1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre and welcome, ladies 2 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: and gentlemen. Straight Fired for Friday, March five, the weekend 3 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: is here. Whoa very fired up. It was kind of 4 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: a slow sports week. Uh, fortunately this podcast brought the thunder. 5 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: We had a couple of great guests this week. Really 6 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: have enjoyed the podcast and now we wrap up heading 7 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:34,319 Speaker 1: into NBA All Star weekend. Um. I don't know. Ben 8 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger made news on Thursday, better news than historically he's 9 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: been in because it hasn't been all great with Big 10 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: Ben in the last few years. He decided to take 11 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: a whopping five million dollar pay cut, and he's willing 12 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: to spread out his money. So generous of Ben Roethlisberger 13 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: spreading out his money just so the Steelers can make 14 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: one more run at a Super Bowl. They now have, 15 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: I believe in extra fifteen mill in cap room for 16 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,279 Speaker 1: the Rooneys and company to spend on retaining Bud Dupre, 17 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 1: making a run at a defensive lineman in case they lose. 18 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: Dupre upgraded the offensive line, which was horrible last year. 19 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 1: Juju Smith Schuster maybe on his way out. By the way, 20 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 1: Juju Smith Schuster, I think likes being a celebrity. I 21 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 1: was scrooling through uh Instagram this week and there's this boxer, 22 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: um King Ryan or whatever his name is. He's a 23 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 1: real boxer. He's got super fast hands, and he basically 24 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: has celebrities put on like one of those protective chest 25 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: things and then punches him as many times as he can. 26 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: And a lot of these guys just go in there 27 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: and take one or two punches and they're like, oh, 28 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: I'm die care. So Juju stands in there. Juju smith Suster, 29 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: an NFL player, is joking around on Instagram, that's what 30 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: he's doing in the off season, and he takes like 31 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: ten punches from this guy before going down and he's like, oh, 32 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: Jude is And I'm just like, dude, you're a free agent. 33 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: And there's other guys out there putting out Instagram videos. 34 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: They're working out, they're grinding, and you are. And I'm 35 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: not picking on Juju, but it's pretty clear since he 36 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: had that big rookie year, he has loved nothing more 37 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: than being a celebrity. And I gotta be honest with you, 38 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: if I'm the Steelers, I have enough of a receiving 39 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: corp there, especially with Chapool, Chase Claypool, that I'm not 40 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: over paying to keep Juju Smith Schuster like, is that 41 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: a big loss? He's clearly not a number one. He 42 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: was a great, great number two when Antonio Brown was 43 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: chopping it up. Antonio Brown leaves and Juju couldn't carry 44 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: the burden. Now, Fortunately for Ben, the Steelers were able 45 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: to upgrade the receiving corps Deonte Johnson, James Washington, Claypool, 46 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: even Ray Ray McCleod, little punt returner, is a nice player. 47 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: But I think the story with Big Ben here is this. 48 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: If you look at sports track, Ben Roethlisberger, this is staggering. 49 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: Has made an estimated two hundred and fifty three million 50 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:10,359 Speaker 1: dollars a quarter of a billy in seventeen seasons. So 51 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: what the hell is a five million dollar pay cut? Seriously, 52 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: has nothing two hundred fifty three million, even if he 53 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: blew a third of it, wasted it on cars and 54 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: houses and women, whatever he did, He's still got multigenerational wealth. Folks. 55 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: This doesn't even touch the marketing dollars and all the 56 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: ancillary stuff. Okay, Ben Roethlisberger is gonna eat for life. 57 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: He will be fine. On the speaking circuit, show up 58 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: at a celebrity golf tournament paying fifty thousand like he's 59 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: set for life. Ben Roethlisberger taking his pay cut is 60 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: gonna be seen as I want to win. I'm doing 61 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: everything I can, Like are you, because you're not getting 62 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: any younger. Ben turned thirty nine this week, and if 63 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: you look closely at the end of last season, his 64 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: play really tailed off. At the end. He started to 65 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: look his age. He didn't fall off the Peyton Manning cliff. 66 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: That Manning fell off with the Broncos. But Big Ben, 67 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: you know, the elbow surgery clearly took its toll, and 68 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: the eleven or no start kind of masked Ben's deficiencies. 69 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: He averaged a career low six point three yards per attempt. 70 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: He wanted to get that ball out quickly, dink and 71 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: dunk City was not able to stretch the field with 72 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: the deep ball, And what defense has figured out late 73 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 1: in the season was, oh, Ben, don't even want to 74 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: hold the football. We don't need to play our safeties deep. 75 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: I mean, Washington has speed, Johnson has speed, but Ben's 76 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: letting it go quickly. So everybody started to jam up 77 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: at the line of scrimmage jam the receivers. The Steelers 78 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: had no offensive line, no run threat whatsoever, and they 79 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: put pressure on Bed and rattled him in the in 80 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: the different looks really confused him. He had like eighty 81 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: percent of his interceptions in the final I believe, seven games. 82 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: So it's it's honorable that he's taken a pay cut. 83 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: And you know, I know Steelers fans are like, Okay, 84 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: that's good. Let's you know, um, go sign some good players. 85 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: But I don't even know if the Steelers are a 86 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: top three team in the a f C right now. 87 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: Clearly the Chiefs are one. I think you've got to 88 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: put the Buffalo Bills too. Let me see where Deshaun 89 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: Watson lands. But Cleveland is on the uptick, Baltimore is 90 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: gonna still be there. Justin Herbert, I think is on 91 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: the rise. And frankly, if Deshaun Watson goes to Miami, 92 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: I think the Dolphins are the third best team in 93 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: the a f C maybe even second. Yeah, I think 94 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: you put them above the Buffalo Bills because they have 95 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: a better defense. So Ben's doing a nice thing here. 96 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: But what is the long term plan for the Steelers? 97 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,239 Speaker 1: Are they going to draft a quarterback. Are they gonna, 98 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: I don't know, sign a free agent to put pressure 99 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: on Ben because I don't know that he gets through 100 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: the season at thirty nine, and the way he looked 101 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: at the end of the year was not very good. Now, 102 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: Rob G obviously drinking hay to rate all week going 103 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 1: after Steph Curry. He he sees your tweets, folks, he 104 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: sees them. He's loving it, Rob G. I'm guessing you 105 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: hate this Ben Roethlisberger move. Oh absolutely, I think that 106 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: it's not even my opinion. I'll let former Steelers legend 107 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: Ike Taylor and say it for me. When Big Ben 108 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: coming back sets the franchise back two to three years 109 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: and this is not the NBA where guys can hang 110 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: on for nextra year doesn't really matter because there's so 111 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: much player movement, there's so much fluidity, it doesn't really 112 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: doesn't really hurt you. If you overpay a legend in 113 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: the last year or two of a deal, or you 114 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: hang on extra year. In the NFL, that will kill you, 115 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 1: especially because, like I mean, there's reason it's called not 116 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 1: for long, because it's it's things are changing, and in 117 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: the NFL, if you don't have a quarterback, then you're 118 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: your toast. And what the Steelers did is, you know, 119 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 1: kudos for Big Band for taking a pay cut. I 120 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: guess kind of like you said. I mean, I don't 121 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 1: know how much of a pay cut is for a 122 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 1: guy like that, But the worst thing you can be 123 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: in sports is five is a Nate is mediocre. You 124 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: either got to be a super Bowl championship contender or 125 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: you want to be at the boy him of the 126 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: barrel so you can get the next quarterback. You can 127 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: get the Trevor Lawrence, whoever, Andrew Luck, whoever you want 128 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: you want to go with, and Big Ben coming back 129 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: ensures they're not gonna be terrible. You know. There they'll 130 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: get seven to ten wins, I think because the rest 131 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: of that defense is awesome. You mentioned the receivers, but 132 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: they're not gonna win a super Bowl. Big Bend was 133 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: terrible the last half of the year. I mean, everybody 134 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: I've read in the headlines and said thirty three touchdowns 135 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: ten interceptions on the season for Big Ben Rosenberg, which 136 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: sounds like good numbers, but if you dive deep the 137 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: last seven games of the season, including the playoffs, I 138 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: want to say twelve touchdowns ten picks. So what what 139 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: exactly are you bringing him back for. Do you think 140 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: that you're closer super Bowl? Because you're not. We we 141 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: saw that last season. Um well wait, they were eleven 142 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: or not. Let's give them. Let's give them credit for 143 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,119 Speaker 1: that eleven or no start. Um, Yeah, they fell apart 144 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: at the end of the season. But you don't think 145 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: it's possible that with one or two moves they could 146 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: do what the Ravens did in pivoting flop from Joe 147 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: Flacco right and always a playoff team they want a 148 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: super Bowl like always in the mix, quickly to Lamar 149 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: Jackson because a lot of these franchises rob have a 150 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: massive downturn. Right, you lose Dan Marino, We'll see in 151 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: a decade, Dolphins, you know some of these other franchises. 152 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: You lose your quarterback, your toast. The Ravens were able 153 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: to quickly pivot to Lamar, which is impressive. Now they 154 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: haven't won a Super Bowl with Lamar, but they're at 155 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: least in contention. They're in the playoffs fourteen and two. 156 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 1: Do you think that if they keep Ben and are 157 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: able to find a quarterback in the draft. Here the 158 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: way Green Bay got Jordan's Love maybe a little early 159 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: on that. Why can't they make that transition because other 160 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: than Ben, the rosters really good Rob. I mean, the 161 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,199 Speaker 1: Jordan's Love comparison is fair, but then he wasn't even 162 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: suiting up as the backup last year, So really, how 163 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: close is Jordan Loved being a quarterback of the future. 164 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: And I think the Ravens example is not entirely perfect 165 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: because they moved on from Joe Flacco once they had 166 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: the opportunity to do so, once it became clear midway 167 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: through Lamar's rookie season that he was washed. They didn't 168 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: hold on for another year or two and say, hey, 169 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: Joe Flacco, now even for the first couple of years 170 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: of his career, is going to be better than what 171 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: we have in Lamar. Jackson they decided, let's rip the 172 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: band aid off, throw Lamar out there. If it works out, great, 173 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: If not, we're building towards something. And the Steelers are 174 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: afraid to pull off the band aid. Like the it's 175 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: different if you're Jacksonville, if you're Cleveland, if you're even 176 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: my Raiders, where it's like, hey, let's just make the playoffs. 177 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: You know that that's a good season. For us. Pittsburgh 178 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,079 Speaker 1: is in the business of winning super Bowls. Like making 179 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: the playoffs is not good enough for that fan base. 180 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: And the longer you delay this inevitable, the longer you 181 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: are from being a super Bowl contender. I mean, I 182 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: guess I would disagree a little bit. So Big Ben 183 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: has been too. I believe he's that two super bowls right, Oh, 184 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: he went to the Seattle one, the Arizona one, Seattle 185 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: Arizona and they lost to the Packers. So we went 186 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 1: to three super Bowls early in his career. M in 187 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: the last ten years he's been to one a f 188 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: C championship. Now Russell Wilson in the last seven has 189 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: been to one NFC championship. What is it? What is 190 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: a reliable expectation rob for some of these like not 191 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,079 Speaker 1: everybody can get to a super Bowl or win a 192 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: super Bowl? Right, what's like a real expectation for the 193 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: Steelers next year if we don't get to the a 194 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: f C championship the seasons in disappointment? Is that fair 195 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: or foul? That's fair for Steelers fans? And no, huh, 196 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: I mean everybody latches onto that start. They had to 197 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: the season because they were undefeated for for a while there. 198 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: I mean Chase Claypool tweeting out like losing. What's that like? 199 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: You know? And then they found out real quick what 200 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: it was like. But anybody who watched the game Aimes 201 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: saw that they were winning with smoke and mirrors like 202 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: they weren't as good as their record indicated they were. 203 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 1: Their defense was lights out, But as soon as they 204 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: got nicked up here and there with some injuries, you 205 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 1: saw again the offensive line wasn't very good. The receivers 206 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: had issues getting off a press coverage. Big Ben's arm 207 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 1: like detached. I think he's throwing left handy. That's how 208 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: bad he looked out there. And so if you can't 209 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: look in the mirror and say with a straight face, 210 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: I am a super Bowl contending team then and I 211 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: don't think Pittsburgh can say that, then then what are 212 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: you doing? Like? Why why do you want to string 213 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: this out? I guess you know this is a Pittsburgh 214 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: team that was competitive before Big Ben. Uh. You know, 215 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: when you can go Bill Coward to Mike Tomlin, that's 216 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: the equivalent of Brett Farve to Aaron Rodgers on the 217 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: coaching front. Um, I don't know for some reason. I 218 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: I don't think they're that far off hypothetically, and again, 219 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: you don't want to wish injuries anybody. If Patrick Mahomes 220 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:59,719 Speaker 1: goes down, I would say the a f C is 221 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: why open. I don't think Buffalo's automatically gonna go to 222 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: the super Bowl from the a f C. So a 223 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: bounce here or there. Pittsburgh's right in the mix. Now 224 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: there's a jumble at three, four, five, six, and you know, 225 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: anything could happen. Hell, my Jets get to Shaun Watson. 226 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: Sky's the limit, baby. But um, I don't know like 227 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh fans right now, I get the sense Rob they're 228 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: killing Big Ben. They're just crushing him. Um. But here's 229 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,319 Speaker 1: the final question, like, what is the alternative if we 230 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:33,079 Speaker 1: said Ben, thank you for your service, what's the move? Um, 231 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: we're out of position to draft one of the top 232 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: five quarterbacks because we're drafting late in the first round. 233 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: On the free agent market, you can't even get Mariota 234 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: because he's I don't know if you've read this, but 235 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: he's technically UM on the books for like twenty two 236 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: mill next year, and so if you trade for him, 237 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: that's what you owe him. So people would rather that 238 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: he left and then you signed him for ten or twelve. 239 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: But Mariota is like, well, why the hell would I 240 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: do that, So he'd rather just keep the money. So 241 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: if you remove Mariota and you say, audios, Ben, what 242 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: are we looking at? Jameis Winston, H, Ryan Fitzpatrick, h 243 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: somebody I'm missing, Like, I don't see where the upgrade 244 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: is from Ben this offseason. I don't think there's a 245 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 1: package for Watson. And that's the only thing that that 246 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: makes it difficult is if not Ben, then who Jimmy 247 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: g That's a fair point. But I'm glad that you 248 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: brought up Patrick Mahomes, you know, early in that little rant, 249 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: and that's because you said that the Steelers are out 250 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,599 Speaker 1: from where they're picking of getting one of the top quarterbacks. 251 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 1: When the Chiefs got Pat Mahomes, they were picking, they 252 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: were able to trade up. They identified Mahomes as a 253 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: guy that they thought they could build around. It took him, 254 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: uh two first round picks and a third to move up. 255 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: I don't see why if Pittsburgh thinks that justin fields 256 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: or trade lands. So I'm sure Zach Wilson now that 257 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,199 Speaker 1: he's the flavor of the month. Stop it, stop it. 258 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 1: I've been on him since early January. But you know 259 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: it's not that difficult to trade. You said, their rosters 260 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: already loaded, Like, do they really need another tight end 261 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: wherever they're gonna be picking, Do they need another running back? 262 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: I think they need an offensive lineman badly. Center retired 263 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: and they've got issue. They could not run the football 264 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: last year, they could not open holes. I'm waiting for 265 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: Pro Football Focus to rank the offensive lines. My guess 266 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: is last year the Steelers were in the twenty one 267 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: to twenty six range somewhere around there. Okay, well they're 268 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: picking I think this upcoming season, so do you think 269 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: they're going to get a difference maker offensive lineman at 270 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: twenty four can help them win a Super Bowl? Right now? 271 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: Went to Tampa what like thirteen four teen, and he 272 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: was incredible. He was amazing. Um. I don't know if 273 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: this draft is that deep on the offensive line. Uh 274 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: you know, mhm. Okay. So if you're if you, if 275 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: you ran the Steelers, would you rather pick at twenty 276 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: four and take whatever the best offensive line there is available? 277 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: Or would you be willing to push all in and say, 278 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: let me trade my third round pick and my first 279 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: round pick next year to get up into the top 280 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: twelve to get one of these quarterbacks, to get mac Jones. 281 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 1: So the the big problem is mac Jones does not 282 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: help you win now, like you when when the Chiefs 283 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: traded up from Mahomes, I believe Alex Smith had taken 284 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: them to the playoffs, right, and then they were like, well, 285 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 1: maybe we could get better, but Mahomes is the future. 286 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: And I think the next year they went to the 287 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: playoffs lost to the Titans. Yeah, yeah, the pay they 288 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: lost to the Patriots with Alex Smith. Then they traded 289 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: up from Mahomes. Then they lost to the Titans in 290 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: the first round and Mariota, and then the next year 291 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: my Homes started. So I don't think the Chiefs were 292 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: Super Bowl contenders. It's a good question because then you 293 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: have to internally, you have to get the senior staff 294 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: in there for Pittsburgh look at each other and say, 295 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: can we win a Super Bowl this year? If not, 296 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: let's do what the Chiefs did and trade up for 297 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: a guy we think might be Patrick Mahomes. It's still 298 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: crazy that Mahomes felt the ten. I personally was not 299 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: a believer coming out I don't think many were, you know, 300 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: obviously like, oh, it looks like a good player, but 301 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: the Big twelve, come on, they haven't produced anybody. And 302 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: then here now we're talking, what four years later is 303 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: Patrick Mahomes the top ten quarterback all time? You know, 304 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: it's pretty quick how these things pivot, uh at any rate? 305 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: I guess it's TVD on the Steelers. It'll be interesting 306 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: what they do because then Big Ben's being like, wait 307 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: a second, wait, wait, I took five million dollars less 308 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 1: so you could trade up for my replacement in a year. 309 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: And then this Big Ben get pissed. But at that point, 310 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: I guess you're like, who the hell cares what you think? 311 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 1: Go out there and quarterback. I see, see you're starting 312 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: to get it now. It only took you know, fifteen 313 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: minutes for me to just totally flip your opinion. It 314 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: um so yeah, I would say that was the biggest 315 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: story in the NFL on Thursday. Fox Sports Radio has 316 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all 317 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 1: of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and 318 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: within the I Heart Radio app. Search f s R 319 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 1: to listen live. All right, let's pivot to the NBA 320 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: All Star Weekend is here. I'm not even going to 321 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: give you the names of the Dunk Contest contestants because 322 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: they are uninspiring. Three point Contest will feature my guys, 323 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: Steph Curry. However, Rob G has made it very clear 324 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: to me that he has beef with Steph Curry skipping 325 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: Thursday night's game, Lebrons skipping one Day night's game against 326 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 1: the Kings, which was a close loss, and Luca don 327 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: Che missing Wednesday night's game. You know, I don't understand 328 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 1: guys who are mad at people for taking a game off. 329 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure there's a Laker fan out there who's gonna 330 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: say Lebron lost ground in the f VP race and 331 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: b play and had an amazing comeback against the Jazz, 332 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: hit the game time shot and then it went to 333 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: overtime and one like, I'm sure there are people who 334 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: think that. And I think the gambling odds pivoted a 335 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 1: little bit to Joel Embiide this week for m v P. 336 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: But Rob, I'm gonna give you the floor here. You're 337 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: upset with Lebron for resting, yes, and and don't make 338 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 1: it that simple. I'm not upset with him for resting 339 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: you know I had said before that I thought that 340 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: one of the things that Lebron was doing that was 341 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 1: not smart was he was trying to soldier through and 342 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: play these thirty eight forty minutes tonight, you know, to 343 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 1: keep the team above water. I'm like, hey, just take 344 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: the loss. You know, it's not that big of a 345 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: deal in the ground scheme of things. The Lebron taking 346 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:44,640 Speaker 1: a night off is not that big of a deal. 347 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: Where I have an issue is Lebron, Luca Steph Curry 348 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: taking off the last game before the All Star break 349 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: but then still playing in the All Star Game. That's 350 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: where I have an issue for because it's like the 351 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 1: NBA has been suffering this from a long time where 352 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: because of daily sports television, because of sports radio, because 353 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: of sports podcasting, we've cheapened the regular season with the 354 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: NBA because all we care about is rings. It's like, well, 355 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,400 Speaker 1: James Harden, you're great, but you flame out of the playoffs. 356 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 1: Janice is a two time m v P but he 357 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: flames on the playoffs. Nobody cares like that's that's not 358 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: impressive to me anymore. And what the NBA is doing 359 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: because I know these guys don't sit out you know, 360 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: without the approval of the NBA, and this in this 361 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 1: situation is they're saying, you know what, our All Star 362 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: game is more important than a regular season game, So 363 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: go ahead and take your rest on the game that 364 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: counts supposedly, and so that we can make sure that 365 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: you're available on Sunday for our exhibition. I think that 366 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: it's a bad look for the league. I think it's 367 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: disrespectful to the fans that that root for their team. 368 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,199 Speaker 1: You know, it's one thing for you to skip a 369 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: Tuesday during a ten day road trip, but you're back 370 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: the next game. But for you to skip a game 371 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: so that you can play in the All Star Game, 372 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,360 Speaker 1: I think it's just the battle look all the way around. Well, 373 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: it feels like none of the players are happy there's 374 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: an All Star game this year. Would you agree? I 375 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: would agree with that. Okay, So if the players aren't 376 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,919 Speaker 1: happy there's an All Star Game, what can they do 377 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,439 Speaker 1: to voice their unhappiness without you know, blasting them like 378 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 1: Lebron did in the public. You can sit out the 379 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: game that's not a nationally televised game. Right before the 380 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: All Star break, Kings Lakers was not nationally televised Wednesday night, 381 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: Mavericks game was not and Curry tonight is not. Now, 382 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: if you notice, Curry was the national game on Wednesday 383 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: against Portland's when they lost to Damian Lillard. My gosh, 384 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: Lillard is He's amazing, um and and it just makes 385 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 1: you wonder, like, Okay, they're playing by the rules. Lebron 386 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 1: has missed one game right before the All Star break, 387 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 1: and you want to hold this damn All Star weekend 388 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: in the middle of a freaking pandemic, when their camp 389 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: be parties and everything's on lockdown, and this is the 390 00:20:57,960 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: one chance I've got to see my family and red 391 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: to relax and hang and I gotta go to an 392 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 1: All Star game. Okay, we'll fine, We'll bleep you. I'm 393 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: gonna skip one of the games before the break. I 394 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: got no problem with that. But the All Star One 395 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 1: more thing. The All Star Game rob is a showcase 396 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: for the league. Okay. It has way more eyeballs than 397 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: I think any regular season game. Even though it doesn't 398 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 1: have like massive ratings. It is the only deal in town. 399 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure Sunday night, there's like no other sports 400 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 1: going on. This is a showcase for the league. All 401 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,719 Speaker 1: Star weekend and they're making a lot of money off this. 402 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: The players are profiting Handsolly, I don't think it's that 403 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:36,919 Speaker 1: big of an ask. It's let me while you go on. 404 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: I'll think of an analogy where your wife asked you 405 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 1: to do something and you really don't really want to, 406 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: and he's like, you know what, it's not that big 407 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 1: of an ask. Like I said, it's not that big 408 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:47,639 Speaker 1: of an ask for them to take well to to 409 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: do the All Star Game. I understand it sucks and 410 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 1: nobody really wants to do it. They've made that very clear. 411 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: None of these guys want to do it. It's just 412 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: the optics of it are so bad. It goes back 413 00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: to the James Harden getting his the jersey retirement announcement 414 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: two months after he burned your your franchi on the 415 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 1: way out the door, Like, I don't have an issue 416 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: with them retiring his jersey, but you don't announce it 417 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: that quickly, Like it's just not it's the optics are terrible. 418 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 1: Skipping a game here or there, load managing here there 419 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: in in a shortened, compressed season. I don't have an 420 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: issue with that, But why is it that you're in 421 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 1: essentially prioritizing an exhibition game to make sure you're available 422 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: to play in that one at the expense of your team. 423 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: It's one thing to say I'm skipping a game on 424 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: January and a back to back on a road trip 425 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 1: because I want to be fresh for the rest of 426 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: the road trip, or because I think it's going to 427 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 1: help our team better. Is is Lebron, Luca, and Steph 428 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 1: Are they helping their teams by sitting out a game 429 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 1: that counts in the Western Conference when everybody's all jumbled 430 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 1: up and they're fighting for playoffs seating so that they 431 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 1: can all be available to play in the All Star Game. 432 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 1: They're not. I don't have it in front of me, 433 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: but if I would venture to guess, if you looked 434 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 1: at Jersey Sales, Curry, Luca, and Lebron are probably all 435 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: top six, maybe top five, maybe top three. I don't know, 436 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: they're up there. There are three of the most popular players. 437 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: They need to be in the All Star Game, even 438 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: if it's for twenty minutes. Jack in some threes, Luco 439 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: with someone on one moves to get you know, they 440 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: just need that. The league needs that, and you know, 441 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: I don't think Lebron is gonna be going hard in 442 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: the All Star Game. I don't know. Are they doing 443 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: the lam ending again? Oh, I don't know. They had 444 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:28,879 Speaker 1: seven for the season that they were going to do it. 445 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 1: I don't know if things have changed. I mean that's 446 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 1: the problem that made it interesting, and guys tried, Like 447 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter there was defense last time. Uh Frankly, 448 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: I don't even know what's at stake? Is home court 449 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 1: advantage at stake? Okay, so there's really no incident. Lebron, 450 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: if anything, should go to the coach and be like, yo, 451 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: twenty minutes, my Max. You know, get some of these 452 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 1: young guys. Throw some bonus in there for some extra minutes. 453 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 1: You know, hell, Zion william People were there to watch 454 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: Zion Williamson. You know they want to see him, dunk. 455 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:01,199 Speaker 1: I can't even think of who else is a big 456 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 1: deal in the West, Um the stifle Tower. Like nobody's 457 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: there to see Rudy Gobert. You know they want to 458 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 1: see the stars. But I mean, I understand dissing your team, 459 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,719 Speaker 1: but frankly, I wouldn't be I'm sure Kuzma liked it. 460 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:21,199 Speaker 1: Avonso Alfonso McKinney and these guys wanted extra burn. You know, Uh, 461 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: Kuzla got all the shots he wanted, Montrez Harrold as well. 462 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: Like they're happy Golden State Warriors, They're gonna probably get destroyed. 463 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:30,360 Speaker 1: I tried to bet the game as soon as literally 464 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 1: I had the one of my gambling sites open. I 465 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: have several and as soon as I saw the tweet 466 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: come out the Draymond and Curry were out, I quickly went, 467 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: can I bet the game? And it was already off 468 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:45,360 Speaker 1: the board. Um, obviously gonna get slaughtered. I mean there's 469 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 1: a guy on the Warriors. Did you know this? They 470 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: just call him j t A. Like yeah, like yeah, 471 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,719 Speaker 1: like you were supposed to know him. Like it's like, uh, 472 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:58,959 Speaker 1: what's his name something, Toscano, Anderson, Anderson, whatever it is, 473 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 1: Like I just find it comical. Oh j t A 474 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: is gonna go with J t A is starting like, 475 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: who who the hell is that? He? Is? He a 476 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: household name just because he has three initials, Like I 477 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: just think that's idiotic. But let me just wrap up, 478 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:12,639 Speaker 1: wrap up my thought on this, because I know that 479 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 1: your big analogy you said, I gave you time to 480 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 1: think of one, you couldn't come up with one. But 481 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: here's one that I have for you. Let's say you 482 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:20,239 Speaker 1: and I are doing the podcast. We do it every day, 483 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: five days a week, and you say, Rob, I can't 484 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: make Friday's show. I'm not available. We're gonna have to 485 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,200 Speaker 1: go dark that day, or you have to go solo 486 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,159 Speaker 1: whatever you and Gavin can host. Alright, cool, no problem. 487 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 1: And then I find out the reason why you can't 488 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: do it is because you're doing a phone interview with 489 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: Colin Cowherd. Like, well, that's that's great for you and 490 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: the branding of whatever it is you want to build. 491 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: But for our day today, what puts food on the table, 492 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:50,199 Speaker 1: what puts fool and table is this podcast. What is 493 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: beneficial to the Lakers, the Warriors in the MAVs is 494 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: that they win these regular season games so they're ready 495 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: for the postseason, not so that they can appear for 496 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: the biggest eyeball that's gonna be, you know, good for 497 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: the brand. Can you tell me when the straight fire 498 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:09,640 Speaker 1: what seed we are in the playoffs? In the podcast? 499 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: When that is I can start load managing. I would 500 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 1: assume that's football season, is the playoffs because the summer, Yeah, yeah, 501 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:21,920 Speaker 1: load manage during the summer, and yeah, by the way 502 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: I already. I have had some friends who I don't 503 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,400 Speaker 1: know if they listened every single day, but they're clearly 504 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 1: um regular listeners, and they're like, dude, you you haven't 505 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:37,199 Speaker 1: taken a day off the podcast in like seven months. 506 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: And I was like, I hadn't really thought about it. 507 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 1: You know, we went skiing, I took the equipment with me, 508 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: we did the pod, and then you know, Robbie, it's 509 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: like a job. It's right. You show up for the 510 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: job every day and you do the work, and it's 511 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 1: I do enjoy this this Like are It's so funny? 512 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 1: Rob And I will be like, oh man, are there 513 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: any topics? Nothing really happened last night? What do we 514 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,919 Speaker 1: talk about? And then we'll just start chopping it up 515 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: and next thing you look up and it's like thirty 516 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: one minutes. Oh wow, this is fun and people like those, 517 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 1: especially the rambling ones. But I guess to your point, 518 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: taking a day off is a little disrespectful to the team. 519 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: I can't remember the last time I had to call 520 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:26,400 Speaker 1: in sick for something, um because you know, I mean, yeah, 521 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:28,199 Speaker 1: we're in a global pandemic and where the hell am 522 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 1: I going? But yeah, I mean it's I guess it's 523 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: a little different because for this job, when Lebron, when 524 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: I when I'm twenty five, my energy for the podcast 525 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: is still going to be as awesome as as when 526 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: I'm thirty five. But for Lebron, his NBA legs, given 527 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: the playoffs and going to the finals, what nine out 528 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 1: of ten years, the legs are dwindling, and he's not 529 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 1: gonna have that same energy. I'm able to break it people. 530 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 1: All Right, maybe we wrap up on that, no, Rob 531 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,359 Speaker 1: g Yeah, I mean, if you just compare yourself to 532 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:05,679 Speaker 1: Lebron James. So did I think that if there was 533 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: ever a mic drop moment in the history of the 534 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 1: Straight Fire Podcast, that would be it? Yeah? Well, I 535 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 1: guess I I had one question, Um, if you could 536 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 1: come up with three guys to be in the dunk contest, 537 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: current NBA players, who would you pick? Well, actually, I'll 538 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 1: just say two because I know Zach Levine obviously is 539 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 1: one three. Zack Levine. Did you see his dunk in 540 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: warm ups the other night? Yeah? Well, he dude that 541 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 1: he is insane. He does that kind of stuff regularly 542 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 1: though he isn't. His bounces off the charts, and that's 543 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 1: just want to I want to say he tore his 544 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: knee up to a couple of years ago, so imagine 545 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 1: if that hadn't happened. Like he's unreal, But yeah, he's 546 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: definitely one. Zion is one. And there are a few 547 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 1: other guys, you know, I'm not a pant and he 548 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 1: Edwards or no. No, I mean there's a few guys. 549 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: I think Derek Jones, who is a good But my 550 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: issue I've always been a proponent of I want to 551 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 1: see the best players in these events. Like, I don't 552 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: care if you're the best dunker, if you're a guy 553 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: I never heard of, Like I think Cassius Stanley has 554 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: been in the NBA for four games and he's at 555 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: this this upcoming one, so I don't I don't care. 556 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 1: I don't got some balance he does, but I don't 557 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: really care to see him. You know one guy who 558 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 1: I think would do very well that is kind of 559 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: sneaky in that regard would be Um John Morant. I 560 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 1: could see him doing something in but he's too good. 561 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 1: The good players don't do exactly and that's the problem. 562 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 1: But that would be my three be Levine, Zion, and 563 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 1: Jaw Interesting. I can't really think of off the top 564 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 1: of my head at anybody you know, Anthony Edwards is 565 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,360 Speaker 1: there's there's ine like Obie Topping is in the dunk contest, 566 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:47,080 Speaker 1: great in game dunker, but like, what's he gonna do? 567 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:49,880 Speaker 1: I just I don't see what he's gonna do in 568 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 1: the contest. And it's a little disheartening because Zach Levine, 569 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, I'm telling you guys, after you've done 570 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: listening to this, after you subscribe, rate and review, um, 571 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: go to YouTube and just call up Space Jam Dunks 572 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 1: Zach Lavine and it's just I mean, it's like three 573 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: minutes of just earth shattering stuff. I'll say this, Dwight Howard, 574 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 1: didn't he pick a quarter off the backboard? No, he's 575 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 1: slammed a sticker on the top of the backboard. That 576 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 1: was Yeah. Did he win a dunk contest? He might 577 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: have with the Superman stick I know he lost one 578 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 1: to Uh Nate Robinson. That's right, by the way, is 579 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: Nate Robinson a week after getting knocked out by that dude? 580 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:34,120 Speaker 1: Um Jack Jake Paul. Anyways, al right, everybody, have a 581 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 1: great weekend. We'll see you Monday.