1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Ye please. He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt 2 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: Williamson on Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Lolly here with Matt Williamson. 4 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: It's a lovely, lovely Monday, is a lovely A couple 5 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: of weeks now removed from the Super Bowl, it's off 6 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: season time. It is off Sason, and we saw the 7 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: Steelers make really their first move of the their move, 8 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: first move of the off season. We've seen retirements and 9 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: we've seen that kind of stuff players stuff where players 10 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: made a choice. But today news comes out that Cam 11 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: Hayward has restructured his contract and the Steelers got together 12 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: with him and restructured his contract. This is a move 13 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: that we talked about a few weeks ago that this 14 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: was one that they could make. Cleared seven million dollars 15 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: in catch. Yeah, looking at as a straight restructure and 16 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: you can tough to get into the minutia on spot track, 17 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: but but you can look at, Okay, this is what 18 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: a straight restructure would do, just simply restructuring. The way 19 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: these work. If you're doing a simple restructure of just 20 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: the base salary, the way that works is you take 21 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: Let's say the player player has a seven million dollar 22 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: base salary. You turn then and he's a veteran player, 23 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: so the veteran minimum is a little over one million 24 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: dollars to give him that. So you give him the 25 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: one million dollars, you lower his his base salary to 26 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: one million dollars, and then you give him the remaining 27 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 1: part of that is a signing bonus, six million of it, 28 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: which allows you to spread that over out over the 29 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: remainder of his contract. So if he's got two year 30 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: deal or three year deals or three years remaining on 31 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: his contract, then it costs you an additional two million dollars. 32 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: And there's no reason for him to say no, you're 33 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: giving him. You're writing him a check. He's getting he's 34 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: getting a big check right now, right before tax season. 35 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: And everybody's happy, really, everybody's happy. Um. You know, this 36 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: is one of those things where you know, people talking 37 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: about what you're just kicking the can down the road 38 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: a little, But if you plan on having the player 39 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: on your roster, you're not really kicking the can down 40 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 1: the road. Cap space is way more valuable this year 41 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: than the next two years by far. Again, it comes 42 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: back to when you when you do these kind of things, 43 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: you have to weigh, like the way they got into 44 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,040 Speaker 1: trouble with Antonio Brown as they did a restructure of 45 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: his deal before he went nuts. He's the one that 46 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: they had counted. You only do it for people you 47 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: think you can trust you, and here he violated the 48 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: trust and ended up cautioning them a twenty one million 49 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: dollars capping against against the less cam falls off as 50 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: a player or loses his mind, you're fine, I mean 51 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: drastically falls off the play. Yeah. Um, so they've got 52 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,679 Speaker 1: a couple other guys that they can still do this with. 53 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: And obviously they still want to take care of the 54 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger situation. Get that number lower. That's its own beast. Yeah, 55 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: I mean there's some smaller stuff. I'm looking here at 56 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: spot Track right now, and they had a four minute 57 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: a little over four million dollar carry over from last 58 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: year's cap, which is nice, Which is nice. So you 59 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: add that onto their you know, So if they they're 60 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: assuming spot Track right now is is assuming that the 61 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: salary cap comes in at eighty five million dollars, and 62 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: I think that's reasonable. I think that's reasonable. I'll still 63 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: take the over. Yeah, I mean just with the we 64 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: talked about later, but TVD those conversations and stuff this 65 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: weekend sounds pretty promising. So if it comes into the 66 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty five million dollars and you have a 67 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: four point nine million dollar carry over, you're essentially working 68 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: off a hundred and eighty nine million dollar salary cap 69 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,839 Speaker 1: and kind of has a different cap. That's what people 70 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 1: don't quite understand. And so you if you look at 71 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: it that way. Right now, the Steelers have a hundred 72 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: ninety eight point four million dollars and expenditures and salaries 73 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,799 Speaker 1: that they're paying out. One that's post CAM, that's after 74 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: the CAM, and that's including palty retirement, McDonald retirement, Yes, 75 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: all that good stuff. Uh So, right now there are 76 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: eight point about eight point five million dollars over the cap, 77 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: which eminently doable again if you restructure stuff on to 78 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: it in line. Right, that's three's cap savings. The three 79 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: point nine million just with a straight down to four restructure. 80 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:58,239 Speaker 1: Chris Boswell, that's another uh just over a million dollars. 81 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: Now you're down to just being three point four million 82 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: dollars over the cap. You can also restructure, Derek Watt. 83 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: That gets you another uh thousand dollars, and that's not 84 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: you don't don't have to do that. That's small potatoes there. 85 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: But if they gets you to three million dollars over 86 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: the cap, it's not that big. That's not that much 87 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 1: of an obstacle in general, and you get Ben Roethlisberger's 88 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: with it. With the restructure of Ben Roethlisberger's contract, he's 89 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: got that fifteen million dollar uh bonus roster bonus that's 90 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: do a March nineteen, and he's got a four million 91 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: dollar base salary. So essentially you can you can spread 92 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: eighteen million dollars of that over the next two years 93 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: if you just get extend him by a year. Okay, 94 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 1: and again he may not be playing when he gets that, 95 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 1: or you know, whenever you're paying that debt, you're not 96 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: paying it. You've already paid paying it anyway. You've already 97 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: paid the dash that he's getting that you're paying anyway. 98 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: So if you get you can get Roethlisberger's cap figure 99 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 1: down to between twenty seven and twenty eight million dollars. 100 00:05:56,839 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: So let's say they get it to eight million dollars. 101 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: Go on the high end um, you're looking then at 102 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: let me see it, ten point one five million dollars 103 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: in cap space to go spend then to spend that's 104 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: without cutting anybody, making any other moves of you know, 105 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: negative types. Tons of bad people were talking like they 106 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 1: need to cut Joe Hayden. No, they don't. They could, 107 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: they could if they want to, but they don't have 108 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: to have to write. It's not like they're gonna be 109 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,679 Speaker 1: cutting guys left and right. Just cut David Cashary. Why 110 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: all you're doing when you cut these guys is opening 111 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: up more more spots on your roster that you have 112 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: to fill. We gotta find a guard in a corner. Now. 113 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: If you want to say, okay, cut Joe Hayden to 114 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: sign Cam Sutton because Cam Sutton is your starters, that's 115 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: a different conversationally, different conversation, and you make him the 116 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: outside starter and he's a foundational player for you, and 117 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: you just rather use that money on him if it 118 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: comes down to one or the other types of Asian 119 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: that I could understand. But to cut Joe Hayden just 120 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: to cut him, you don't need to do that. No, No, 121 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: I mean again, even if Ben doesn't play, you can 122 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: work structure this the same way, right right, Yeah, you can, 123 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 1: you can. You can make this work. They're not going 124 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: to release Ben Roethlisberger unless Ben Roethlisberger comes to them 125 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: and says, I want to be released so I can 126 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: go play somewhere else. That's the way that happens. That's 127 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: the only way that happened. And he could retire. You 128 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: could be pushed towards retirement, correct, or he could and 129 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: either one of those situations is going to be over structure. Correct. Yeah, 130 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:38,679 Speaker 1: similar to what Drew Brees did, they get that number 131 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: lower for this year, or he can come back and 132 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: give it another shot, because quite frankly, just just releasing him. Okay, 133 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: well you get nineteen million dollars in in in cap space, 134 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: but he still counts twenty two. You know, it's still 135 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: twenty two point one to five million to five million 136 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: against your salary captains year. So yeah, you get you 137 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: you get a big bump that gets you to instead 138 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: of instead of having ten million dollars in space, you 139 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: have fifteen point nine. Is that worth releasing one of 140 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: your your greatest players in your team history. Again, only 141 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: like to what you laid it out, If we don't 142 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: want you to be the quarterback and he still wants 143 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:22,559 Speaker 1: to be a quarterback, Well, then that's the solution, I guess. 144 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: You know, he says, I want to play one more year, 145 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: I want a chance to win it like but he 146 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: even at that, he wouldn't know what the market would 147 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: be out there for him. Ivan his agent could be 148 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: having conversations you know. I mean, actually can't that's tampering. 149 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 1: But he's under contractract Yeah, right right, he would have 150 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: a lukewarm feeling, I'm sure. But what situation What situations 151 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: are there right now in the NFL where you look 152 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: at Well, if I go there, I can pull a 153 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: Tom Brady. No, right, I don't think there's a good 154 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 1: spot for him unless he decides he really wants to 155 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: play and the Lers want to go a different direction 156 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: as their who's their starting quarterback? I mean, could you 157 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: go to New England or Chicago? Those situations aren't any 158 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: better than here, No they're not. But if the Scheeters 159 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: don't want them, and see, I don't think that's the 160 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,559 Speaker 1: Here's what I think is going on right now. I think, well, 161 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: I know that the Steelers have contingency plans if Ben 162 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 1: comes back, if Ben doesn't come back, if the cap 163 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: is is this number one? If it's one nine, if 164 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: it's a you know, all these all these plans laid out. Okay, 165 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: if this, if this happens, then we have to do this. 166 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: If that happens, then we have to do this. I 167 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: think they've just been very noncommittal about this because they 168 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: don't know. They don't know. It's hard to have. They 169 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: have ten plans. It's to choose your own adventure book 170 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: and they've choosen every adventure. But they haven't stepped they 171 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 1: haven't set foot down either any of those trails yet 172 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: because they don't have to steps down the road. If 173 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: you're gonna that, you don't have to make the Hayward 174 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: thing was going to happen one way or the other. 175 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: And you think the two it in a Boswell or 176 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: yeah then right, I mean the the one thing that 177 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: that doesn't do, but the but the other two, yeah, 178 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: those are going to happen. Yeah, you don't want them 179 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: going anywhere and you want to lessen your cap. How 180 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: about a decision on a Vince Williams. Again, you don't 181 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: have to make that decision until you have to be 182 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: under the cap. So I don't see them trying to 183 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: sign somebody else. Yeah, unless unless they went to Vince Williams, 184 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: and Vince Williams said, I want to I want to 185 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: test free agency. Can you let me go now? Well, 186 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: then you do them a favor, then you're doing them, 187 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: Then you're doing them a solid. Otherwise you don't. You 188 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: don't make that move until March sixteen because you don't 189 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: have to because with the cap and if and if 190 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: you're under the cap, then you really don't have to 191 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: unless you're gonna sign somebody else. The caps five minute 192 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: million more than you originally thought. Well, they we're keeping 193 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: them now. But if if they clear, let's say they 194 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,559 Speaker 1: get to ten million dollars under the cap here over 195 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,839 Speaker 1: the next couple of weeks, which as you laid out, 196 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: is very feasible, they could actually they could still sign 197 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: right now. You don't have to be under the cap 198 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:08,679 Speaker 1: right now, Okay, right right right right? They could They 199 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: could go sign a Zach Banner or Tyson and Lulu 200 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: right now and get that deal that get that kind 201 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: of stuff done, and then you know, start working the 202 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: cap a little bit more because they're still priorities. No 203 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 1: matter what, you still want to do that as a 204 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: football team, that makes sense. Um, So it's really not 205 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: that bad. It's not. It's not that you know, we've heard, 206 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: we've read and we've seen and we've heard all the 207 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: stuff that you know, the Steelers have one of the 208 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: worst cap situations in the league. That's not that dire. 209 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 1: That's not that dire, right, It's really not much different 210 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,959 Speaker 1: than most years at this time of day. Absolutely not 211 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: like okay, if you got your right around hovering around, 212 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: or you've got ten million to play with or whatever. 213 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: And quite frankly, if the cap had been going up 214 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: to two million dollars, this might have been the Hayward 215 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: restructure might have been something they had done anyways, but 216 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: they would all so then you know, they would then 217 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 1: be talking about keeping you know, Bud Dupree or or 218 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: something like that. That's a different conversation. That's what they thought, 219 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: you know a year ago, was boy, would be a 220 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 1: pretty nice shape in February of two thousand and one. 221 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: And we can always restructure, Heyward, you mentioned off the 222 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: air when they signed that deal, they knew this was built. 223 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: Typically build their deals with the restructure in mind for 224 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: your foundation. Long term retire steel are important. And so 225 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 1: while you know and this was This was one of 226 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: the sticking points in the Levy on Bell deal. Uh 227 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: you know the offer that they made to him, Well 228 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: it didn't include enough guaranteed money for Levy on Bell. 229 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: Well they build those again, they build those things to 230 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: restructure them. If if Bell had been on the team 231 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: the last two years, he would probably would have had 232 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: at least one restructure on there, where again he would 233 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: have gotten another big paycheck and said, hey, here you 234 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: go to Levy and here's you know, thirteen million dollars 235 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: of your fourteen million dollar base salary for this year. 236 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: But in that case, you probably trust the running back 237 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 1: to he is useful to you two years down the 238 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: line as a defensive lineman. Yeah, you know, and not 239 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 1: the Bell is a bad guy. But Heyward's a foundational 240 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: player in that locker room and all that stuff too, 241 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 1: Like you don't want him to ever leave it. And 242 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 1: he's not shown any signs of the client declining at all. 243 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 1: If you might get better, Yeah, yeah, interesting. Um, so 244 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: they are in pretty good shape all in all, you know, 245 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 1: I mean, the Ben thing is gonna probably the last 246 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: you to drop. I would imagine that's the biggest Yeah, 247 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 1: you want to know what the cap is. That's the 248 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: you know, and you want you want him to be 249 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 1: as informed about this as you can be. And I'm 250 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 1: sure you know for Roethlisberger, uh, part of his decision, Okay, 251 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,439 Speaker 1: well who can we keep? Oh yeah, you know what 252 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: what am I coming back to right now? Um? And 253 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: they they may have that may be the conversation that 254 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: they have here. It is, here's what here's what we 255 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: can do. Right. You know he's gone. Don't expect Filer 256 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: now to be back. You know, we're gonna have to 257 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: rebuild a line around you probably won't have Connor to 258 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: hand to you know. I mean, there's gonna be but 259 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna get you a running back that we hope, yeah, 260 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 1: we can we hope can be better. You know. Yeah, 261 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: now we have some resources to do it. Um. The 262 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: other part of this and and you know, as we 263 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: get farther and farther into the draft stuff, one of 264 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 1: the things that I continue to look at here is 265 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: the their ability to sign a veteran center. I mean, 266 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: how many we've talked to I'm want to bring this 267 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: up today too. I'm glad you did. We didn't talk 268 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: about this before. There's you know, we talked about every 269 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: mock draft we do. They gotta get a tackle, they 270 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: gotta get a center, they gotta get it back. And 271 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: it's easier for us to make that happen than for 272 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: Kevin Cooper to right. I mean, you know what I mean, 273 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: things are outside your hands. You don't have all these 274 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: trade offers. You can't just it's not Madden. It's awful 275 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: hard to do. I mean, when when you're fishing from 276 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: three pools of players that don't have tons and tons 277 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: and tackles are gonna be sought after by all, You're 278 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: probably not gonna be able to land those guys, and 279 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: a rookie center in front of Ben Roethlisberger, or maybe 280 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: even more concerning, a rootolph or a new guy, you know, 281 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: somebody that has with with some other young lineman around 282 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: next to a second year of guard, and you know, right, 283 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: is a little concerning. I mean, it would be nice 284 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: to add one guy from outside the organization at one 285 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: of those three positions, and that's that's the position you 286 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: can do cheap. I don't want to say, yeah, you're 287 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: not gonna sign a start starting tackle is gonna cost 288 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: you seven million dollars a year minimum whereas that's that's 289 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: kind of the ceiling, not the ceiling, but that's where 290 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: you can get a good starting center probably for five 291 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: or six million dollars a year. Yeah, its structure that 292 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: the NFL been around the block, knows all the calls. 293 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: Isn't gonna is it gonna be surprised by this stunt 294 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: or that stunt. And he's not gonna be Derni Dawson. 295 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: But but that's fine. You know, if you can limit 296 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: and that doesn't that doesn't stop you from still drafting 297 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: one if if the if the you know presents rself 298 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: because you're not going to sign this guy to a 299 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: five year deal or anything like that, and you got 300 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: you draft could be a guard center, right yeah, and 301 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: he could learn or you know those type of things, 302 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: and he's better than a Hoss or even better than 303 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: a Finney. You know, you mentioned Finney coming back, and 304 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 1: that'd be fine on the cheap. But he's a total 305 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: stop gap. He's not your answer where this guy I 306 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: woulda say, he's Jeff Harding's but he could be. I 307 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: mean's a starting player in the league, is what you're asked. 308 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: So I'm looking here at the list of of free 309 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: agent centers as we sit here right now. Um, you 310 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: got Alex Mack, Yeah, Mike Palace, he's retired, So that's 311 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: that's not a possibility. Corey Lindsley, David Andrews, Ted Carriss, 312 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: Joe Looney, Austin Writer, Tyler Larson, Met Skura, Ben Garland, Uh, 313 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: Tyler Shatley, a Q Shipley. There's there's guys out there, 314 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: these aren't I like writer? Yeah, Um, I think Andrews 315 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: is a high quality player. I mean he fits that 316 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: bill exactly. I'll say Ben Garland, Um, it was with 317 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,640 Speaker 1: the forty Niners. Before he was with the forty Niners, 318 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: he was with Atlanta, and the Steelers just of course 319 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 1: hired the assistant offensive you know, their new assistant offensive 320 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: line coach was the head offensive line coach in Atlanta 321 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: and end and and so Garland was with him from 322 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: two thousand fifteen to two thousand eighteen. And he might 323 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 1: even be cheaper than six oh without a doubt, he's 324 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 1: I'm looking at his career. And he signed with the 325 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: forty Niners last year for one point seven five million dollars, 326 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 1: and so it was actually a two million dollar deal. 327 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: He signed a two year, two point eight million dollar 328 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: deal to play with the forty Niners end up starting 329 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl. Yeah, okay, that's not a bad option. 330 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: W get cheap and certainly would still have your eyes 331 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: open to draft one. And he's still he's thirty two 332 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: years old. He got he'll turn soon turns thirty three. 333 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 1: All right, you get a year or two out of him. 334 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: But you get your draft your young guy, and you 335 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: let him. You know, and if you give this guy contract, 336 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: that that says, well, you know, we're drafting this young guy. 337 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: If the young guy beats him out, so be it good. 338 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: You've still got your center guard combo that that's right, right, 339 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: you know, you want the young guy to beat him out, right, 340 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: that's the idea something. Yeah. I mean even Alex Mack 341 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,640 Speaker 1: and they drafted a center Holly or Holly last year. 342 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: He's not gonna be a Falcon. But he played for 343 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: four million this year and one year deal. You know, 344 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: run it back with a good team and the team 345 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: he probably respect for from his Cleveland days. And I 346 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 1: don't know what he has left, to be honest with you, 347 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 1: but he's been around the block. Again. He's a veteran 348 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: guy that you could put in the middle of your line. 349 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: He's not gonna miss any of the calls. Um, and 350 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: all those names you list, and I think something I'm 351 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,919 Speaker 1: moved like that probably alleviates some of the concerns for 352 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger because I'm sure that's what like did a lot 353 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: for me. You know, you know that they're not gonna 354 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:56,239 Speaker 1: get Lindsay. No, he's gonna get money. He's gonna be 355 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 1: amongst the probably the highest page. He's still thirty. Somebody's 356 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 1: somebody's gonna pay him. I mean they may even franchise them. Yeah, 357 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, he he's very important. So, um, 358 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 1: what's his face? Kerass in Miami? They suppose we want 359 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 1: to bring back Still, he played fine for them, but 360 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 1: you had four or five other names there that would 361 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: fit the bill. Yeah, I mean, you're not talking. I 362 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: think it's pretty decent. Yeah, you're not breaking the bank 363 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: for these guys. You're not giving him a you know, 364 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 1: four year, forty million dollar contract or anything like that. 365 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: You're not paying him like you're paying Pouncey. Right, and 366 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: even if you don't draft the center this year, okay, 367 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, you can you take the fifth round 368 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 1: guard center or guard that you teach how to be 369 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:42,160 Speaker 1: a center or you know, because gives you more options. 370 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: Where I wanted to go with this, I mean meaning 371 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: to bring this up for a couple of shows. Is 372 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: for years and years and years we have really complimented 373 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: Kevin Colbert for he really does a phenomenal job of 374 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 1: building a roster you can live with the day before 375 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: the train before the draft, if they want to line 376 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: up on the day before Thursday morning and play a game, 377 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 1: they could try a team out there and not have 378 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 1: a massive Every guy would would have had was has 379 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 1: that they put in their their starting twenty two has 380 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: NFL experience and starting experience right right, you're trying to 381 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 1: draft past a lot of them. It doesn't mean you 382 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 1: don't have needs this year. I don't know if I 383 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: feel that way. Well, again, I think if you solve 384 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 1: that center issue, that goes along way. Because I'm not 385 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: saying J. C. Hassen howerd has NFL starting better than that. 386 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: That doesn't count for this action. But if they feel 387 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: if if they do feel that center position now they 388 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: probably do. But at the very least because if if 389 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,919 Speaker 1: you do that, if you sign if you you know, 390 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: if you sign Zach Banner, you signed Tyson, Lulu, and 391 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: you sign a center and Sutton and Sutton that those 392 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: are doable things, and you and you're not your defenses 393 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,199 Speaker 1: you can try out of and you're not you're not 394 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: leaving any holes in your and you're really you're starting again. 395 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: Running back would be the only one. And Benny Snell 396 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,239 Speaker 1: started games for you. You don't love stretch for me 397 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: to say he qualifies, but he qualifies. The thing that's 398 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: different about the backs, though, is I could call Carlos 399 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: Hide two months after that and he might even be bad. 400 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 1: You know, there'll be some It's not like if he 401 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 1: misses training camp. It's like some huge deal. It's there's 402 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 1: ten guys that you could call that might be better 403 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 1: than Benny Snell that been around the block that would qualify. You. 404 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: Just do it after as opposed to before at that position. 405 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: Center would be the domino though, Yeah, that would be 406 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: the one that would make it. Here's the other here's 407 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: the other thing about this this list right now, there's 408 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: also I'm sorry I mean to erupt you, but there's 409 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: also not that first round center that if he falls, 410 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: screens are gone there. Yeah, I mean, you know, you know, 411 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 1: you you could even then if you if you make 412 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: that a move like that, and Corey Dickerson sitting there 413 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: and you love him and you love him, he said, well, 414 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: but he's hurt. I don't care. I've got my Yeah, 415 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: you don't. We're not counting on him playing. And you know, 416 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: until you know sick weeks into the season and you 417 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: can you can stomach that maybe more than other center 418 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: needy teams. Yeah, it certainly you couldn't take him if 419 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,479 Speaker 1: that was if you need him to start. Yeah, right, 420 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 1: right right, Yeah, that's interesting. And there'll be more guys 421 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: added to this list as we get cut left. It's 422 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: cut season. Yeah, um, so you know, I expect that 423 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: list to grow in In many ways, those guys will 424 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 1: have more value than even some of the guys that 425 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: are on this list because they're not gonna hurt your 426 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: compensatory formula. The other thing, too, is if there's eight 427 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: buying teams, you know there's a couple have a lot 428 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: of cap space. How many them need centers? Probably not many. 429 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 1: I mean I know the Colts don't and the Browns don't, 430 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: and we could go I think the Bengals like Michael 431 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,879 Speaker 1: Jordan's Bengals like Michael Jordan's I mean, the Pats are 432 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: one of the teams and they're one of the guys 433 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: that could lose Andrew. Yeah, they're gonna lose Andrews. So yeah, 434 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: they spend on him, so they would they rather ye, 435 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: would they rather bring him back or one of these 436 00:22:56,560 --> 00:23:00,439 Speaker 1: other guys who are years old, and they also have 437 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 1: two need to deal with as well, and they have 438 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,959 Speaker 1: some guys coming back from opt outs. The center is 439 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,880 Speaker 1: not a position that you look at your boy that's 440 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: really tough to fill. You listed what six or seven 441 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 1: guys that we could live with. They're like eight guys 442 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: who were starting experience, and few of them are gonna 443 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 1: be out of their range Lindsay and probably someone else 444 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 1: the Ravens are gonna need to say, because Ravens will 445 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: need to say yeah, I mean, and then two of them, 446 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: not only are gonna be in the first way of 447 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: free agency, right like, oh, we're all beating down the 448 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: door for that guy. I mean, I don't I don't 449 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 1: see that. So no, I think that makes sense. If 450 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:36,920 Speaker 1: you could get to the point where you could add 451 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: a center, that would go a long way to team building. 452 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: If you can and if you can do it, you know, 453 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 1: the cap cost this year is three million dollars. You 454 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: can live with that, You can make that work. No, 455 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 1: that's smart. And again there's enough names you could live 456 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: with that are fine and regardless. To me, here's the 457 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:01,400 Speaker 1: thing that that drives me crazy are the people who 458 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 1: suddenly think that the Steelers are going to stink right 459 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: right right right. They're just gonna be awful next year. 460 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:10,719 Speaker 1: You know, the everyone six and ten based off they 461 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:13,120 Speaker 1: went twelve games this year. On twelve games this year, 462 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: they won eight dar before without a quarterback. Yeah, right, 463 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: couldn't go bad, absolutely. I mean I didn't think the 464 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:21,200 Speaker 1: Niners would be as bad as they were this past period. 465 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: But they were crushed by injurished by injuries, right, I 466 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: mean that could happen to any team. It really had 467 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: happened to the Steel's offense two years ago. Um, could 468 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 1: Ben retire and Mason flops and yeah, then it could 469 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: then it could be bad. Yeah the league, Yeah that 470 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 1: could be bad, but they're gonna be competitive. The defense 471 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: makes sure that the defense assures that they will be competitive. 472 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 1: I think the coaching staff as well, and the coaching 473 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: staff and the tradition and that matters. Um, you know 474 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,479 Speaker 1: when you when push comes to shove and it's you know, 475 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: mid November and you're playing the Jets, you know which 476 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: team do you trust more? And they got Wilson or 477 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,119 Speaker 1: Fields a quarterback and I'm trying to build something and 478 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 1: all new people and right or you know, you know, 479 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 1: people along new lines of you know how people make 480 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: you nuts about they're gonna stink. Well, you just trash 481 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 1: this year and you pick first overall and you get 482 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 1: the next Trevor Lawrence and like, first of all, that 483 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 1: guy doesn't come out every year. You know, it could 484 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: be the next Baker Mayfield or whoever. You know, you 485 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: want to take guys that are moving teams with Trabinsky, 486 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: they're moving teams as we speak, and that's never going 487 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:31,160 Speaker 1: to be the case here, you know, like the same 488 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 1: in New England. Oh New English are just cash it in. 489 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,159 Speaker 1: Do you really think that's ever gonna happen? You know, 490 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:39,160 Speaker 1: they're another They're a perfect example. They won seven games 491 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: last year with nothing. You know, like they're not going 492 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: to be picking the top five either, folks ever, unless 493 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: they unless they trade up to go get it. You know, 494 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: that's right, that's the only way that have two wins. No, 495 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: it's just I don't care what their quarterback is horrier 496 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:56,400 Speaker 1: for the all year the games they're eight game, you know, right, 497 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: that's the thing. And so you know, you make some 498 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: of these prudent moves that allow you then more flexibility. 499 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 1: You don't want me pigeonholed on draft day. Yeah, we've 500 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,640 Speaker 1: talked about that a lot with r mock drafts, like, Okay, 501 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: we're gonna take the center even though there's a great 502 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: receiver sitting right there, because we have to. You know, 503 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: that's bad business. And that's what Kevin is so good 504 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 1: at is preparing the roster for draft day. And this 505 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,440 Speaker 1: year is gonna be obviously has has different challenges to it, 506 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,160 Speaker 1: but they're still gonna do what they do. You also 507 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 1: don't know the rules yet. That's part of the that's 508 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:31,119 Speaker 1: part of the problem. That's the hang up right now 509 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:34,439 Speaker 1: that you don't know, you don't know what parameters are 510 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 1: going to be set for you going into this stuff. 511 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,159 Speaker 1: And so it's like it's like starting a game of 512 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: monopoly and you you know, you play your first two, Well, hey, 513 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna just roll the dice and see what happens. 514 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,239 Speaker 1: What are the rules? I don't what what happens? How 515 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: much did the bank give me to start the game? Usually, 516 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 1: and I'm not sure what it's just we're gonna We're 517 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 1: gonna let you play a couple of times around the 518 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: board before we tell you exactly what that should I 519 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 1: buy Illinois or land on Pensylvan That's exactly what it's 520 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: like now right now. Absolutely, and you can make you well, 521 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: I think that I'm you know, if I want to 522 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: have a chance to be able to buy a boardwalk, 523 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 1: that I probably need to do this with my or 524 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: pass on that particular property right now. You gotta or boy, 525 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 1: I got money coming in and or I'm gonna buy houses. 526 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 1: You know all that. I mean, obviously there's many analogies, 527 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: but I think that the I'm really optimistic about the 528 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: cap situation. I mean, it sounds like they are asking 529 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 1: for an enormous amount of money in TV deal increase 530 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 1: increase doesn't I can't believe that's all gonna go to 531 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,159 Speaker 1: next year. Yeah, I bet that will help out this 532 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: year if they can get so that's right the sticking point. 533 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 1: Don't you think like we're all waiting to get the 534 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: cap number? Well, they want to get the TV deal 535 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: a line, and I do think there's some validity to 536 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,199 Speaker 1: the thing that that Bob said. Bob Labriola told us 537 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 1: a few weeks ago that there are certain teams who 538 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 1: are wait under the cap. Right now, we're saying, well, 539 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,159 Speaker 1: we're under the capital. We're not worried about this. They 540 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 1: could really feast on some buys. Yeah, and so maybe 541 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 1: there's some of that, but that's that's you know, still, 542 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 1: let's sign off of the it's not close to the majority, no, 543 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: and that's that's killing the golden goose, like you know, 544 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: this is not what's for the best of the league. 545 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: And they can say, well, you guys put yourself in 546 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: this cap situation. Well, just because you don't spend money, 547 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 1: like okay, you go to Mike Brown and say, hey, Mike, 548 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: just because you don't spend to the cap level, you know, 549 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 1: the cap limits every year, doesn't mean that, you know, 550 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 1: just because we do, we should be penalized. Yeah, I 551 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,680 Speaker 1: mean right, I mean we have the league has the money, 552 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: and we took a hit that we didn't foresee coming. 553 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: We thought the cap would be to ten. Right now, 554 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 1: we'll go with two and we can all live. You know, 555 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: it's the better. It makes the lead better. And you're 556 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: still gonna have your cap space. You're still don't have 557 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: a cap base. You're still gonna get make a fortune 558 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 1: this year as an owner. Yeah, even if it's even 559 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: no one sits in there stands all year, they'll make money. Yeah, 560 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 1: you know, so it's gonna be interesting. We'll continue to 561 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 1: watch that. But I do think that, you know, the 562 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: now that the Hayward deal is done, we're gonna see 563 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: some other things, you know, take place here over the 564 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 1: next week or two. I would imagine a lot of 565 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: teams will be doing restructures and cuts this week. Yeah, 566 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: we're getting close enough. Now we're inside a month of 567 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 1: from from the start of free agency again supposed to 568 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 1: be coming in. They might bump that back. Yeah, so 569 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: again you kind of have to know what the captain. Yeah, 570 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 1: but he is Matt Williamson. I'm Dale Lally. You're listening 571 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: to uh the Drive here on Steelers Nation RADI. You know, 572 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,959 Speaker 1: of course, you can subscribe to anywhere that you you 573 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 1: get us a subscribe to the Steelers Nation Radio. Get 574 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: all the the podcast downloaded straight to your phone or 575 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 1: your tablet or your car wherever you listen to your 576 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: podcasts at we we'd appreciate if you do that. Like 577 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 1: the show, give us, give us some feedback here I 578 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 1: was reading I was reading the feedback on our show 579 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 1: over the weekend, and a lot of people like the show, 580 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 1: which we appreciate. Also, you know, you look in there 581 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: after you have some criticisms of the show. Let us know. Yeah, 582 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: we may or may not listen to you. Anyways, we're gonna, 583 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 1: We're gonna, that's gonna do it for this segment. So 584 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: former partner Matt Williamson for Jacob here on site keeping 585 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: us on the air. I'm Dale Lally. We appreciate you 586 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:19,200 Speaker 1: listening to this edition of The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio.