1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: You are listening to the Dan Patrick Show on Fox 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Sports Radio. Albert Brier from the Monday Morning Quarterback, what 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: do you make of this with Texas and Oklahoma thinking 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: about joining the SEC. I'm more of like a biaston. 5 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: I love the circus, you know what I mean, Like, 6 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: I just like the absurdity of college football. It's it's great, 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: And I mean, I guess this is where we're going though, 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: right Like without being somebody who covers a day to 9 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: day it just Dana sort of feels like at some point, 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: and I think we've been talking about this for fifteen 11 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,639 Speaker 1: or twenty years, and I love college football, right All 12 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: you gotta do is look over my shoulders to see that. 13 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: But but I think it's like where we've been going 14 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: for a while now, right like where eventually all of 15 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: the big powerhouse schools, the big powerhouse conferences are going 16 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: to separate themselves from the rest of the sport. And 17 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: I mean this feels like that, right yeah. But I 18 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: wonder what's going to happen with Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, US, 19 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,279 Speaker 1: maybe Oregon. You know, you don't want to get left out. 20 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: It's a game of musical chairs. And then music stops 21 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: and you go, wait a minute, what happened? You don't 22 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 1: have a share to sit down on. But don't you 23 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: think like the USC's, Michigan's, Ohio States, those schools I 24 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: think are protected because those are like self sustaining brands, right, 25 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 1: Like I'd be more worried if I was like in Iowa, 26 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: or if I was like a Washington Right. Like the 27 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: teams that have sort of that are been really really 28 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: good in the past, but maybe aren't like self sustaining 29 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: brands where they can go out and sell themselves as 30 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: a singular entity, like Ohio State and Michigan and USC. 31 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: They could get notre dame television deals, couldn't they if 32 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: they wanted to on their own? Like I probably right? Yeah, 33 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: Like so, but there those other schools I think, Like 34 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: that's the thing is it's like, if you're like, say 35 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: you're Illinois, are you worried about something happening to you 36 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: similar to what might happen to say Kansas? Now? No, right, 37 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: Like it just sort of feels like that's the set 38 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: that those would be the schools where I think you 39 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,399 Speaker 1: know that you'd have to be worried about the big 40 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: powerhouse brand names I think are probably gonna be okay 41 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: either way. And you you have probably and I maintain 42 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 1: you're probably gonna have three super conferences and maybe have 43 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: sixteen teams in each of them. Then that's it. You 44 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 1: just capit it that. You know, a program like Vandy 45 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: where you know they're gonna get parting gifts and say 46 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: see you later. But yeah, imagine if the NFL did this, 47 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: If all of a sudden you said, nay, we're gonna 48 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: bring in Robert Kraft goes, let's bring in the giants. 49 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: You know, we we want them to be part of 50 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: our conference here. You know, these these blue bloods, the cowboys, 51 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: how valuable. I guess that's the way the way, doesn't 52 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: that the way English soccer works though? With relegation. I 53 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: love relegation, right, Like, like what if the NFL split 54 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 1: into three and you had relegation? Is there any expansion 55 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: on the horizon with the NFL. I don't think so, 56 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: just because I think the NFL owners are like so 57 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: where they are, like they came to a point I 58 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: think fifteen years ago or so where it was, We've done. 59 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: We've grown up as much as we can, right, So, 60 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: Like domestically, the way the product's been produced over the 61 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: last you know, however many decades, like we've maxed that 62 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: out and so now we've just got to add inventory, right, 63 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: So everything was growing out. That's what London is, That's 64 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: what going back to la is. That's seventeen games, expanding 65 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: the playoffs, all of those different things, you know, but 66 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: they've done it within the context of thirty two teams. 67 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: And the key there is that pie that they're talking about. 68 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: You know, Jerry always says, grow the pie. Well, if 69 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: they're you're splitting a thirty two ways and you're growing 70 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: it and then maybe you're splitting it thirty four ways 71 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: at thirty six ways, now you've got to grow the 72 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: pie that much more. So, I think if they were 73 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: ever going to go into like talking about expanding again, 74 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: like the growth would have to be exponential financially where 75 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: you know, splitting it thirty four ways with thirty six 76 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: ways would mean more of a share for each of 77 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: the teams than splitting it thirty two ways. And you're 78 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: not going to do that by going into some middling market, 79 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, Like you have to go 80 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: to someplace it's really going to add a lot of value. 81 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: So the only way I really see that happening is 82 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: if it's international. What about relocation. Yeah, I mean, you know, 83 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: we've always you've heard more grousing I think over the 84 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: last maybe decade or so about teams pulling their weight, 85 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 1: you know, and the Cincinnatis of the world, and you 86 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 1: know how like Buffalo had the owner's name in the 87 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: stadium for that long, and how Cincinnati still has the 88 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: you know, the name of the founder of the team 89 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 1: in the stadium, and how they're not like doing right 90 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: steals and they're not pulling every lever financially, and they're 91 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: dragging the other teams down to begin with because they're 92 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: smaller markets. So could we eventually get there maybe? I 93 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: think what's protected a lot of those teams has been 94 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 1: the stadium boom, and so many of those stadiums are 95 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: like relatively new, and so you know, like Indianapolis, for example, 96 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: would be a city where you would look and you 97 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: would say, all right, like is this city pulling its weight? Well, 98 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: they built a stadium a little over ten years ago. 99 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: So I think like the idea of moving those teams 100 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 1: with LA off the table now really becomes a matter 101 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: of when those stadiums sort of age out, and I 102 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: think we're still a ways away from that. Like Cincinnati stadiums, 103 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: what twenty years old now? And I'm not picking on 104 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 1: the Bengals, but you know there are stadiums that are 105 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 1: getting a little older now. You know, when those stadiums 106 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,679 Speaker 1: are thirty thirty five years old, maybe we're talking about 107 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: something else. Again, my caveat on that would be the 108 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: same where the international part of it I think could 109 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: come into play, where a city like you know, we've 110 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: talked about Jacksonville forever, like whenever they're ready to go 111 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 1: to London. I think that's in a different category than 112 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: moving a team. To me, we're talking Aboutbert Breer, the 113 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: senior NFL reporter for the Monday Morning Quarterback. What intrigued 114 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: you out of Cowboys camp yesterday with Jerry Jones? Anything 115 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: catch your attention. Yeah, the Jimmy Johnson thing, definitely. I mean, 116 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: and I know that's not about the here and the now, 117 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 1: but the fact that you know, he basically can see 118 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: they're gonna put him in the Ring of Honor. I 119 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: don't think most people know that Jimmy's not in the 120 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: Ring of Honor and Dallas, which just seems absurd, right, Yeah, 121 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: that seems a little petty. Yeah, yeah, So I mean 122 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,239 Speaker 1: the fact that he conceded, and I think he said 123 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: that like he doesn't want to do it this year 124 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: because they want to honor Jimmy for getting into Hall 125 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: of Fame this year, so they want to do a 126 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 1: separate ceremony for it, which is fair. But the fact 127 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: that he's conceding that it's going to be done got 128 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: my attention now as far as like the here and 129 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: the now and the Cowboys like two day. Yeah, I 130 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 1: think Mike McCarthy saying that Dak Prescott's full go is 131 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: huge because I can remember when that injury happened, and 132 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: I can remember talking to people in January and February 133 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: where there was definitely some quiet concern. I mean, I 134 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: guess even just how Dak was moving around at that point, 135 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: you know, And so this was more I think, you know, 136 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: this was more than like a torn acl or somebody 137 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: blowing out their achilles, like. This was something where there 138 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: weren't a ton of guarantees on what he was going 139 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: to look like coming back. So I think the fact 140 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: that he's full go for the start of training camp 141 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: is enormous, enormous news. Even if it's what we expected 142 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: all along, then you've got Steelers camp that's opened up, 143 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: and those two will meet in the Hall of Fame game. 144 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: I still go back to the Steelers went all in 145 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: on improving their running game, and I didn't know if 146 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: that's really what they needed to improve upon. And you 147 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: could get a running back and we've devalued running backs. 148 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: I like Naj Harris, but do I like him at 149 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: that spot for the Steelers that it came as a 150 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: little bit of a surprise, how about you? Yeah? And 151 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: I think I think a piece of that is like 152 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: the need to take the pressure off of Ben Roethlisberger's shoulders. 153 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: Like I think it's an acknowledgement he can't carry the 154 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: team anymore. And in a lot of ways, I mean, 155 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: I guess the parallel you could, you know, draw us 156 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: to the nineties Broncos. You know what Terrell Davis did 157 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: for John Elway at the end of his career. You know, 158 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: I think they feel like Ben Roethlisberger because of his experience, 159 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: the inventory he has mentally, his big game experience, all 160 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: that different stuff, Like they can still win with him, 161 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 1: but he can't carry the team anymore. And so, you know, 162 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: I think that it's an acknowledgement like, you know, we're 163 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: pretty good at receiver, and if we get him a 164 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: back and we create easy completions for him, he's going 165 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: to take less hits. And so the equation there for 166 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: for Mike Tomin and Kevin Colbert was like, how can 167 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: we make it so this is less about Ben Roethlisberger 168 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: and more about the team around him lifting him up. Now, 169 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: the one thing that I think everybody has sort of 170 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: glossed over over the last six months alhand, Villa Nuavea 171 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: was gone, David Castro's gone, Markey's pounce He's gone, and 172 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 1: Mike Munshak, who is the you know, line coach who 173 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: put all that together five years ago, has gone too. 174 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: So I think so much of where the Steelers go 175 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: is going to ride on their ability to support Ben 176 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger and not ask too much of Ben Roethlisberger at 177 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 1: his age. I think getting Naji Harris was a piece 178 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: of that. The bigger question to me is can they 179 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,199 Speaker 1: fix the offensive line on the fly. And the Steelers 180 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: have earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes 181 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: to drafting and developing but there's gonna be a lot 182 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: of pressure on a couple of young guys up front 183 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: to get it done. The team that had the best 184 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: off season, the team that had the worst off season, 185 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: the team that had the best off season. I would 186 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: say the team that had the best offseason. God, you know, 187 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: I would almost go Rams, but they just lost cam Acres, 188 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: you know, so it would seem like like I just 189 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: I don't know. I have a hard time going with them, 190 00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: and the Bucks are an easy answer because they bring 191 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: everybody back. I'm gonna give you a little bit of 192 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: a curveball. I'm gonna say the Chargers. I liked their 193 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: head coach a lot, Brandon Staley, and I think like 194 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: they quietly fixed their offensive line in a very pragmatic 195 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 1: way where they didn't overreach for anybody. They got I 196 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:19,439 Speaker 1: think guy who some people would argue is the best 197 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: center in the league in Corey Lindsley. And they drafted 198 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: a left tackle on Rashaun Slater who no one thought 199 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: was going to be there at thirteen, so they got 200 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: good value and free agency they got good value at 201 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: left tackle. They were able to fix both of those 202 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: spots without going crazy. And then on top of that. 203 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 1: You know, they lose Hunter Henry at tight end, but 204 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: I think he'd argue if Jared Cook stays healthy, he 205 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: could be an upgrade at that position. So I just 206 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: look at them and what they've done to support their 207 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: young quarterback. Justin Herbert, I had the Chargers had an 208 00:10:51,160 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 1: awfully good offseason that offseason Houston, Houston. I'm so I 209 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: like and I like a lot of what Nick Cassario 210 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: has done there. But I just I think going through 211 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: what you went through with Deshaun Watson, um, all of 212 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: the stuff with um, you know what Jack Easter be Uh. 213 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: You know, I think that this you put a lot 214 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 1: on the plate of David Culley in his first year 215 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: in Houston. So I think it's hard to answer answer 216 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: answered any other way than it's the Houston Texans who 217 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: had the toughest offseason. Now, I think Nick Assario has 218 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: a chance to be a brilliant general manager. So he's 219 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: got a chance to turn around. I think he brought 220 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: like some really underrated, like you know, competitive free agents 221 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 1: into the building, But I don't know how that's better 222 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: than a three or four win team, which I mean, look, 223 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 1: you know, you know you win three or four games. 224 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: If you're competitive and you're able to establish something program wise, 225 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: maybe you trade Deshaun Watson for a King's Ransom and 226 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: then you know, we get to April and they're looking 227 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,199 Speaker 1: at Spencer Rattler and Sam Howe and all those from 228 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: guys in the draft. So I mean, you know, part 229 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: of it's sort of where the franchise is. But yeah, 230 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: I don't think you'd argue they had a very good 231 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 1: offseason based on everything that happened. Oh, it's great to 232 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: talk to you, Albert. Thank you. We appreciate your time. 233 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: Thanks to appreciate it. Be sure to catch the live 234 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,319 Speaker 1: edition of The Dan Patrick Show week days at nine 235 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: am Eastern six am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and 236 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: the iHeart Radio app. Pat Connaughton, the star of the 237 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: Milwaukee Bucks, former Notre Dame fighting irishman, joining us on 238 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: the program. Pat, could you have played a basketball game 239 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: last night? Honestly, with all the adrenaline I had probably 240 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: the excitement coming off it. It was it was something special. 241 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: It was great to be out there and obviously have 242 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: my teammates around and celebrate with them last night. But 243 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: you know, we probably could have pulled it off if 244 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: needed to be who was the MVP of the celebration? 245 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: Who PJ? Tucker and Bobby Portis I give a co 246 00:12:56,120 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: MBP awards. You know they were they were novel, They 247 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 1: enjoyed it. I was super happy from PJ. I mean, 248 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: Pj's had an incredible career and obviously this was something 249 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: that he was looking for and he did a lot 250 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,559 Speaker 1: of things to help us get it, so he deserved 251 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: to be the MVP of the celebration. Do you just 252 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: wear your uniform out of the arena? Ah, so funny story. 253 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: I didn't. I showered eventually, and then obviously went to 254 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: the after party and after dinner and stuff like that. 255 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: But I do recall one of my teammates did show 256 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: up to the after party still wearing the entire uniform, 257 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: shoes tied, shooting sleep on well. I saw Jannis checking 258 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 1: into a hotel at four in the morning. I got 259 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,119 Speaker 1: a picture from a buddy, and he's got the trophies 260 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 1: and he's in full uniform. He's at the front desk 261 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: checking into a hotel. At it was like he was 262 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: checking into the game at four in the morning. I mean, 263 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: you saw his Chick fil A order the next morning 264 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: when he said he didn't sleep, so Jannis is. I 265 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: think the one of the coolest part was about this 266 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: whole thing is the world got to see a little 267 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: bit of Janes's personality. I mean he's quiet sometimes media 268 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: and obviously he's very focused on accomplishing our goals. But 269 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: when you get him and he's outside and he's in 270 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: the locker room outside of you know, media and business, 271 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,599 Speaker 1: setting the kids funny, and I was happy that the 272 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: world got to see that. Yeah, he came off as 273 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: a great, great kid. I mean I shouldn't say kid, 274 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: I mean he's just he had humility, sense, he humor, timing, 275 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: There was a lot and I was glad that he 276 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: was able to showcase that because I think we're always 277 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: going to be looking at him going, hey, you can 278 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: win all those MVPs, you got to win championships. Well, 279 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: now he got a Hall pass, he's on scholarship for 280 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: a little while. That people aren't gonna go, hey, when 281 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: are you gonna win a championship? When did you realize, though, 282 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: what he was capable of doing. You know, the first 283 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: day I got here three years ago and I signed 284 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: with the Bucks, I was that we were having you know, 285 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: some open gym type stuff, and we were all working 286 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: out in the morning, and you know, I'm a second 287 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: round guy, a guy that was trying to make sure 288 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: that I had a role on this team. So at night, 289 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: you know, I'd come back and I'd work out and 290 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: I think, you know, I did it in Portland. It's 291 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: something that I have to do. It's something that you know, 292 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: I enjoyed doing. But you got to put time into 293 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: your craft. And the coolest part that I think people 294 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: don't know is when I came back and continue to 295 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: come back, Ynest was there and be honest, look at 296 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: me like, what are you doing here? And I looked 297 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: at him like, what are you doing here? I'm the 298 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: guy that has to be here. Why are you here? 299 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: And so just the things that he does behind the 300 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: scenes and the time and effort that he puts in 301 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: that people don't see, I think made me realize that 302 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: he is a championship type guy. And then it was 303 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: just watching his growth as a leader. You know, he 304 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: had obviously the physical work ethic that you would I 305 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: would see on a daily basis, but the vocal leadership 306 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: that he's grown into, that type of role he's grown 307 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: into to where when he got hurt and he was 308 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: out for those last two games in Atlanta. He was 309 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: still president on the bench. He was still being vocal 310 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: both individually and collectively to the team, to teammates and 311 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: pulling them aside to give them the confidence to understand 312 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: that you know, he was here. He had our backs 313 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: even though he wasn't out there, and it was on 314 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: us to make sure we had his I was scary injury, though, Pat, 315 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: because you had guys former players who came on this 316 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: show and said they didn't know if he'd even play 317 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: again and the rest of the postseason. That's why I 318 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: think we're under selling what he accomplished in the finals 319 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: based off of the hyper extended knee. I mean, remarkable. Yeah, 320 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: I mean, look, he's he's a freak. He's got that 321 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: nickname for a reason. In but I think the funny 322 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: part is exactly what you said. You know, it was 323 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: a questionable if he was going to play again in 324 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: the postseason. He was able to make it back for 325 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: Game one of the Finals, and because of the type 326 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: of obviously a series he had, I think people kind 327 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: of forget, Hey, it was a question if he was 328 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: going to play again. But because of the performances he had, 329 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: people kind of took it for in it and you know, 330 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: he just wanted to win and that was the coolest 331 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: part about being alongside a superstar. All he cared about 332 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: was winning. Pat Connaughton, uh the Milwaukee Bucks card joining 333 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: us on the program. Why did you kind of find 334 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: your role, your your place in this lineup? Uh? No, 335 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 1: I think over the course of the last few years, 336 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 1: I've found it in spurts and I've been I've had 337 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 1: impacts in spurts and uh, you know, I've enjoyed playing 338 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: alongside you know, my teammates I've been here for three years, 339 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: the new ones that I've just got here this year, 340 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,479 Speaker 1: the coaching staff that's been here for three years, and 341 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,360 Speaker 1: the organization in general, all the way from ownership down 342 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: to to management, etc. But I think it was just 343 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: a confidence that was continued to be instilled to me. 344 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: And you know, when Dante went down, who's you know, 345 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: a tremendous player. It wasn't about trying to do more. 346 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: It was just about trying to continue to do what 347 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: I do, be my own guy, and make sure that 348 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 1: it was just done on a longer period of time. 349 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 1: What did you keep from the final game. Uh, I 350 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: kept my uniform, I kept my shoes, I kept hats shirts. Um, 351 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: but I think the coolest part was the moments, the pictures, 352 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 1: the things that were just pure celebration. Joy I mean, 353 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 1: the little uh segment that's been going around to me 354 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: and Bobby Portison in the interview after the games, like 355 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: all those little moments that I personally know I was not, 356 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: but it was. It was just it was a genuine moment. 357 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: It was something that you know, me and Bobby looked 358 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,719 Speaker 1: at each other, and we've obviously, uh, you know, been 359 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,119 Speaker 1: part of the quote unquote bench mob throughout this entire season. 360 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 1: We've had each other's back, We've played together, and we've 361 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 1: prided ourselves on making sure we made the winning plays. 362 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: And uh, that was a winning interview. When you left 363 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: the building. How many people were still outside? Oh a lot. 364 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that was something that was the 365 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: most unique about this team in the city. And uh, 366 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: you know, the support that we've gotten. I mean, Chris 367 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: Milson said the best in the locker room after the game. 368 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: You know, he was a part of a fifteen win 369 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 1: team not too long ago here and so to see 370 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: that come full circle and to see the fans continue 371 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: to support them through thick and stand and continue to 372 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: support us through thick and thin. There had to have 373 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,919 Speaker 1: still been tens of thousands of people out there. There 374 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: were sixty five seventy thousand people out there during the game, 375 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 1: not including the ones that were inside. And you know, 376 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: it'll be pretty cool to be able to go through 377 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 1: the streets in Milwaukee on a bus, boat, whatever the 378 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: heck we're doing it on and shows support with them. 379 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: Aren't you glad you passed up on that baseball career? Now? 380 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: I am? You know, I think the coolest part about 381 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: that is seeing a come full circle. There are so 382 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: many people that you know, told me baseball was the 383 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: path that I should take. But to be able to 384 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: show the next generation of kids, you know, you can 385 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: be a multi sport athlete. You don't have to specialize 386 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 1: at a young age. It can help you become more athletic, 387 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: it can help you become more mentally tough, and you 388 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 1: can still accomplish the things you want to accomplish. And 389 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:02,360 Speaker 1: you know, I told Christian Yelichi game, maybe in you know, eight, nine, 390 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: ten years, I'll be pitching with him on the Brewers 391 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 1: and trying to win a World Series here. Oh, so 392 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: you haven't given up on that dream. No, not yet. 393 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 1: You know, I'm focused on the current dream that I'm doing, 394 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: but I take time in the offseason still throw a 395 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:17,919 Speaker 1: little bit. It's kind of a mental release for me. 396 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: I've always loved being out there, and it's a different 397 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: type of feel when you're on the mound and when 398 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: you're out in a baseball park throwing it around in 399 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: the lights. So it's not something that I've fully given up, 400 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: but I'm enjoying this ride. I'm enjoying this journey, and 401 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: I'm enjoy you know, being able to have some of 402 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: the successes that not many people thought I would have 403 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,919 Speaker 1: at this level. Well, congrats, it was a wonderful season 404 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: and certainly being part of something special. You know how 405 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: Milwaukee's held onto that team that won it back in 406 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: eighteen seventy one, So you got fifty years at least. 407 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: If you don't win another championship, they're gonna You're You're 408 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: still gonna be held in high regard there. So Pat, congratulations, 409 00:20:57,720 --> 00:20:59,360 Speaker 1: appreciate it. DP. Thank you for having me. I'll show 410 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,920 Speaker 1: I'm a your fan. Fox Sports Radio has the best 411 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our 412 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 1: shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within the 413 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlieb. 414 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 1: The podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all 415 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: basketball all the time, but it's more about the stories 416 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: about what made these people love their sport and all 417 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: the interesting interactions along the way. We talked to coaches, 418 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: we talked to players, We tell you stories. You download it, 419 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: you listen to it. I think you like it. Listen 420 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: to All Ball with Doug Gotlieb on the iHeartRadio app, 421 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, orherever you get your podcast. Jerry Dulac Okay. 422 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,639 Speaker 1: He covers the Steelers for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, hosts 423 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:50,159 Speaker 1: the Steelers radio network as well, and kind enough to 424 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 1: join us before he heads to camp. I saw where 425 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 1: Ben showed up clean, shaven, ish, and he had a 426 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:59,919 Speaker 1: shirt on that said different there, Jerry, So are you 427 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: forced to then report on right about how great Ben looks? Now? Well, 428 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: I will tell you Dan that despite what people think 429 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: the last three or four years, he has come to 430 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,400 Speaker 1: camp in wonderful shape. You know, he's had a he's 431 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: hired a nutritionist, He's hired a trainer. He looks especially 432 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 1: good now, especially trim. People forget he's a big man. 433 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: He's a six foot five, two hundred and fifty pound guy. 434 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:28,360 Speaker 1: But I have to admit, as well as he has 435 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 1: looked every year coming to camp, he looks especially well 436 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: and fit yesterday, certainly in that picture. Is he the 437 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: fourth best quarterback in his own division? Yeah, I think 438 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 1: that's a bunch of bologna. You know, that's based on 439 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: you know that that's just based on on future possibilities, 440 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,360 Speaker 1: you know, But I mean Ben's a proven winner and 441 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: three Super Bowl appearances, two titles, a number of playoff victories. 442 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 1: His numbers speak for themselves. And even last year, Dan, 443 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: I think, you know, when you think they got off 444 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: to that an start, he's coming off major, major elbow surgery, 445 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 1: and at one point after eleven weeks he's being talked 446 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 1: about an MVP candidate, forget about comeback player of the year. 447 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: Then he had that little slump, and he had a 448 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 1: big second half in the Indie game over three hundred 449 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: yards and three touchdowns that snapped him out of that slump. 450 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 1: And then after that, you know, that terrible start against 451 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,440 Speaker 1: the Browns. You know, the bad snap on a first 452 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 1: play from scrimmage. You know, in a second half, again, 453 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:30,400 Speaker 1: three hundred thirty yards, three touchdowns, made every throw possible. 454 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: You know, Ben has still been Okay, Yeah, he's thirty eight. 455 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: He's not the same guy he was when he was 456 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: twenty eight. But this idea that he's the fourth best 457 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: quarterback in a division just based on future possibilities of 458 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 1: the young guys in the division to me as a 459 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: little far fetched. Why do you think there was some trepidation? 460 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: It felt like maybe on the Steelers part of has 461 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 1: Ben do they want him back? And at what price 462 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: do you get him? Is that a correct impression of 463 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: what happened here. Yeah, absolutely, And I will tell you 464 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:06,640 Speaker 1: that Ben actually thought that they were trying to make him, 465 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 1: force him to make the decision for them. I'm surprised 466 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: on one hand, but not because they did eventually do 467 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: what I thought they would do. But you know, they 468 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: knew they had to do something with that salary cap hit, 469 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: but wanting feeling that they were in position to move 470 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:31,719 Speaker 1: on from him with all the changes they were making 471 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: or thought they were going to have to make, And 472 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 1: as it turns out, some of those they didn't. I'm 473 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:41,199 Speaker 1: certainly not surprised that he's back. I expected that all along, 474 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:43,439 Speaker 1: but I have to admit, Dan, I was a little 475 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: surprised that there was some hesitation. I always thought it 476 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 1: would be Ben would go out on Ben's terms and 477 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: nobody else's in. For a while, it looked like it 478 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 1: looked like it wasn't going to be on his terms. 479 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: What did you make of their offseason in Pittsburgh. Well, 480 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,679 Speaker 1: the funny thing is is they thought a lot of 481 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: the changes were going to be on offense and not 482 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:05,879 Speaker 1: on defense. They thought, you know, maybe Ben was going 483 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 1: to be gone. They knew James they were going to 484 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: move on from James Connor. They thought Juju Smith Schuster 485 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: would be gone. They knew Marquis Pouncey was going to retire, 486 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: and of course that happened and they did move on 487 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 1: from James Connor. But the funny thing is is a 488 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:22,160 Speaker 1: lot of their changes, Dan ended up being on defense. 489 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: They lost three starters. They kind of anticipated that that 490 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 1: might happen with Bud Dupree and maybe even Mike Hilton. 491 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: But now you throw in the retirement yesterday of Vince Williams. 492 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: You know a guy that they had released after the season, 493 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 1: decided to bring back just to kind of plug that 494 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 1: hole for one more year and then he retires on them. 495 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: So I think their offense, yeah, there's a lot of changes. 496 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: You know, they weren't conning on David DeCastro moving on 497 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 1: from him. That was injury related. So the changes on 498 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 1: the offensive line, they kind of somewhat knew that was 499 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: going to happen, but they didn't plan on DeCastro, So 500 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 1: those changes they counted on someday didn't. I think they're 501 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 1: better offensively. I think they're a little a little less 502 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 1: ferocious on defense. Let me get a quick hit on 503 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: the other teams in the division. Let's start with the Bengals. 504 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: What do you expect, Well, until they show that they 505 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: can move up to be a five hundred ball club, 506 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:22,879 Speaker 1: you know, I'll wait and see. It's kind of like 507 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:24,920 Speaker 1: the Browns two years ago. The Browns had to show 508 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: me they could do it again, and they did. But 509 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 1: I mean, I like Joe Burrow. I think he's going 510 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: to be a fantastic quarterback. I hated to see the 511 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: injury last year. You hate to see that happened to 512 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: any kind of promising young star. I think they'll be better. 513 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: But I mean, I think the Browns are legit and 514 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 1: the Ravens are the Ravens. The Ravens are very much 515 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: like the Steelers. Even when you don't think they're going 516 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: to be very good, they're good. That's just that's a 517 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: salute to their organization. But there's no reason to think. Look, 518 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: I'm not going to sit here and pronounce the Steelers 519 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: are going to the super Bowl. But as I tell everybody, Dan, 520 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,040 Speaker 1: I mean, who would have thought they'd start eleven and 521 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:02,439 Speaker 1: last year? Who thought they'd go twelve and four and 522 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 1: win the division? I can tell you not too many people, 523 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: certainly around here. And my feeling has always been, as 524 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: long as you have number seven, you're not out of 525 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: any game, and you're not out of any season. Jerry, 526 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:16,919 Speaker 1: great to talk to you, and hopefully we'll catch up 527 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: with you during the season. We appreciate your time. Yeah, Dan, 528 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:21,119 Speaker 1: any time, and good to chat with you.