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Speaker 2: Good afternoon stealingation. It's the Drive on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 2: Weshuler Matt Williamson with you here for the next three hours.
Speaker 2: We are back on campus on this Thursday. Of course
Speaker 2: you already know the drill Well trou Pennsylvania Saint Vincent
Speaker 2: College Steelers Training Camp. Matt. Today the tenth day of
Speaker 2: camp proper well, the seventh practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers,
Speaker 2: third one in pads. As we are a week away
Speaker 2: from the Steelers first preseason game, of course at home
Speaker 2: at Akershuer Stadium against the Green Bay Packers. We also
Speaker 2: have a little football tonight, Matt. It's your favorite time
Speaker 2: of the year. It's the Hall of Fame game this evening, baby.
Speaker 3: Oh yeah yeah. And again it's the most anti climatic
Speaker 3: thing of the year. But I'm gonna be doing a
Speaker 3: night show at Sharkey's and probably hanging there after, and
Speaker 3: it'll be on and I'll pay attention, and I kind
Speaker 3: of want to watch Picket, and I kind of want
Speaker 3: to watch Back.
Speaker 2: I was gonna say, we'll get at least a series
Speaker 2: of Kenny Pickett, formerly of this parish. We'll get at
Speaker 2: least a series I would think of Carson Back, of course,
Speaker 2: a rookie third round draft pick of the Cardinals. So
Speaker 2: could be better, could be worse. Yeah, I'll take it.
Speaker 2: As we got the start of the preseason tonight, one
Speaker 2: week away for the Steelers, and so plenty to get
Speaker 2: to here from today, Matt, where we know that the
Speaker 2: guys had practice off yesterday, Monday and Tuesday A practiced
Speaker 2: at a pretty brisk, brisk pace. Pardon me if you will.
Speaker 2: Today seemed like it was a little more dialed back,
Speaker 2: not quite as frantic as the first two days we
Speaker 2: saw in past.
Speaker 3: I would say so and it chocked me a little
Speaker 3: bit because they're coming off a day off. First, I
Speaker 3: was pretty toasty here, especially this afternoon. It should getting
Speaker 3: warmer and warmer all day.
Speaker 2: I got all my stuff in the car. I'm worried
Speaker 2: it's gonna just be melting into a puddle when I
Speaker 2: get back.
Speaker 3: You don't have any like chocolate or anything in there, right.
Speaker 2: No, just a bunch of toilet trees and all it,
Speaker 2: all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3: Yep. But I will say, Okay, so they practiced. I
Speaker 3: think a little over the one hundred and ten minutes
Speaker 3: or I think they're able to ramp it up. I'm
Speaker 3: not don't quote me on that. I'm not one hundred
Speaker 3: percent sure.
Speaker 2: For some reason, I think it was one hundred and twenty.
Speaker 3: I thought it was ten minutes longer. Yeah. Yeah, I'm
Speaker 3: not super dowed in on that stuff. But anyway, practice
Speaker 3: I think was a little longer than usual. I wanted
Speaker 3: to say over the first hour, Bob Labriola and I
Speaker 3: were hanging in here and it was like, man, they're
Speaker 3: not this is very ota ish.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah. In that first hour plus, there was one session
Speaker 3: of team and it was one play, but Rogers threw
Speaker 3: a strike to Metcalf. They were in a three by
Speaker 3: one set, and I found it interesting he was not
Speaker 3: on the far far side. He was the second guy in.
Speaker 3: He was the number two receiver and a three you know,
Speaker 3: three by one and broke over the middle deep down
Speaker 3: field like a deep dig. Rogers drilled it right in
Speaker 3: there in front of the safeties, behind the linebackers. It
Speaker 3: was like, boy, I'd love to see a lot of that,
Speaker 3: you know, but there's one play. The rest of the
Speaker 3: period was fine, but that first hour or so was
Speaker 3: a lot of fundamental stuff. A lot of individuals, you know,
Speaker 3: broken up in your group, working on different things, but
Speaker 3: all fundamental things that weren't even team oriented. Then we
Speaker 3: got the uh, the big guys one on ones, which
Speaker 3: has been my favorite thing of camp so far. But today,
Speaker 3: you know, we describe just before they've had kind of
Speaker 3: what I've been calling the varsity and the jv both
Speaker 3: in the end zone, and today they combined it onto
Speaker 3: one so you only take one rep at a time,
Speaker 3: so it was half of the work. Yeah, but there
Speaker 3: was more of Rubio and some of those type of
Speaker 3: rookies yeah, yeah, yeah, undrafted guys exactly. And Max did
Speaker 3: not take part in that. I guess he got dinged up.
Speaker 2: A little bit, unfortunately, I think so.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think Eccles got dinged up in that period
Speaker 3: that I was discussing the team drill, and looked like
Speaker 3: it was. I don't want to like get people alarmed,
Speaker 3: but it looked kind of bad, you know, just you know,
Speaker 3: he got up and then he went right back down,
Speaker 3: but then he stayed on the field quite a while.
Speaker 3: Haven't heard anything on either one, but they would have
Speaker 3: definitely taken Eccles up immediately if it was, you know,
Speaker 3: super bad. But who knows. I guess we'll get word
Speaker 3: of that as the evening goes on. And then the
Speaker 3: rest of practice was spirited, you know, the last half
Speaker 3: hour or so, but overall it was pretty dowed back,
Speaker 3: I would say, considering day off yesterday and all those
Speaker 3: good things. But we do have a stretch here coming
Speaker 3: of a few in a row, so maybe they're just
Speaker 3: pacing theirselves, and we know this staff looks at it differently.
Speaker 2: No, absolutely, I concur with everything you said there. So
Speaker 2: let's cross some of those t's and dot some of
Speaker 2: those eyes. Brandon Eckles was, as Matt mentioned, kind of
Speaker 2: limped off the field after a play out here earlier today.
Speaker 3: He stayed down for a fair amount.
Speaker 2: And then he had a massive rap on his left
Speaker 2: ankle and his day was done. So, you know, Matt
Speaker 2: and I, we are not doctors. We are not privy
Speaker 2: to any inside information. We're not going to just sit
Speaker 2: here and speculate. But I think that that's notable. When
Speaker 2: he leaves practice, not only leaves practice, but leaves with
Speaker 2: a big kind of wrap around his ankle on his
Speaker 2: lower left leg, left ankle.
Speaker 3: I would think at a minimum he's gonna miss some time.
Speaker 2: Yes, I would think so. And then according to our
Speaker 2: friend Alan Saunders was on the show with us on
Speaker 2: Tuesday here of Steelers Now, it appeared to be some
Speaker 2: kind of neck or shoulder issue for Maxie Honachure. He
Speaker 2: kind of hung out down there for a while after
Speaker 2: if like, he kind of took his helmet off and
Speaker 2: was hanging out around team drills still, which gives me
Speaker 2: some hope maybe it was just a stinger or something
Speaker 2: minor and they're just being extra cautious at this stage.
Speaker 2: He did walk up the hill eventually during practice with
Speaker 2: a trainer, but as we've noted too, I think anytime
Speaker 2: that a guy's not carded off, that's another one of
Speaker 2: those things, along with the Hall of Fame game that
Speaker 2: you and I always laugh about. I think it's encouraging
Speaker 2: news that he was not carted off, that they thought,
Speaker 2: you know, he was fine to just walk up the
Speaker 2: hill and go back to the locker room. But Matt,
Speaker 2: after what the first six practices of you know, knocking
Speaker 2: off wood being pretty fortunate in that regard, two guys
Speaker 2: certainly that you don't want to see go down again.
Speaker 2: We don't know the extent of it. They could be
Speaker 2: back tomorrow really fine, but just that I think was
Speaker 2: kind of the biggest thing that I took from practice
Speaker 2: today was after a few days of good luck in
Speaker 2: that fortune, and you had a couple guys get a
Speaker 2: little banged up today.
Speaker 3: And as we've reiterated many times, this coaching staff is
Speaker 3: really going to stress getting the guys as healthy as
Speaker 3: possible for the marathon that is the season. So I
Speaker 3: would think if there's any what we could call small
Speaker 3: it's not our bodies, you know, small injuries, they are
Speaker 3: going to keep them out for the rest of practice. Plus,
Speaker 3: you know, if there's any concerns particularly equals he's a veteran.
Speaker 3: But remember, I mean, Ramsey's not in the mix. So
Speaker 3: those your top two slot options right now are not
Speaker 3: available presumably. But again, we'll get more information on both
Speaker 3: and people will tell stuff and it'll come across. But
Speaker 3: my early thoughts are, yeah, I doubt either is like
Speaker 3: season enders or you know, it's where I are, any
Speaker 3: of that kind of stuff, you know.
Speaker 2: I think. So I'm cautiously optimistic that even if those
Speaker 2: guys miss a couple practices, it won't be anything long term. Matt.
Speaker 2: We also today know Eli Heidenreich at practice today. He
Speaker 2: missed Thursday's practice with an undisclosed injury. Not really, not
Speaker 2: really much more, no updates, but it was.
Speaker 3: There was a ton of Libo.
Speaker 2: You talk about bad timing, man, I mean, it'd be
Speaker 2: like if I had to miss a show while the
Speaker 2: Mars Fighting Planets were.
Speaker 3: Out here exactly.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Eli's alma mater, Mount Libo, was out here today.
Speaker 2: They were one of the other Steelers youth football squads.
Speaker 2: There's one or two of those represented every here day here,
Speaker 2: every single day on campus. It's one of the cool,
Speaker 2: many cool things that the Steelers do.
Speaker 3: Another Libo joe Maganelo was here too, was he.
Speaker 2: Yeah, boy, Joey Manganello.
Speaker 3: Libo is representing.
Speaker 2: Well, he's living back in the area, isn't he.
Speaker 3: Yeah, he's back in Mount and I think left left.
Speaker 2: The Southern California Hollywood dream in his back in his
Speaker 2: hometown and taking things easy. Yeah.
Speaker 3: Unfortunately taking pictures and autographs around him.
Speaker 2: That's awesome. Yeah, unfortunate for Eli to miss practice, and
Speaker 2: I think especially when when some of the kids from
Speaker 2: his former high school squad were out here. But again,
Speaker 2: hopefully that's something that.
Speaker 3: Is just Blue Devils represent themselves well today though, and
Speaker 3: we are as we speak.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. Yeah, that's right. Matt Williamson. There must
Speaker 2: that's in the it's in the bylaws of Steelers Nation
Speaker 2: Radio that there must always be a Mount Lebanon and
Speaker 2: a Mars Grad as hosts on this network.
Speaker 3: We currently have to think I'm doing a night show
Speaker 3: with another Mars.
Speaker 2: We currently have two between yourself and of course Tom
Speaker 2: Aferman and then myself and Chris Danski as the as
Speaker 2: the Mars guys. But yeah, bummer for Hide and Reich again,
Speaker 2: though hopefully that's something that is just minor, just procedural
Speaker 2: and UH, and we'll keep an eye on his status
Speaker 2: going forward. And then kind of last thing on this
Speaker 2: injury and health forefront. Matt Mike McCarthy did speak UH
Speaker 2: today and was asked about Joey Porter Junior and Jaalen
Speaker 2: Ramsey and their kind of time frame to return to practice.
Speaker 2: He said that there's no high concern about either, but
Speaker 2: doesn't have a time frame for their return. So I
Speaker 2: think that's kind of a status quo, but just a
Speaker 2: lot of anytime the head coach uh, you know, uh
Speaker 2: addresses it directly, I think it's it's worthy of mentioning.
Speaker 3: Here and again slam on that wood like you're saying,
Speaker 3: but I mean, like for where we sit, what ten
Speaker 3: practices are ten days in ten practice, not seven ten days.
Speaker 3: You'll take it from a health perspective, you know, in
Speaker 3: terms of where this team is overall, I think you're
Speaker 3: in pretty nice shape.
Speaker 2: And I'll tell you this. When you start to see it.
Speaker 3: Think is the only one seems like it could be
Speaker 3: a while, could be a little yeah.
Speaker 2: I'll tell you what though, when you start to see
Speaker 2: some of these guys in the secondary continuing to go
Speaker 2: down or just not be available.
Speaker 3: It seems so deep and now all of a sudden
Speaker 3: it's like a little thing.
Speaker 2: But at the same time too for a Santa Samuel Junior,
Speaker 2: for Dayalen Everett, here's your opportunity. Here's your opportunity. Boys.
Speaker 2: It's great out there. Let's see what you got.
Speaker 3: Great point.
Speaker 2: So that's kind of I think the the moving and
Speaker 2: shaking from today, if you will. Yeah, and uh and
Speaker 2: again not some of the greatest updates that you want
Speaker 2: to hear, But I think not time to panic fotball
Speaker 2: exactly right. This is just the way it goes. It's
Speaker 2: not a matter of if. It's a matter of win.
Speaker 2: As the former head coach would have said, injuries are
Speaker 2: as much a part of football as blocking and tackling.
Speaker 2: And unfortunately we all know that that's the case. Matt.
Speaker 2: We've got plenty of of ground that we want to
Speaker 2: cover today. I did want to get your thoughts on
Speaker 2: two just kind of notable news stories around the league.
Speaker 2: The first being the Washington Commanders have signed wide receiver
Speaker 2: Stefon Diggs.
Speaker 3: Long overdue. I mean, they've been rumored to be linked
Speaker 3: to Brandon Ayut quite a bit. Diggs is from that area.
Speaker 3: That makes a lot of sense as well. I still
Speaker 3: think he's got plenty in the tank. Not as dynamic
Speaker 3: as he was, but more of a chain mover, big
Speaker 3: time professional route runner. I know he has some off
Speaker 3: the field stuff and all that, but I think he's
Speaker 3: good for a young quarterback. Showed that with Drake May.
Speaker 3: A lot of the reports, I mean, these are just
Speaker 3: things you read and heard, were that he was really
Speaker 3: influential in a good way to a young Patriot receiver room.
Speaker 3: They've got to get a lot of young guys outside
Speaker 3: of McLaurin. But more than anything, I mean, I didn't
Speaker 3: think people were talking enough about how poor the skill
Speaker 3: positions were with a commander. I mean, low end running backs,
Speaker 3: low end tight ends outside of McLaurin, some real reach.
Speaker 3: So this was very.
Speaker 2: Needed, Yes it was. And you're trying to make life
Speaker 2: easier on Jayden Daniels.
Speaker 3: Not halfy yeahthing, not ask him to do everything.
Speaker 2: One year, ten million dollar deal. We're worth up to
Speaker 2: twelve million with some incentives. Last year he cut eight had.
Speaker 3: A hard time finding the numbers, That's what I right though.
Speaker 2: That's via Rapaport and Schefter. Last year Cut eighty five
Speaker 2: passes little over one thousand yards four touchdowns and helped
Speaker 2: that Patriots team win the AFC and make it to
Speaker 2: a Super Bowl at Stefan Diggs, now back to his
Speaker 2: hometown his home area, of course, played college football at
Speaker 2: the University of Maryland. I meant to send this to
Speaker 2: you last night. I was scrolling the old Twitter feed
Speaker 2: and you know how there's those accounts that are like
Speaker 2: old time football or classic college football, you know. Yeah,
Speaker 2: and there was one and they posted a like a
Speaker 2: three minute highlight package and it was twenty twelve. It
Speaker 2: was Maryland in Morgantown against WU and Tavon Austin had
Speaker 2: like seven hundred yards and seven touchdowns.
Speaker 3: And he was a phenom in college his year.
Speaker 2: It was like the eleventh overall pick I think, and
Speaker 2: Stefan Diggs had like five hundred yards and five touchdowns.
Speaker 2: So it was a fun clip of, you know, of
Speaker 2: those two going back and forth on a on a
Speaker 2: college football Saturday.
Speaker 3: Nobody was stopping either one of them.
Speaker 2: No, they were not.
Speaker 3: And then I still think he's a high quality number
Speaker 3: two though.
Speaker 2: I think so, yeah, yeah, if he he's not a
Speaker 2: number one anymore, but no, like if if Terry mccluuran
Speaker 2: was still Terry McLaurin, then that would be a perfect edition.
Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, but they're still They've gotten much better with
Speaker 2: the U with the addition of Diggs needed and then Matt.
Speaker 2: Some big news with a little bit of a local
Speaker 2: tie here, Aaron Donald has officially worked out for the
Speaker 2: Rams as a potential comeback looms. He had a workout
Speaker 2: with his former employer.
Speaker 3: So I found that interesting. It's like, I wonder what
Speaker 3: that workout entailed. Is the workout just saying.
Speaker 2: Is it more of a physical you know? Like that that.
Speaker 3: Would totally add up. You know, you should you're gonna.
Speaker 2: Have to take Let's just make sure that you know
Speaker 2: you're still healthy enough and well enough to do this.
Speaker 3: I envisioned the workout being like the D line coach,
Speaker 3: the de coordinator and McVeigh while he's out there in
Speaker 3: shorts and T shirt saying please come back, please come back,
Speaker 3: please come back. I don't care what you do, but
Speaker 3: let's get your vitals.
Speaker 2: Let's make sure you're healthy and can pass a physical year.
Speaker 2: And then I think there's story about it.
Speaker 3: Walking and breathing right, yeah, please come back. You're still
Speaker 3: breathing right, come on back.
Speaker 2: That's gonna be crazy. Man.
Speaker 3: I think it's gonna happen. I thought it's gonna happen
Speaker 3: every step of the way. I mean, if you're him,
Speaker 3: there's only two negatives, and one of them is just
Speaker 3: you're just delaying your Hall of Fame time. But you're
Speaker 3: gonna go either way.
Speaker 2: But it's not like the Philip Rivers delay delay, not
Speaker 2: a five year delay.
Speaker 3: And I guess you could tarnish your unbelievable legacy if
Speaker 3: you come out in your average or yeah, he didn't
Speaker 3: do any he ends up with two sacks this year
Speaker 3: or something like that. But I don't think it will
Speaker 3: even be a full time player. Their other defensive tackles
Speaker 3: are good, right, you know, I would think he's out
Speaker 3: there and situational, closing out games, playoffs, you know, keep
Speaker 3: him fresh. It's pretty appealing.
Speaker 2: It's very appealing. Just turn thirty five a couple months ago.
Speaker 2: Not a spring chicken anymore. But he's he's not long
Speaker 2: in the two either. There's still obviously a lot of
Speaker 2: high level guys in the trenches at his age in
Speaker 2: the in the NFL. So yeah, man, that's gonna.
Speaker 3: Be the Odell Mike Evans draft class.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeahha, which is you know, kind of be
Speaker 2: very interesting to keep an eye on this story in
Speaker 2: what all kinds of signs are pointing to the return
Speaker 2: of one of the best defensive players, point blank period
Speaker 2: in NFL history.
Speaker 3: No doubt, and with all respected Joe Green. If I
Speaker 3: had one defense tackle, I think that's my pick.
Speaker 2: Don't tell anyone Are those the two those? Is there
Speaker 2: anyone else in the conversation, like sap or No, No,
Speaker 2: Bob Lilly.
Speaker 3: But he's a little I mean, that's going back too far.
Speaker 3: I always kind of start things with the Super Bowl era.
Speaker 3: I mean, he was considered the best before Green arrived,
Speaker 3: and I have to say I don't know as much
Speaker 3: about him, never saw him play. Not a Pittsford guy.
Speaker 3: There's others, don't get me wrong, but Donald's the bottom
Speaker 3: line is Aaron Donald's as good as any tackle that
Speaker 3: have ever roamed the earth, without doubt. If you call
Speaker 3: JJ Watt a tackle, I guess you could put it
Speaker 3: in a conversation. In a conversation too, you know, like,
Speaker 3: if I'm building a four man D line, I think
Speaker 3: JJ's on it somewhere.
Speaker 2: Man, that'd be a tough task to do. You'd almost
Speaker 2: have to break it into like twentieth century and twenty
Speaker 2: first century, because yeah, we're starting to get to the
Speaker 2: point man, where you know, like my my friends and
Speaker 2: I were having that conversation like a week or two ago, Matt,
Speaker 2: and it would have been fun to you know, one
Speaker 2: of those conversations that you I think would have would
Speaker 2: have been at the forefront and the very involved in.
Speaker 2: But like, at what point do we now, what do
Speaker 2: you consider the modern era? You know, because like it's
Speaker 2: like we've been.
Speaker 3: Talking about thousands break point.
Speaker 2: We've been talking about the modern era of sports now
Speaker 2: from what feels like twenty years you know, since around
Speaker 2: like when Ben was a rookie, right, and Manning and
Speaker 2: Brady and those guys were you know, on the scene.
Speaker 2: But I think you're right. I think now I bet
Speaker 2: your your group.
Speaker 3: Of buddies would look at the different than my group
Speaker 3: of buddies. Yeah, just from the age difference, right, right.
Speaker 2: We said we said about nineties ish, like some point
Speaker 2: in the nineties to now is probably moder But you're right,
Speaker 2: I think we're getting close a few years away from
Speaker 2: the point where you kind of can start drawn all
Speaker 2: in sports history of the twentieth century in the twenty
Speaker 2: first century, because we're about to be three decades into
Speaker 2: the into the twenty first century.
Speaker 3: I mean this sounds makes me sound really old, but
Speaker 3: like I always found it funny when I would hear
Speaker 3: something on DVE for the first time, being like Guns
Speaker 3: and Roses is classic rock? Now it's right, well, you know,
Speaker 3: it blows me when I hemember when Apathite came out.
Speaker 2: When I hear like Blink one eighty two and Green
Speaker 2: Day and an Oasis, So.
Speaker 3: To me, that's new. That's brand new stuff to me, right,
Speaker 3: that just came out like a year ago.
Speaker 2: In my mind, Like, oh no, not the nineties music
Speaker 2: I grew up. That can't be classic rock, not yet. No,
Speaker 2: that's still Zeppelin and the Beatles, baby, and how about
Speaker 2: the Rolling Stones? Give me some can't you hear me
Speaker 2: knock it on the on the dve here?
Speaker 3: I mean, like the seventies are hard to compare to now, obviously,
Speaker 3: I think, I mean, it's almost every sport court looks
Speaker 3: so different. But I think this league is changing, just
Speaker 3: like the world. And just like you know, the Internet
Speaker 3: age from ninety two to ninety three isn't as big
Speaker 3: a difference as twenty twenty four to twenty twenty five. Correct,
Speaker 3: I mean things happened so quick in this league.
Speaker 2: Now, that's a very good way to put it.
Speaker 3: Just the way they play and what they stress, and
Speaker 3: you know, running back and yeah, I know we'll talk
Speaker 3: about like Jonathan Taylor and Bijon, but like how important
Speaker 3: running backs are compared the way back when, And I
Speaker 3: mean there's just so different that it's almost unfair to
Speaker 3: compare Marino and Josh Allen.
Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly right. Yeah, it's almost unfair to compare me
Speaker 2: and Joe Green and Aaron Donalds.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just and that to me is I think
Speaker 2: something that's going to be a lot of fun is
Speaker 2: the years and years and decades roll by as you
Speaker 2: kind of parse through the history of all these rich
Speaker 2: sports that we have in this country and and all
Speaker 2: the just outstanding talent that has played played in them
Speaker 2: over the decades. Let's get to our first break of
Speaker 2: the day. Plenty more ground to cover, you know in
Speaker 2: the five o'clock hour. Of course, will open with your
Speaker 2: tweets in the bonus hour, so make sure you get
Speaker 2: those in if you want to get involved. Absolutely at
Speaker 2: wesle Yuler at Williamson, NFL. I want to talk a
Speaker 2: little future Hall of Famers and with the Hall of
Speaker 2: Fame game tonight, who's going to be in the next
Speaker 2: Hall of Fame class. There's some Steelers that are up
Speaker 2: and in eligible, and maybe who are some of the
Speaker 2: future Hall of Famers that are on the Steelers roster
Speaker 2: at this current moment. We'll do all that more when
Speaker 2: we return. Rolling along here on the campus of Saint
Speaker 2: Vincent College. It's the drive all part of our training
Speaker 2: camp coverage Steelers Mission Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
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Speaker 3: We don't go to the office. We build it.
Speaker 2: Back on the grounds of Saint Vincent College here as
Speaker 2: we roll along on this Thursday edition of The Drive,
Speaker 2: another beautiful day here. Looked like there was gonna be
Speaker 2: some potential. Matt and I we're texting late last night,
Speaker 2: you know, is as friends do. And Matt was like,
Speaker 2: you see in this weather stuff, like, what are we
Speaker 2: gonna do if there's a big storm in practice. I
Speaker 2: was like, well, they'll probably move inside. And that's the one.
Speaker 3: Thing I don't know. It was a big unknown to me.
Speaker 2: We've started to discover this new Mike McCarthy training camp
Speaker 2: and everything that comes with it. The one thing we
Speaker 2: still don't know is if they have terrible weather here
Speaker 2: one day and they moved to the new indoor recreational
Speaker 2: facility here on campus, which looks gorgeous by the way.
Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I don't know inviting.
Speaker 2: I don't know if we are. In the past we
Speaker 2: haven't been, but they've just been doing a little walk
Speaker 2: through in a tiny little gym. Now they'd have a
Speaker 2: little more room, so it would at least be closer
Speaker 2: to a practice, But I'm not sure if we're invited
Speaker 2: it would also depend on the timing because we'd have
Speaker 2: to be in here doing the show. But regardless, we
Speaker 2: might have to cross that bridge at some point, but
Speaker 2: didn't have to today as what looked like potentially some
Speaker 2: nasty weather held off. And that's been the case pretty
Speaker 2: much through through this week and a half so far, Matt.
Speaker 2: There's been a little kind of light rain storms at times,
Speaker 2: but we haven't had that kind of a holy Cow
Speaker 2: lookout type day that we get weatherwise out here a
Speaker 2: lot of a lot of years.
Speaker 3: Well, that's kind of where I was going with it is.
Speaker 3: When I I sent the text, I was like a
Speaker 3: half hour out coming in from the South Hills, and
Speaker 3: pretty much the entire trip was a lot really rain,
Speaker 3: heavy rain on the way here, and I'm like, there's
Speaker 3: no way they're practicing and labs right back, like we're
Speaker 3: talking about, they're gonna be right here.
Speaker 2: You know, practices at eleven. Don't be a wool sie.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and practice eleven on the field. I'm like, I meant,
Speaker 3: is it pouring there or not? I mean, like I
Speaker 3: thought I kind of made it. I assumed that there
Speaker 3: was some Percis.
Speaker 2: Is a busy man. He doesn't have time for you
Speaker 2: to be asking weather questions all right, because I got.
Speaker 3: Here and it was just me and him, And then
Speaker 3: he's like, what'd you think practice was a problem? Like
Speaker 3: it poured the whole way here. It took me way
Speaker 3: longer to get here than expected, you know, like the traffic,
Speaker 3: it slowed traffic to that point. So he's like, you know,
Speaker 3: we hardly got anything, so okay.
Speaker 2: Great, right, we'll keep it well.
Speaker 3: So it was an easy decision.
Speaker 2: The hopefully, hopefully we won't have to cross that bridge.
Speaker 2: I'm not counting my chickens counting my hens just yet,
Speaker 2: but hopefully we won't have to cross that bridge and
Speaker 2: we'll continue to have good fortune in the weather department. Matt,
Speaker 2: tonight is the Hall of Fame game, and with that
Speaker 2: some Hall of Fame conversation that I wanted to have
Speaker 2: with you.
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, I didn't click on it, but I was
Speaker 3: pretty excited about this real quick. On the Hall of
Speaker 3: Fame game, I am curious. Are there any other rookies
Speaker 3: of note that played tonight? I'm hoping they do. I mean,
Speaker 3: Cardinals have some guys on a sea. Carolina has some
Speaker 3: guys I want to see, mostly draftable players.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a good question.
Speaker 3: I mean, we don't need to look into it now.
Speaker 3: We can chat about it tomorrow. But I am curious.
Speaker 3: Is there anyone of note that plays the first quarter? Yeah,
Speaker 3: we'll see.
Speaker 2: No, that's that is that is always important to note.
Speaker 2: We know the two quarterbacks are or at least interesting. Yeah, well,
Speaker 2: I think we'll probably have to wait and see with
Speaker 2: h With some of the others.
Speaker 3: I'm sure we're not gonna see Jeremiah Love and you.
Speaker 2: Know exactly right, Matt. Two fun articles caught my eye
Speaker 2: today in regards to the Hall of Fame that I
Speaker 2: want to discuss with you. The first from a from
Speaker 2: Bill Barnwell, who we're a fan of of ESPN.
Speaker 3: I think he does this every year and I think
Speaker 3: it's very good.
Speaker 2: And he basically goes through every team in the NFL
Speaker 2: and talks about who's in the Hall of Fame, who's
Speaker 2: on the cusp, and who's kind of like, keep it up.
Speaker 2: You're early in your career, but if you continue doing yeah, yeah,
Speaker 2: you're on the right track.
Speaker 3: Like, for example, if you're up for it, I'd like
Speaker 3: to go through all of them.
Speaker 2: You want to do it, Yeah, say we got time.
Speaker 3: Let's do it. Just might.
Speaker 2: This will probably take us two segments, but that's okay,
Speaker 2: let's do it.
Speaker 3: There wasn't a time to talk about Steeler wise practice
Speaker 3: and stuff today, so I think we could get dig
Speaker 3: into it and the honor the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 2: Let's do it, And honestly, some of these are will
Speaker 2: be pretty quick conversations.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, because I think every team has a name,
Speaker 3: but that doesn't mean everyone's going.
Speaker 2: And some teams have five or six, but some teams
Speaker 2: only have one. Right the Arizona Cardinals. Man, I think
Speaker 2: this is pretty clear cut on the cusp. Buddha Baker,
Speaker 2: keep it up, Trey.
Speaker 3: McBride, Yeah, I mean he's got to keep it up
Speaker 3: a long time, sure, especially tight ends can't have short stints. Sure,
Speaker 3: but boy, a nice start for him. Voodoo's got a
Speaker 3: better case than people think. I mean, like, if you
Speaker 3: talk to people in the know or the real film watchers,
Speaker 3: a lot of people are like I Boodha Baker was
Speaker 3: a chief this whole time movie talk about him was
Speaker 3: a Hall of Fame. Sure, you know he's been buried
Speaker 3: in the desert, you know, Liken Casino.
Speaker 2: Give me a mock at ten fifty grand.
Speaker 3: Like Billy Batts or something.
Speaker 2: All right, I think that's well said by you. I
Speaker 2: also think too, like there's if Alan Fanica played his
Speaker 2: entire career in Arizona for the Cardinals, wouldn't help. I
Speaker 2: don't see. I kind of look at it, and I
Speaker 2: think he would have gotten in a lot quicker because
Speaker 2: they'd be like, we gotta get this Cardinal. They haven't
Speaker 2: had anyone who's been notable all the Steelers. They've got
Speaker 2: all these guys in I do good. I think there's
Speaker 2: that human element to where you get to Thomas, like
Speaker 2: Joe Tom. I was just gonna say, when you get
Speaker 2: some of these Cleveland Browns or some of these Arizona Cardinals, Larry, Larry,
Speaker 2: these Jets are now matter. I think like the NFL
Speaker 2: is again the Hall, these Hall of Fames are museums
Speaker 2: of the sport. They want every team represented as much.
Speaker 3: So I think you're bet they're liking that the Cardinals
Speaker 3: are an issue tonight. Absolutely right.
Speaker 2: If if you your point is correct, if Buddha Baker
Speaker 2: had played for the Chiefs or the Rams and was
Speaker 2: a super Bowl champion or maybe a multiple super Bowl champion,
Speaker 2: he would definitely be going. But I also think it
Speaker 2: can work the other way to where it's like, in
Speaker 2: the last what fifteen years, we've put one Arizona Cardinal
Speaker 2: in Larry Fitzgerald. Let's get another one in there.
Speaker 3: M hmm. And and again, Larry's too good a player
Speaker 3: for this conversation. Yes, you don't have to make the
Speaker 3: argument hard with him, but you could definitely if he
Speaker 3: was a ninety percent of what he was and there
Speaker 3: was an actual debate for bunks the Hall of Fame folks,
Speaker 3: you could be like, well, he didn't play with anybody
Speaker 3: good too, especially his quarterbacks that weren't named Kurt Warner.
Speaker 2: Speaking of the Los Angeles Rams, the Los Angeles Rams
Speaker 2: in Miles Garrett, Matthew Stafford, Davante, Adams, keep it Up,
Speaker 2: Pooka Nkua.
Speaker 3: I don't know that Adams is.
Speaker 2: I don't know if I would put him in the
Speaker 2: in the lock in the in category. The other two
Speaker 2: absolutely another.
Speaker 3: There's not really a category for him though, because keep
Speaker 3: it up probably ship is sailed. I might have one
Speaker 3: more good.
Speaker 2: Keep it Up is like if you're in your mid twenties. Yeah, yeah, liked, yes,
Speaker 2: like a Pooka Nakoupa.
Speaker 3: Of course, but Adams will have a strong case. Garrett
Speaker 3: and Stafford are in.
Speaker 2: Tell you what, another big year in a Super Bowl
Speaker 2: ring this year because you could put Davante Adams over
Speaker 2: the top. Garrett and Stafford are definitely there. San Francisco
Speaker 2: forty nine ers in Trent Williams, Mike Evans, Christian McCaffrey.
Speaker 2: I think I think those are three.
Speaker 3: I think Warners into.
Speaker 2: On the cut. So there's a lot here for the Niners.
Speaker 2: Bet On the Cusp, Kittle and Warner.
Speaker 3: I think both would go if they didn't play another snap.
Speaker 2: Work to do Nick Bosa and Brock.
Speaker 3: Party a lot of work to do for both, a.
Speaker 2: Lot of work.
Speaker 3: I love.
Speaker 2: He was on that path for a while, but his
Speaker 2: last couple of years haven't been quite the same. And Party, I.
Speaker 3: Just don't he'd have to do a lot.
Speaker 2: I think credit to him that he has become a
Speaker 2: much better quarterback than most thought written. I wouldn't have
Speaker 2: written him down. He's never been considered a top five
Speaker 2: guy of his era, and I don't think he ever.
Speaker 3: Will have active quarterbacks He would be like my twentieth
Speaker 3: choice of Hall of Fame worthiness.
Speaker 2: Agreed and then last, but certainly not at least in
Speaker 2: the NFC West, the defending Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks.
Speaker 2: They just have to keep it up. Jackson Smith and
Speaker 2: Jigba and Devon.
Speaker 3: Witherspoon, Yes, Witherspoon's real far away.
Speaker 2: Just missing out, Cooper Cup, Leonard Williams.
Speaker 3: I say, Leonard Williams, they deserve mentioned. Ye.
Speaker 2: I think they're both in the Hall of really good.
Speaker 3: Yeah, they'll be finalists.
Speaker 2: I guess, you know, like a Nickimn worry could potentially
Speaker 2: it's only been one year. Gray Zabel, it's only been
Speaker 2: one year, but that's still so weird.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I need to at least see, you know, four
Speaker 3: or five years worth before you start talking.
Speaker 2: Haul Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 3: Keep it up.
Speaker 2: Bijon Robinson, no question, no question, no question. If he
Speaker 2: has another three or four years like the last three
Speaker 2: that he just had.
Speaker 3: Me as good at opening three years as any running
Speaker 3: back has in history.
Speaker 2: Work to do. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and the offensive
Speaker 2: guard Chris Linstrom.
Speaker 3: Linstrom's got a shot.
Speaker 2: He has made four straight Pro Bowls.
Speaker 3: Yeah, he's pretty down good.
Speaker 2: Pitts has I don't know, I don't think. I don't
Speaker 2: agree with Pitts.
Speaker 3: London would have to do it. I love London, but
Speaker 3: it's just boy, there's so many good receivers. If he's
Speaker 3: the eighth best receiver in the league right now, that's amazing.
Speaker 3: But boy, and you can't put the eighth best receiver.
Speaker 2: In Carolina Panthers. Uh. Just three mentioned in the work
Speaker 2: to do category Teed McMillan, j C. Horn, and Derek Brown.
Speaker 3: Oh so far away though. I yeah, Teest played one year.
Speaker 2: Test played one year, so I guess you. His one
Speaker 2: year was offensive Rookie of the Year, So I get
Speaker 2: it right. Those other two, Derek Brown and jac Horn,
Speaker 2: I think are great players I'd love to have on
Speaker 2: my team, but I don't know if they're gonna have
Speaker 2: eight more years out of it. Yeah, the Saints on
Speaker 2: the CUSP Cam Jordan just missing out Alvin Kamara, Yes.
Speaker 3: And yes, I think that's fair. I think Jordan probably
Speaker 3: just misses out too.
Speaker 2: But you know what if he has another nine or
Speaker 2: ten SAX season like he just.
Speaker 3: Did, and that blew me away when I saw he
Speaker 3: had ten and a half. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I
Speaker 3: think he's I think he's some pretty good numbers.
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's one that you know, when we get to
Speaker 2: February March and we're kind of on that come down
Speaker 2: from the from the season and the playoffs and everything,
Speaker 2: we might have to revisit that and see the type
Speaker 2: of year that he had and how that affects his
Speaker 2: Hall of Fame candidacy, because he might define on the
Speaker 2: cusp before me.
Speaker 3: Right now, Kamar a great career. I think he's gonna
Speaker 3: need it just short.
Speaker 2: Same Tim bay Bucks, keep it up. Christian Wurf's no
Speaker 2: doubt work to do, Antoine Winfield Junior.
Speaker 3: I guess Veya has no shot. Long shot he has.
Speaker 2: He has likely to miss out Chris Godwin Junior and
Speaker 2: and Veya. He also has a baker there. But I
Speaker 2: don't know if you needed to mention him the worst
Speaker 2: without a doubt, Yeah he could.
Speaker 3: He's give me five more years's easy one.
Speaker 2: One of the best tackles of his generation, if not
Speaker 2: the best. Into the NFC North Matt Williams and Chicago Bears.
Speaker 2: Keep it up.
Speaker 3: Joe Thoony making a strong case. I mean he's I
Speaker 3: don't know if you know this, but he every year
Speaker 3: he's been in the league, his team has won the division.
Speaker 2: Yeah, which is nuts.
Speaker 3: He won that first ever O Line.
Speaker 2: Award Protector of the Year.
Speaker 3: He's got rings, he's got I mean, his resume on
Speaker 3: paper is really really good. I think he's in.
Speaker 2: Three straight first Team All pros as you mentioned those
Speaker 2: individual awards and in those Super Bowl rings.
Speaker 3: Certainly three time in a row straight.
Speaker 2: Three time in a row First Team All Pro.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think he might go already work.
Speaker 2: To do Jalen Johnson, Colson Lovelan, Caleb Williams, Darnell Wright.
Speaker 3: We're way too hitd on all those guys.
Speaker 2: Way too early on all those guys. But I tell
Speaker 2: you what, Darnell Wright might be the uh he could
Speaker 2: be the finest right tackle in the league here whenever
Speaker 2: Lane Johnson sides to hang them up.
Speaker 3: That's a fantastic young corps. But that's a long time
Speaker 3: away for Hall of Fame stuff.
Speaker 2: Agreed, Detroit Lions have a keep it up and work
Speaker 2: to do listed here. Keep it up is I'm on
Speaker 2: Ross Saint Brown, Jamiir Gibbs, Aiden Hutchinson, and Pennay Soul.
Speaker 3: Now say Soul better be keep it up? Okay.
Speaker 2: I think those guys are all you know, if they
Speaker 2: have another four or five years, like they've had, they'll
Speaker 2: be firmly in conversations agreed work to do. Brian Branch,
Speaker 2: Jack Campbell, Kirby Joseph and Jared Goff. I understand why
Speaker 2: he's putting a lot of these quarterbacks in here, but
Speaker 2: I just don't. Yeah, this era is so loaded with quarterbacks.
Speaker 3: Again, if you're a lifetime eleventh to fifteenth best quarterback,
Speaker 3: and that's not a Hall of Famer.
Speaker 2: And let's let's not forget too that Philip Rivers just
Speaker 2: reset reset his clock. And so we're gonna have Philip
Speaker 2: Rivers down the line too, along with Yeah, a lot
Speaker 2: of these guys.
Speaker 3: Now it's tough, this is true of all generations. But
Speaker 3: like these guys are gonna put up. You know, I
Speaker 3: big Jared Goff has a million lifetime passing yards and
Speaker 3: he will when he retires. I mean some of them,
Speaker 3: some voter or you know, ever trying to get him
Speaker 3: in gonna be like he's sixth all time in passing yards, Like, well, yeah,
Speaker 3: but that's because he played in this era. And you know, correct,
Speaker 3: I think doesn't mean he's better than Bradshaw.
Speaker 2: Correct. Green Bay Packers on the CUSP Michael Parson's work
Speaker 2: to do Tucker.
Speaker 3: Craft a lot. I mean it's really young. We love
Speaker 3: both players, but Craft, I mean he's had one good year.
Speaker 3: Mica has got a strong case. I mean, just just
Speaker 3: keep it up. I mean you're one of the elites.
Speaker 2: Yes, just keep it up. And I think he's gonna
Speaker 2: have a very strong case. Yeah, Minnesota Vikings on the
Speaker 2: CUSP justin Jefferson just missing out. Harrison Smith.
Speaker 3: Smith.
Speaker 2: Harrison Smith to me is hall of really good.
Speaker 3: Hall are really really good. Yeah, really important for the Vikes.
Speaker 2: Great career.
Speaker 3: Like when it's all said and done, I think Jefferson
Speaker 3: will end up in something catastrophic to have to have
Speaker 3: his career. And as as you like, I think he
Speaker 3: averages the most receiving yards per game in NFL history.
Speaker 3: I know he did this time last Wow, and he
Speaker 3: went backwards a little chase might have passed him. Uh.
Speaker 2: And Harrison Smith is you know he's one of those guys.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, standing player, Hall of really good.
Speaker 3: But the easiest.
Speaker 2: Probably the year or two after he retires.
Speaker 3: They may even retire his number. And I would totally
Speaker 3: get it.
Speaker 2: You know, let's let's round out the the NFC here
Speaker 2: in this conversation in the East, the Cowboys keep it
Speaker 2: up guard, Tyler Smith, work to do, Seedee Lamb, George Pickens,
Speaker 2: Dak Prescott, Quinn Williams, Tyler Booker.
Speaker 3: Okay, I mean again, a rookie guard, I'm not putting
Speaker 3: on the list tough. But the other ones, yeah, they
Speaker 3: got a lot to do, but they really got to
Speaker 3: keep it up. Smith might be the best guard in
Speaker 3: the league. But again, I need six more years. Yes, yeah, yes,
Speaker 3: easier said than done.
Speaker 2: New York Giants missing out is the only category listed
Speaker 2: here for the g Men, and it's Brian Burns and
Speaker 2: Odell Beckham Junior.
Speaker 3: Odell had a really strong case too, Like there was
Speaker 3: a point where he was just Jeffers.
Speaker 2: To me, to me, Him and lev Bell are a
Speaker 2: very similar conversation.
Speaker 3: Yeah, best at what they did.
Speaker 2: For a while, for three or four years, they were
Speaker 2: box office. They were the best of what they were doing.
Speaker 2: They looked like they were on the fast track to
Speaker 2: the Hall of Fame. Yes, and then they fell off
Speaker 2: a cliff.
Speaker 3: Yes, Like you know, I play a lot of dynasty
Speaker 3: like Odell was easily the most valuable dynasty commodity his
Speaker 3: first couple of years in the league. And if it wasn't.
Speaker 3: I was on the air a lot back then, but
Speaker 3: Ab and Julio to me, were clearly the top two receivers.
Speaker 3: If you liked one better than the other, I would
Speaker 3: get it. But I thought Odell was the only one
Speaker 3: that's even in their conversation, yes, and maybe even their tiers.
Speaker 2: And he was like a wild and he was like
Speaker 2: twenty three twenty four when he was doing yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, just a lot likely. I think he can't
Speaker 3: put him in, No.
Speaker 2: You can't. You've got to have the second half of
Speaker 2: It's it's kind of similar to like a debo conversation.
Speaker 2: You know, James Harrison when he was when he was
Speaker 2: at his peak, My goodness, lookout.
Speaker 3: Like never forget how good he was. But that doesn't
Speaker 3: mean you're Hall of Fame.
Speaker 2: But the front end and the back end, you can't
Speaker 2: have those drastic cliffs and valleys.
Speaker 3: Odell was ninhing for six years.
Speaker 2: Right exactly right. Philadelphia Eagles, Matt, oh, they got a
Speaker 2: bunch Lane Johnson. I think I think that's a pretty
Speaker 2: easy one.
Speaker 3: Uh, maybe they don't have a bunch of Kelsey and
Speaker 3: some of them have already moved.
Speaker 2: Sure like Kelsey. Definitely he's going, you know, like Fletcher Cox.
Speaker 2: I think we talked about him a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2: He'll have a chance. Seeing the keep it up category here,
Speaker 2: He's got Quinon Mitchell and Jalen Hurts. I just Jalen Hurts,
Speaker 2: what are we doing?
Speaker 3: No?
Speaker 2: No chance, no chance, no chance. Quinyon Mitchell. Absolutely, it's
Speaker 2: been very early in his career.
Speaker 3: But and they start to his career and I would
Speaker 3: put the gene equally to Mitchell. So you're gonna, you know,
Speaker 3: put both one of them. I'd put both.
Speaker 2: He's got the work to do category as well. For
Speaker 2: the Eagles. Saquon Barkley, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Cooper, de Jene,
Speaker 2: Jonathan Grenard than all the different than the rest of it. Yeah,
Speaker 2: if he has another great season, he could be really
Speaker 2: he could be there.
Speaker 3: Of active running backs if they all never played another snap.
Speaker 3: I think Henry and McCaffrey go, no doubt, and then
Speaker 3: Saquon's got the next good case. But he's a little
Speaker 3: behind them in lifetime achievement in terms of the Yeah.
Speaker 2: His absolute best was better than those two, I think,
Speaker 2: but they I would say they just did it for
Speaker 2: a longer.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and none of them are going to like approach
Speaker 3: emtts Smith's numbers. I mean that that's no one's such
Speaker 3: in those numbers.
Speaker 2: Finally, Matt in the NFC, last and maybe least the
Speaker 2: Washington Commanders work. Can't think of anyone work to Tunsil.
Speaker 2: And then they put Jayden Daniels on here too is
Speaker 2: way too early, maybe, but boy, and then really good
Speaker 2: but missing out Terry mclaurd and Steffan Diggs. I think
Speaker 2: that's fair.
Speaker 3: I don't think McLaury I forgot about Diggs of being
Speaker 3: on the team. At least he Diggs will be like
Speaker 3: a finalist. McLaurin, I don't think will.
Speaker 2: But he's a Commander's Hall of Honor guy Yea.
Speaker 3: Without a doubt, Tunsel was one of the absolute best
Speaker 3: offensive lineman in the league. He sure is, but I
Speaker 3: don't know that everyone looks at him that way.
Speaker 2: Well, they need to start winning some games there in
Speaker 2: Washington falls for all those guys sakes. Let's take a
Speaker 2: look at the AFC West when or they We'll start
Speaker 2: with the a f C West when we returns, take
Speaker 2: a look at the a f C. Where do the
Speaker 2: Steelers fall in this exercise. They sure do, and we'll
Speaker 2: discuss when we return. Euler and Williamson. It's the Drive,
Speaker 2: all part of our ongoing training camp coverage Steelers Radio
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Speaker 2: Down the home stretch. You're the first hour of the drive.
Speaker 2: We are live from campus as you already know, it's
Speaker 2: all part of our ongoing training camp coverage. And williamsim
Speaker 2: we are rolling through a little future Hall of Famer
Speaker 2: primer for each of the thirty two teams across the
Speaker 2: National Football League. We did the NFC in the previous segment.
Speaker 2: Now we turn our attentions to the AFC, and we
Speaker 2: begin with the West and the Denver Broncos. Keep it up,
Speaker 2: Nick Bonito, Quinn Minors Pat certain pat certains, I wouldn't, certainly.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think Miners is one of the absolute best
Speaker 3: guards in the league. But that's a longevity position. Certains
Speaker 3: might be in a category above that. I don't know
Speaker 3: that he's like in if he quit right now, but
Speaker 3: you two more more years?
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I mean he is defensive player of the year.
Speaker 2: What I think Stefan Gilmour the only other one of
Speaker 2: a defensive back in the last ten to fifteen.
Speaker 3: Years, I think sins Troy. Yeah, So, like Benito's great,
Speaker 3: but I mean.
Speaker 2: I don't think he belonged to the same same with Miners,
Speaker 2: right right right? And then work to do. Zach Allen,
Speaker 2: Jalen wattle Bow Knicks. I almost want to stop reading
Speaker 2: these quarterbacks names on here. Yeah, bo Nix isn't even
Speaker 2: in that stratus yet. No, but Zach Allen and Jaylen
Speaker 2: Waddle work to do.
Speaker 3: I mean, like Allen's a really nice player too. Every
Speaker 3: team would love to have them, but he's not Joe
Speaker 3: green In.
Speaker 2: This is the Hall of Fame, right, we're talking about it, right,
Speaker 2: Kansas City Chiefs, they're gonna have a double Matt three locks,
Speaker 2: Chris Jones, Travis Kelsey, and Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 3: I think that I think they're all locks.
Speaker 2: I think they're all absolute locks. You could put the
Speaker 2: head coach on that list for locks. Two. In terms
Speaker 2: of Andy Reid.
Speaker 3: I wonder if Pagnola's lock could be.
Speaker 2: Might be, Yeah, keep it up, Creed Humphrey.
Speaker 3: I say Creed's got a real strong case now, getting.
Speaker 2: There early, but work to do. Trey Smith.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's fair.
Speaker 2: That's fair.
Speaker 3: Okay, those are the kind of I guess we already talked.
Speaker 3: Rams McDuffie comes to mind, though. I mean, he needs
Speaker 3: a lot of work, but I think he should be
Speaker 3: on a list like this.
Speaker 2: He's got the rings too.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, Las Vegas Raiders.
Speaker 2: Keep it up, Max Crosby, work to do, Brock Bauers
Speaker 2: and Tyler Linderbaum.
Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, I think that nailed it. I do. I
Speaker 3: wouldn't put Kirk Cousins on.
Speaker 2: No, no, no, he's in the Hall of Good but yeah, yeah,
Speaker 2: but no, not not in this era of just absolute
Speaker 2: stud quarterbacks.
Speaker 3: I mean, at least the quarterbacks he put on that
Speaker 3: really have no shot to have more football in front
Speaker 3: of him. Cousin's gonna be a backup. Yes, his resumes
Speaker 3: are written.
Speaker 2: Yes, La chargers in Khalil Mack.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, no doubt they make him waity years.
Speaker 2: I was going to say, I don't think he's the
Speaker 2: absolute slam dunk that he was for a long time
Speaker 2: in his career, but he's.
Speaker 3: Gonna, but he's gonna go.
Speaker 2: He's gonna, yeah, work to do Joe Alt, Justin, Herbert
Speaker 2: Rashawn Slater.
Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, I think that's all fair. Those tackles need
Speaker 3: to do a lot more.
Speaker 2: They do, and Herbert needs to have some postseason success. Yeah,
Speaker 2: and then he has.
Speaker 3: Ten years of being a top five quarterback. That's how
Speaker 3: you's get the car in case.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and then just missing out hall of really good
Speaker 2: Derwin James Junior. I agree with that.
Speaker 3: Yeah, but he could go.
Speaker 2: He couldn't.
Speaker 3: I mean he said he The new league has helped
Speaker 3: him a lot as being the Kyle Hamilton slot. I
Speaker 3: mean he's became I think the highest paid safety or
Speaker 3: second highest face safety coming off a great year, so
Speaker 3: I wouldn't write him off. It's just a Hall very good.
Speaker 3: He's got a chance to finish his career real strong.
Speaker 2: AFC South on the CUSP.
Speaker 3: Side, note Keenan Allen, He's not with a team, but
Speaker 3: he was associated with the Chargers.
Speaker 2: He's gonna be an interesting case.
Speaker 3: I'm gonna say no.
Speaker 2: I think Hall of really good.
Speaker 3: Yeah, like I would put Davonte Adams in over him,
Speaker 3: put Evans in over him.
Speaker 2: Guys are all the second without Evans. Better go and
Speaker 2: not have to wait very long.
Speaker 3: Yeah, Evans is an easy one. Yeah, yeah, I'm just
Speaker 3: thinking about guys are drafted at the same time.
Speaker 2: All right, Depending on your answer from this, I might
Speaker 2: have producer Justin cut us off the air so that
Speaker 2: the listeners don't come for us with torches and pitchforks.
Speaker 2: Hines Ward or Keenan Allen.
Speaker 3: Oh, that are pretty equal. Both are really good to
Speaker 3: what they did. I don't think either should go. I
Speaker 3: guess I'll give a Ward the nod because of the blocking.
Speaker 3: But Allen was more consistently productive.
Speaker 2: All right, Well, maybe people can put their torches and
Speaker 2: pitchforks away and the same here. AFC South Houston Texans
Speaker 2: on the CUSP. Matt and I I think have been
Speaker 2: banging the drum for this guy of being one of
Speaker 2: the most underrated players of his generation. It's Danil Hunter,
Speaker 2: the edge rusher.
Speaker 3: I think he'll go.
Speaker 2: He's still only thirty one, dude.
Speaker 3: He came in the league juju young. Yeah, you know,
Speaker 3: like like I drink.
Speaker 2: If you would ask his age, I'd have been like
Speaker 2: thirty four.
Speaker 3: Right, He's played a long time. He's got over one
Speaker 3: hundred sacks. He's still playing at a really high level
Speaker 3: and making a fortune. I don't know if he could
Speaker 3: hang it up today. Like, if he don't hope he
Speaker 3: doesn't blow out his knee in week one and is
Speaker 3: never the same, he probably doesn't go. But if give
Speaker 3: me two more good years, he's gonna be hard to
Speaker 3: keep out.
Speaker 2: He is currently thirteenth in the NFL in career sacks,
Speaker 2: thirteenth all time. Right right, every player ahead of him
Speaker 2: is either in the Hall of Fame or a lock
Speaker 2: to get there.
Speaker 3: He's gonna go. He'll probably finish tenth or something or
Speaker 3: eighth or something.
Speaker 2: You know, he has one hundred and fourteen and a
Speaker 2: half sacks in his career.
Speaker 3: A hundred used to be like close to the magic number,
Speaker 3: and I think Cam Hayward's at like ninety eight.
Speaker 2: They're saying the magic number now is one forty. But
Speaker 2: I think I don't think he needs to get the
Speaker 2: one for I don't either. I think one thirty would
Speaker 2: do it for him.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'd say one hundred is not a lock anymore.
Speaker 3: I mean it would be for Cam or like a
Speaker 3: defensive tackle.
Speaker 2: But all ten players in NFL history with one hundred
Speaker 2: and forty or more sacks are in Canton, which is
Speaker 2: which is not surprising. If he keeps up a decent pace,
Speaker 2: he could get there.
Speaker 3: In two years and still be what's still thirty three. Yeah,
Speaker 3: it's nuts because he could be that situational clowney pass
Speaker 3: rusher late in his life to pick up another twenty cheapies,
Speaker 3: you know, on or.
Speaker 2: Keep it up for the Houston Texans Will Anderson Junior
Speaker 2: and Derek Stingley Junior, Yes, and you think yes, And yes,
Speaker 2: I mean if it wasn't for Miles Garrett, I Will
Speaker 2: Anderson Junior would have been Defensive Player of the Year
Speaker 2: last year. He's still so young, yeah, and got a
Speaker 2: lot of good football in front of him, work to do,
Speaker 2: Kaylen Bullock, Nico Collins, c J. Stroud, Kamari Lassiter.
Speaker 3: Niko's the only one I would have listed to that group,
Speaker 3: and he has a lot of.
Speaker 2: Work to do so too, And those other guys are
Speaker 2: good players, They're real good players. And I guess, hey,
Speaker 2: if Stroud gets back back to what we saw his
Speaker 2: rookie year, maybe we'll be having the conversation with him
Speaker 2: here in another year or two, because he's still so young,
Speaker 2: but not from what he's done the last two.
Speaker 3: I mean, really, he's not much different than like bo
Speaker 3: Nick's being listed, except.
Speaker 2: For maybe a better rookie season. Exactly right, but right,
Speaker 2: that's a that's a very good point by you.
Speaker 3: Voters would laugh at you at those guys.
Speaker 2: Indianapolis cults In, Quentin Nelson, probably the finest guard of
Speaker 2: his of his generation, work to do, Sauce Gardner, Jonathan Taylor,
Speaker 2: Tyler Warren.
Speaker 3: Warren's too early. Taylor's having a really strong start to
Speaker 3: his career.
Speaker 2: I mean, a couple more good years and he'll be
Speaker 2: in the conversation.
Speaker 3: Slightly behind, like a Bijeon just signed a deal. Slightly
Speaker 3: behind Bijeon. I would mention Buckner though, okay, category well, you.
Speaker 2: Know there's the just miss out category, which is to
Speaker 2: Forrest Buckner, which I think that's fair.
Speaker 3: I think that's fair. I think he's like a Cam
Speaker 3: Jordan Lifetime Ring of Honor type guy maybe in two
Speaker 3: cities as opposed to one Cam Hayward at think's a
Speaker 3: little better than those guys. But I think Buckner is
Speaker 3: like a Kalais Campbell Jordan. There's a couple of those
Speaker 3: defensive lineman. You just have great respect for her there
Speaker 3: and leaders and you know.
Speaker 2: I tell you what, if he would have had a
Speaker 2: little more fortune in the health department, I think I
Speaker 2: think we could be saying that he's in. But I
Speaker 2: think he is going to be one of.
Speaker 3: Those hall He's still really good.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Jacksonville Jaguars, work to do. Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines, Allen,
Speaker 2: that's all listed for the Jags.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 2: I don't know if they have anybody right now. The
Speaker 2: good news for them is they've got such a young core. No, no, yeah,
Speaker 2: I don't know if they have anybody right now that
Speaker 2: you look to and say yeah. And maybe the same
Speaker 2: with the Tennessee Titans. Keep it up. Jeffrey Simmons sure
Speaker 2: work to do. Peter Skronsky, I guess those would be
Speaker 2: the two.
Speaker 3: I'm fine with that. Yeah, again, Skronsky needs give me
Speaker 3: eight more years. Right, He's a very good player that
Speaker 3: knowing people probably like he's a guard. He's a garden, right.
Speaker 2: He was a tackle coming out of Northwestern. Right, and
Speaker 2: they moved to if I'm remembering correctly, AFC North Baltimore,
Speaker 2: Ravens In, Derreck Henry and Lamar Jackson and keep it up.
Speaker 3: I think Lamar can not play another snap? And is
Speaker 3: it really I think that way? Yeah, I just but
Speaker 3: in this it's hard for quarterbacks though.
Speaker 2: In this era of quarterbacks.
Speaker 3: Yeah, maybe I'm wrong on that.
Speaker 2: I have two time MVP is two time MVP is
Speaker 2: pretty big.
Speaker 3: Thought Moore playoff successful, It's gonna hurt him. Henry's in.
Speaker 2: Henry's definitely in.
Speaker 3: Keep it up.
Speaker 2: Kyle Hamilton and Rokwan Smith.
Speaker 3: Yes, and yes, but they need to keep it up
Speaker 3: a lot. Yeah.
Speaker 2: Kyle Hamilton though, I mean he I think he's really
Speaker 2: might even be another step ahead of Rokwan Smith. Yeah,
Speaker 2: and then they have missing out Mark Andrews, Kalays Campbell,
Speaker 2: Ronnie Stanley, All really good players. But yeah, I don't
Speaker 2: think Hall of famers.
Speaker 3: I mean, Campbell will be a fun chat. I mean
Speaker 3: he's got the Wolvermint Peyton Man of the Year, longevity helps, No.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Cincinnati Bengals New.
Speaker 3: Hopkins was recently a raven. Yeah, I think he's Hall
Speaker 3: of really good, Paul really good.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Cincinnati Bengals, keep it up, Jamar Chase, work to do,
Speaker 2: Burrow Higgins, Dexter Lawrence. I think that's fair.
Speaker 3: I think it's real fair. Chase is on a skyrocket ship. Yeah.
Speaker 2: I understand saying work to do because he's still only twenty.
Speaker 3: Six, right, But if he is good a startup careers, he.
Speaker 2: Does this for two or three more years, he's absolute luck.
Speaker 3: But like another LSU guy that if we did this one, Beckham,
Speaker 3: it's great, Like, oh, he's definitely could knock it in.
Speaker 3: You know, it's not easy to do.
Speaker 2: Anybody got to have longevity. These conversations Cleveland Browns. Three
Speaker 2: guys listed as work to do, Carson Sweestinger, Jared Versu,
Speaker 2: and Denzel Ward.
Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean Ward's old enough now. I don't think
Speaker 3: he could ever do enough. And I don't know played one.
Speaker 2: Year and I don't know again. Jared Verse very nice player.
Speaker 2: I'd love to have him here, but I don't know
Speaker 2: if he's ever going to reach that height.
Speaker 3: I mean, he would have to really step it up.
Speaker 2: Like I think he's a solid B plus player, you know,
Speaker 2: and there's nothing wrong with that.
Speaker 3: But ninth best edge player on the planet, which is great,
Speaker 3: but they don't that's not who goes look in the hall?
Speaker 2: All right, Matt, here we go Pittsburgh Steelers in Aaron
Speaker 2: Rodgers and TJ.
Speaker 3: Watt, no doubt, no doubt, I think. I mean, obviously
Speaker 3: Rogers could never play again. I think Watt could never
Speaker 3: play again and be fine. I think there's two others
Speaker 3: that might have that same case that are better a
Speaker 3: little softer on the cusp.
Speaker 2: Cam Hayward Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I have mixed feelings if they would get
Speaker 3: in if they never played another snap same, you know, but.
Speaker 2: They definitely have, they'd definitely be in the conversation.
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, yeah. I mean Cam's gonna be really hard
Speaker 3: to keep out. I assuming he has a similar year
Speaker 3: to what he has the last couple.
Speaker 2: If he has another years in all pro, forget about it.
Speaker 3: And there was a long stretch. I mean, people forget
Speaker 3: Ramsey was maybe the best defensive back on the planet
Speaker 3: for five years. That's pretty strong and it was never bad.
Speaker 2: And then work to do category for the Steelers. Matt
Speaker 2: on the right track, but work to do Troy Faltanu, well,
Speaker 2: a lot of work do. But I love them are
Speaker 2: Prince Zach Frasier.
Speaker 3: Fraser's had a better chance. He's just got more under
Speaker 3: his wing. And I think it's it sounds weird, but
Speaker 3: there's few centers to battle this generation that tackles you know, if.
Speaker 2: You're if he's you know, if he can if it.
Speaker 2: I was just gonna say, Cammon Creed Humphrey, if you
Speaker 2: could play for a dozen years at a high level
Speaker 2: at that position, he's gonna have so many starts.
Speaker 3: Yeah, he probably needs eight more years of being Yes,
Speaker 3: the top guys.
Speaker 2: Joey Porter Jr. Still very early, very early, and DK Metcalf.
Speaker 3: I wonder if he's gonna list Metcalf, but.
Speaker 2: He's almost twenty nine years old. I that's the problem,
Speaker 2: I think, And again in this era of just absolute
Speaker 2: freak superstar wide receivers, I think DK is really good,
Speaker 2: but I don't think he's in that Jamar Chase, Justin
Speaker 2: Jefferson and Puka Nakua. I mean, these guys are just
Speaker 2: putting up monster.
Speaker 3: Numbers, and I hope I'm not correct, but his best day,
Speaker 3: his pure the prime where he hit his absolute apex,
Speaker 3: probably is behind him. I mean it's just physical. I
Speaker 3: mean it's just physiology.
Speaker 2: Last uh, last division. Listen, I'll tell you this right now.
Speaker 2: Zach Frazier makes it to Canton. We're just we're gonna
Speaker 2: set up a week there and you're gonna do and
Speaker 2: do shows there and can'ton all week. Last last division
Speaker 2: here as we round out this exercise, Matt the AFC
Speaker 2: East bills in, Josh Allen, Yes.
Speaker 3: Him and Lamar I think have the equal case.
Speaker 2: Yes, work to do And I don't know, maybe I
Speaker 2: should say because if Josh Allen, what if he never
Speaker 2: played another down?
Speaker 3: Yeah, but I still chances are he'll be good this
Speaker 3: year or the next year.
Speaker 2: Work to do. James Cook and Spencer Brown.
Speaker 3: Yeah, a lot of work to do, though, a lot
Speaker 3: of work.
Speaker 2: Dolphins one person.
Speaker 3: Miller not on any team anymore. I don't think. I
Speaker 3: don't think he's on a team, but I think he's going. Yeah.
Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, without a doubt, Miami Dolphins work to do.
Speaker 2: The only one guy listed, Devon ah Chang, a lot
Speaker 2: of work to do. But I always forget that he's
Speaker 2: only twenty four, Like ye nuts, but that's tough, especially
Speaker 2: you're not you're not and you're not Bijon and you're
Speaker 2: not Saquan and right, you're not Gibbs and you're not you.
Speaker 3: Know, no, longevity's going to be his friend either.
Speaker 2: New England Patriots two in the keep it up category,
Speaker 2: Christian Gonzalez Drake may May.
Speaker 3: I don't mind being on there, Like I think he's
Speaker 3: compared to like a Knicks. Yeah, I mean at least
Speaker 3: he was runner up for he went to Super Bowl.
Speaker 3: He's running up for MVP in his second season. But
Speaker 3: I mean, obviously he needs to give me twelve more
Speaker 3: years and it's all the Seeds to do a lot
Speaker 3: more too.
Speaker 2: And then work to do. Aj Brown he's a tough one.
Speaker 2: He's just again though, like I just at twenty nine.
Speaker 3: His style of play, Oh, I think he's declining.
Speaker 2: Yeah, now if he has a nice body of work,
Speaker 2: if he has another fourteen hundred yard receiving season or two.
Speaker 3: If he's like a first team All Pro then I
Speaker 3: think he goes sure, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2: But I just man, that's I'm betting against that me too.
Speaker 2: The New York j e Ts Jets, Jets, Jets work
Speaker 2: to do Garrett Wilson Hall of really good to Mario.
Speaker 3: Davis, Yes and yes, and Wilson has to do it time.
Speaker 2: I think Wilson has to do a lot. Tomorrio Davis
Speaker 2: is another one of those Ring of Honor easy for
Speaker 2: the Saints.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, really.
Speaker 2: Good player, but I think just a just a step
Speaker 2: short of Hall of Fame credentials.
Speaker 3: Minka's two steps short. He's a Jet now too.
Speaker 2: That's true. Yeah, I'm surprised that he wasn't listed as just,
Speaker 2: you know, a missing out.
Speaker 3: He's had a pretty good career.
Speaker 2: It's had a very good career. But I would say
Speaker 2: he's another one of those Hall of really good type guys.
Speaker 2: Hour in the books two More Hours to Go. There
Speaker 2: is one more interesting Hall of Fame angle conversation backdrop
Speaker 2: to tonight that I want to run by Matt Williamson
Speaker 2: when we start the four o'clock hour. We'll do that
Speaker 2: on the other side, all part of our ongoing training
Speaker 2: camp coverage. It's the Drive Steelers Nation Radio on the
Speaker 2: Steelers Audio Network