1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. I am pleased to welcome back to Pittsburgh. 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: D J. Finney, Hi, b J. I know you're not 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh right now, but kind of tell us where 4 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: you're at and take us through this crazy process of 5 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: how you ended back with the Steelers. Well, currently we're 6 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: in Manhattan, Kansas, where my wife and I own a home. 7 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: UM and you know, I just had a great Eastern 8 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: with the family and really looking forward to spending a 9 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: little bit more time with them. Uh, the crazy process 10 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: that was UM. So last March, I signed with Seattle 11 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: UM and I was right as COVID was really kicking 12 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: off in the country. Seattle was the hotbed in the 13 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: country at that time, so I wasn't able to travel 14 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: there to get my physical UM so I could train. 15 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: I know that an article was released saying I had 16 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: missed my signing bonus stool and actually was you know, 17 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: the entire contract. If I'd have showed up to camp 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: hurt or you know, something was wrong, then I would 19 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: have been without a job, without any money and hurt. 20 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: So UM, that entire process trying to get through, you know, 21 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: different routes of getting a physical taken care of, whether 22 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: you know whatever it was. I offered to drive to Seattle, 23 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: uh you know, going to Dallas, Kansas City, Denver. You know, 24 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to get my physicals so I could train 25 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: to be ready. Um, and just didn't work out. So 26 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: uh fast forward to July. I showed up to Seattle, 27 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: UM overweight and out of shape, as expected, but I 28 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: gotta keep the contracts, so that was good. Um, things 29 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: didn't really go well. I get traded to Cincinnati, UM 30 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: at the end of October, and UM, you know by 31 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: that time, at that point the season, you have your guys, 32 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: you know, going forward, and you know, trying to bring 33 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: somebody new into the fold is just really hard to do. So, UM, 34 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: we weren't surprised, you know, come early March this you 35 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: know last month that you know we were getting released. 36 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: So um, you know, once that happened, it was a 37 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: couple of days and Kevin Colburton and omar Con you know, 38 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: reached out and said, hey, we want to bring you back, 39 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: and we knew it was a great fit for us, 40 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: and it's kind of a reset mode and just knowing 41 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: what we could expect going back to pitt We're excited 42 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: to be back and looking forward to it. What were 43 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 1: the conversations, Like I know you said you had a 44 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: chance to come to Pittsburgh to sign the contract. Just 45 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 1: were you able to meet with any of the coaching 46 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: staff or anybody really just to kind of see what 47 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: they're anticipating for you this season? Um, you know, I 48 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: gotta talk with Mr Colbert and coach Tomlin talked on 49 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: the phone to coach Morgan, the assist offensive line coach, 50 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:42,559 Speaker 1: and and Adrian Claimed the new head of line coach. Um, 51 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: you know, it's just a matter of me coming in 52 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: being ready to roll, to see what can happen. Um, 53 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: you know, coach he that has already told me that 54 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: my fate is in my own hands. So we'll see 55 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: what happens. What is it like? Also, just you know, 56 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 1: you have a family. The move was obviously that you 57 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: talked about with the different teams. Obviously Cincinnati is not 58 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: far from Pittsburgh, but you you had to start kind 59 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: of new there, you know, and in Pittsburgh you've been 60 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: here before. You guys understand the community and then also 61 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: the Steelers and how they operate. Yeah, you know, moving, 62 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: like I said, we talked about it before the interview. 63 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: You know, three cross country moves and nine months, especially 64 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 1: with the little one. I don't advise it with anybody. Um, 65 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: the organizations were great, both Seattle and Cincinnati. UM, you know, 66 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: I can't give them enough high praise. Great to work with. UM, 67 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: But like you said, you know, we have a feel 68 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: for Pittsburgh. We're excited to get back to that field. 69 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: We know the city, we love the city, we love 70 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: the organization and the people. So we're just really happy 71 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: to be back in the Black and gold. You mentioned 72 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: coming back to Pittsburgh for you means reset mode. So 73 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: what exactly does that entail of what you need to 74 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: accomplish or want to accomplish this off season before anything 75 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: really gets started in terms of team organ activities. UM, 76 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: you know, reset mode for me is just getting back to, 77 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: you know, being in shape, being ready to role like 78 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: I was you know prior to UM, knowing this system 79 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: that Coach Canada wants to bring in and blend with 80 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: with Ben again, and uh, just being back into that 81 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: room and and knowing the ins and out and uh, 82 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: you know, just resetting to Pittsburgh. So, UM, we're excited 83 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: and I can't wait. You mentioned Ben he is still here. 84 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: Coach Canada's now the offensive coordinator. No, Marque's pouncy. How 85 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: different does it feel like this team is just being 86 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: gone a year? Uh, that's there's been a drastic change. Um. 87 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: You know, there's many conversations with my wife and I 88 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: have had that a lot of guys I've been there 89 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: with for so many years are no longer there. Um, 90 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: not just Pouncy, but Ramon and there's possibility that all 91 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: may not be there. And Matt Filer just signed with 92 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: the Chargers. So just in my room alone, Um, you know, 93 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 1: the same seven guys that were there from years, there's 94 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: two of us left and so it just you know, 95 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: happened overnight and um, you know, and then you go 96 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: to you know, different position groups around a team with 97 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: you know, Vince Williams we were close with and Mike Kilden. 98 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: You know, those guys are gone and it's just gonna 99 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: be a very drastic change in that aspect. But um, 100 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: it's always good to have that emblem on the side 101 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: of your head. So what is the goal for you? 102 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: What do you want to be? What position works for 103 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: you in two thousand and twenty if it was up 104 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: to you, Honestly, it's wherever I can fit in the best. 105 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, obviously in the interior three. If 106 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: that's the center, then you know, so be it. Then 107 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: I'll play center. And if I can start a guard them, 108 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: you know, I'd love to start a guard. So it's 109 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: just wherever I can be the most beneficial and see 110 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: the most playing time, honestly, be left alone that I 111 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: can develop, um, you know, in one spot and get 112 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: the finer details into that position. So that's what I want, 113 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 1: all right, b J, thanks for your time. As always, 114 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 1: we really appreciate. We're glad you're back. Thank you, guys. 115 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: It great to be back.