Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger
Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben talks Draft plan, Deebo & Joe, and rooting for players over teams Ep 124
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Ben and Spence talk Ben's time as teammates with Deebo and Joe Haden as well as the difference in rooting for player vs rooting for teams. They also touch on the impact of Aaron Rodgers in light of the Steelers recent free agency moves.
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0:00 Intro
1:07 Joining Debo And Joe’s Show
2:20 Joe Haden Stories And Respect
6:42 Playing For A Rival In Division
9:50 The Joe Burrow To Steelers Rumor
15:03 Aaron Rodgers And Steelers Direction
17:40 Maxx Crosby Deal That Collapsed
19:34 Kyler Murray To Vikings Fallout
22:17 Free Agency Chaos And Fantasy Fandom
26:46v Steelers Draft Plan Build The Line
30:43 Draft In Pittsburgh And Fan Pressure
Hat Shortage And Quick Welcome
SPEAKER_01Welcome back to football with Ben Rothelsberg. I'm Hatless Ben, and this is Hatless Spence. Oh, look at us. You know why?
SPEAKER_00We keep selling, bro. We couldn't get a hold of one. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_01We just we ran out of hats. I had the guy to give the one off in my own head. My own personal hat I had to get rid of. We have one Camel in here. This is one people like, wait, there's one right there.
SPEAKER_00We're gonna arm wrestle later for it. We're he's gonna use our non-dominant hand.
SPEAKER_01We're gonna just, yeah. So anyway, yes, welcome back to the basement. We uh back here for our bi-weekly um show talking about the draft that we're still gonna just guess about. Um guess about Aaron Rodgers probably for a quick second, just like we did last year at this time. Yeah, that won't last very long because we don't have any more answers. So is Aaron coming back? Is the uh same thing as same thing I said last week? I don't know. Yeah, okay, or last year at this same time.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
Joining Debo And Joe’s Show
SPEAKER_01So we'll move on from that topic. Um, so yeah, there's not really much to to to get into, but we we do we owed you guys a show, so we're gonna sit down here. Maybe we'll touch on some things that have been going on and and do a newest mock draft, but I don't have a lot of changes in mind in terms of my my feelings.
SPEAKER_00Well, in the last week, man, we have a little bit of news. You were uh you still did a show last week.
SPEAKER_01I did do a show last week.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you didn't do this show, right? You weren't in the basement. Nope. Um, but you jumped on Debo and Joe's show. Yes. Which I thought was hilarious. Those guys are awesome. I got some questions about that. Uh talk about your appearance on there. Um first thing I want to know, we've had Debo on the show. We haven't had Joe yet uh on the show, but that would be awesome to get him on. We'll get Joe on. Um the I I watched, I watched it as you were on and out. It felt good to just be like a fan again.
SPEAKER_01Like this is not producing it, not clicking buttons and working out things.
SPEAKER_00It's always funny when I meet people who watch this show, uh, they're like, oh dude, sorry. They seem to apologize if they haven't seen every episode. Yeah. Yeah. They're like, oh man, sorry, I've you know, I haven't I haven't watched last week. So I'm like, yo, me neither. But kind of, you know, but kind of. Um, but um so it was cool to just kind of like watch it and not be responsible for anything that was going on. Yeah, but one thing that stood out, which is I'm always a fan of, we talk about it on here, is chemistry. Yeah, and it seemed like your relationship with those, I know you and James, but like um even with Joe was awesome. What was it like being your teammates with them and kind of re like reuniting with them?
Joe Haden Stories And Respect
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's fun. Um it was fun to be that to do do that show. Um, Debo sent me a text like, hey, would you come on? And I was like, sure. Like, let's let's do it, let's see what's gonna happen. I know how how how Debo likes to to do his um bigger than life personalities, yeah, as we'll say. But but um obviously I know know James very well, and we still talk quite a bit. And um Joe was a guy uh that that I would love to get on the show because he would be he's he's very fascinating and to talk to. Like he's a great talk, he's a great guy to hang out with. We we had so many great conversations, super smart. Um he's he's eclectic in so many unique ways, you know. Like he loves golf. Okay, he loves, he's a sneakerhead. I'm I'm sure you knew that. And that's I think a lot of people know that he like not just I think he like collects, but he also like I think he has a shoe store. Yeah, he used to have a shoe still does have a shoe store, but he's got like every day of practice, he'd be wearing shoes. You're like, really? Like, okay. Um, but his collections through the roof, like he obviously talked on the show, he loves his nice cars. Um, but but one of the nicest, salt of the earth, kindest people you'll ever meet, like typically you would think of a guy like that as like um an arrogant, hard to talk to. Just because of his talent, yeah. And Joe was the exact opposite. I remember when you know, when he was in Cleveland at corner, it was like uh, and I said this on the show, like we knew where Joe was. There's there was there's a few guys you played against that you're like, okay, where is as a corner as a secondary guy? You know, safeties we talk about Ed Reed and things like that. But like as a corner, you're like, okay, there's Champ Bailey, okay, there's there's Revis over there, there's Joe Hayden. I mean, there's guys that you were like, mm-hmm. I'm I'm I'm gonna be I'm gonna be be aware.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Now you might be able to get them on a double move because they're all like uber aggressive, but they also gonna jump on some stuff and get and pick the ball off. And Joe had great ball skills. Joe was just always where he had to be, and Joe's one of those guys that you could say, okay, that we talk about like with Joey Porter Jr. Okay, you go lock him down and and we'll take care of the rest of the field.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
Playing For A Rival In Division
SPEAKER_01And so uh when when Joe finally was getting out of Cleveland, I knew obviously with Pouncey on our team and him and Joe being so close from the Florida Gator days, uh, we were like Pounce, hey, make this happen. And so I remember being, it was preseason, I'm pretty sure. And we were like, and Pounce was like, hey, I had talking to Joe, and I'm like, Joe, like yelled through the phone, like Joe, come on, man, we need you in Pittsburgh, and you look so good in the black and gold, because Joe used to wear the visor with the orange helmet. I'm like, Joe, you know that black visor, look where you go with the black helmet. And so we were, we were, and and then when it was like he was gonna come here, it was like we were so excited. First, I was mostly excited because I didn't know Joe super well. I mean, there's always a lot of mutual, there's a mutual respect on the field after the game, whatever. Wasn't really a lot of trash talking. It was always real mutual uh with a respect. And um I was excited when he was coming to Pittsburgh because I'm like, we just got a dude. Yeah, like we got a we got a guy that that is gonna help us. Um, but then once I got to know him and hang out with him, it was like, this is a this is a great dude. Like he's a great guy, great human being, great family. Um, and then he loves the golf. I I actually saw Joe probably a few years ago. I was out at um Pebble Beach for something, and we went to the little, there's a little like Irish pub in the in the lodge at Pebble, and I walked in there with a couple buddies, and all of a sudden I said Joe's sitting in there, right? So this little pub is is very busy. And so we sit down at a table and Joe's like three tables away, but we didn't see each other at first, I think. Yeah, and we kind of saw each other, and Joe like like came through everybody, and like we just we stood, and I hadn't seen him in like a while for that moment. Yep. And so we basically like two buddies that hadn't seen each other in like years, and we like embraced in the middle of the restaurant and just like hugged and held each other. We're like, Man, I'm how you doing, dah-da-da. In front, and like all these people were like, Oh, that's Joe Hayden and Ben Rosberg just hugging right here. And so it's like, how are you? We're like holding each other. It's like, man, good to see you. And so uh then to do Joe's show, I was I was super uh thankful to do that. And and he's just such a good person and a lot of fun to be around. And so hopefully we can get him on the show because he'd be he'd be great to be on here, especially to talk a little like playing against us, like oh yeah, like it'd be it'd be pretty fun.
SPEAKER_00So I always wonder what that's like um for a player that that ends up getting traded or signs with a rival, you know, because you that's crazy. You've you've had a very unique career or experience with your career. Like very rarely do you get to spend your whole, do guys spend a whole career with one team and you're like, hey, I'm just doing this one job, this one team at this high level for the whole time and right off into the sunset. You know, like getting getting bouncing around a little bit is kind of just normal business in your business. But uh it makes sense if you're like playing in the AFC North and you're like, hey, I'm going to the NFC. Right. All right, cool, whatever. I'm gonna go learn this culture, whatever. But when you have to stay within the division and then put on the colors of a team that you hated for your like he got drafted by the Browns, right? And so he's indoctrinated with just Pittsburgh is not it, and then coming over and then experiencing the fan base in a different light. Right, you know, and then experiencing the Cleveland fan base in a different light. I've always wondered what that experience has been like for the player in the field because you guys are such competitors that you turn on the switch to just beat the guy on the other line. But it's I wonder how weird it is to look over and see the jersey you used to wear.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you know, no, definitely. And especially with we talk about it, and you know, I joked on that show uh about the Browns, you know, fans and playing them and goofing around like we always do. But like I think if you if you really ever watch this show or listen to me, like I have a lot of respect for Browns fans. Yeah, like there's no doubt about that. Yeah, I joke about the team and you know, naming the sit the stadium after me, like silly stuff. But there's no doubt that I have a lot of respect for the Browns fans. And so I think that's probably a pretty cool thing for Joe to go from one fan base that's really passionate about a team that hasn't done well, yeah, but it's still very passionate, to a fan base that's very passionate about a team that's done very well. So you kind of get to see two very passionate fan bases, but almost to two teams of two different caliber teams in a in a sense, you know, or wins and loss.
SPEAKER_00Sure, sure, sure.
SPEAKER_01Ways. And so I I think it you you're right, it doesn't happen all that often where where players get to go uh in their own division. Because a lot of times when it, especially when it comes to like trading or trading guys, they won't trade within. But if you're released, then there's no way to to help it. So it's definitely got to be unique and different. But for Joe, it was um, I think it was a great transition, a great way for him to to finish his career in in Pittsburgh and be successful here.
The Joe Burrow To Steelers Rumor
SPEAKER_00And I would imagine other divisions are the same, but in the AFC North, there is that level of respect. I think you saw it best uh recently when um Nick Chubb was with the Browns and got injured. And then it got injured uh in Pittsburgh, and it was a tough injury within his knee, um, and the entire stadium stood up and started clapping when he was getting off the field. Because it's one of those guys, like, oh my gosh, we we hate the Browns, we hate you, and but but that guy's an animal and we respect you know the crap out of him. And so yeah, when when you can give those flowers, and I think when you when you switch sides, I think it's one of those things too where it's like, oh, we want the Steelers to lose, but that's Joe. You know what I mean? Like so um, yeah, I just always thought that would be an interesting experience for the end to hear the the individual talk about it, you know, because I'm just speculating. Yeah, um, but speaking about Joe, one thing came up in your guys' conversation that I it seemed random to me, maybe because I'm not on in on it. Um, but it was a different Joe you guys were talking about. And Debo was big on Joe Burrow coming to the Steelers, and I only bring that up because it kind of caught wind since that the taping of that show. And in my mind, I probably responded a lot like you did on the show. I was like, oh, that's not plausible whatsoever. I still don't even know. Maybe I need to jump on and ask the football and family and see what's if there are any legs behind that. But yeah, what has your take on that changed since I know yeah?
SPEAKER_01When he asked me, I was trying to figure out like, is he is is Debo like serious? Like I was because he said, like, I've talked to Joe, and I'm like, like Debo, if you know Debo, like Debo is a jokester too. Like he's he's very serious and he's very stoic a lot, but he's also very silly, very fun. What you saw on that the the show and you see with him. Um, but he also like I was like, is he like I didn't even know if he was being serious? I always do it a bit. Yeah, that's why I was kind of like, is he what's he was he trying to get me to say something crazy or what? Um and so I don't, you know, if he's is he talking to him, like are they they like does they have like a trainer, same trainer? Do they have uh agent? Like, I don't know what um what's going on there, but he says he's been talking to them, and uh I I don't like I still don't even know how to respond to it. I mean, obviously it's like yeah, why wouldn't you take one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL to your team? It'd be like, you know, you know, ask me about do you want also do you want AJ Brown? And do you want um it's like a pipe drink? Yeah, give you all the best running, the best players at every position. Of course you'll take them. Like it's uh, but I don't, you know, I don't know how real it is.
SPEAKER_00Like have you heard anything like Trouble in Paradise over in Cincinnati to where that would be even plausible for him to go anywhere?
SPEAKER_01I don't know. I mean, I I don't know why they would ever let him go. I mean, you can have a disgruntled guy and keep him around. I mean, you're giving him receivers, he paid him a lot of money. I know he wants to win, but um what what I would say this. Probably make headlines somehow. Um no, not this show. Yeah. You I and if he is disgruntled, I don't know. I'll just keep adding I don't know is in the middle of my thing, so they can't use my clips without hearing I don't know. Is he disgruntled? I don't know. Do does he have two really, really good receivers? I do know. They've given him that. Yeah, they've also paid him a lot of money. Is I don't know if he's disgruntled about that. It can't be about those things. Is it is the disgruntled again? I'm gonna keep saying, I don't know if he's disgruntled. Is there issues with the team not winning? Probably. I think any player would get frustrated if you if your team doesn't win. I also know one way that you can help a team win is by paying other players. It's hard to do when a lot of money goes to one player. Does Joe Burrow deserve that money? Absolutely. He's a really good football player. But now the money's kind of gets when you when you when your money's going to like a few guys, your receivers, your quarterback, it's it's hard to pay top, top guy, top dollar, you know. Um, but again, I don't know if he's frustrated, but I I can't imagine that the Bengals would let him leave. How do you let a guy like that walk?
SPEAKER_00Well, then they just let Trey Hendrickson. I know it's a different position, different caliber, it's a different importance level, but it is and that was interdivision. Granted, it seems like it was a yeah, completely different, though.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, quarterback, completely different.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's it's there's no there's no.
SPEAKER_01You saw Dallas do it with Micah Parsons. Yeah, the the arguably top three defenders in the NFL. Sure. You can argue number one defender, they let him go. So if teams let that happen, teams will let guys like that walk, they will not let a quarterback walk. Yeah, no, for sure. Because the quarterback, you be and it shows because you see how often teams are paying quarterbacks an absurd amount of money because they think they have one and they shouldn't have paid that much money to a guy, but they're paying it because that's how valuable the quarterback position is. Yeah. You have if you think you have one, you've got to, they're they're paying for it. And it's unfortunate at times because it takes money away from other players and building your team, like we talk about, but that's what happens sometimes. They're paying guys so much money. Um that that kind of locks yourself up. Yeah, and you and you need you you need to have a quarterback. That's how important to have a quarterback is in this league, that they're trusting certain guys and they're paying a lot of money to guys that maybe aren't as good, but hey, it's like we got to take a chance. We need one.
SPEAKER_00Sure. And at some point in the quarterback's career, I would imagine they're like, okay, yo, I'm good.
SPEAKER_01Take five of this, ten of this, whatever it is, and build this team so we can make a run or have a some quarterbacks have done that in the past when their last couple years when they're like, hey, I'll take less money. It'll never be written about. No, no, I'll take less money to help my team.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's it's Aaron. I mean, I think Aaron did that last year. 100%.
SPEAKER_01Which is which is whether he said it like was like, hey, let's, or they just were like, but at the end of the day, he's grossly underpaid.
Aaron Rodgers And Steelers Direction
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Uh and I and we've talked about this, and I think his impact on the team last year, you know, my rough estimate, I mean, six games go the other way without him. Um, so I think I think he he's responsible for putting six on that win column, which is a great segue. Thank you for doing that for me. Uh the Aaron Rodgers conversation as we're talking about quarterbacks, we still yet to have an answer about Aaron Rodgers. And I know that's kind of like a we're almost used to it by now, but um I only bring it up because I I want to look at it in context to everything else that the Steelers have been doing. Right now, we've huge fans of Aaron's wearing Aaron wearing the black and gold here. I think again, if any chance you can get a future Hall of Fame quarterback probably should take that chance. Uh, but with all of the new installments, the new head coach, new coaching staff, new staff in general, everybody's so much turnover.
SPEAKER_01I've been hearing.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's it's and which we can touch on that in a second if you want. It it's it's so much turnover. Um, does it does this seem like a wise thing to bring in a guy that's gonna be here at at absolute most two years? You know, another year, or is this ripe for a young guy or a newer veteran to come in and say, hey, do we get another bridge guy? Do we have our guy? Is does the other moves that the Steelers making make it make more sense to to forego the Aaron Rodgers conversation, or is he just so talented we doesn't matter?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, I think if you're in it for the the we're trying to win it right now, sure type thing, that's your that's your guy. Um but again, it's it's it's I assume uh from what we know the ball's in his court. Uh again, we're assuming it maybe it's you know, I know I think at one point he maybe went on the McAfee show and said that there's no contract offer, so it's not like it's in his court, but okay, uh we don't know. We're sitting here not not sure what's going on. I think we're all just waiting to see what's gonna happen. Um, I I would just continue, even if again, even if Aaron does come back, I think this team is set, is, is primed to just build around a quarterback, build around Aaron Rodgers if he's back. If he's not back, just build around a young guy, a young Will Howard, bring a veteran guy. I said in the the Debo and Joe show. I would love for Josh Dobbs to come back here. No, maybe he already got picked up since I said that, but um, you know, get get a veteran guy here to compete with with the with those guys and to be a great he was such a great um helper to me. Um he goes on the long list of of great, I hate to call him backup quarterbacks, but like assistant quarterbacks that that assisted me in so many ways. So uh I just think that you just keep continue to build around Aaron. And if you have to plug someone else in there, whether it's Will Howard, whether it's um you know, another veteran guy that you get, whoever it may be, then I think you just you do that.
Maxx Crosby Deal That Collapsed
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think one thing that we um haven't really touched on is is some of the trades that have been going on or the the acquisitions that have been going on throughout the league. I think one that happened in between our tapings, I don't think we talked talked about. If we did, forgive us, um, is the Max Crosby thing over in Baltimore. Like did you have a like what were you thinking when that happened?
SPEAKER_01I I thought it was when it happened at first, I'm like, wow, that's a big, that's a big I got super bummed out. That's a big boost, that's a big boost for Baltimore. Um I'm like that that's a big one. And then um it got nixed, and I was like, well, that seems really like Yeah, it was I don't understand it. I think honestly, the only thing I can think is that that they're really concerned about his knee not being I think it's his knee. Yeah, I think it's his knee. Yeah, that that he's not quite healthy. So I can think of is that they're just like there might be some some concern about the health. So I was like, are we willing to spend a lot? I mean, they were giving up draft picks, a lot of them, first rounders. And they were like, you know what, I think at the end of the day, it's no, yeah. That's it's but it but to be that far, like would it all seem like it's done?
SPEAKER_00He was in town. I don't know. I know you gotta be in town. Like, does it make more sense? Probably not. I'm just brainstorming here. Does it make more sense to have a guy go to the player to get like have all of these physicals done before like we're even talking about?
SPEAKER_01Well, that's why I'm surprised. Like, and again, I'm just I'm just guessing on the health.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Because yes, uh, before you do anything, you'd be like, we're gonna do a physical, yeah, and we're gonna evaluate all this. But maybe he looked good and they just I don't know.
SPEAKER_00He's already coming back, and maybe yeah.
SPEAKER_01Listen, they're getting they're getting uh Hendrickson is is is a really good player too.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, it's it's crazy how quick that happened too, though.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you know what I mean?
Kyler Murray To Vikings Fallout
SPEAKER_00Like imagine ready to go. Imagine if they both landed there. Wow, that would be good. That'd be a that'd be a long season. Yeah, uh, so yeah, I don't know. That and I think one another one, you know, talking about quarterbacks that I thought was wild. I don't even know that we talked about was Kyler Murray. Yeah, we touched on it briefly, but yeah, we like that and that was one that you know with the Vikings and JJ McCarthy, is that is that is that that pickup is that kind of the writing on the wall there over there?
SPEAKER_01Well, I it can't be yet because McCarthy's only is so new in it. I think it's I'm hoping that they're trying to to to help him out. I think if you're giving up on him already, that's like you that's admitting that you drafted wrong. Yeah and drafted early wrong. Um, I think if anybody can make um the most out of a Kyler Murray situation and his skill set and his abilities, um, both with his leg and his arm, uh, it's gonna be Coach Coach Connell over there. I mean, he we we saw what he can do with the with different quarterbacks. And so I'm sure he's over there like uh I got some, I got a cool little as Coach Tom that would say, uh car in the garage, you know? Yeah. So it's uh speaking of Tom, I text I was texting him the other day. He was golf, he was getting golf lessons. How about that? Good for you, Coach T. Oh, he's never golfing, good for you. Um but uh um no, I think that it's it's just again, it just shows that when teams think they got a guy, yeah, they're willing to pay a lot of money for him. And that's what happened in in Arizona, and then or you get start butting heads with coaches, GMs, whatever it is. So um well, it'll be nice to see what he does in in in Minnesota.
SPEAKER_00Do you okay? So, based on everything that's happened so far in free agency and all these different, you know, uh players going different places, do you have a team that is like a sleeper cell? You're like, hey, I'm gonna watch this one this year.
SPEAKER_01Oh, I don't know. Um, it'll be interesting to see what Kyler does in Minnesota. I have one.
SPEAKER_00I just want to see what you think about it, but I want to see where you land.
SPEAKER_01Uh I I honestly I like what the the Steelers have done. I think there's been some under the radar type pickups, some guys that are gonna be like, oh, that's a good pickup. That's a on on defense, yeah, especially. Like to fill up some spots on the defense with with in the secondary, um, there's some D-line work. I I I I like what they what they did there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I'm looking at the New York football giants. I wonder with it, like I think with hard the hardball effect, yeah. Uh I think some of the acquisitions that they're getting. I also think that um I I feel part of me feels bad for New York. Just there, it's a Football there's a I mean I'll even say like I don't expect much out of the the Jets this year. I'd love to be proven wrong, but like Jets fans, loyal fan base. I feel like I feel like a lot of times they need something. They give them something, man. Yeah.
Free Agency Chaos And Fantasy Fandom
SPEAKER_01Come on. I I mean that that it shows how much I've been. I mean, it's it's crazy. I was trying to tell my kids this how different it is nowadays than when it when I was playing. Like when you you knew where a guy what team he was on. Sure. Like guys just didn't free agency wasn't like the wild west like it is nowadays. Like you knew this guy was still there, and it's like, oh, that and every time that someone got traded or a big a big name guy went somewhere, everyone knew about it, and it just it just didn't happen often. So like, oh yeah, so-and-so is there. Like right now, you could probably give, like, if you gave me a list of like 50 guys, yeah, and we're like, what teams do you play for? What teams you play for? Like, I might get most of them, but there's gonna be a bunch of like, oh, I didn't know he went there, or oh, I forgot he went there, or whatever. You know, like it just is different than what it used to be, and so it's just it's just unique because it's like I don't even know where guys are playing. You run to someone like and and you'll see them like at a an event or you'll see them at a go on a golf course, whatever, and you'll be like, Oh, so how you know they're like, Oh, I'm I'm here now, and you're like, Oh, oh, cool, golly, I didn't even know you makes sense why you would be here. Yeah, like it's geez. So it's just crazy how much different it is, you know.
SPEAKER_00Do you think that that's a good thing, or do you think that's uh I don't call it a bad thing, but for sake of the argument, it's is that good or is that bad for the the sport?
SPEAKER_01I mean it listen, I it it's funny because I I would simply say bad, but nowadays fantasy football is such a big thing that people are rooting for players, not teams anymore, anyway.
SPEAKER_00Is that a good thing?
SPEAKER_01No, I think it's terrible. Yeah, but but but what I'm saying is that it doesn't like guys don't care how good their team is, they care about how good their fantasy team is, and then they care about the individual. And so it's like I don't care where that individual goes. Yeah, I want him to be, he's on my fantasy team.
SPEAKER_00I mean, that's great for branding purposes.
SPEAKER_01Um, I will say there's a lot of guys, there's a there's some people out there that are like if you're a diehard steeler fan, like if you're doing fantasy, you won't draft the Browns, Ravens, or Bengals guy. Because like, no, I'm yeah, I'm not doing that. Well, I think that'd be smart for your team.
SPEAKER_00Well, I feel like even when I was growing up, and I'm not I'm I'm 36 this year, not old by any stretch of the imagination, but like even in my generation, it was it was the same. Like, I think about with baseball specifically, we grew up with that being prominent in my house. Like, bro, Sammy Sosa was a cup. Yeah, you know what I mean? Like Mark McGuire was a cardinal. Yeah, like and it and it didn't make sense. The irony is growing up in Tampa, uh, back when they were the Devil Raids, we kind of had a Hodge Podge because they were 93, I think was their first year. Yeah, we had a Hodge. I remember having Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff. Yeah, and I had to learn about the other teams that they played on.
SPEAKER_01The hat on top of the team.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, man. So, but like you know, in um who's all big dude, we had big that um, oh I'm he's I'm blanking on him.
SPEAKER_01Jose Canseco. Jose Canseco, man.
SPEAKER_00Remember Jose and Mark McGuire were the Bash brothers in Oakland? Yes, yeah. So I like so that's my point is saying, like, we had this, like, we had the all-star team from like 10 years ago. Yeah, you know, so um, but it's I think there was something cool about that, man, because like you could you could associate with a franchise and you kind of got indoctrinated with their fan base. Right. Right. And and you kind of underst you got to learn and and understand what it meant to be a Braves fan, you know what I mean, with the big three. And so um I think a lot of a lot of times today we're we're learning what it means to be a Steph Curry fan.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You know, and and or a uh Patrick Mahomes fan. You know, and that's and that's an interesting fandom to explore when it's centered around the guy, you know. And uh I think I think you probably brought a lot of people to Pittsburgh. And I think Tom probably brought a lot of people to New England. So you have these uh these mains, these pillars in all these cities, but then there's there's the diehards like, and I I'm very fortunate that we live in Pittsburgh where this city is entrenched in the logo. Yeah, right. And and you you can still, and if you're a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, you still know what it means to uh to be indoctrinated into a a fan base that supports the city and supports all their teams. But yeah, it's an interesting it'll be interesting interesting to see where this goes in the next five, seven years.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's it's I th I don't I think Pittsburgh's one of those few teams and and fan bases, like you say, that will always have that will bleed its team. Um, but you're still running to a lot of fantasy and a lot of you know individuals for other teams and stuff. I mean, when my you know you hear even Benjamin's like, well, I mean, I want the Steelers to win, but I want so-and-so to have a really good game. Like, really? Is that how it works now? But anyway, so yeah.
Steelers Draft Plan Build The Line
SPEAKER_00Um like of all the points that the other team scores, can the running back score them? Yeah, because I need I need him to do that. Uh yeah, man. So Well, let's let's just hit the draft.
SPEAKER_01I mean, unless you got something else to hit on, because it's it's we are in a slow sports cycle.
SPEAKER_00I know, man. You know what's crazy.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, basketball. I mean, that that Yukon game last night, but or a couple nights ago, the end of that game, but I didn't I didn't even do we talk about the flag football thing yet?
SPEAKER_00I think we did. I don't remember.
SPEAKER_01Remember the the Yeah, I mean, I'm I don't remember if we talked about it.
SPEAKER_00I don't remember if we talked about it on air or not. We're great at this, guys. We are we're professional podcasters. Well we doing great, but we do. Um yeah, so let's let's touch back on the draft because you gave your breakdown of the draft last episode. Um any new uh updates? That's what I'm saying. There's not much going on.
SPEAKER_01I I wouldn't uh nothing else is is struck me. I I thought something that James said that was a good point because I'm still sticking to get in line in the first round. I think you take the best available lineman. I don't care if it's a tackle, guard, or center, I don't care what side of the line it's on, I don't care who you have at your right now, you get the best available lineman. And I said, I think in the second I would take either a receiver, initially, I think I kind of said like a receiver, maybe a best available. Um, Debo said I'd take another lineman. And I, you know what? I don't disagree. In the second. And in the second, you can't, I don't think you have enough linemen. When guys go down, you need to have fillers. And and I think that that would be so I wouldn't be opposed to it, I would say. I know it may not be the the quote unquote sexy pick, you know, getting a DB or whatever, but I think what you've done in the secondary with through free agency, I think it's it's really good. Um, you know, I don't think you need a running back. I I think receiver would make sense if there's a really good one there. But listen, I love what he said. I I've seen some mock, I try to look at some mock drafts here and there just to kind of see what people do. Sometimes I think when people make mock drafts, I think they do it just to get a like a rise from people. Sure. Because I'm like that, there's no, they can't be serious. Like when they say certain things. Uh I've seen some people say the quarterback they should get a quarterback in the second round. I think that's a huge mistake. Um who's on the board? Like who's uh I mean, well, it there'll be there'll be some there'll be some quarterbacks there because there's not a lot of there's it's like Fernando and then who?
SPEAKER_00That's what I mean.
SPEAKER_01Like so there'll be like you know, Ty Simpson from Alabama, will he still be there in the second, or who you go on the first? There's the kid from LSU. I mean, there's there's some there's some people there, but again, you're not uh second round, you can get so many really good players and you don't you don't waste on a quarterback right now, especially even if you don't know if even if Aaron says I'm not coming back, I wouldn't do it in the second round. Yeah, I would give Will a chance, I'd bring a veteran guy in to compete. And if you want to draft a guy in the third or like it depends how many third rounders you have, like a third or fourth round to compete, then then maybe then too. But again, I would not draft one in my first three picks, to be honest. I wouldn't. And again, I think there's three third round picks, maybe. So maybe you could package something and move around. But but line, I love what James said. I never thought I'd hear Debo say take a lineman in the second round as well. But uh and I think you know, I think a D-line, you you're starting to get old there. Maybe at some point you got to fill that um that spot as well. But but again, second, first or second round, I wouldn't do it in the first, I wouldn't consider second. So if they don't go line in the first round, I'll be I'll be almost like jaw dropped. You know, like if they if they do, that they I know we've talked about like our two draft boards, right? Our our wants and our needs, and then that best available. If like the best available is is uh a running back or a wide receiver, you'd be like, okay, maybe. But but if they take a flyer on like a I don't know, I can't even have a running back. I wouldn't do a running back on the first running backs or yeah, there's only a few like that are stud running backs that you find. I don't think you need it. No, you don't. And so that's what I'm saying. If they were like, you know what, they just went with it and it's like what? Or they or they took up took a chance on a on a wide receiver that could probably be there in the second round. Sure. You're like, what are we doing, guys? Yeah. So I think they'll go line. I think McCarthy will kind of get them straight, and and just depends if Omar wants to do his own Wild West thing or not.
Draft In Pittsburgh And Fan Pressure
SPEAKER_00Do you think that the draft being here in Pittsburgh puts more pressure on us to have a draft back to the city?
SPEAKER_01Well, you better hope so. You better hope that that first pick that they they announce up there is is what the fans want. Yeah, I know that's because the last thing you want is the the New York Jet fan base, how they boo and stuff, you know? Uh yeah, so it'll be, I don't know, it'll it'll be. I mean, if they like if they go, if they draft, like I'm just just for instance, if they draft uh Ty Simpson, the quarterback at Alabama, because I think at one point Mel Kuyper, somebody said that the they Steelers really, yeah. I think about somebody did because I remember talking to Evan about it, and he was just you know in an uproar up there, burning food left and right. Give the people what they want, but they were talking about Ty Simpson. I'm like, I they better not like that would be the craziest thing. But if they did that, I think pits, I think Pitts are waboo. You think? I do.
SPEAKER_00Not because of Ty Simpson. Not because of his because of the like what are we doing?
SPEAKER_01What are we doing? Yes. Only one way to find out. That's my that's my thought. I don't think they'll do that, but again, I would go line and I would I would be incredibly happy with it.
SPEAKER_00Are you seeing anything they're doing on the North Shore over there? I have not been down there. I haven't been down there. And are we doing anything for the draft? Should we? I don't know.
SPEAKER_01We got a bunch, you know, we there's gonna be a bunch of players in town. Yeah, right. We've had some guys I would love, we should get some guys on the hard part. It's like no, we can talk about that. Yeah, but I don't know.
SPEAKER_00That's footballing for you, folks. Yeah, there we go.
Hats Cookbooks And Sign Off
SPEAKER_01So um all right. Well, um I'm out of things to talk about. And it's our kids' spring break. I was gonna say, well, they're mind is is elsewhere. It's in your spring, man. I know. So we'll uh we'll figure out, guys, um what we're gonna bring to you and when we're gonna bring it to you next. If it's next week, if it's two weeks, I don't know. We'll we want to just give you guys the reason we're doing this every week is because it's gonna be boring because we have nothing to talk about. If we have something to talk about, I promise you we'll bring it to you. If not, we'll get something uh the following week. Um Spence, hats.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, these are these are currently still for sale. Uh and I don't know how many are left, but these ones, the black ones, the link is in the description of this video and/or audio wherever you listen to this. There's a link associated to it. Hats, uh, a few more cookbooks left. This is the last run. Sure is, and there won't be any more.
SPEAKER_01So then they go. If you miss out, if you miss out, it's too bad. So, all right, thanks for joining us, you guys. We will see you next time. Uh, from everybody in the Hatless Football and family. Have a great day.