1 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: show on your twenty four to seven Home of the 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: Black and Gold SNR Steelers Nation Radio. 4 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 2: Fulcome back. I'm Dale Lollie. He is Matt Williamson and 5 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 2: this is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and Matt. 6 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 2: In the previous segment, we were talking around three players that 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 2: build around for every AFC team. Yeah, and we talked 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 2: a little bit during that segment about Tom Brady having 9 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 2: no you know, the the great start to his career. 10 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 2: The middle was was good. I mean, he did he 11 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 2: did a lot of good things in there, but it 12 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 2: was tough to win. They didn't the team didn't win 13 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 2: for a decade. Really, Yeah, they didn't win a super Bowl. 14 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 2: And then the end of his career was was, you know, 15 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 2: kind of a rebirth. And it just hit me that's 16 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: kind of if you look at Ben Roethlisberger's career with 17 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 2: the Steelers. They won, they won early, the first you know, 18 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: six years of his career. They went to three Super Bowls. 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's easy to forget three and six years. 20 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: And then the defense and the players around him started 21 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 2: to age out. The Troy Paula Malos, Yeah, yeah, the 22 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 2: Hines Wards, the James Harrison's, you know, they're all those 23 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 2: offensive linemen that that you know, were there early in 24 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 2: his career. By the time two thousand and eight, world around, 25 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 2: it was a completely different line. So now the team 26 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: has to rebuild that their window, their second window. People talk, well, 27 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 2: you know, the Steelers haven't done this, they haven't done that. 28 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 2: They've wasted Ben Roethlisberger at the end of Ben Roethlisberger's career. 29 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 2: Look at every quarterback out there. Look at Drew Brees. 30 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 2: Oh sure, one of super won Super Bowls early in 31 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 2: their careers. And then it gets tougher it does. You know, 32 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: Brady's the Brady's the outlier in this conversation, really. 33 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: In every conversation. 34 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, yeah, whatever, the conversation is easy outlier. 35 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: I'm open to the idea that Mahomes might also be. 36 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: But if he is, Alan Burrow, Lawrence Pickett, Herbert Jackson 37 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: are gonna be the same boat. Like great career, only 38 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: at one title. You know, like we say so million times, 39 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: Winning playoff games is really hard. Winning Super Bowls is 40 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: unbelievably hard. Winning it a couple of years in a 41 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: short amount of stretch is incredibly hard, and you're right. 42 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: I mean, I think a big thing we'll see is 43 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: Alan Watson. I mean, guys, these big contract dudes. Their 44 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: second chapter is going to be harder, and you hope 45 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: they're better players than they were for their first chapter. 46 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: I mean, they will be mentally, But is Allen going 47 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: to have a digs in two years? You know what 48 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:46,119 Speaker 1: I mean? 49 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: Right? It just changes so much. And so when you 50 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: look at the Steelers window to win with Kenny Pickett, 51 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 2: that windows right now. Yeah. 52 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: So I've been glued to Warren Sharp's book and a 53 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: thing he mentioned about the Bears that I didn't really 54 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: see coming was this is year three of justin Fields. 55 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: It's almost too late, you know you know what I mean? Like, yeah, yeah, 56 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: year one was a disaster, Nagy gets fired, everything's terrible. 57 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: Last year little around him and started to figure things out. 58 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: Now it's year three and you're starting to show progress. 59 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: It's almost too late. 60 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, you can't just start to show progress in year three. 61 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 2: That's why I mean, there is pressure to play these 62 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 2: young quarterbacks right away. And this is why landing spots 63 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 2: matter so much for quarterbacks, like the fact that the 64 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 2: Steelers last year were able to get the number one 65 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: quarterback in the draft a picked twenty right is amazing 66 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: to me. That never happens. Wasn't it like one? 67 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: I mean, come out of it. I didn't think he 68 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: was Andrew Locker Lawrence, of course, but what they this 69 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: is so much hindsight, but what they bought for the 70 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: twentieth overall pick is a tremendous acquisition. 71 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 2: Without a doubt, Like if he has a Jalen Hurts 72 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: like career path, and I'm not talking about the running 73 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 2: and everything. I'm just talking about as a player as 74 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: a player. Year two they make the playoffs. Year three 75 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 2: they go to the Super Bowl. That's a room. 76 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they're trading for aj Brown and drafting Devonte 77 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: Smith and signing Javon Hargrave, you know what I mean. 78 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: Like it's not gonna be exactly the same, but that 79 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: was what the Eagles were able to do because they 80 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: dumped Wentz and went to Hurts, you know what I mean. 81 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: So the next question is at what point with the 82 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 2: young quarterback? And we've seen this, you know, with the 83 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 2: Saints just or the Raiders finally giving up on Derek Carr. 84 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 2: You saw Washington give up on cousins and things that. 85 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: You know, golf, the Rams give up on golf. What's 86 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: the right time to give up on these young quarterbacks 87 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: if you don't think, hey, he's been here for this 88 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 2: long and we don't think he can do it. 89 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: It's obviously super relevant for the Steelers, but I almost 90 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: think sooner than later. Yeah, I mean, if it's year three, 91 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: Fields is a better example. 92 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 3: Fields is a the eighteenth best quarterback in the league 93 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty three, and they have the Panthers first 94 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 3: round pick and their pick, both of which are in 95 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 3: the top twelve somewhere, it might be. 96 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: Time to move on. And that's so unfair to Fields. 97 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: But in terms of roster construction, do I give him 98 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: forty million a year from now? Or do I use 99 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: two first round picks to go get the Duke kids 100 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: and trade Fields to the Vikings? You know what I mean? 101 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 2: Well, yeah, And the other part of that is, you know, 102 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 2: because of how easy it is now to make the 103 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 2: Pro Bowl. Not easy, but you see more guys doing it. 104 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 2: It's it's easier. And that's tied to how much these 105 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 2: guys get paid on their on the when you pick 106 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 2: up that fifty year option. 107 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: Right and no one's picking up options anymore. 108 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 2: Justin Fields could be a Pro Bowl quarterback in the 109 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 2: in the NFC this year easily. 110 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 1: That's not a hard story to right. 111 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 2: You know, he goes out in runs for runs for 112 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 2: twelve hundred yards and you know, throws twenty touchdown passes. 113 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 2: They still stink. But now he's a Pro Bowl quarterback. 114 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 2: The Bears have to pick up his option. And now 115 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 2: instead of paying twenty million for the option, it's twenty 116 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 2: eight or whatever. You know, that's basically about an eight 117 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 2: million dollar difference if the guy makes the Pro Bowl. 118 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know. I mean like Daniel Jones is a 119 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 1: similar example. They didn't pick up the option. I don't 120 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: think he had been Pro bowler, but then they had 121 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: to pay him, you know, and they still might not 122 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: be the answer. Like, I don't think you want to 123 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: get in the Daniel Jones conundrum. 124 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 2: And that's what it is. It really is a conundrum. 125 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: That's the situation that Washington got itself into with Cousins. 126 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: And they just bought another year. 127 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, they kept kicking the can down the road, and 128 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: you know, franchise tagging him. At some point, the franchise 129 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 2: tag becomes too much you can't afford to do, you know, 130 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 2: you just can't afford to do it. And their problem 131 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: is they haven't had a quarterback since, right, right. 132 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: I Mean, there's an argument they should have just given 133 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: Cousins a four year deal and they'd probably be better off. 134 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: But would they have many more wins? You know, would 135 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: they be a contender, would they have a ring? I'm 136 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: sure they would not, It. 137 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 2: Would never ring, but they would have probably had more wins. 138 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: And probably more wins. They're probably more wins, right, I 139 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: mean the guys they've played with since are pretty brutal. 140 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, But they. 141 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: Were franchising him a year after year they were buying 142 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: a ninety nine cent candy bar for a buck fifty 143 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: and then the next year two bucks with the ninety 144 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: nine cent candy bar, you know. 145 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 2: And you say, well, this is this candy bar taste 146 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 2: could but man, it's not worth two bucks. 147 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: And I keep getting fat. 148 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's an interesting kind I'm like, I just every 149 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 2: time somebody says the Steelers wasted, uh, you know, the 150 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 2: last ten years of Ben Roethlisberger's contract or his career, 151 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 2: I'm like, do you not look at everything else? The 152 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 2: number of quarterbacks who have won Super Bowls late in 153 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: their careers. Recently, I'm talking in the last you know, 154 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 2: two decades. Yeah, really, since the salary cap era has 155 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: it's really kind of kicked in. It's not a long list. 156 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: Well it's Brady and then it's not a long list. 157 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean it's just it's just not you know, 158 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 2: it's just not there. I mean the years I think 159 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: that everybody remembers John Elway winning, you know, at the 160 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 2: end of his career. Okay, Peyton Manning did it in Denver. 161 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 1: But they weren't even the drivers of their offense. 162 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 2: He wasn't, No, he was just along. They could have 163 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 2: had again, they could have had Kirk Cousins a quarterback 164 00:08:59,240 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 2: and been fine. 165 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: Mm hm, oh they've been better. 166 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 2: I mean probably, yeah, it would have been a better team. 167 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 1: I forget where I heard this in the offseason, but 168 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 1: they were talking about that season and Manning that year 169 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: was like thirty first in EPA and twenty ninth in DVR. 170 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: I mean, he was a bad player. 171 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: He had moments. 172 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: He had moments, but he was Peyton freaking Manning, so 173 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: he was out there, you know, I mean, with all 174 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: respect that he deserves. Then his mind is great, but 175 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: he couldn't throw. Yeah, Drew at the end couldn't throw. 176 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 2: I just remember that that year, that season, you know, 177 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 2: the Steelers had that team beat out there and Manning 178 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 2: made a throw. He recognized something in the Steelers defense 179 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 2: in the fourth quarter. Yes, you know, that's that's what 180 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 2: that's the value that that guy brings. And he made 181 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 2: he made a big throw for a first down and 182 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: you know won that game. But the Steelers were fumble 183 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 2: away from winning that. 184 00:09:56,559 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 1: Right, right, right, that's a tough path to take. I 185 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: should know this number off the top of my head. 186 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: But during the salary cap era, besides Brady, which is 187 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:11,199 Speaker 1: a caveat for all these conversations, there aren't many quarterbacks 188 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: that are making big money you know whatever. I don't 189 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: know what the number is, you know, X amount of 190 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: their salary cap. 191 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 2: Really, mahomes big salaries haven't kicked in yet. 192 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: And Mahomes is one of them last year, but not 193 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: his first one. 194 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, but his massive, big. 195 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: Money, top ten type quarterback money. There aren't many of 196 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: those guys that get a ring. 197 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, It's just it's really difficult to do. So I 198 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,199 Speaker 2: do think that you do have to make that decision 199 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 2: sooner rather than later. 200 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 1: Like this sounds awful, but there will be a case. 201 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: Let's say Kenny Pickett goes from the twenty fourth best 202 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: quarterback to the twelfth this year. The year after that, 203 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 1: he's the seventh, you know, kind of like the Hurts 204 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 1: thing you said. Let's say he has a really successful 205 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: first year three years of his career. There's an argument 206 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: to be made that the smart move is trade the 207 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: seventh best quarterback in his third year for two first 208 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: round picks and a player and go fishing again. Like 209 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: that's insane to think. 210 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 2: About unless you think he can, you know, the seventh 211 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 2: best quarterback in the league may win you a Super Bowl. 212 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: That's maybe too harsh because that's 'd be like saying 213 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: they should trade Burrow or Allen or Herbert nor Right, 214 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: but the next level you should probably trade, you. 215 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: Should trade, you should go fish, yeah. 216 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: Right, right, don't give Kyler Murray the big contract, trade 217 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,319 Speaker 1: him for two first to Washington and go fish again. 218 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: You know what I mean. 219 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 2: This is the beauty of Mahomes contracts. So last year 220 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 2: it was kind of the first year that the money 221 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 2: kicked in, but it was still only thirty five point 222 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 2: eight million dollars. 223 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: He's super cheap for what he brings to the table 224 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: next year. 225 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 2: This season it's thirty nine point seven million dollars. Next 226 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 2: year it's forty six point seven million dollars, goes to 227 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 2: forty eight point seven forty four point three actually goes 228 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 2: down in twenty twenty seven, it's sixty two point three 229 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 2: to five million. Right, that thing is so spread out. 230 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 2: That's the highest cash total cap pit wise in his 231 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 2: entire contract. Now, maybe at some point here Patrick Mahomes 232 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 2: is going to want to renegotiate that deal. 233 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: Yes, but he's also got a ton of cash so 234 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: far in signing bonuses and whatnot. 235 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,320 Speaker 2: But by twenty twenty seven, there's going to be some 236 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 2: quarterback making seventy five million dollars a year. 237 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,959 Speaker 1: Oh right, right, right, right. But from a chief perspective, 238 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 1: they're probably talking to him going, I mean, he's signed 239 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: a ten year deal, little Lamar signed a three year 240 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: deal with Watson signed, you know, like they're no. Ten 241 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: four three, much smaller. But I'm obviously the conversation has 242 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: been had from Mahomes, Mahomes and his agent and the Chiefs. 243 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 1: We're going to renegotiate this five times in the ten years. Yeah, 244 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: and we're giving you big chunks of. 245 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 2: All they really all they really have to do is 246 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 2: just keep giving him signing bars. Hey, we're going to 247 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 2: attack on. We'll attack on another year and give you 248 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 2: another fifty million dollars signing bonus. 249 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: Right, fifty million? Yeah, Okay, I can invest that, and 250 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: I already got one hundred million in the bank, and 251 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, they're in really good shape of that contract. Yeah, 252 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 1: but the rest of ten year deal. Could you imagine 253 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 1: giving Lamar or Watson a ten year deal? 254 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 2: Yeah? 255 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 1: God, because I can't. I mean, I like you, I 256 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: don't like that. 257 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 2: The problem with that becomes if the player gets hurt 258 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 2: or decides, you know what, I'm thirty two years old, 259 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 2: I'm done, or gets arrested or yeah anything, Yeah, you 260 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 2: know the problem. You know, So when when Mahomes is 261 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 2: thirty two, that isn't when he that is that twenty 262 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 2: twenty seven year. He still has five years left on 263 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 2: that contract. So if Patrick Mahomes decided at thirty two, 264 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 2: he was you know what, I don't want to play 265 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 2: football anymore. I'm gonna go be lumberjack. 266 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, movie star, whatever you want, the. 267 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 2: Rest of that contract then kicks in. That was the problem. 268 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 2: That's what happened with with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 269 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 2: Brady Like. They signed them to these to these you know, 270 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 2: big deals, knowing that he was you know, hey, he 271 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: may not play this thing, this thing out and we're 272 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 2: gonna have to eat this contract at some point while 273 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 2: they're eating the contract down and they can't afford to 274 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 2: keep guys. 275 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: I mentioned a couple segments ago. I had a last 276 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: twenty four hours. I've been a cap nerd dead cap money. 277 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: The Bucks and Rams both have like seventy five million. 278 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: Nobody else is over fifty seven Yeah, dead I mean 279 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: and dead cap money, folks, is money you're paying for 280 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: a player that's not on your team. You're not getting 281 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: one snap out of that seventy five million dollars that 282 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: you are writing checks for. 283 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 2: Still, it goes back to our It goes back to 284 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 2: our conversation and we've had many times about what what 285 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 2: will you know? What do you do to win a 286 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 2: Super Bowl? 287 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: Mm hmm? 288 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 2: What's it worth to your franchise? To some franchises like 289 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 2: Tampa Bay in the Rams, who are. 290 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: Five million dead got they're. 291 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 2: Fighting for recognition in their markets. They're not a you know, 292 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 2: a team that that traditionally sells out the stadium, that 293 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 2: kind of stuff. If you're if you're if you're the Cowboys, 294 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 2: you're the Steelers, you're the Packers. Uh, you know, even 295 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: the Giants. You know, some of these teams that are 296 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 2: more established with the fan base, you can't afford to 297 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 2: have bad, bad years. Fan base won't accept it. 298 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: Right, No, I hear you're saying right right. And to 299 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: the credit of those two teams, they both got a ring, 300 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: so it's justified. But it easily could have went the 301 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: other way, you know what I. 302 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 2: Mean, without a doubt, without a doubt. So just that 303 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 2: that that crossed my mind when I was thinking about 304 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: the that whole argument there with with you know, how 305 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 2: many how many years during Ben Roethlisberger's career would he 306 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 2: have been on that list of the three players to 307 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 2: build around. 308 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: Eighty percent of it? 309 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 2: Probably up until twenty seventeen ish. 310 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess you're thirty five or older. You 311 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 1: can't be on that list, you know what I mean, 312 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 1: even as a quarterback, even the quarterback you know right, 313 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: I mean, Rogers wasn't on the Jets list. 314 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, Russell Wilson didn't make the Broncos list and Jerry 315 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 2: Judy did. Right thirty four years old? 316 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: You know, so quick question too about Like I was 317 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: just thinking about the Mahomes ten year deal. There's less concerns. 318 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: There's no off the field concerns with Lamar, but there 319 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: are if he tweaks an ankle, is he the same player? 320 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: There's off the field concerns with Watson. Hurts is also 321 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: a very physical guy. I'm just think about recent big contracts. 322 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: If you're the Bengals and maybe the Chargers, do you 323 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: offer Burrow and Herbert like a ten year deal that 324 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: you say, we want you to live here for the 325 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: rest of your career, where we restructure it over and 326 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: over And if you're them, do you take. 327 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 2: It or would that's a two edge Sure? If I'm 328 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 2: the franchise, If I'm the team, yeah, I offer that. 329 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 2: If I'm the player, I don't accept it. 330 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 1: Right. I want to be a free agent again when 331 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: I'm thirty one. 332 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 2: Not even if it's not even about being a free agent, 333 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 2: it's about, Hey, I don't know what the quarterback market 334 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 2: is going to be three years from now. 335 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I bet this league's going to do well, and 336 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: I bet quarterbacks will continue to get paid at the 337 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: top of the market, and I bet I'm good. 338 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 2: I don't want to be at some point in this 339 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 2: in this ten year deal which Mahomes is gonna They're 340 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 2: gonna run into this one with Mahomes to be the 341 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 2: tenth Why should I be the eccettle for being the 342 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 2: twelfth highest paid quarterback when I'm number one? 343 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 1: Right? And to Brady's credit, he did it for years. 344 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,119 Speaker 2: He could do it though, because he's married to you know, 345 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 2: a mega supermodel. 346 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 1: Well, they all could do it. Mahomes is important. 347 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 2: Well yeah, yeah, But at some point it becomes you know, 348 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 2: you want to be paid fairly music fairly fairly in 349 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 2: the air quois. But it's like any other profession. If 350 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 2: you're the best guy at your profession, don't you want 351 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 2: to be paid like that? 352 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: Of course we all do, everyone listening does, and you 353 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: deserve to be if you're the best, you know, right. 354 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 2: It always kills me when people talk about the you know, 355 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 2: the hometown discount or this or that. Look how things 356 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 2: ended with with the Patriots and Brady. 357 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 1: Mm hm no, Eventually he had enough. 358 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 2: Part of the part of the reason for that was 359 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 2: because he took the he took the less to be 360 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,719 Speaker 2: there all those years, and he didn't feel like they 361 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 2: were backing him up. 362 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: Mm hmm. 363 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 2: I mean I'm taking less and you're giving me this 364 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 2: to work with. 365 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, yeah, no one und you know, like give 366 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: me where's my Randy Moss? You know, right if I'm 367 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 1: if I'm giving, if I'm going to sacrifice, you know, 368 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 1: don't bad example, don't trade Tyreek Hill, you know, don't 369 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: go get me the go get me DeVante Adams. You 370 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: know what I mean? If I'm Brady, you know something 371 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: like that. 372 00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:00,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. So, I mean, I you know, it's if I'm 373 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 2: the player, I don't want the long term contract. I 374 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 2: don't want an eight year deal. I want a three 375 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:06,400 Speaker 2: or four year deal. 376 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,119 Speaker 1: Yeah. I think so too, because even if you get hurt, 377 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: you're still very valuable. I mean we've seen like Kyler 378 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: Murray is going to be valuable next off season almost 379 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: no matter what happens this year. 380 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 2: Right right, there's still somebody will Yeah, somebody will still 381 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 2: won him. 382 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Vikings or Commanders or you know, on and 383 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: on and on will want him. Yeah, the box you know, right. 384 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's just enough quarterback start of teams out there 385 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 2: that no matter how many are available in the draft, 386 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 2: somebody's going to be left without a quarterback. 387 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: And a lot of this goes back to ownership too 388 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: in fan bases, as you mentioned that if I know, 389 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: as a GM and coach, I better win this year, 390 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 1: I'm getting fired. Well, I'm not going to go to 391 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: the draft, you know, Like right there, Tomlin could have 392 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: been like, all right, we're moving on from Ben. I 393 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 1: don't want to go give a second round pick for 394 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:09,680 Speaker 1: Derek Carr and just win eight games. I want I'm 395 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: gonna go to the draft, which is more of a 396 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 1: dice roll, but it's better for the franchise. And I 397 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 1: know even if twenty twenty two ends up as a 398 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 1: six and eleven year, I'm not getting fired and I 399 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: don't have to go find a new job, you know 400 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:24,640 Speaker 1: what I mean? 401 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 2: Right yeah, your owner has to be on board with 402 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 2: that as well, where your GM or whoever makes those 403 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 2: kind of decisions. 404 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: And there has to be a trust between the two. 405 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: It can't just be Like I was talking about this 406 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: the other day, we did a podcast of What Coaches 407 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 1: Are on the hot Seat, and my co host and 408 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 1: I are like, we went AFC and NFC McVeigh. His 409 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: seat is super cold. He can do whatever he wants. 410 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: But then I thought, if that owner is sitting in 411 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: the press box listening to Booze fourteen weeks in a 412 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,199 Speaker 1: row and you're the worst team in the league, you 413 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,400 Speaker 1: might kind of renege on your deal that we're gonna 414 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 1: have all this dead money and use our first round 415 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: picks because I hate what I'm watching right now and 416 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna play you, you know what I mean. 417 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 2: And you know, fourteen weeks into the season, people are 418 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 2: no longer coming and I don't. Hey, we're not going 419 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:13,640 Speaker 2: to sell any season tickets next year right in La. Yeah, 420 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 2: they're gonna go to a Lakers game instead. 421 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: Right right exactly. You know, like I got other things. 422 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go surfing, I'm gonna go do whatever. I 423 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 1: got things to do. 424 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, it's just it gets harder and harder. 425 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 2: So yeah, interesting, just something I thought of what we 426 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 2: were going through, that list of the top three players 427 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,639 Speaker 2: or three players to build around on the each AFC franchise. 428 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 2: But Matt, that's going to do it for our show today? 429 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, good stuff. This was fun. 430 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, we'll be back on Friday, and then the 431 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 2: following week we'll have our three shows, and the week 432 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,400 Speaker 2: after that it's back at training camp. 433 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:52,439 Speaker 1: Baby oh man, good stuff. Yeah, Sharky's notification on my 434 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:52,880 Speaker 1: phone today. 435 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 2: I thought, there you go, there you go. My phone 436 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 2: will be probably be telling me here it's, you know, 437 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 2: fifteen minutes to Sharky's or something like that. Here pretty 438 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 2: soon yourself. 439 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 1: Yeah it's not by Sharkyes, if you're going to be 440 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: in the troupe say hello. 441 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, but that's going to do it. So for 442 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 2: my partner Matt Williamson, I am Dale Lally. We thank 443 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 2: you for listening to this edition of the Drive on 444 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 2: Steelers Nation Radio.