Bag alert, bag alert, bag alert, bag alert folks. That's right. We got a loaded episode.
We got a really loaded episode. Okay. I'm talking about we're going to go in multiple
different directions, but just know buckle in because guess what? This is going to be
a long drive. Okay. Pete Warner gets paid. Brandon IU
would drama continues. Who has the upper hand in these trade talks? Does the trade make
the Steelers a playoff contender? If if it happens, as well as did the Niners wait a
little bit too long to trade Brandon IU? Don't you think? I don't know. We'll talk about
that. As well as how can the Niners stay competitive if they do lose Brandon IU and the most important
topic of it all, the Pittsburgh Steelers. You are six time, six time, six time, six time,
six time, six time champions play today in about few hours. So guess what? We got a lot
to talk about. Okay. Because guess what? I want to watch the Steelers play. Okay. So
guess what? You know what we always got to do? We got to lock it. But before we do all
that, okay? I'm still Braga Domes. I'm still your GM. Okay. I am all these things and more.
But most importantly, I am your host, Kale. Let's lock in.
All right, folks, let's just get right into the news. Okay. This is episode 22. We are
only eight episodes away from hitting the 30th mark, the 30th episode of the podcast. We're
going to keep this thing going. Okay. We're going to give, we'll talk about that, you know,
when we get to that huge milestone. Okay. But we got to get into these baguettes. Okay.
Because we got a lot. We got to talk about with this episode. Okay. Because every single
every time I do it, it always comes to pass. Last week, I think we had two of them. Jordan
Love got paid the same day. Let's see what happens this week. Okay. So Pete Warner, a
linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, ain't a three year 22.5 million dollar deal to stay
with the Saints. Okay. He gets a $5.5 million signing bonus, 17.4 million in total guarantees,
11.1 in guarantees at signing, and he'll be making 7.5 million a year according to who?
Spotrack. Okay. Shout out to them. Now, when you look at his, excuse me, when you look
at his stats, right? For the 2023 season, all he has is one interception, one past
deflection to from recoveries for tackles for loss and one quarterback hit according
to who pro football reference. Now, when you look at it, you know, the this was more of
a role player type of extension. It wasn't necessarily something that, you know, it's
always going to reset the market or, you know, do anything crazy like that. Like, no, this
is a routine, you know, extension just to make sure that they lock up a player that,
you know, contributes, you know, to his respective side of the ball. And, you know, making sure
that things, you know, stay the way that they are, which I mean, honestly, it's a pretty
good deal. You know, you're making 7.5 million, you know, this year. So I mean, you know,
that's actually relatively pretty good. It is. And, you know, you're still on somewhat
of a pretty good defense. I'm not saying it's an elite defense, but it's a pretty good
defense. You know, they can give you some problems on a good day. So, you know, I guess
that's, yeah, that's that's that's really it. You know, I don't think there's really,
I don't think there's not a whole lot really to talk about it. But, you know, congratulations
to him. Now, going into the meat and potatoes of this episode, okay, Brandon IEUIC. Yes,
I know. Yes, I know, I know, I know, you're probably pounding at your table right now.
You're probably screaming to the top of your lungs. You're probably saying, why are we
still talking about Brandon IEUIC in August? Well, guess what? We got more things we're
going to talk about. Okay, we do. I know. I wanted to end just like how you do. I do.
I really do. Is it going to end? I hope so. I really do because this is starting to get
old and it's gotten to the point where it's just like, yo, if it happens, it happens.
If it don't, it don't. Okay, that's where we are at this point with this whole conundrum
that is this trade. Okay, so these are just a few notes that I just had to, you know,
take down with this entire situation. Okay, so apparent, well, no, not apparently, but
according to Diana Rossini, right? She, you know, she tweeted out. I don't know if it
was yesterday or the day before yesterday, but she basically said, you know, the 49ers
are looking for a positional player in return, mainly a receiver, but are open to other positions.
Right? Okay, cool. Now, Adam Schefter reported, right, that the Patriots when they were in
it, you know, to try to get Brandon IEUIC, the Patriots were willing to make Brandon
IEUIC the, you know, a top five highest paid receiver, right? But, you know, Jerry Doolack
of the Pittsburgh Post, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, try saying that five times, right? You know,
tweeted out that the way that I did it is to prove a point, right? All three of those
people can go to for football information. Okay, they have their hand on what's going
on behind closed doors. Okay, they're not this, you know, random entity that, you know,
you don't know nothing about and they don't have anything credible and they don't, you
know, they're not well respected within their own industry and whatnot. No, these are people
who are credible resources that you can take whatever that they are saying to the bank.
Now, have insiders got it wrong? Yes, of course, things happen, right? But what I'm, but what
I'm trying to get to you, and I said this in the previous episode is we have to be careful
on what we put out, especially with a situation like this, right? Because I don't in and this
is not directly for anybody, but if it is, but if, but if you feel like it is for you
within it is for you at this point, if you do not have credible information about what's
going on with this situation or any situation, you should not be putting out any, you should
not be putting anything out because there was a particular person who will remain anonymous
who basically was saying, you know, the, you know, for a minute, there were a lot of stealers
fans that were like, Oh my God, it's done. It's done. It's done. It's done. It's done.
It's done. And it's like, no, it's not, it's not done until you see a press conference
for Brandon IEWIC and he is holding another team's jersey that he was traded to. And unless
they take that picture, this thing is still going. Okay. It is still going. Now, can I
say, you know, when and where it's going to end? No, I can't because I don't have any
credible information to report on that. I have to go off of the resources that I know
and the people that I trust that are, you know, that are credible with whatever information
that they put out. That's what I have to go with, right? And so the reason why I'm saying
all this is, you know, you may have, you know, accounts like CTE, you know, ESPN, you know,
you may have people like Ricky with the picture of the dog with the hat on it. You know, you
may have this person who says, you know, I'm a part of, you know, NFL draft blood. I mean,
I'm not bloods NFL draft buzz, not bloods. That's funny. That's a funny one. That's a
funny joke. But you know, you may have different people who say that they're credible who,
you know, they may have this blue checkmark to try to validate what with whatever they're
saying. But the fact of the matter is they don't know anything what they're talking about.
Okay. If and you know, and this is something that that I want to that I want to repeat
games to you guys. A lot of the insiders have been quiet on this. Because why this is still
a very fluid situation. Things are still ongoing. And you know, there's nothing really
to report on. That's not if the if the credible insiders are not saying anything, right? What
makes you think that you can put out something and say, Oh, yeah, I have sources that say
this, this and this. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, that's not what you do. Because
guess what? It's going to if you they'll see a fan, a fan will will see that tweet and
they will lose their mind. Right. And so it is, I feel like it is your responsibility
to make sure that whatever you put out that you think is credible, make sure that you
make sure that it is credible. Because if it's not credible, you're going to have someone
like me who's going to get on his podcast, regardless if it's, you know, well known or
not well known, but this will be well known very soon. Mark my words. It still does not
give you the right to put out any accurate information. It doesn't. Better yet, it puts
more pressure on you to make sure that whatever information that you are putting out is credible.
It's resourceful. And it's true. Because if you don't, your credibility, whatever little
credibility that you have is gone. And it's hard to get it back. Right. It really is.
It's like the boy who cried wolf. You can keep on saying that you saw the wolf and nobody
ever saw it. But the one time that you do see the wolf, guess what? No one's going to believe
you because why you kept online the, you know, all those other previous times, right? So
I just had to put that out there. Now, when we look at it with this situation, right,
Brandon I you again, you know, things have just gotten to a point where it's just really
messy. It really is. It's messy on just both sides, you know, there was a report, you know,
probably like in the earlier part of the week that was basically saying that, you know,
the Steelers really weren't in it. And then it was just between the Patriots and the Browns.
And then next thing you know, you know, Shepter puts out a tweet basically saying that, you
know, the Steelers are back in it and that, you know, their conversations are fluid and
the Patriots back out of it. And it's like, okay, you know, you have a lot going on. But
at the same time, you know, how is this going to go because it can go anyway. It really
can't. Because again, the ball is in Brandon IUX Court. It's not in the 49ers Court. It's
in Brandon IUX Court because he gets to dictate where he wants to go. That's just what it
is because the Patriots and like I just said, the Patriots were willing, willing to meet
his financial demands. They were willing to do that. But Brandon IUX didn't want to go
there. And Brandon IUX has basically said, Hey, I want to go to Pittsburgh. That's what
he's done. And so the question is, what is it going to take to, you know, to put the
bowl on this present? That is the question. And I think everybody wants to know because
whether we realize or not the, the draft stock for Brandon IUX as the days go by is going
to continue to dwindle, right? Because remember, leading up to the draft, if I'm not mistaken
and I can be wrong, but leading up to the draft, the Jaguars were trying to get Brandon
IUX and they were, I think, and I think they were willing to give up their first round
pick and a player, another receiver, right? And the 49ers said no. So it makes you beg
the question of what the hell is it going to take for them, you know, for this trade
to just go down? What's it going to take? Now, I've heard and, you know, I've seen various
different things that, you know, the 49ers are going to try to, you know, flip, flip
whatever picks that the Steelers or whoever trade for, you know, trade for him and, you
know, try to get a receiver. I've seen, you know, they might, they might try to do a three
way trade. I don't know. I really don't know. I will say this. It's a little bit harder
to do a three way trade in the NFL than it is in the NBA, for instance, right? Because
in the NBA draft picks isn't isn't as high as it is in the NFL, right? When we get to
start talking about first round picks, oh my God, GMs, they, they get buttoned up in
everything. They borderline want to fight you, right? And, you know, when you look at
the NBA, they'll throw all first round picks and, you know, this pick and that pick and
this pick and that pick and, you know, the next three years of a first round picks or
whatever, just for one player and one thing twice about it. They've done that before.
A lot of the major trades that we have seen, you know, throughout the years and involved
a boatload of picks and guess what? They just don't care about it. That value for them isn't
isn't as high as it is for the NFL, right? And so, you know, it's a situation where,
you know, as, as the days go by, who is really going to win this situation? Because as of
right now, if I'm not mistaken, the Steelers are like the, are like the primary team that
is like really content on trying to get Brandon I you. And we all have seen what Omar Khan
has done, you know, in the past when it comes to these trades, he's been a beast with it.
Okay. And he's not showing his hand. And so what you're seeing is a matchup between GMs
of who was going to blink first. This is a game of GM chicken. This is what that's what
it is at this point, because it's either the 49ers aren't satisfied with it or this person
isn't satisfied with it, or it's not working for this person was not working for that side
or whatever the case may be, right? And, you know, and I'll continue to say this as the
days go by, if the Steelers are going to win that trade, because guess what? Brandon I you
is value is going to go down because why you still have to pay him top dollar money. You
still have to pay him 30 plus million dollars, right? That's what you're going to have to
pay him. That's what he said that he wanted, right? And so, you know, it went from a first
round pick, you know, in the earlier part of the year leading up to the draft. But now
at this point, you could probably give brand now you would for maybe a second or a third
round pick. And maybe, you know, you probably throw in the player just to sweeten things
up if you really wanted to. That's what it is at this point. Because you this is what
I'll say. I'm trying to find the words to say the value of a player will the value of
a player that does not get traded will continue to go down the more the more that the more
time passes that he is not trading, right? And you know, whether we want to admit it
or not, the 49ers are trying to turn water in one. They're not trying to. This is this
is so this is such a tricky situation. This is such a tricky way to say it. But the 49ers
are trying to are trying to flip are trying to turn mud into gold bricks. That's what
they're trying to do, right? And you know, am I saying that they can do it? No. But it's
just it's just a weird situation. It's just weird. It's it's drawn out. I think people
are just over it. I think people are just tired of you know, hearing about it. I think
people are tired of the fake lies and the fake rumors and the fake sources. And I think
they just want things to just, you know, be done so they can just so we can just move
on to the preseason games, the cut downs and then the start of regular season. I think
that's where everybody is at this point. Okay. Now, the real question is if the Steelers
do get Brandon, are you does that make them a playoff contender? Now in my eyes, I don't
know. I don't know. I really don't know. And the only reason why I say that is because
you know, the Steelers have a very tough schedule. They do. They have a very tough schedule,
right? And the only way that they could really, you know, position themselves to be high within
the playoffs and potentially, you know, compete to try to win the division is they got to
come they got to come out of they got to come out of the season guns blazing, right? It's
not no, you know, going to a two game losing streak or a three game losing streak or whatever
the case may be, they have to come out of this thing guns blazing, right? And if they
do not come out of this thing guns blazing, that second half of the season, it's going
to be a killer. It's going to be a crusher. I'm going to read off exactly the second half
of the season. I'm going to show you the will not show you when I'm going to tell you the
match ups, right? Ravens, Browns, Bengals, Browns, Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, Bengals. That
is a gauntlet. That is a gauntlet of a matchups that you're going to have to go up against
that you are going to have to win. Okay, it's not like how it was in the previous seasons
where you you go up against some of your divisional rivals in the early parts of the season. No,
you're going up against them where every single game matters where you have to win them in
order to not only get into the playoffs, but to have a higher seed in the playoffs to potentially
get to having, you know, the number one seed will not the number one seed, but a high seed
enough to where you can probably get a first round by. That's what it is, right? And so,
you know, the Steelers right now from a roster standpoint, and I'm just, I'm just going to
be completely honest here. I don't really care. Honestly, they're in a position where
their defense is a playoff contender, but their offense, I feel like it's still, I don't
know. I don't know. I really, I can't, you know what? I got it. It just came, the light
bulb just came on. The plate, the Steelers chances of the playoffs rides on how well
and what version of Russell Wilson are they going to get, right? Because if you get the
version of Russell Wilson last year, then there's a chance. There's a chance. I'm not
saying it's a high chance. Not saying it's a low chance. Not saying it's in the middle
chance, but I'm saying that there is a chance that they could possibly, you know, make a
playoff run, right? But if you're getting a Russell Wilson that is showing, you know,
that he has the clients and significantly, then you're going to have a problem because
Justin Fields on the other hand, Justin Fields, he has the potential, right? But his mechanics
and his decisiveness and all those different type of things, they aren't, they aren't
up to par to where they should be. And so, you know, you're going to need somewhat of
a veteran quarterback, you know, that can get you a win from some of those games. That's
what you're going to need. Okay. This isn't, you know, just rainbows and unicorns like
no, this is going to be a gauntlet. And this is, you know, knock on wood. You better hope
that nobody suffers a significant injury. So I say all that to say this, if the Steelers
do get Brandon IE, it doesn't necessarily make them make them a playoff contender, but I
will say this, that's two or three extra games that they could probably win. That's two or
three more W's that they could definitely get that definitely, you know, puts the odds
in their favor to win certain matchups. It does. But to flat out say that, oh yeah, this
makes them a Super Bowl team or oh, this makes them a playoff calibre team. No, I'm not going
to say that. I still feel like the Steelers are probably maybe one or two more years away
from entering their Super Bowl window. I truly believe that the defense is the defense is
the defense, right? It's about investing into the offense, right? Because and I'll continue
to beat on this drum. And I know there's Steelers fans out there, they're saying you're not
a real Steelers fan. I am a real Steelers fan. I am a logical thinking Steelers fan. That's
the difference, right? Because again, we're going after someone who was looking for 30
plus million dollars a year while we won't even know who the quarterback is going to
be next year, right? Because we have two quarterbacks on our roster right now that that that are
on one year deals, essentially. And so there's going to be a lot of turnover come this this
offseason, right? You're going to have to figure out are you going to pay Russell Wilson? Are
you going to pay Justin Fields? Are you going to go after that press card? Are you going
to go after somebody in the draft, even though me personally will not do that? What are you
going to do, right? Not to mention you have to figure out are you going to pay? Not as
you hear us are going to pay Pat Friar move. Are you going to figure out what you're going
to do with, you know, with other different positions and whatnot? There's a lot of question
marks that that, you know, will not be answered, you know, already, right? And so investing
a lot of resources into a receiver when you don't have a quarterback under contract next
year is just ludicrous. It is ludicrous to me. So and and I've been I've been on the
I've been on the hill that's been saying it was the point in going after Brandon IEU.
I know I went on a tangent, but I just had to get this off my chest. What is the point
in going after Brandon IEU? Right? It's not like we have it's not we have, you know, George
Pickens is out for the rest of the season, not going to wood or anything like that. Right?
If that was the case, then, you know, you have to be a little bit more aggressive to try to
see the deal and, you know, get Brandon IEU right? But if we are run heavy team and we
have a run heavy offensive coordinator, then why would we want to go after Brandon IEU?
I'll let you think about that one once this episode once you're done listening to this
episode. But I say all that to say this. The Steelers have a lot of question marks that
they have to figure out. And you know, them just making this one move doesn't necessarily
seal or set them in a place where they are a playoff contender, or they are a Super Bowl
contender, or they can beat this team, beat that team or whatever the case may be. I that's
just me. Okay, I'm just I just call it the way that I see it. Now, I think another question
that doesn't need to be asked is, did the Niners take too long to trade Brandon IEU? Because
let's be real here, there were teams that were inquiring about Brandon IEU before the
draft. So what exactly is this problem that we are in right now? Right? Because you knew
that this was going to be a situation. You knew that he was going to be in a contract
here with Justin Jefferson and CD lamb and Jamar Chase and T Higgins. Okay, you knew
that. So if you knew that, then why in the world didn't you guys try to take care of
it the previous years before? Why didn't you do that? Because now you're in a situation
where guess what? Not only is he disgruntled with you, he doesn't even want to play with
you. That's the situation that you're in right now. And you know, from what I've heard, and
I don't know if this is credible or not. But from what I've heard, they haven't even had
contract negotiations since May of this year. It's August. Okay, not counting May. That's
what June, July. That's three months. Three months that you guys have not had a conversation
about contracts. You should have been traded him by now. What is the point in holding on
to a player that you have not had contract talks with since May? What is the point in
holding on to a player when you have multiple teams who are willing to not only meet your
demands but surpass your demands? What is the point? I don't care that you prioritize
his player. I don't care that you like this player. I don't care that he plays this X
role on your team. If a team wants him, and if you're not willing to pay him, let him
go. Let him go. In the Disney movie, let it go. Let it go. Let him go, man. Just let
him go. You're taking too long. By now, he should be practicing and learning a new playbook
and building chemistry with his new quarterback or whatever the case may be. That's just what
it is. Okay, this is for all the GMs out there, for all the people out there who cover football.
Let this be a lesson that you cannot, when you see, Jesus, there's so much I have to
say about this topic. When you see that there is a situation like this that is looming over
the horizon, nipping in the body immediately. Don't wait till it grows because now they're
in the situation or now they're desperate. Kyle Shanahan is hating this. He's hating
this. He cannot stand this. So guess what? The longer that this draws out, the more
this is going to irritate Kyle Shanahan even more. People don't even realize that not to
mention you have Christian McCaffrey that is dealing with an injury. You have Ricky Purcell,
Peersaw that's dealing with an injury. You have players on the offense that are dealing
with multiple injuries. And guess what? It would be great to have Brandon IEWIC in-camp
practicing. But guess what? You guys don't want to pay him, nor do you guys want to trade.
So again, what exactly is going on at this point? That is the question because it's not
like it's not like the 49ers are in a situation where, oh, we're, we're skilled deprived. We
don't have as much on the offense and what are we going to do? Oh, what was me? What
was me? It's not what it is. It's not. You still have George Kittle. You still have Christian
McCaffrey. You still have Joanne Jennings. You still, you just got Ricky Peersaw, right?
You just signed Robbie Anderson yesterday. Juju just got released by the Patriots today.
So you got options, right? Shoo. Go after one of those receivers with the Texans. They got
a whole bunch for receivers for no reason, right? Do that. Do that. Everybody will want
to, will want to play for the 49ers because why? They're a Super Bowl team. That means
that I mean, honestly, the only team that you have to go up against that will probably
give you problems is who the Eagles and the Lions. That's it. Otherwise, guess what? You
are literally skipping into the Super Bowl, skipping literally. So again, what is the
hold up, John Lynch? What is the hold up, Kyle Shanahan? What's the hold up? Because
the longer that this goes out, the more this makes you guys look like fools. And when you
guys get fleeced because there's going to happen, I'm not saying it's going to happen
by the con artists. No, no, no. I'm going to, it is going to happen. But the longer that
this thing draws out, the worse is going to look on you guys. Because guess what? There's
teams that are looking for receivers, but I don't even think they're going to be willing
to go into this fight. I just don't, I just don't believe it personally, but I could be
wrong personally. So again, it sucks to be them. It sucks to be 49ers. Fool. Now on to
bigger and better things that we actually care about because why we have football tonight,
but not just any type of football. Okay, not just any type of team. You know who I'm talking
about. Now for the people that have their headphones in, you might want to turn it down.
Just a little bit. Just a little bit. Just give me a hand right now because guess who
plays tonight? You are six time, six time, six time, six time, six time Super Bowl champion
Pittsburgh still players play tonight. They go against the Texans in Pittsburgh. We have
to talk about it. These are just a few things that I just decided to write down just to
cover. Okay. So the things that I'm looking out for to start things off is the offensive
line. Right? I want to see how things are going to roll out. Now I know for sure they're
probably going to, aside from Isaac C. Amalo, probably everybody else is going to play on
that offensive line. But for starters, I really want to see how things are going to go with
both Broderick Jones and Troy Fatano. Okay, I really want to see that because, especially
for Troy, for Troy Fatano, because I'm really interested to see if he really is that good
like what people have been saying as a right tackle. Okay, I really want to see that. I
really want to see, you know, is Broderick Jones more comfortable on the left than he
is on the right or vice versa, whatever the case may be. I really want to see that because
let's be real her folks. The Steelers invested two first round picks in the both of them and
back to back drafts. Okay, this thing has to work. It has to work. It has to there's
no if ands or buts about it. This has to work at this point. Okay, as well as you know,
maybe I don't know Mason McCormick is going to play or Zach Fraser or or or or Nate Herbie.
But I just want to see what the offensive line looks like so far with this new scheme
and whatnot. I want to see are they ready? You know, do you know, do they have chemistry?
I want to see all those different types of different types of things. Okay, now for the
next thing, Justin Fields. Now you're probably thinking well, Justin Fields can run and do
it only. No, I want to see his mechanics. I want to see has his has his mechanics improved.
I want to see is his decision making improved. I want to see has his play calling improved.
I want to see all the various aspects of what is needed for an elite quarterback. I want
to see has that improved because we have seen bits and pieces of it, right? We've seen bits
and pieces of it, but we have not seen it consistent. That's the part where we're trying
to get at right now. We want to see more consistency with his play calling with his execution,
you know, with his decision making all those different types of things, his footwork, all
of that. We want to see more of that consistently because we live in a time now where if your
quarterback is not elite, you are not going to go anywhere. You are not going to be successful.
Okay, that's just where it is. And I truly believe that the Steelers are going to invest
into Justin Fields long term. And I think, you know, them, them putting him into, you
know, this preseason game is definitely going to show, you know, is that the right decision?
Is that the wrong decision? Moving forward. Okay. Receivers specifically for the Steelers,
I want to see exactly how these, how these receivers look. Okay, because depending on
how these receivers look, I think we'll have a direct effect on the brand and I you a trade.
I think if they're just horrible or somebody is seriously hurt and whatnot, I think that
deal gets done a lot quicker than what it is. I truly believe that. I just want to, I
mean, George, George Pickens is George Pickens. That's, you know, that's an outlier, but I
want to see exactly has his route running gotten better. I want to see, you know, just
his body control. I want to be able to see has he gotten a better, has he become a better
receiver than he was last year? That is the number one thing that I emphasize the most.
Have you become a better player in your position than what you were previously? Because if
you're still doing the same things that you did last year, then to me, you haven't done
anything, right? And for George Pickens, if he really wants to stick out and if he really
wants to be an elite receiver, you got to work on your route running, bro. Got to work
on it because if you cannot create separation at the line of scrimmage, what are you good
for? Now granted, I mean, you are a bigger receiver and whatnot. That's cool and all.
But if you get that crazy, that crazy, um, crazy footwork in, man, oh man, that's, that's
a problem right there. Okay. Now moving forward, the Texas offense. Okay. I want to see exactly
how does this offense look? How's it going to flow, especially with, you know, their
acquisition, not accusations, their, um, you know, with the moves that they made in the
all season to get Joe mixing and Stefan Diggs, I want to see exactly how things are going
to mesh because that's a very crowded receiver room. And I would not be surprised if somebody
gets traded fairly quickly. I would not be surprised because they have Nico Collins,
Farrell Brown, um, Tank Dell, now Stefan Diggs, they got the receiver from the Rams as well.
And I think they also have Robert Woods. So if I'm not mistaken, they have six receivers,
six of them. So it's like, it's a crowded room and you already know Stefan Diggs is going
to get his tank. Dell is going to get his Nico Collins is going to get his right. It's
just a matter of where everybody else fits in on this puzzle. Um, and the same thing for
the defense as well. I definitely want to see exactly how does the patch rush look? How
does the defensive line look and not to mention, um, how does their secondary look? Because
and I know, you know, people are probably saying, well, you're just throwing a bunch
of ifs around. No, because on paper, the Texans should be a top 10 roster, right? They got
the Neil Hunter, they got Will Anderson, right? They got, um, Derek Stingley Jr. They have
CJ Henderson on the defense, right? Then on the offense, Stefan Diggs, CJ Stroud, Joe
Mixon. Um, I think they still have Bolton Schultz. If I'm not mistaken, Tank Dell,
Nico Collins, that is a stacked roster. That's a really good roster. That is a team right
there that is going to give other teams problems because why they're young, they're hungry
and they are trying to prove something. Okay. CJ Stroud is going to go on a tear. You heard
it here first on the 22nd episode called source off on the football junkies podcast. You heard
it here first. Okay. Um, another thing that, that, that definitely has, has caught my attention
is the Steelers pass rush. Um, and I can, I can sort of get into a now and cause this
is somewhat of a breaking news. Marcus Golden, um, has retired. Yeah. Um, Marcus Golden has
officially retired from the NFL. Um, so now this somewhat puts a hole for the fourth position
for, you know, for outside linebacker, you know, for a patch rusher. So it's, it's a
matter of exactly what, you know, how things are going to roll out because, you know, TJ
Y and Alex Highsmith, that's a given. Okay. They're, they're, they're going to do their
thing. They're going to be the game records, the mallers that they need to be, right? But
it's a matter of what's going to happen when you have Nick Herbic and whoever else, because
now this, you know, this could, you know, speed things up for them to try to maybe go
after another patch rusher or whatever the case may be at this point, because they, they
need it because at some point TJ Watts going to need to break Alex Highsmith is going to
need to break somebody else who have to come in, right? They think you got to keep that
thing going. You have to not to mention exactly, you know, what's going to happen with Dean
Lowry and Isaiah Lauer milk and, you know, the Marvin Lee, especially the Marvin Lee
out because from what I've heard is he has had a really good training camp so far. And
so I want to see is that going to transition over to the known to the preseason games because
let's be real here. He is, you know, on the outside looking at, okay, he is trying to
get a roster spot. His roster spot is not guaranteed at this point. So the pressure
is on him to show up and show out and to prove why he deserves to be on this roster. Because
if he doesn't, he's going to get cut. He's going to get cut. Now, granted, I understand
that the Steelers somewhat hindered his progress because coming out of college, he was a little
bit of a tweener. He, you know, really didn't have, you know, experience in just one specific,
you know, position, but at the same time, when you kept on moving him around, you know,
outside linebacker, you know, D line, you know, in this that the other that it messes
things up. It does. So definitely want to see exactly how was that going to go? And then,
you know, finally, Steelers secondary me personally, you know, aside from Joey Porter, junior,
I do have question marks. Well, and I'll say Jackson, well, no, no, I'll say that. I'll
say that for, you know, in the coming moment, I do have a lot of questions about the secondary.
I do. I definitely do because, you know, Joey, Joey Porter, junior is, is, is the light
for the cornerback room. I just want to see exactly how things are going to go with everybody
else because beanie Bishop from what I've heard, he has been doing his thing has been
making plays. He's been consistent, you know, since I think rookie mini camp, if I'm not
mistaken. So I just want to see how everything else is going to go because after Joey Porter,
junior, you have Dante Jackson, but is it, you know, what version of Dante Jackson you're
going to get? You know, is there going to be somewhat of a fall off or not me personally?
I don't think so. I think he's going to be, you know, fairly good. I do believe that.
Um, and you know how things are going to go with cams, son, you know, going to be suspended
for eight games. That's the real question because, you know, you got to figure out what's with
Darius Rush, what's with Corey Trice and company. You have to figure out all those different
type of things because let's be real here, folks. There's a lot of good corners that
are still available in free agency. I keep on saying it stuff on Gilmore, Xavier and
Howard or Dory Jackson. Who else? Who else? Who else? Um, there's a lot of court. I'll
just say that there's a lot of corners that are available. And you know, if you need to
to make a move, make a move. Okay. For any of those type of corners, especially someone
like a ghillie, if you get a ghillie, that does a lot. You're talking about ghillie is
what Patrick Peterson was supposed to be for the Steelers. Right. So when that is experienced,
that has played, you know, at the highest peak, who, you know, has done a lot, but you
know, can is ready to pass it on to the next generation. That's what he is. Okay. And so,
you know, I say all that to say this, there's going to be a lot of questions. I do have
a lot of questions leading into this game. Hopefully they get answered once the game
is over. Maybe I'll do something, you know, once the game is over or not. I don't know.
But you know, just, just stay tuned. But as always, if you guys like what you guys are
listening to, please, please, please, please, please like, share, subscribe, send it to
somebody. If you don't mind, leave a five star review or wherever you listen to the
football junkies podcast, shout out to Apple podcast, Spotify and all the places that we
are able to give our football junkies their daily fix. Okay, cool. Now you can follow
us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube at football underscore junkies pod. Again, that is football
underscore junkies pod junkies pod is not space. It is one word together. Okay. Also,
also, also, also, what else? What else am I, I know, I know there's something I'm forgetting.
Please, for the for the YouTube people, like, share, subscribe, leave a comment below. What
do you think about the, what do you think about the episode? Am I right? Am I wrong?
What are your thoughts? Exactly. You know, I want to, I want to have a healthy, not argument,
but a healthy conversation about certain things. Okay, let me know, please inform me. And please,
let me know exactly what you guys want to talk about. Okay, what team, what team that
you guys want me to cover more because honestly, I'm tired of talking about brand. Are you
I really am until the trade happens, I might just go on a brand. Now you would strike.
I might just do that honestly. As always, I hope I gave you guys the fix that you guys
need. I love you guys. I appreciate you guys so much for being with me on this journey.
Again, we are eight episodes away, eight episodes away from 30 episodes, right? Do you not know
that a large majority of podcasts do not even make it to the 20th episode? We are about
to be 20, 22 episodes in 22, 22 episodes in that deserves a round of applause. Not only
for, for me, because you know, I definitely put in a lot of work for this. I definitely
pushed through a lot of things to get to this point. But for y'all for supporting me and
helping me to get to this point and continuing to, you know, help me to give you guys the
fix that you guys need. So as always, I love you guys. I appreciate you guys. Please be
safe out there to all the people that may be impacted by the storm. My thoughts and prayers
are with you guys. Hopefully you guys, you know, are able to rebuild and, you know, be
stronger. As always, I love you guys. Peace.