March 21, 2023

The Porch is LIVE - The Burgh is Buzzin'

The Porch is LIVE - The Burgh is Buzzin'

LIVE update from PPG Paints - The Hockey Jesus reports after the first period. Are the Steelers headed in the right direction with their recent signings? Are the Pens in danger of not making the playoffs? Congrats to Pitt on a great season!

LIVE update from PPG Paints - The Hockey Jesus reports after the first period. Are the Steelers headed in the right direction with their recent signings? Are the Pens in danger of not making the playoffs? Congrats to Pitt on a great season!

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to ThePorchIsLive.com for updates and more!

Thanks for reading, and let us know what you think... email us at OGSPORTSPORCH@GMAIL.COM and join us every Monday at 7:30 PM Eastern on Facebook Live or YouTube.  You can also catch the podcast on iHeart or anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Transcript
 
00:00:56
Whoo. Welcome to the Sports Porch Pittsburgh. Sports Porch. Oh, man. What a week. What a week and first, I do want to thank you for listening on American Busker iHeartRadio with a hundred and 50 million registered users. 2, 000 devices across 260 platforms. You can catch the Sports Porch on American Busker iHeartRadio or subscribe. Please, we beg you. Subscribe to the podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or anywhere you get your podcast and I always have to remind you that The Porch is Live.
 
00:01:30
com, The Porch is Live. com The Portches Live. com. There you go. That's where you can find us online and we got a lot to talk about but we hopefully hopefully the technical director has this worked out. Uh hopefully we have a live update from PPG Paints where the Hockey Jesus is currently watching the Panthers seems like beat the Penguins but maybe that'll change.
 
00:01:54
No no they're playing the Senators. Or the Senators. The Panthers are winning their game to nothing. The Pens if they lose Tonight and the Panthers win. They hop em. The the Pens would be for the moment out of the playoffs. Yeah yeah and we got a lot to talk about that when Steve gets online. Oh my god. But the first thing we have to do is we have to bring you up to date here on something that we've been working on on the Porches Live.
 
00:02:21
com and that is our NC double A first annual NC double A men's bracket challenge on the Porches Live. com. I'm going to put the standings up on the up on the up on the screen right now. So so basically realize that anybody who has the champion crossed out is basically done. Yeah even the guy in first place. Right. He's got no shot.
 
00:02:46
And I am in last place and my champion Houston is still on the board. Right. Now I'm in fourth place. Right. Right. And there's only one other team that could get a maximum of more points than me. That's right. So basically if Alabama goes far and UCLA loses like maybe next game or the game after. Then the Grand Schwabini will have predicted it again.
 
00:03:12
Yes. The Team Terrier. And DG CG as always is here in the house. Thank you DG for being here. Uh great to see you. So what happens if you are the lucky winner of the first annual Sports Porch Bracketology Challenge which we're running through right now ESPN. com. Um I'm trying to take the picture down. I'm I'm so excited tonight. I I can't wait to see Steve at the hockey game but what happens is the winner gets to pick Sports Porch swag of their choice.
 
00:03:45
So. Oh okay. And and it will be personalized. Okay. Say congratulations great Schwabini. The Grand Swabini. Yeah. First Annual Porch Brachitology so you can get a mug. Uh Swabini, do you have the shirt on underneath there? I don't. You don't? Okay. I don't. Shirt and we might we might put something else up there and if you end up winning you know we got another week or so to go so Pittsburgh I was a little surprised.
 
00:04:10
Hey first of all we none of us thought they were getting in the the tournament begin with. Yeah I mean like if you go back to the beginning of this year we weren't even taught we we had made a conscious decision not to talk about Pittsburgh. Right. And at the end of the year we felt like well we have to say something.
 
00:04:28
This is a Pittsburgh sports show. We have to say something. Right. And then even after they had a decent season and they finished horribly. Yeah they did finish horribly. We then thought they will no chance to make it. That's right. And then miraculously they did. I know. I know. They they they got into the playing game. And won the playing game.
 
00:04:49
Yep. And won their first round game. Iowa State. Yep. Yeah against Iowa State. Possibly the worst basketball team in the history of basketball. You think so? But that doesn't matter. I mean they were still there. They were. That's all that matters. Show up. You know and Pitt and Pitt you know took it to them. They did. You know Frederico. Frederico doing his thing.
 
00:05:10
Love that guy Steve. Um and those those twins the from Brazil whatever. I gotta talk to I gotta talk about this. I don't know where they're from. Yeah. But you know look no disrespect. They play hard. They do. But the the the realizing full disclosure here. Okay. Not a a college basketball junk. I'm not. Um so this is the first time.
 
00:05:34
First of all I realized last week that Pittsburgh had a seven footer on its team. A 7 footer. Not until I watched the Xavier game. Cuz the other two I listened to a radio. Not until I watched the Xavier game that I realized they had two seven footers and they were twins. So imagine the brain scramble going on in my head.
 
00:05:54
I'm like wait a minute they just put they that guy just came out. Ooh what the twin? And they're the skinniest. They it's like Manute Bowl. Right. Remember Manute Bowl? They weren't quite that thin. I I gotta tell you they were very they were very ineffective. They're thin.
 
00:06:08
They they could they could have some meat and potatoes. Absolutely. Would do them some good. Yeah I heard somebody on the talking about you know three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every night before they went to bed would help. It would. I mean what are they having? Like avocado? I don't on a daily basis. Yes.
 
00:06:24
Hummus sandwich. Yeah hummus sandwich. I have no idea. But that being said it was an impressive season for Pittsburgh. Congratulations to them. I I felt and and this has been talked about over and over. We're a weekly sports show. So since they lost yesterday it's been analyzed over and over again. And yes there was a moment in in the final two minutes where a a rebound could have been you know dished out on the right side beyond the paint and if that guy sunk a three pointer now they're down by seven could that have been the start of a run who knows Xavier is a good team they're coaches from Pittsburgh sure yeah you know but it you know and the other thing is what do we ever look forward to next year this is what I don't like about that transfer portal okay they've got some guys that their top Talking about.
 
00:07:14
Although maybe maybe a team like Pitt isn't really as dramatically affected by it. Because you know you know you're talking about like this is my I mean I could be wrong here but generally speaking I think players want to transfer because they didn't play. Cuz they're not getting any recognition. True. Right. True. So I I would think you know the majority of those guys are usually probably coming from top programs.
 
00:07:40
Right. You know where they're thinking like hey I thought I was going to go to Duke and start and I'm the tenth guy on the bench. Uh North Carolina State. Will you start me? Yeah. Yeah. I mean that's probably over simplifying it but but it but it does it does turn your college basketball coach into a GM. Yeah. You know what I mean? Well the game is totally different now.
 
00:08:05
It is. You know and it's and it's the bottom line is the tournament is always going to be exciting. It's always going to be fun. And to be honest it it may actually even in some respects be more fun now. Because now it's not going to be unusual for fifteens and sixteens to be twos and ones. No I agree with you. You know. Yeah they they were making so much so much noise about it and I thought well what do you expect? Right.
 
00:08:28
You know so you know the the the playing field is so even now because the best players they either A play one year and go to the NBA or B don't even play a year and they play in you know Spain for a year. Right. Or Turkey for a year and then they go to the NBA. And then they go to the NBA.
 
00:08:47
So you know like the bottom line is you know that guy Perdue was a one seed who lost. Yep. And they have this guy who he's a seven footer and he I don't know he led the league in rebounds and stuff like that and like you know you would think like wow this guy probably like a top five pick like he might not be a top ten pick right because the the the top people are guys that we don't even know who they are where they're from yeah you know they're just like they're out there they're either in high school or they're you know yeah well you know this is a conversation we'll have maybe later on in the in the off season you know is is is College basketball is it becoming more like I don't know like like like the minor leagues you know like where players are just moving around you know in minor league baseball even in the minor league in the basketball the B league they just move all over the place you know it's just it's just more in our face the bottom line is it's it's it's just broken because the the reality is is that it's really hard to field a team if you can't keep your players for more than a year or two.
 
00:09:57
Yeah. Or or it's it's hard to yeah or as it is in the case with Pittsburgh they struck they they found Lightning in a bottle. Right. And they put together a a much better team this year. Right. That's probably not going to be together next year. I I will say one thing that that Henson kid he's got a good three point shot. Yeah.
 
00:10:16
Yeah he I think he could find a spot on an NBA roster somewhere. You know just watching him the way he can he he was pulling those three pointers off with somebody in his face. So I'm sure it wasn't like his best game of his life.
 
00:10:29
Though. Um probably not. I I mean I don't know. I I I don't know but but probably not. So that being said congratulations to Pittsburgh for a great season. It it actually was entertaining the last two weeks of the season to to see them play even though they got troused. Mhm. Um but you know hey who knows? Maybe next year. Maybe that's what Jeff Capel's strength is. Maybe. You know. If you can find a guy who is and that's how you start another dynasty you know in college sports now as you find a guy who's really good at at evaluating the talent he has around it and the talent that he can bring in.
 
00:11:06
Right. And can he put a winner together. Yeah. You know. Yeah. I mean it's a it's a it's a good end result to the season. Absolutely. Absolutely. So congratulations to Pitt. Um alright moving on here. Not still not sure. Uh oh we got an update. Yeah. It is one nothing Ottama. Ottawa. Ottawa Thomas Chabot. Ottama. With the goal. Ottawa. That's kind of a and and what how would Steve put it? That's that's a liabetic term in the off beat since.
 
00:11:35
One nothing sends over the Penguins but good news the Red Wings have scored and cut the Panthers lead from two to one. Oh that'll make Steve really happy if if the Pens lose and then the Panthers lose then everything just stays the same.
 
00:11:51
Alright so while we're waiting for Steve the hockey Jesus excuse me to show Jesus in the green room. We're going to move on here. We're going to talk a little of course Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh Steelers. Absolutely. I I gotta tell ya I could be wrong. But this year so far. Could be wrong. And you're the you're the right person to have for this though. You bet I. Because of the Andy Weidle influence. I sure am. Um they have made a lot of moves.
 
00:12:19
Mhm. That I feel are moving in the right direction. Mhm. Now let's Let's look at that from 30, 000 feet and before we get into any of the nitty gritty, do you think the moves that they've been making so far in free agency are in the right direction? Well, I'm going to I'm going to temper it a little bit. I I think the answer to the question is yes. Uh they've been more involved in free agency than they have in recent years.
 
00:12:53
Uh they are focusing on the O line which I think is important brought in a pretty decent cornerback but I'm not overwhelmed. I'm not overwhelmed. Right. Um right. And you know on one hand I'm going to say I I I like what they're putting importance on you know cornerback in the lines. Um but on on the flip side I I feel like the Steelers are kind of a team that holding back from making any kind of bold move.
 
00:13:36
They're not a bold move type of team. Right. You know and I think that holds them back.
 
00:13:44
I you know I I would answer that question and for those of you who are watching on social media it's on the ticker below so the Steelers moving in the right direction with the recent free agent signings. You know it's funny. My opinion of that right now is yes. And the reason I say that is they're they kind of scuttled their linebacking core okay and if you think about it other than Hismith there wasn't anything really good to say yeah and about that and actually I am impressed by that because that is an admission of failure yeah I mean they the way they get rid of three linebackers yeah yeah Bush is gone Jack is gone Splain now now Splain's gone resigned with some money and so did Bush but they weren't going to bring and the guy that they brought over from the Broncos last year's gone like yeah or something? Uh yeah, Malik Robinson.
 
00:14:35
Yeah. Yeah. So, no, I think the Robinson guy's still there. Not that's yeah, Malik Reed. That's right. Um yeah, that's that's a surprising move for this team. This team, you know, I think prized themselves on sort of being like the linebacker you of the NFL. They do. And they just basically told us we've botched this position for the past three years. Yeah.
 
00:15:01
Yeah and I think you're right. DG says it looks like short-term fixes but it might be okay for now. Well, and I think that's all can do with the with especially with the linebacking crew. Mm hmm. You know, you you you've got, you know, like you said, it's a failure and you decide you're just going to replace most of the fleet and keep your strength which is obviously highsmith.
 
00:15:22
Mm hmm. Um and and we'll see what happens there. But it's it's almost like High Smith is really more like a defensive end though. Yeah yeah. I mean he's like a a hybrid lineback. Yeah and he's definitely he is definitely benefits from Watt being on the other side. Sure. But benefits when he plays so I'm talking more about the offensive line I think that signing the guy from the Jets Nate Herbig and and and a guy that you've talked about Siamalu from the Eagles I think this is this is doing two things first of all they need depth sure okay sure we they they played 99% of the snaps last year with the same five guys on the offensive line yeah and that's unusual that doesn't happen to the offense yeah but I think the depth that they signed is much better than what they signed last year and for example you can talk to me about I can talk to you about both Nathan you're big as a former Eagle he is a former Eagle you're right so tell me about these two linemen here okay well Sayamalo is obviously the the better player he's going to start right Now here's the thing.
 
00:16:37
Uh Samalo is a good player. I think it's a good signing. Um it's kind of a funny situation in a way because now I mean everybody knows that the Eagles offensive line is is the best offensive line it's pretty good ball yeah okay it's pretty good so the bottom line is at a five offensive linemen he was their worst one but you also have to remember that the other four went to the pro ball right right okay right okay well what round was he drafted in he was a high draft pick third round draft pick okay not that high but third round draft pick did he come in as a center he came in as a center the original plan was to eventually replace Jason Kelce but Kelce just keeps going right they moved him first they move him to left guard where he played in between Jason Kelcey and Jason Peters then they moved him to right guard where he played in between Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson.
 
00:17:37
Alright so we're going to we're going to have to is the is the Jesus in? Yes. Yes. The Jesus can you hear us? Can you hear us Steve? So what we're going to do is we're going to cut to PPG place right now. Let's see. There she is. Can you hear us Steve? Golden Hawks. Here comes going on tonight. Uh well we were just in the middle Steve of a little Steelers Talk but I I think what we want to do right now is we want to switch over to the Pens and give us an update on the Pens game.
 
00:18:10
Uh Hustle Jesus live from PPG Paints Penns, Ottawa. You might have to speak up. You might have to yell. Number 36 Parkers is serious. Oh well, can you hear me? Can you hear me? I'm trying to yell as much as I can. That's that's that's decent. We can hear you. Yeah, it's good right there. Okay. So, tonight PPG, it's a classic pens battle where they have 17 shots on goal and they have zero goals.
 
00:18:39
Alright, perfect.
 
00:18:41
They've got him right where they want him. And the other team has eight shots on goal and they have one goal. Mm. How's Jarry doing? Well you tell me. I mean he's given up one goal on seven. Well there's a there's a well it's it's harder. The fewer shots you get. It's harder to get into a rhythm.
 
00:19:04
I'm telling you the Pee Wees that are out here now shooting are are better at stopping the pucks than Jarry. That's funny. Uh Steve what is your feeling about right now the Penguins are one point ahead of the Florida Panthers. Right now the Panthers are leading the Red Wings two to one. How devastating will it be if at the end of this evening the Penguins are out of the playoffs for the moment.
 
00:19:31
No I mean right now it doesn't really matter what matters these three or four weeks from now. If I think it's going to be a battle to the end I'll be honest with you. You know in order for Florida to get this close. They had to win go six oh and one in their last seven games just to get this close. So they're going to go through a spell where they're going to play 500 and the Pens are going to go through a spell where they're going to do okay.
 
00:19:55
I mean they play still play the Lakes of Columbus and and tonight I mean they're not looking good against the Senators but I fully expect them to come back. I actually be thrilled if if I saw the Smith and goal to start for second. I don't think I don't think I don't think Sullivan's going to do that but to me I think that's what he's going to have to do. At some point he's going to have to pull the plug on Jerry because he just doesn't look good.
 
00:20:21
I mean even live he he doesn't look like he's he he doesn't look like he's in the game. I mean he just looks not confident. He's deep in the net. He played the puck like the first time he came down. I'm like okay maybe he's going to be in the game night. But that was the only thing he did well all night so far. So so yeah it's a little bit of a **** show here at PPG at least the first period.
 
00:20:44
But I I tell you what the fans are hungry. They definitely want to score. So I mean it's not for lack of trying bro. Who are you at the game with there Steve? Fantastic out there in the Pittsburgh. What was that? Who are you at the game with? Oh. I'm here with the hockey. Oh.
 
00:21:03
Susan, hello.
 
00:21:06
Susan's making her. Is that is that Mary? I just like hanging out.
 
00:21:12
She looks absolutely thrilled to be there. She got all dressed up. She got a jersey on. Yeah. Hey, you know, you're going to play the part. I have to tell you, you know, I I play this game called a shirt foul where you know, somebody's wearing the wrong shirt and the shirt foul for tonight when somebody was wearing a penny picket jersey. I mean, come on.
 
00:21:33
You're in a Penguins game and you're wearing a Kenny Picketts jersey. Come on guys.
 
00:21:38
You're better than that. Yeah. Well it's better than a Bonds jersey. I've seen those. I've seen those. Actually I would have preferred to see a Barry Bonds jersey or a Bobby Bonilla jersey over a Kenny Pickett jersey.
 
00:21:53
I think the classic jerseys that people wear are like somebody that the Penguins traded who was just a total disappointment from 10 years ago and somebody's wearing it. Yeah and you don't see too many of those normally because you know you see which are still perfectly acceptable. I did see a Blueger jersey actually. There you go.
 
00:22:16
His fans are still out there. One of them right here. Yeah. Hey Steve listen before we go chime in a little bit on this sign the the lineman from the Eagles and and Nate Herbig and how you feel about that.
 
00:22:32
So I think general I think the the Steelers signings have been good. I think that overall they've they've addressed some needs in the secondary if that quarterback position with Peterson. And now they've really gone out and gotten a I I know he's not necessarily a post team pro bowler but he's a guy who's been on a team who's had a great offensive line. And I think that's going to be good for good for good for the the Steelers just to have somebody who has some experience as y'all knows what it takes to win will bring that winning mentality to the game you know I think that's what's more important I think the guy certainly probably he definitely has more skill than anybody else but I love the signing I think it's a really good signing for the Penn Irfer and the the Steelers and I give it two thumbs up okay did you guys bring up the Lamar stuff Lamar what's your thought on that now for those of you at home that aren't aware I actually came up with an idea that I thought you know what would be a really bold move by the the Steelers would be to put an offer out there for Lamar Jackson now I I get it they believe in Kenny Pickett they're going to see that through I know that they would never do this but Lamar Jackson is certainly at worst a top 10 quarterback in this league if not top five and you know he would make the Steelers an instant Super Bowl contender absolutely and if you think about what you have to give up to get him if if you sign him the way this whole you know franchise tag you know works out you have to give him the first and you have to give him two first so one this year one next year you wouldn't actually really be giving him one this year because you recoup in the Claypool trade the thirty-second pick in the draft that's just like the you know the last pick in the first round it's just more back, right? Right.
 
00:24:36
So, and then the other side of the coin is, let's just say that the Ravens decide they're going to match it. Hey, we're not going to let him go to our arc rival. Well, guess what? You should put them in cap hell.
 
00:24:48
Absolutely. You know, so and and look, I mean, look, maybe Kenny Pittsburgh will be great. Maybe maybe he won't. I don't know. I think it's still a story that's that's left to be told but Lamar Jackson is the real deal now and probably will be next five, 7, 8 years.
 
00:25:06
What's your thoughts, guys? Yeah, I mean, I I don't know about him being great for the next five, 7, eight years but I agree, it definitely makes, it would make the Steelers relevant next year. It absolutely would. It would and it would and the good thing about it is it would definitely leapfrog them over Baltimore, you know, and it would make them competitive with Cincinnati. Here's the problem and I looked at it a little bit from a cap standpoint. It would actually put the Steelers in Cath Hell after this year.
 
00:25:38
I'm actually not afraid of giving up like two number ones. I don't think the number ones are are a big deal because you're getting a proven commodity of Lamar Jackson. Um but the problem is in order for them to clear the space for this year they would definitely have to get rid of Trubisky and then next year they would have to find a way to get rid of Kenny Pickett's salary and also this year they would have to get rid of like somebody like Kapoor on the offensive line and they would also probably have to get rid of somebody like Levi Wallace.
 
00:26:11
So it does make them less deep from a from a from a from a player personnel standpoint in order for them to make the captain's game. And then they would have to swee up about I think the number was like seventeen more million for next year. I don't know how the hell they would do that to be honest with you. They would probably have to find a way for Lamar to restructure his contract.
 
00:26:35
Do what like Mahomes is doing now like just give him a a signing bonus right just give him that signing bonus right to kind of kind of help with that I mean guys are you telling me that you're not salivating over Lamar Jackson running the Jets sweep better than anybody who ever has in a Steeler uniform well it it would make and it would make the running game much better it would make it would give you that secondary running back you don't have to know you don't have to go out and get another running back now because it's in in the backfield.
 
00:27:05
That's all you would really need. But the reality is and you've said this Mark. Um it's just not what the Steelers do. There's no way it is. They've they've they've made their bed with Kenny Pickett. And that's who they're going to go with. And by the way I haven't seen any Lamar Jackson jerseys here tonight. And and if if I did that would probably be a worse certain foul than a Kenny Pickett.
 
00:27:28
Alright well listen here Steve. We're going to we're going to let you go. Get back to the game. We look forward to the Hockey Jesus preaching on the podcast after the game. You can catch the Hockey Jesus on the iHeartRadio app on the Sports Porch Podcast or anywhere you get your podcast and hey, man. You got a designated driver there. So, be kind.
 
00:27:50
Hey, those are my seats right there, baby. There you go. Looking good. Very nice. Alright, enjoy the game, Steve. Alright, we'll catch you bud. Go Pens. Go Pens. Alright, bud.
 
00:28:03
Alright. Well, that was fun. Mm hmm. That was fun. Uh. Now, what's your thought on the Lamar Jackson angle? You know, I I I wish that I could say something beyond we're going back to the are the Steelers doing it right. Um if I was if I was in charge of the Steelers I I would I would I would make that up I would I would do that if I was in if I was the guy in charge right I would look at it and say absolutely it makes sense let's do it yeah okay it's just not what the Steelers do no so it's like like you can bring you can bring things up scenarios up and and for almost any NFL team right and say yeah they might do that.
 
00:28:56
The Steelers would never do that. But here's. But it makes complete sense Schwab. Right now but but here's here's kind of like what I'm kind of getting at with this. It it's not that they won't do this for a guy the caliber of Lamar Jackson, right? It's that they wouldn't do this for anybody of any caliber ever. Right. And and that and that's kind of the problem like I sort of look at and you know you know look I mean I'm not a Steelers fan first but I root for them because I I don't have you know skin in the game in the AFC my wife's a big Steelers fan so I do root for the team to do well and you know I just feel like at least in the last several years I think it's been six years without a playoff win they're really middling in this you know they're kind of in that no man's land they're in that nine and seven makes the playoffs nine and eight doesn't make the playoffs you know right they're just in this middle ground and they can't seem to get out of it Um and and I just I I see just a lack of adapting to the new NFL and ways that different teams are going about trying to win.
 
00:30:14
Now look sometimes it works out. Like you know sometimes you know you draft the Jalen Hertz in the second round and he turns out to be great. Right? Well but the Eagles were already working on the new NFL. Well right exactly exactly. But you know like so you know I I just like to see them sort of jump into the fray I mean look you know look we we all know the Jets are probably going to stink even with Aaron Rodgers but you know what they're trying the Jets are trying yeah they seem to always be trying you know right but you know how I feel about the Jets but they're trying right you know the Rams did something similar with staff to get a quarterback that could win them a super and he's a classic drop back style quarterback yeah and he and he did Yup.
 
00:31:02
You know, so you know, there's there's a lot of movement at key positions and I just feel like the Steelers are never in on it and it's I feel like it's what sort of keeping them in the middle and and I think that here's the thing, when you when you when you take a big swing, it's a risk. It either works out great and you say, wow, those are some incredible moves that they made.
 
00:31:26
Yup. Or it fails miserably. Yup. And then those people that made the move, they might potentially lose their jobs and you get like a top five pick. Yeah and and. You know. The other thing about this talking about the Steeler way the Steelers have have also for many many years benefited from the fact that two franchises in their division the Bengals and the Browns the Browns have been notoriously horrible at managing teams right and and yes Steve went back in in one of our shows last week or sometime and said you know but the Bengals you know they had they had a good run with Marvin Lewis and they were competitive but that being said they hadn't been in the Super Bowl since 1980s.
 
00:32:07
The early 1980s. Right right. And so they didn't really have to because what what the Steelers try to do first is win the division. That's what they do. They try to win the division. Right. And then they make adjustments into the playoffs. Right. And I I can see how that works but you know your point is one that we've made on the show time after time again which is the NFL is changing and evolving and the Steelers seem to think that their culture and their way have to be the same when I would submit that you can have the same culture but you can you can change the way that you manage the team on the field.
 
00:32:49
Right. So you can evolve there and they just haven't gotten there yet. Um the other issue I think with this idea is that last year is when they needed a quarterback and Lamar Jackson's contract wasn't coming up until this year. So you would have as a almost had to say well we'll just go with Mitch Trubisky not draft the quarterback Lamar's coming up next year you would have almost had to plan for that because now once you say Pickett's your guy even if they wanted to do it let's say there's somebody in that organization and there might have been that that's saying hey I have an idea and and goes to Andy Weidle and goes to Omar Khan and says why don't we think about this well they're going to say well we've committed to Kenny Pickett and he hasn't done anything to lose the job now here's where I would submit to you that Kenny Pickett hasn't done anything to win the job either.
 
00:33:41
Exactly. And that's not going to be very popular with Steelers fans and everybody that watches and listens to this show knows that I have been and continue to be a pretty good Kenny. A pretty big Kenny Pickett fan. Right. But I'm a fan of his potential and his maturity. I truthfully last year I didn't see anything on the field that showed me even his comeback victories.
 
00:34:06
I saw enough that showed me that he's the quarterback of the future I did see him progress in the way that he handled the offense protected the ball better right yeah absolutely but that that comes look there some of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL right that they learned that and again this is no I'm not I'm not you know I'm not beating on Kenny Pickett here right oh I'm just saying from a pure football standpoint Kenny Pickett to me has not answered that question Yeah.
 
00:34:37
This year he will answer that question no matter what. See I'm I'm just you know and maybe it's just me. Uh maybe it's because I grew up in a little bit of a tougher generation. But here we go. Here we go. Bring it on. But you know to me it it's just like you know why do we gotta you know care about people's feelings so much.
 
00:34:58
Well that. You know like like like the way I sort of look at it is like this. Like look and I'll be honest with you too. I think Kenny Pickett could handle it.
 
00:35:06
I I think he's a tough kid. Uh I think that he's resilient and you know what? Like let let's say you try to get a Lamar Jackson and then the Ravens match. But then you know Kenny Pickett you know says jeez they went out and try to get Lamar Jackson. Well you know what? I think Kenny Pickett's response would be well show them.
 
00:35:25
Right right. You know I don't disagree. And and let but let's say even they got Lamar Jackson right? You know what Kenny Pickett would do? He would say alright you know what? I didn't as well as I could've last year and that's why they did it and I'm going to do everything in my power to help out Lamar. I know I know he gets injured a lot so I'm going to be ready to play and I'll be ready when my time comes.
 
00:35:48
Yeah. You know, what's wrong with that? Yeah. You know, like what why is it gotta be like, oh, once we put him in charge, we can never take it away or it's all over. Yeah, I know. I I. You know what I mean? I'm with you. I I'm I'm with you. So, you know, the bottom line on that question for me is that yeah, I think that would be a brand idea unfortunately I don't think we're oh well I know we're never going to get well the other side of it you can look at it this way you can also say that like Lamar is kind of his own worst enemy when it comes to this you know in in the fact that he wants all this guaranteed money and they make him unrestricted to prove a point like nobody's going to give you that guaranteed money right so you're going to end up playing on this franchise tag anyway and if you think about it a guy like Lamar there's another year gone by without a contract.
 
00:36:39
Right. I mean just take the money. Right. The other side of that picket thing is if that were to happen and they bring Lamar here. Well Pickett is going to be 26 this year. Mhm. Okay. The only chance that he gets to start in the NFL if Lamar Jackson is here is if Lamar Jackson gets hurt. Right. Or he goes to another team.
 
00:37:00
But his his career is almost gone. So I you know I it it's a great idea. I don't know why anybody wasn't talking about it. Maybe somebody was talking about it weeks ago.
 
00:37:11
There's you know but well there is a lot of talk about is the NFL or the owners colluding against Lamar Jackson. Of course they are. That they're they're basically all saying hey the Browns were idiots. They should have never given him all that Deshaun Watson of all people. All that guaranteed money and you know hey nobody else do it. We gotta stick together on this.
 
00:37:33
That that that's what he's dealing with and I think it's a shame because it's not fair to him. Yep. Yep. Uh DG says time for a rant. The NFL owners cheap, greedy, disgusting gluttons. I gave up my Bucks tickets after being Brady gouged. Well, you know what? Uh DG, I I you're right. They are but they're in charge and we watch anyway.
 
00:37:52
Uh ticket sales is not where they make their money. It's TV revenue and merchandise and revenue sharing and all that but you you know that. I know you know that. Um I don't think that the NFL owners are colluding against Lamar. I think they're colluding against the players. Yeah. And they're sending a message that this doesn't set the standard. Right. You know, let say I don't know let's say Joe Burrow decides he wanted let's say Joe Burrow was the first one to say I want $250 million dollars guaranteed and they said yes to him I think it would be a different story it probably would I think it's all about the fact that it's the Cleveland franchise and it's that particular player Deshaun Watson and you know what what are you going to do DG has one more comment in here Roger Goodell said to make well north of 40 million for this coming year after extension the team values have skyrocketed as have salaries on Dunran no please we don't want you to ever be done ranting I mean if you want to rant let's start talking about the Jets and Aaron Rodgers again okay I I want to go back you know and and I'm I'm actually going to go back here I'm going to do this I have said for weeks now that the Jets are where quarterbacks going to die okay so the New York Jets apparently are are going to end up getting Aaron Rodgers Stephen Smith from ESPN says Aaron Rodgers can make the Jets Super Bowl contenders I disagree 100% with that because the Jets are and their cursed franchise that they're a cursed franchise first of all Joe Flacco went there to die okay Brett Favre went there to die Vinny Testeverde went to the Jets to die I I I can't find their their historical roster because I wasn't ready to run about this today but you know Boomer Asiason went to the Jets to die.
 
00:40:03
Ken O'Brien was born, raised, and died as a Jet and Aaron Rodgers, I'm sorry. You're going to go to the Jets and your career will die.
 
00:40:15
See, I I I am completely opposed with your your in opposition to? Yes. I'm in opposition to are you going to outbeat my opinion? My thought it be completely honest my thought is is that you know cities aren't cursed some win more than others some lose more than others in a certain time period okay the the bottom line is you know none of us are going to live to be 250 years old I I'm going to try for for all we know you know like after we die you know like in in the year 2080, you know the Jets win seven Super Bowls in a row I mean you don't no yeah they're not going to I'm just telling you right now this is what I'm going to do I found it okay I want you to listen to these quarterbacks and I'm not going to go way way back okay okay so Joe Namath left the Jets in 1976 and he he was a shell of his former self they went on to have Richard Todd remember Richard Todd I do remember Richard yeah he was quarterback until eighty3 Ken O'Brien quarterback in Till eighty-eight, eighty-nine, ninety-one, Brownie Nagle, Boomer Asiason, Jack Trudeau, Bobby Brister, buddy, Frank Reich, Neil O'Donnell, these I'm only putting out the names that means something.
 
00:41:51
Vinnie Testaverty, Rick Meyer, Chad Pennington, it wasn't too bad. Quincy Carter, Brett Favre, Mark Sanchez, Gino Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson, Mike White, Joe Flackel, Josh Johnson in one year, and now Aaron Rodgers. Okay. So, you can make the argument that Aaron Rodgers is better than all of them. Is better than all of them. Combine. Absolutely.
 
00:42:24
Absolutely. But look, Brett Favre wasn't that bad a quarterback. No. Chad Pennington Wasn't that bad a quarterback? No he wasn't. Okay. Yep. Uh the Jets Byron Leflich as well. No he was not in there. He was not in there. That that was from Wikipedia. Um some other notable names. Ray Lucas, Glenn Foley, Pat Ryan who was their quarterback before that Dick Wood was their quarterback before Joe Namath but you know that's it and and to be to be honest you know Aaron Aaron Rodgers to me is is career's over that's just me O'Donnell left a proven Steelers system after a Super Bowl to die at the Jets thank you DG for that thank you so much you know here here's the thing I I don't think his career is over but what I do think what like what could be possible you could see a situation similar to like when Peyton Manning went to the Broncos where they had a great defense and a good running game that carried Peyton Manning who couldn't throw the ball deep anymore you know what I mean kind of like it's an Aaron Rodgers on the downside but he's smart enough to not make a ton of mistakes not throw interceptions almost like you know a better game manager type with a really good defense and a really good running game I think they could be a playoff team I'm not saying they win it all but I think they could be and Pat's on track again Pat on track Fitz loved that guy scored a48 on the Wonderlick 10 minutes didn't go back to finish the other two only Pat would know what Ryan Fitzpatrick yes Fitzpatrick scored on the Wonderlick as if any of us cared well he went to Harvard I know I know he should score well on the Wonderlick yeah I mean come on Pat back on track Pat back on track he's like he's a transcending all of our show.
 
00:44:27
But you realize he still would have never mentioned Ryan Fitzpatrick if Ryan Fitzpatrick hadn't played on the Buffalo Bills for several years. That's right. That's right. Our that's our Buffalo Bills connection. Yeah so you know I I I my my the real crux of this thing here is that if Aaron Rodgers had gone to the Jets three years ago four years ago. Mhm. Okay? There might be a chance.
 
00:44:54
What I'm saying is this guy's got one more year left in him. I think. And he chooses to go to the Jets. That's where quarterbacks go when their careers are almost over. Well I I think to be honest I think if there's I digress. I think the biggest thing again going against Aaron Rodgers is just what a diva he's become. Well yeah that's you know but you know the whole I was 90% retired when I went into the darkness.
 
00:45:22
Yeah. And then I came out and I wanted to play. Yeah that's that's such a bunch of **** If you're an NFL team who hears that do you want that guy. Wow. He's he's an idiot. Yeah. And that shows you the the depth that the the Jets organization will will go to to get a quarterback. DG's final comment I think when Rodgers finally emerges from his darkness cave if he sees a shadow.
 
00:45:43
There will be six more weeks of indecision. That was a great one. I really liked it. I thought I thought he was going to finish it with which with there will be six more seasons of losing in New York in New York. Alright guys well listen that's it for the show tonight. I want to remind you that you can catch the Sports Porch as always on American Busker iHeartRadio and ask you to please, if you like what you're hearing here, subscribe to our podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or anywhere you get your podcast and we would love if you would write us a review.
 
00:46:14
You can go to The Porches Live. com, The Porches Live. com. The Porches Live. com. And you can you can review our show on The Porches Live. com at any time and as always, we will be back next week tonight Look for the Hockey Jesus after the Ottawa game on the podcast. I have it up on the Ticker. Hockey Jesus preaches on the podcast on the iHeartRadio app or anywhere you podcast and we will catch you later.
 
00:46:43
We will catch you on the flippity. Yep, I always screw up the music. I'm trying to do it a little bit better now and there we go. Always putting yourself down. I love it. I need to work on your self esteem. It's all about shame, Swabber. It's all about shame. Alright, guys. We'll catch you next week.