still explosion plays to be had. 80 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: Their running game has been mediocre to subpar, and they've 81 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: replaced it with a short passing game. So it's working 82 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: for them, but I still think there's room to grow offensively. 83 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: You still have big been pulling the trigger back there though, 84 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: and he's getting it out faster than anyone in the 85 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: league this year. Two point three one seconds time to 86 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: throw next gen stats and we're doing that now, all 87 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: the all that stuff. So he gets it out quickly, 88 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: and it gets it out to those playmakers and if 89 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 1: they break a tackle, then those big plays come. But 90 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: it seems like they've they've changed a little bit of 91 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: that over the years, or over the last couple of years. 92 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: We've been considering his health issues and such. You know, 93 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: he used to hold it a lot longer. It feels like, yeah, 94 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: I think he's gotten smarter over time. Look, he is 95 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: really a fearless guy when it comes to holding onto 96 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,599 Speaker 1: the football trying to create a play. He will tell 97 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 1: you that he might be more athletic than others have 98 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: given him credit for. And he is sneaky athletic in 99 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 1: getting away from defenders and and finding openings to to 100 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: make something happen down the field. But what I do 101 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: think they've done with Randy Feakner, with Matt Canada, the 102 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: QB coach. They put some new things into play here, 103 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: and there's a new mentality of hey, you've got guys 104 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: that when they catch the football, they can make it happen. 105 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: It doesn't have to be the forty five yard passed 106 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: down field anymore. That was their offense with Antonio Brown, 107 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: and rightfully so, Antonio was a game breaker. Their receivers 108 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: are still explosive, but maybe in a different way, and 109 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: they've been really smart in how they run their offense. 110 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: And I think Ben has been really smart, and he's 111 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: throwing the football as well as I've seen. It's it's 112 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: pretty incredible when you think of it. Look, there are 113 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,799 Speaker 1: quarterbacks that can come into this league every year trying 114 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: to unseat starters. And the fact that we've had this 115 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 1: core group that could hold onto a starting job and 116 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: play at a Hall of Fame level for thirteen years, fourteen, fifteen, 117 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: seventeen years. I don't know if this is the norm 118 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: or we've just grown used to it. I don't believe 119 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,919 Speaker 1: we're gonna see this again and again. And I know 120 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: there are great players that come through the ranks. There's 121 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: a finite number that can play at this level and 122 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: We just happen to be at a time in the 123 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 1: NFL where we've seen a bunch of them. I an 124 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: eagle with us CBS Sports. Will go from that conversation 125 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: to a guy who's making his third career start in 126 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: the National Football League, and Jake Luton, Jaguar's quarterback. He's 127 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: done some good things. He's obviously has a very limited 128 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: sample size so far, but he's got the opportunity to 129 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: prove that he deserves to be in the league in 130 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: some capacity. I think that's the thing for him. His 131 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: performance the last two weeks and now the greatest challenge 132 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: he's had so far against the Steelers defense. It's another 133 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: young guy, another late round draft pick, and I feel 134 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: like that's been the story around here the last couple 135 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: of years. Yeah, when you're a GM in the NFL, 136 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: the NBA, Major League Baseball, NHL, you will go to 137 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: your grave telling people why you made the selection that 138 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: you made. And oftentimes it's the bigger names and the 139 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: higher scrutiny level of players that will curb and affect 140 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: your reputation. So if I'm a talent evaluator and James 141 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: Robinson emerges and you can get credit in some form 142 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 1: for finding and discovering James Robinson. You just grapple that 143 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: and and put it onto your personal resume as quickly 144 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: as possible. Jake Lewton would qualify if he has a 145 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: ten year NFL career, even in a backup role or 146 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: spots starter as a sixth round draft pick at quarterback. 147 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: That goes on your resume, that's on there forever. So yeah, 148 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: this is a really important time for him to show 149 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: that he belongs. You nailed it not to be a 150 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 1: starter in this league. That'll take care of itself if 151 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: he's the real deal. Eventually, either the Jaguars will determine 152 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: that or other teams will figure it out first and foremost, 153 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: you have to prove that you belong. And I've seen 154 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: a few occasions, more than a few jp where a 155 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: guy who's been in the league at quarterback for four 156 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: years and he's making backup money, and he gets a 157 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: second contract and maybe he gets a little more than 158 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 1: backup money, and then the starter goes down and he's 159 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: got to actually play, and after one game you realize 160 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: he can't do it. He can't do it. So the 161 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: goal in some ways for backup quarterbacks that no deep down, 162 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: they're not starting quarterback says hey, I'm just gonna keep 163 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,719 Speaker 1: going on this path until somebody taps me on the 164 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: shoulder and says it's over. Or if you're the guy 165 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: like Jake Luton that gets the opportunity, you gotta make 166 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: good on it. You gotta deliver to some degree. I 167 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: think in his first two games he's proven with his 168 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 1: attitude and enough of a command right now that he 169 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: can handle the bigger stage. This is a different level though. 170 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: He's going against the Steeler team. They're out for blood. 171 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: Final thought with you here. You mentioned one of those names, 172 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: James Robinson, rookie running back, undrafted guy playing really well 173 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 1: this year. Miles Jack on the defensive side. We know 174 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 1: him well. He's already on a second contract. He's playing 175 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: at what could be a Pro Bowl level. But the 176 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: challenges the team record there one at eight, they're not 177 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 1: going to get the recognition nationally because of the circumstances 178 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: around here, and that just doesn't seem fair. But that's 179 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 1: the lay of the land. First of all, I don't 180 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: even think they're playing a Pro Bowl this year, so 181 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 1: that that's the first thing. So the idea that players 182 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: won't go. Nobody's going as far as I know. With 183 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: that said, I think both guys are getting talked about 184 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,959 Speaker 1: and they're not going unnoticed. Miles Shack is having the 185 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: best year of his career. He has certainly been the 186 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: best player on that side of the ball, and that's 187 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: not going unnoticed. And his reputation has been very good 188 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 1: before this year, so now it's just adding to it. 189 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: And James Robinson, I remember when Arian Foster broke into 190 00:10:56,360 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 1: the league and there was this in crazy juelists, skeptical 191 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: feeling initially like I don't know, everybody didn't see what 192 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: we're seeing now, and at some point the bubble might burst. 193 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: No no, no no, no no. When you're talented and it 194 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: shows weekend and week out, people pay attention and James 195 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: Robinson will get the recognition. He's a tremendous story. But 196 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: the production also has has matched the narrative. I had 197 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: always great to visit with you. Always appreciate your time 198 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: and hopefully we'll see you again down the line very 199 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: soon and have a great call. Yeah, I appreciate it. JP. 200 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: All the best to you and keep crushing it.