1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Life and adventure and it's waiting. Hi. This is Merril 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: Hodge at S ANDT Bank. They know lives for the living. 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: That's why S and T Bank offers solutions to help 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: you get the most out of it, whether you're investing 5 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 1: in your home, planning for the future, are just making 6 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: the most of every day. St D Bank is here 7 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: to help learn how SMT Bank can help you live 8 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: the life you want at st bank dot com. Member 9 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 1: f D I C. S and D Bank was ranked 10 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: number one in customer satisfaction with retail banking and Pennsylvania 11 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: by j D Power for JD Power two Award Information 12 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: Visit JD power dot com Slash Awards. He's the Drive 13 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: with Dave Lilly and Matt Williamson on your Home of 14 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: the Black and Gold SNR Steelers Nation Radio. Welcome to 15 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: the Drive. I'm d Lally here with Matt Williamson and Matt. 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,639 Speaker 1: It's kind of been a kind of a somber kind 17 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: of weekend. UM, with the news of the passing and 18 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:06,199 Speaker 1: Dwayne Haskins on Saturday morning. UM, I get a text 19 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: about that Saturday morning before the news broke, and I 20 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: was trying to confirm that it had happened, and it's 21 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: one of those things where you get that information and 22 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: you start texting people like, please tell me this isn't true. Um. 23 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: And I didn't even really know Dwayne Haskins. Um, you know, 24 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: because of the COVID situation. Um. You know, we we 25 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: haven't been in locker rooms in a couple of seasons. 26 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: Haskin joining the Steelers late in the season. Um. But 27 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,040 Speaker 1: I did speak to the young man several times over 28 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: the past, you know, basically a year and a half, 29 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: and uh obviously watched him closely as as one of 30 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: the quarterbacks on this team. And I saw a young 31 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: man who was trying hard to turn things around for 32 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: himself and it seemed to be doing that, and for 33 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: this to happen just just tragic beyond explanation. Yeah, it's awful. 34 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: I mean, there's no way around it. He's only twenty 35 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: four years old. UM. Just a flukey type accident. Horrible accident. 36 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 1: And a lot of people, as often as the case 37 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: when you know someone passes away, come out of the 38 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: woodwork and talk about how much they like the player 39 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: and all that, and that seemed very true in this 40 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: instance too, that I mean, he was a very likable guy. Um, 41 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: and he'll be missed obviously, And it's just a couple 42 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: of things that are more football related to I mean, 43 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 1: he's twenty four years old. I mean if you look 44 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: at him, even like in Ohio State or his rookie 45 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: year in Washington, he was a lot heavier, he had 46 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: a lot softer body. You know, he's transformed himself. As 47 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 1: you mentioned, he's putting in the work. This is an 48 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: offseason workout situation. He's trying to get better. Um. He 49 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: probably was in over his head as a prospect coming 50 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: out as a one year starter and then dumped in 51 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: an awful situation in Washington. And many of us are 52 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: guilty of this. But it always bothers me and it 53 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: makes me take a step back when something like this happens, 54 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: that oh he's a bust, he's no good, you know, 55 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: like he's also a person you know people, yeah, you know, 56 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: and he has a family and it's a massive loss. Yeah. 57 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: That's the thing that that always gets to me. And 58 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: I know, uh, people are quick to say this guy 59 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: should get fired, that guy should get cut. You know, 60 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: these are these are actual people with lives. Yeah, yeah, 61 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: they're they're not trying to to play poorly. I get it, 62 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,119 Speaker 1: you're you're a fan, you're upset about stuff. But um, 63 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: you know, when you when you start talking about and 64 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: some of the stuff, the vile stuff that said on 65 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: social media at times, really gets to me. Uh. I 66 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: can remember a game in Baltimore when Emmanuel Sanders was 67 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: still on the team and Sanders there was a two 68 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: point conversion try at the end of the game and 69 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: Sanders couldn't up with it, and the reaction on social 70 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: media was just putred people. Uh. He and he, to 71 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: his credit and trust me, I didn't necessarily get along 72 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: well with Emmanuel Sanders. Um. You know, he was upset 73 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: with some things that I wrote that were critical of him, Um, 74 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 1: and his play. That's not the point, you know, but 75 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: that's not the point. But in this situation, he went 76 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: in and just started retweeting every vile, nasty thing that 77 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 1: was said about him so that everybody could see what 78 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: these people were writing about him. That's a good approach, actually, 79 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:44,559 Speaker 1: you know. Yeah, And so to people people people telling 80 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: him to die, that he should, you know, he it's 81 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: just unbelievable stuff. And so you know that this this 82 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: asking situation, UM, I liken that I did the final 83 00:04:56,279 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: word on on Sunday night or and I liken this. 84 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: You know, the same weekend at Tiger Woods, was playing 85 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: in the Masters, fourteen months after basically almost losing his 86 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: leg and possibly his life. Um, you know, he was reclaiming. 87 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: You know, obviously he didn't play super white, played played 88 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: better golf than than nine percent of the planet could play. 89 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: Of course, right, Brus finished thirteen over and shot seventy 90 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: six the five or seventy eight the final two days. 91 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,799 Speaker 1: So he was he was like twelve over the final 92 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: two rounds. But he made the cut at the Masters 93 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: and just after that and he's like, just yeah, forty 94 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: six years old. Just the fact that he was out 95 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: there walking seventy two holes of golf on on a weekend, Uh, 96 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: you know, just a great human interest story. And then 97 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: this whole thing happens. And you know, Matt my you know, 98 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 1: my sons are twenty six and twenty two. Um, you 99 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: know in that neighborhood, Haskins is twenty four. He's right 100 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: in the middle of those two. And so you know, 101 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: it really struck me and like, you know, I'm old 102 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: enough to be this kid's dad. I can't imagine as 103 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: a parent, how you deal with that? I can't imagine. 104 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: As a teammate, how do you deal with that? Uh, 105 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: you know, a coach, a friend, a wife. Just the 106 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: tragic news of that just it's unbelievable. Yeah, it really is. 107 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: And I mean, uh, the one thing the two little 108 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: nuggets I have is is one of my best buddies 109 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 1: is worked is a doctor that's worked at a UM 110 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: hospital for as long as I can remember. And well 111 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: after this came up, he said, Matt, you'd be surprised 112 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: how many people get in an accident and exactly the 113 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: same way. You know, they're on a highway or a 114 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: busy road. They get out of their car and don't 115 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: realize what the site blinds are, the people bearing down 116 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: on him going sixty seventy eight. And it's just a 117 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: remarkably dangerous situation that I can even put myself in 118 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,600 Speaker 1: Hasking's shoes, like, oh God, damn it, I just ran 119 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: out of gas, pulled over, slammed the car in the park, 120 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: and drop out. You're trying to make a trying to 121 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 1: make a flight, you know there you're rushing to the airport. Ironically, 122 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: I just drove through that area. I know exactly what 123 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: they were talking about, because I flew out of the 124 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: Fort Lauderdale flew in and out of the Fort Lauderdale 125 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: Airport for for this the spring meetings two weeks ago, 126 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: so I drove that section and very busy and super big. 127 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: Mean yeah, and even on a Saturday with people, it's 128 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: it's it's the Miami Greater Miami area. I mean, that's 129 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: one of the most populated areas in the country. And 130 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: just I mean, yeah, you know, people, what was he 131 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: doing doing It doesn't matter what he was doing doing it, 132 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter. He's allowed. The fact of the matter 133 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: is he's is, he's gone, and you know, it's it's 134 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: it's unfortunate. I I you know, the funny thing is 135 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: is I went back and I remembered an instance right 136 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: before he started his game against Carolina in the preseason. Um, 137 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: he had been made available to us early in the 138 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: in the process and it's a training camp, but when 139 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: he was going to get that start, uh, he was 140 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: made available and he talked about how because he was 141 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: still fairly new to the team at that point as well, 142 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: right right right, that was a big story to see 143 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: to pick him up, absolutely pick and you know right right. Uh. 144 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: He talked about how he every day in training camp 145 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: was going up to somebody knew that he didn't know 146 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 1: and just striking up a conversation with them, and you know, 147 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,719 Speaker 1: said because he'd guarantee to make the team or I mean, 148 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 1: you got a lot of things to worry about. He 149 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: was career, yeah, he said. You know, he talked about 150 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: as being a quarterback, you have to be viewed as 151 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: a leader, and that's one of the things that one 152 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: of the ways that you get guys to to want 153 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: to play with you and for you is to for 154 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: them to to to know and like you. So I 155 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: think there was some some realization there in his part, 156 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: and he talked about how he's you know now he 157 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: was much more comfortable in his own skin. Um. One 158 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: of the things that that strikes me, and we've talked 159 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: about this with some of these young quarterbacks, obviously the 160 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: Steelers in the market. Potentially for a young quarterback going 161 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: into a team as a twenty one year old or 162 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: twenty year old or twenty two year olds as the 163 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: savior the face of the franchise, Uh, is really difficult. 164 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: I mean I've covered the Steelers for twenty nine years, 165 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: they've drafted one quarterback in that time in the first round, right, 166 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: they've drafted this night. Since nineteen seventy, they've drafted three 167 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 1: quarterbacks in the first round, Terry Bradshaw nineteen seventy, Mark 168 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: Malone and eighty, and then Ben Roethlisberger in two thousand 169 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: and four. So, you know, you don't necessarily understand the 170 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,719 Speaker 1: pressure of that for these teams that continually draft these 171 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,959 Speaker 1: guys in the first round. When you're getting your quarterback 172 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: and you get drafted, and if I can remember Ben 173 00:09:56,679 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger's first training camp, he wasn't even the starter. He 174 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: was the third stringer, right right, He wasn't even clear 175 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: back up at that point. He got hurt in training camp. 176 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: He got he got nicky, limped off the field, and 177 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: the TV stations all broke into their afternoon soap operas 178 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 1: with live reports. Got hurt. Um. You know, it's just 179 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: that's the kind of stuff that happens with these guys. 180 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: Your quarterback, it's a completely different position than being a 181 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: safety or being an offensive lineman that's drafted in the 182 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: first round. You're throwing right into it and you're the 183 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: face of the franchise and people expect you to start right, 184 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: and I'm not trying to get away from the the 185 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: big story, there's the loss of the human being. But 186 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: you know, I do think there's a couple opportunities here 187 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: when something like this happens. First of all, like I said, 188 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: I'm guilty of this, I'm gonna try to be better 189 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: with separate, you know, keeping business and personal very different. 190 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: And it's my job to talk about these players. And uh, 191 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: you know, frankly, I didn't think Haskins was going to 192 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: be the Steeler's next starting quarterback, but I thought I 193 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: loved the pick up. And all that I mean, was 194 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 1: he a buston Washington? Yes, you know, I mean that's 195 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: our job to analyze that. But don't just be like 196 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: this guy has no chance. What it was but I 197 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: was getting to with that is this was a guy 198 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,679 Speaker 1: who was the fifteen pick in the draft, who probably 199 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: wasn't ready, probably should have gone back to school, he wasn't. 200 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,680 Speaker 1: It was it was his hometown team. It was his 201 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: hometown team, and he lived in that. He grew up 202 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:33,719 Speaker 1: in Maryland, in suburban Washington. And the pressure on that 203 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: is like is tenfold as opposed to what you know, 204 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: if you're Daniel Jones going to New York is the 205 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: only thing that I could even or who are you 206 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: know anybody going to New York and and being put 207 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: under that microscope is the only thing that it's even close. 208 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: A guy, a quarterback take it in the first round 209 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: drafted to his hometown team, Like yeah, the pressure on 210 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: that is making excuses for him as a player, but 211 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: he was thrust into one at that point, maybe the 212 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: worst organization in the league. He was remarkably young, a 213 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: one year starter. And I don't know if this happened, 214 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 1: but I guess it. I'm I'll bet my bottom dollar 215 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: did that. People come out of the woodwork that you 216 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,839 Speaker 1: went to high school with bird cousin. You didn't know 217 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: that one favors? Could I have a loan, let's go 218 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: out for Beers? Blah blah blah blah blah. You know, 219 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: I mean, everybody wants to be your friend being at 220 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: the hometown team, you know, Like from what I understand, 221 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,959 Speaker 1: that's a big reason the Steelers didn't want to bring 222 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 1: Dan Marino back. You know, like that's a hard situation. 223 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: You know, didn't draft Marino at the time, or you know, 224 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 1: things like that. It's just a much different situation than 225 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,079 Speaker 1: if you went to any of the other thirty one 226 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: teams at the year point earlier. Dale you you mentioned, 227 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: you know, we both mentioned. He's transformed his body. He's 228 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: moving a lot better life and adventure and it's waiting Hi. 229 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: This is Merril Hodge. At S ANDT Bank, they know 230 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: life's for the living. That's why SNT bank offers solutions 231 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: to help you get the most out of it, whether 232 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: you're investing in your home, planning for the future, are 233 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 1: is making the most of every day. St D Bank 234 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: is here to help learn how S ANDT Bank can 235 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,079 Speaker 1: help you live the life you want at st bank 236 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: dot Com. Member f D I C. S and D 237 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: Bank was ranked number one in customer satisfaction with retail 238 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: banking and Pennsylvania by JD Power for JD Power two 239 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: Award Information Visit JD Power dot Com Slash Awards. Than 240 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: he did early in his career. He goes out of 241 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: his way to understand the leadership stuff and probably some 242 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: of the mistakes he made. And in a way that 243 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: kind of brings me to Trabinsky because he didn't go 244 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: to his hometown team, but Trabinsky and and it was 245 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: second overall they traded up to and they traded up 246 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,959 Speaker 1: to get him. Yeah, like your savior. And they're both 247 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: were one year starters at their programs and thrust in 248 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,959 Speaker 1: the really difficult situations as very young people. I mean, 249 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: be careful what you wish for. And it brings us 250 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 1: to since stake one of twenty. Where's Trabisky at now 251 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: in his career as he learned lessons like Haskins was learning, 252 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: you know over the last couple of years. I mean 253 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: remember their people, I guess is my bottom line. Yeah, 254 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: it wouldn't surprise me if because that's what he was 255 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,479 Speaker 1: doing down in South Florida, was working out with Trabinsky, 256 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: had had gotten a bunch of the guys, the receivers 257 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: and running backs and and and invited Haskins as well. 258 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: It wouldn't surprise me if Trabinsky reached out to Haskins 259 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: because they had been in similar situations. I'm sure from 260 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: they Yeah, they had both walked though in the same shoes. 261 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: I mean almost almost to a t. It's very similar. 262 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: One year starters, overdrafted immense talent, brutal situations to go 263 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: in and you know, massive media centers and oh he 264 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: stakes he's a boss. He can't do it, like, give 265 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: him a little bit of him break. Yeah. I mean 266 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: I've always said, imagine if social media would have been 267 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: around for Bradshaw's first couple of years, for first year 268 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: and a half. All right situation, People forget Terry Bradshaw 269 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: wasn't the full time starter in nineteen seventy four when 270 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: the Steelers won their first Super Bowl, right right, right right. 271 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: I mean that seems like age of history to people. 272 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: And I'm sure there's some younger listeners going, really, you 273 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: know that that didn't live through it like that, that's 274 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 1: it took him a long time to be there. They started, 275 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: they started three quarterbacks that season. Joe gillhim started as 276 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: the was the starter on opening day that year. Bill 277 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: And that was not Bradshaw's first or second year in 278 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: the league. Yeah, and he was, oh my god, this 279 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: guy's a bust. And that was today. Think about it. 280 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: We're not picking up the fourth year, fifth year option. 281 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: They probably would have drafted one. Well, you know, after 282 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: year two of him not playing well and then you 283 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: know he's on the bench or cut or whatever. I mean, 284 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: he would have been a nonentity. He would be lucky 285 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: if he would have been in Trabisky or Haskins shoes, 286 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: you know, four or five years into the league. Yeah, 287 00:15:56,280 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: so very very unfortunate for because they you know, I 288 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: actually was on CNN last night as well, and they 289 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: were talking to me about this, and I said, you know, 290 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: this was a young man. I thought that had learned 291 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: from his past mistakes and was was on the right 292 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: track to correct those things. And his mistakes, when we 293 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: call them mistakes, that's about it. About the thing I 294 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: was gonna say too, Like he didn't wear a mask 295 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: in a strip club one time as a twenty one 296 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: year old, Like that's his big mistake. He wasn't he 297 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: got He was even more difficult in his situation. First, 298 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: he went into a bad situation, a bad football team. 299 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: Could the head coach got fired, the guy the guy 300 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: who drafted him got fired after that first season. So 301 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: they bring in a new head coach who didn't draft him, 302 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: and flat up poor ownership too, Like the problem started 303 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: from the top and with his Washington teams. Yeah, so 304 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: you know, I think a lot of this stuff was 305 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: kind of beyond his control. Could he have done a 306 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: better job? Absolutely? Oh yeah, I mean not excusing him 307 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:06,479 Speaker 1: he wasn't good. But you know there there there was talent, 308 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: there there was you know, I saw just watching him. 309 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: He was well liked by his teammates here. Uh he 310 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: was you know, he he worked hard, he was he 311 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: stayed after practice every day. I did note that, I 312 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: mean every day, and he would throw with receivers and 313 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: work on his game. And you could see he was 314 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: trying to get better, trying to to hone his his 315 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,880 Speaker 1: game and work on some of the things that that 316 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: you know, maybe troubled him. Uh, some of the passes 317 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: and one of the big ones. You know, he worked 318 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: a lot with Steven Sims, who obviously was a teammate 319 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: in Washington, UM, and they would constantly, you know, they'd 320 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: be there half an hour after practice throwing the catch. Yeah. 321 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: Uh yeah. I mean, to be honest, and anyone listened 322 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: to the drive over the last couple of years, I 323 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: was very excited, you know, just purely football. Pick him 324 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 1: up for nothing. I mean, that's a great risk to take. 325 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: And he didn't blow my doors off. But I still 326 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: think there was hope for him to get better, maybe 327 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: be a long term back up. I mean, I think 328 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: he had a lot of football ahead of him, you know. 329 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 1: I mean I think he probably stays in the league 330 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: at least another six to eight years in some capacity. Um, 331 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: maybe not with the Steelers, but they gave him money. 332 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: I mean they had high hopes for him too. I 333 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 1: mean again, they didn't look at him like, oh that's 334 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: been successor we we pulled on over on the rest 335 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 1: of the league. But they gave him a decent contract 336 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: before this year, and one wanted him around. Yeah. Yeah, 337 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 1: so very unfortunate. Um, Dwayne Haskins would have turned twenty 338 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 1: five next month. I just got married last spring. Um, 339 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: just so much of his life ahead of him and 340 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: struck down far, far too early. And unfortunately, this is 341 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: this is something that has now become a little bit 342 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: of commonplace with the Steelers. I hate to say it 343 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 1: that way, but you know, Darryl Drake g Eison training 344 00:18:55,880 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: camp in two thousand, um, you know last year and 345 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: a few of them last year. Stefan to its brothers 346 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: killed in a very similar fashion in June. The wife 347 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,880 Speaker 1: of Jerry Olsavsky dies during the season. I mean, just 348 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: tragedy after tragedy, just awful things that you have to 349 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: deal with. And and this is the thing that sometimes 350 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: gets overlooked again by fans. These guys are human, every 351 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: one of them. And think about how how it would 352 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: be going to work every day with and you lost 353 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: somebody that you worked with, that you were close with, 354 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: right and and nothing to me. You know, here's here's 355 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: the thing about sports. Um. I can remember going back 356 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: to from my high school reunion and I hadn't seen 357 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: some of the guys that I played basketball and baseball 358 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:59,200 Speaker 1: with in twenty plus years. Yeah, and you just strike 359 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 1: up a conversation him with those guys like it was 360 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: like you just saw him yesterday. Yeah, so many shared 361 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: experiences and and you know, it's just the bond that 362 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 1: the teammates form. It's very similar to marriage in a 363 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: lot of ways. I mean, even if you're not a 364 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: great athlete, it's a wonderful experience for a young man 365 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: or woman growing up as a teenager or whatever. You know. 366 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: Both my kids play volleyball and I'm thrilled with there 367 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: on some sort of team. I don't think they're gonna 368 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: be on the Olympic volleyball teams, you know what I mean. 369 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 1: But you learned so much from it, right, I mean, 370 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,879 Speaker 1: they find new friends, you can overcome a lot together. 371 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: You remember things together. Yeah, I mean a percent. And 372 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: it was a little different. But one of my years 373 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,679 Speaker 1: of pit we lost a very young wide receiver named 374 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,200 Speaker 1: Billy Gaines, who I think was nineteen. It was a 375 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: second year with the team. He was vastly undersized that 376 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:51,199 Speaker 1: we weren't sure if we were going to give him 377 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: a scholarship or not. And he far exceeded our expectations 378 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 1: and was doing some work in a church and fell 379 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: from a ceiling and was tragically killed. And I mean 380 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 1: it kind of reminded me of that, like you think 381 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 1: it was nineteen when it happened, and not the sound course. 382 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 1: But the whole team is gonna feel this all year long, 383 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: you know. And I'm not saying, hey, if its dealers 384 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 1: only win five games, it's because you know, this tragedy, 385 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: you know, But it's gonna be a part of this 386 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 1: team for a while. It's not just gonna go away. 387 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: And yeah, because I mean, you know, you gotta walk 388 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: past his locker every day, even if even if they 389 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 1: put somebody else in that locker, it's still his locker, 390 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: you know, and you're gonna you're gonna think, you know, 391 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: every time you're reminded of conversations you had with him here, 392 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:35,479 Speaker 1: or you know, every time the quarterbacks go in the 393 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 1: meeting room, that chairs, that chair is gonna be sitting 394 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 1: there empty. You know, it's just so much that you 395 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 1: have to deal with that that goes beyond the scope 396 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:50,159 Speaker 1: of of just normal interaction. And I'm sure they'll like 397 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 1: have a stick around their helmets this year or something, 398 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,399 Speaker 1: you know, to not forget him, of course. And I 399 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: mean if you didn't play with him at Ohio State, 400 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 1: you probably played against them if you were a big 401 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 1: ten te player or you went to you know, so 402 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 1: many of these quarterbacks go to like the Manning camp 403 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: and things exactly. They know each other, they've known each 404 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 1: other forever. Yeah, well before he even went to Ohio State, 405 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: he probably went to team passing camps and competing against 406 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: you know, Trumsky and these guys too, you know, yeah, 407 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: and and the final agents and you know, yeah. The 408 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 1: final thing I wanted to mention about this is that 409 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: you know, so many of these athletes um and they 410 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: have to be this way, feel like they're they're a 411 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: hundred foot tall and bulletproof. That's part of the job description. 412 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: It's part of the job description, and so when something 413 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 1: like this happens, it's a reminder that they aren't and 414 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: that that can be sobering as well. Question. Um, so 415 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: it's it's it's just unfortunate. Our hearts go out to 416 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 1: Dwayne family, his wife, his made, his coaches. You just 417 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: don't expect this and and so, um, you know, I 418 00:22:58,000 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: think that's that's all we can say about that. But 419 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: gonna take a break. He is Matt Williamson. I'm Dale Lally. 420 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 1: You're listening to the drive here on Steelers Nation Radio 421 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: Life and Adventure and it's waiting Hi. This is Merril 422 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:12,159 Speaker 1: Hodge at S ANDT Bank, they know lives for the living. 423 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: That's why S and T Bank offers solutions to help 424 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 1: you get the most out of it, whether you're investing 425 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 1: in your home, planning for the future, are just making 426 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: the most of every day. STD bank is here to 427 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:23,919 Speaker 1: help learn how SNT bank can help you live the 428 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 1: life you want at st bank dot com. Member f 429 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: D I C. S and D Bank was ranked number 430 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: one in customer satisfaction with retail banking and Pennsylvania by 431 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,640 Speaker 1: j D Power for JD Power two Award Information Visit 432 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: JD power dot com Slash Awards,