Segment 2: Final Day of the NFL League Meetings

0:00You're tuned to a drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold Steelers nation radio. Hour number two of the drive here on this Tuesday inside the built-more in Phoenix, Arizona. It is our final day of on-location shows here about 2,000 miles from home for the NFL League Meetings 2026 edition and joining us now a familiar voice, a familiar name of course the co-host of the Steelers Blitz at noon on the Steelers Audio Network with our guy Tom Opperman. It is Chris Adansky also covers the Steelers for the Trib. What's up Buzz how we doing you enjoying this Arizona sunshine? It's a dry heat I hear right? It's a dry heat here. It makes sense though I finally get it like 90 degrees here doesn't feel like 90 degrees. It's exactly right it's become a cliche like a joke but it's actually true like come here it was like 92 or something yesterday right? Yeah warm but didn't feel like 92 in Pittsburgh is a different 92. Exactly right.

1:02Our Uber driver was asked us where we're from I'm out here from Pittsburgh he's like yeah I'm going up there in August and he was all worried about he's like what's he got super human I'm like what's the community like up there I'm like it's not like I'm Florida you know what you hear about the South but yeah it's I love this weather out here now I'm sure it's much different in June and July and August when it's 115 degrees outside but man I can't imagine many places with better weather weather in March than than here in Arizona certainly it's been it's been a welcome development after the winter that we had back home. Chris Adansky any difference in your so you were at the Mike McCarthy breakfast this morning you've been boots on the ground here for about 24 hours now do you feel any differently about Aaron Rogers today than you did maybe 24 hours ago or before you got to Arizona where where you at in this hole ongoing conversation I'd say it's more just a re reaffirmation more so I probably felt that I was going to say I do yes probably feel more confident that Aaron Rogers be here or be with the same person here at some point but I probably

2:05felt that yesterday you know two days ago too so I don't know how much it could have been more reinforced but I guess reinforced I guess it's probably the proper way to look at it and a lot of communication sounds like yeah yeah I mean you wouldn't think I know they have a you know human relationship not a coach and they've known each other for 20 years or whatever but I think they'd be talking to each other phone every other day as as my car these acknowledging over and over again that they're they talk last night after the after the the all the meetings everything yesterday so I don't think you're doing that last year or the year before yeah exactly so I there's there's a obviously a purpose to a double I don't think they're breaking down what they're going to do on the second three and you know and the first quarter of a game but but I do think they're you know he said he's he's involved what was the word he used immersed in what's going on in the offseason he's keeping them so he's there's definitely a degree of keeping things communication there keeping them posted where they're out with everything and yeah I don't think it's ironclad I don't I don't think it's like a there's a a thought outside that there's this

3:08some immersive like oh he's definitely coming we're not going to tell anybody you know I don't think it's that I don't think it's like keep this quiet but but I do think there's a general feeling that this is going to happen here at some point yeah and one thing West pointed out from that interview too we just replayed it last hour was he mentioned versatility amongst his offensive lineman and we we noted that Hoffman's the only guy that they've added from outside the organization he can play all three interior spots I certainly think there's a really good chance maybe even around one that they invest in a big time prospect on the o-line someone to play on the left side but do you think versatility is going to factor in to that equation he talked a lot you're right you you you listen to about that his philosophy in general both and and I think that's generally just modern football any more true and certainly in defense or in all but in defense the secondary I mean we're going to talk a lot I'm sure you are talking a lot about where Jay then Ramsey go and all that yeah I just feel like that'll be down to down uh game plan to game plan week to week that type of thing where you know might be games or situations where he's playing but that's

4:10just what in the offensive lines part of that now it's you know whether the Steelers kind of had a you know would say a while they weren't like we couldn't wait for say I'm all to leave it wasn't like kick him off the door sometimes you get that point with a veteran guy we're no we're not reciting I think there were there was interest or they wanted to have him back with open having him back yeah so it would be sort of disingenuous to say well they expect Spencer Anderson to just step in and play right away whenever uh say a mother could have been back and they always keep bringing a a veteran free agent like they have but you're right I'd you know if maybe a couple months ago I maybe just me my blind spot I didn't think offensive line was really a a a a a big possibility for the first round of the draft but the more and more this process goes on the more and more you just hear more and more you kind of read the tea leaves the more you know and the project Jones think I think a month ago I don't think I was me again me didn't think project Jones would be a physical question a health question mark at this point of the offseason as we head into you know soon enough here good on the field so I think that factors there was a little bit new about that

5:11I wanted to follow up with you on that what are you what are you hearing on Broderick's health yeah I feel like it's hard to get that information yeah it's I don't I think medically wise I think there's the belief he's going to be cleared to be even by OTAs and things like like from a medical perspective but it's also like he he's a bit offensive line I mean you need to you train your body has been sort of you know neck back type of thing here do you know offseason strength program your everything like that it can't be done really so I think there is a little bit of sort of like I don't think it's a matter of who'll be off the season or anything like that but I think it's kind of like okay where are we at with him and obviously then that isn't even I think part of it if he was an all pro left tackle then I was like well okay he'll be fine by but you know if he had his offseason being like this and kind of not be able to do so I think they kind of have to approach it they kind of have to hedge things and we can't really we'll see how it plays out and hopefully he he is back hopefully you know builds up and you know gets physically where he needs to be to be a starting lineman and of course obviously then

6:13that's kind of a separate issue but it all goes together the the performance and where he's at and everything in terms of what we've seen from on tape here the first three years of his career you had a good point though too I mean it's such a strength based position and I'm sure this is true to some degree with almost every injury but back in neck I'm sure he's not benching or doing rows or I mean anything close to upper body maybe not even lifting at all during this stretch I mean he has to lose some strength throwing this whole process yeah you're right because he that obviously the core in the back and there's so many I mean I guess you could do legs I guess them theoretically wouldn't be it but he but just and we're talking about an NFL offensive tackle I mean that's something that people come at injuries I get it but I just think all the questions around it in terms of where he's at and physically and just the neck and general type of thing it doesn't sound at all like it's anything like nothing they're different players and I don't think anybody really believe this but when you start getting the point where it's neck and things like the last year was a player and I skipped my name right now that yeah yeah yeah and he had to retire me I don't they're not anywhere to that level that degree and I think but now it's just

7:15the point of he can be physically cleared and then it's like building but building himself back up so it's still you know as we see if you're right now at this moment so March just April's coming real soon here and we're starting to build up toward where will it does get too late or it's late it's still early yet so I think it'd be okay but yeah I don't I think they're happy with where medical wise in terms of getting clear to that kind of that I don't think there's anything a doctor you say no he can't do you know you don't think they pick up his fifth year option I do I really'd be shocked yeah I'd be yeah I mean if he was a better player or a hundred percent healthy but two strikes against you it's like yeah yeah it's it's really and cooks not bad you know exactly you've cooking and I if we're sitting here talking and I agree with you that first round tackles a possibility right I mean not only if that not that happens it even slammed the door even more on the first on the fifth year option for for challenge but it the fact that's even in play yeah or possibility yeah it says kind of where things are at and it looks like there'll be guys to pick from a 21 attack yeah some years again even go down that road yeah yeah Chris Adamski co-host of the Steelers Blitz covers the Steelers for the trip with us here on our

8:19mini radio row inside the built-more in Phoenix, Arizona a Chris we're doing a lot of heavy lifting on radio row this year we are I think Texans have not held up there so we are we're about one third of the radio representation down here oh I think we're about 90% of the radio represents where the where the air and Rogers in this in this room down here you know we're the ones walking right into Canton one day and everyone else is just on the coattails speaking of quarterbacks buzz there it continues to be a lot of positive buzz from Mike McCarthy and company on Will Howard Mike McCarthy saying that if he was in charge of the draft last year Will Howard would not have lasted into the sixth round it is this is this real how much of a crack is he going to get did they really feel like at least maybe by the time we get out of the trobe he can be the clear cut number two yeah there's I do believe that there's genuine curiosity there's genuine admiration from afar from from the from the coaching staff that came in and Mike McCarthy I remember he did talk he took the he said he and he said that and he talked about watching

9:20will I mean Will Howard will I always talk about he was the arguably he wasn't but the highest he was the starting quarterback of the national championship teams he got more airtime than any cultural player in the country two years ago so everybody kind of knew who he was and kind of followed him so and I think there was that admiration seeing how well we played during that that stretch and whenever you're at the at that point during that college football playoff run by Will Howard last year that's just right with Mike McCarthy had been let go or left or parted ways I should say what the cowboys everyone put it so he was watching more football at that point that he had so he saw like peak Will Howard tape with that he's watching it live in terms of what he's doing so I do believe it is genuine for sure that the the the offensive staff and Mike in particular um like Will Howard but I also don't there's there's something to say he's we'd like a better than a six-round pick to say he's good enough to be a franchise quarterback right I mean so I think yeah but so but I guess the way west even talked about the frame of the question yes I do think there's certainly a possibility that there's a scenario where he could be the number

10:23two as soon as this year but there's also the possibility that you know you had the veteran assuming it's Rogers and then they drafted quarterback in the you know in the mid-round or whatever you're not going to cut him then all of a sudden I don't say he'll get caught but all of a sudden it gets a little hairy you know where he's at at all the depth try right that's what's going to ask you next is because I've said this eight million times that I understand a case four in against a third fourth fifth round quarterback in some I like better another some though like better than others they have to be the right guy available but that probably is the writing on the wall for Rudolph if you take him I am always in favor of taking him by the apple you might get a cheap you know home run Brock Pertie situation Dak Prescott situation he wants to work with the young quarterbacks he even said I wish I'd five in my room this year do you think they do it and would you do it yeah I mean I well Mark there's there's at least one other person is a bigger will or a Mason Rudolph fan amongst the media than I am but I've been always propounded of Mason Rudolph but and that's not going to root off it's just they're not going to keep four yeah yeah exactly

11:28yeah it's only contract one more year and I totally agree with you you laid out the reasons why taking a mid-round quarterback because that you go into the process you think okay if they fall in love with tie or if they still do I shouldn't use the past tie Simpson if they that's something you don't pass up you don't worry about and that's a little different yeah so what about why if you think you have a franchise guy in the first round you're taking the pick everything else is you know second you worry about that later but if you start going into the mid rounds there all of a sudden you know knowing that you want to wear another they'll have Rogers or if there's somebody else but if there's Rogers and then there's a hour yeah and you have hours to make the team yeah and and so then you do only three at the you know we're going to make the team so you have to look at it that's that's something about somebody right if you take it in the mid-round you would think or at least it spells trouble for someone it's root off or right right it's something because all four of them can't make the team now I'm root off might you flip them into a six round pick or something to a team that needs them or a team you can tinder you know and that's what I think is it it's a little bit interesting is um just watching Ben Rothisberg over the final

12:32eight or nine years of his career a training camp he did the thing where it full practice half practice no practice and at least the first year for Aaron Rodgers maybe because it was a new team maybe I don't know surprise it I assumed it age 41 last year we wouldn't see him very much the truth only miss two practice whole year right yeah he was out there many reps to go right for all these young guys so part of me thanks like they'll roll the ball out there and you know do the old fashion like okay will you know show us not we you know you deserve to be part of the future okay Mason show us you you deserve to be part of this team now and if you threw some higher in there and they should all of a sudden there's not that many reps to go around exactly so it's a little bit harder yeah if you're trying to get your starter prepared for the season so that is an ideal but I mean I do especially when you have 12 draft picks Matt you you're your idea we're taking it by the apple yeah it's a lot more tentable you almost I don't see you have to have a plan in place yeah you know I get these guys developed but it's like it's almost hard to make 12 picks and not take a quarterback right is it for the situation so it's almost like you kind of you don't always be waiting because you you take 12 picks another positions that's another it's hard for those 12 guys to make the team as it is now you throw an extra guy in there at a position that

13:34it's going to be hard to make the team that you want to need to spend time developing exactly fourth round quarterback he's gonna make the team yes couple more minutes here with our buddy Chris Adamsky Chris I wanted to ask you just you know maybe kind of a national thing or two as it relates to these these league meetings here what's your I guess on a scale of calm concerned worried and panicked okay where you add on the on the NFL referees association in this stalemate with the league I mean I'm generally calm to concern I guess I don't know it's gonna get up a lot brought up now a lot the the fail Mary and things I get maybe I've said selective memory where it wasn't so I'm like oh you know little work it's there's labor dispute will work itself out the baby if they start the season play a few weeks then you know the negotiation will come together but I guess you're right that if a high profile mistake is made of something but that's what ended the dispute last time about 13 years ago 14 years ago now what happened is I pro high profile

14:35gaps you hope you know if you're the Steelers you're not the one that happens to me maybe a bit of it from it though to go this is actually the best yeah but you know and again just like I say there's lots of time we're talking about brother challenge we're still it still marks as we see here today there's not a game of consequence for four and a half months or over four or five months I should say even exhibition games aren't for over four months so I think there's still plenty of time and you know these negotiations it's things it's you know it's a little rhetoric going out the last couple days but that's just part of the part of the process trying to win the narrative right exactly so I I think that if we're still here and it's August August 1st instead of you know April 1st about to hear then maybe the level rises but I think it'll be all right last thing I have for you and I think we all agree Roman Wilson Caleb Johnson haven't lived up to their draft expectations obviously but just listening to McCarthy and it's something I've kind of inferred to this point they're gonna get somewhat of a new lease on life don't you think yeah I mean yeah the those two are probably the two of the that I don't say happy about the

15:38coaching change but that's the same words I use I mean at least it's new eyeballs exactly right yeah I mean there's the clean slate aspect anytime there's a new coach that comes and whatever you know the and the the staff that drafted in I mean the coaching staff and I know they had like Tom and influence obviously but they're still on hand here there was things that the Steelers liked about those two players they took them a third round so you still have that kind of support behind you and you have a new set of eyes now just by so far what they've done the Steelers um if we agency wise and then there's a long way to go with the draft and everything and that could flip on its head but I haven't been as I mean my commitments that's aggressive and it was the first moments of free agency essentially but aside from that there hasn't been kind of quite a wide receiver and when you go out and obviously more receivers play more receivers are part of your game Bay rocks are blah blah blah so but as we stand right now Rowan Wilson is probably still you know a starting as the depth chart say or play tomorrow yeah exactly you're not three I don't expect that to be the case but I think that is a little bit of an indication that he's

16:42maybe in high or state because it's kind of be Caleb better whether he figures out the kickoff returns then gets back in good graces with that or whether he figures out another row on special teams because right now the number three running back you got a team yeah have to play team so if he doesn't do that that's when it's right now he's still only a second year it's a lot more feasible to to move off from somebody into any third year when you're a third round pick than a second year it's pretty rare I don't know how often is a third round pick cut before he's a second season starts not very yeah but he was also drafted for a different system yeah yeah maybe there's a team out there that had a really high grade on him one year ago and I mean you wouldn't get close to your investment you make a six round pick back or return but and I still think again if you've 12 picks they might draft the running back still I mean even with the homework oh you're definitely right you know and then all of a sudden yeah yeah you're right that's an excellent point that's the point and just again it's a tea leaves hate to read too much into we all hang on every worth this point but both with the general manager and the coach McCarthy and Omar so far

17:43I feel like the answers are more enthusiastic about a Roman Wilson than they are about a Caleb Johnson yeah I got those vibes too plus there's more roster spots to go around yeah you know right yeah so there's a lot there's a lot of reasons why Roman seems a little bit in a better spot right now and Roman does have to run down on kickoffs to save his job you know exactly we are in a better spot after having about 18 minutes with our friend Chris a damn ski make sure you're checking out all his work in the trip this week and of course listening to him and Tom here on the Steelers Blitz on the Steelers audio network buzz thanks for the time go Mars planets there you go M.A.R.S. Mars launchers yes we'll be back with some around the league conversation other news of the day when we return West Mueller Matt Williamson here inside the built-more in Phoenix Arizona all part of our ongoing coverage of the league meetings on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers audio network your tunes about drive on your 24 seven home of the black and gold Steelers Nation Radio

18:47back on the drive here inside the built-more is our final day of annual league meeting coverage the 2026 edition here in Phoenix Arizona it's been good so far huh Matt great you I was I was joking with you when we were walking over here this morning after getting our highly valuable swag bags yeah I'm excited to dig in what's on these bags I think we started a little bit of a firestorm because after us there was about a dozen members of the Steelers we were smart kept our mouth quiet one of the first ones in and then we start spreading the word right exactly right go get your goodies take care of yourself first right and then you yeah you know that's the golden rule I think right just take care of yourself and then worry about others and that's exactly what we did this morning I was telling you when we were walking back over here I was like Matt you told me how awesome these few days were and how cool all this was it's just a different world but I think even undersoldered a little bit I mean it was undersold and over delivered I mean the just the access the property here the meals the food the one thing we might have to do before we even like sneaker before we uber back to the hotel is

19:52see how far we can get back into the the really really nice area that you're trying to get me a trouble huh well we're not gonna like break down any barriers or anything but we'll just see how far we can meander back there because I think the deeper and deeper you get into the property it's like villas and you know super expensive stuff you know Matt's a little bit braver than me in these in next year you will be in these settings he likes to he likes to push the boundaries of the credential and see how far it can get us down like you belong that's half the battle that's about right and that that certainly was half the battle of us getting this big Nike bag like walking into a beer like walking into a beer distributor when you're 17 you gotta look like you belong I wouldn't know anything about that I don't know I don't know what you're talking about Matt obviously we a lot of Steelers move in and shaking through the first about a halfway home yeah a lot a lot of not would say news but a lot of moving and shaking it's a good way to put it right things that obviously deserve deserve conversation but with the AFC head coaches breakfast today 15 other head coaches spoke there's been some more GMs and owners that have you know spoke in the last uh

20:56what you know 21 hours or so since we were last on air yesterday I think a big piece of news at least something that struck me this morning is um it seems like there's a lot of confidence amongst the Kansas City Chiefs that Patrick Mahomes is going to be ready for the opener oh wow I didn't see any of this news and you know Andy Reed seemed optimistic when he was asked about that at his uh you know media availability this morning and then Adam Sheff there actually not too far from from where we sit here out in front of the facility went on the Pat McAfee show and said give Patrick Mahomes five more months and he's going to be ready for the opener that's what I expect I think he will be back so medicine's come a long way I mean there's no doubt about that he's come a long way he's played through one of the most underrated things about Mahomes is some of the stuff he's played through too I mean he's he's had some of these catastrophic looking ankle injuries in the wild card round or whatever and still takes a team to Super Bowl and there are some people

21:58like that and knock on wood like Cam Hayward always talks about how he has like Wolverine blood and he just heals quicker than others and I think some of it extreme athletes and guys that are bodies are even better than those that are I mean I've won the plays and leagues at the top 1% of humans walking the planet but there's even the 1% of those guys that are a little more athletic a little more limber a little stronger a little more balanced etc and there's nobody epitomizes that more than Mahomes plus the other thing people just think he gets by on ability his work ethic is through the roof and he's going to train to no end but still when they traded for Justin Fields I thought eh maybe though it'll be week three until he comes back you know Fields will play the whole preseason which I'm sure he'll do no matter what and Andy Reed will try to revitalize a really talented player kind of across roads and his career fields obviously and maybe they'll just run the ball like crazy for the first two weeks of the season or something like that you know

23:01you got the Super Bowl MVP and you signed a you know running back for that reason I assume but I'd rather run with my homes yeah you know I'd rather have a healthy my homes that is for sure so that one that one was interesting to me because it seemed seemed like a lot of confidence that he'll be ready to go and in September when the season gets rolling and the leagues better for it absolutely I mean it's one of the best quarterbacks to ever live you know it'll one come on the sidelines and I think there is a you can draw direct correlation in this league to the quality of the product and the quality of the quarterback of course playing Josh Allen and Lamar and these burrowing these guys missing time exactly right and Lamar and burrow miss too much time exactly right and speaking let's let's stay there Matt in quarterback conversations some interesting stuff today in regards to what the Cleveland Browns are going to do in the AFC North at the back position so Jimmy Haslam Browns owner spoke as did obviously their new head coach Todd Munkin

24:05and I don't know if I want to say that it's a disconnect but basically Jimmy Haslam said he told reporters that the Sean Watson has a quote great chance to be Cleveland starting quarterback okay and then Munkin kind of followed that up this morning saying the reps won't be evenly divided in this quarterback battle it will be based on what we've seen in the past and where we ended last year in terms of how this is all going to go about with of course Chador Sanders to Sean Watson and Dylan Gabriel so Jimmy Haslam was not the owner of the Browns when I was there that's how long ago I was there but my hunch is when the owner says he's going to be in the mix he's going to be in the mix I mean we're going to listen to the head coach who didn't say he's not going to be in the mix to be fair or we're going to listen to his boss who says he is going to be in the mix and remembers the ridiculous investment they made in Watson what I find kind of funny is the dude they drafted in the third round Dylan Gabriel's name like never even comes up

25:06anymore you know like ever and he started what like the first 10 games of the season right you know they drafted him two rounds ahead of Chador and there were some weird things going on they don't get me wrong it's on a normal draft progression but I do think it's going to be like a Chador Watson competition in camp and could some team grab Gabriel for six round pick I mean I was like he's a solid backup but you know potentially my hunch is and this probably goes out saying is they don't have their quarterback and I don't think they'll pursue it until next year and they have a chance to build a decent nest with all these picks and they are a free spending team that's got to be job number one for this new staff and new regime is let's build let's build the nest so that when we do find the quarterback where you know yeah we put him in the best situation receivers in O'Lime and they're going to be stressed heavily in the straf for them off the field stuff aside about Watson though I mean I'm not saying that's water in the bridge it doesn't matter I'd love to see him play right now just in terms of the curiosity

26:08yeah total curiosity I mean the day they traded for him I thought he was a top five quarterback he was without a doubt I mean he was a phenomenal player trust me I'm not rooting for him I mean there's probably no one league I'm rooting for less to be very honest with you considering the team he plays for in his background and all that stuff too but yeah I'm extremely curious is he going to be the worst quarterback to league it's could he get back to being good could he be the 14th best right I mean how much work has he put in does he look like he is in touch with football in two years I mean I just think it's a fascinating study you know a scientific experiment so he had that unbelievable 2020 season with Houston yeah where they probably should have beaten the chiefs in the in the playoffs but had that just crazy game he led the league in passing that year he led the league in yards per completion that year yards per attempt that year 33 touchdowns to only seven interceptions plus the mobility as well as yeah yeah exactly right

27:09and then 21 sits out and since then Matt sat out in 21 sat out in 25 so he's played he's played 22 23 24 but they all brown for the browns yes played six games in 22 six games in 23 seven games in 24 and he was like the worst quarterback in league for all of them yes yes like this totally fell off a cliff and so I and he's got all his guaranteed money and we know the off-field stuff and you know I would be shocked if he can get back to oh I'd be blown away league average quarterback but he just turned 31 years old which for a quarterback is right in the middle of your prime yeah and at least you know if you're looking at the browns maybe they think they have something to do or maybe they do who knows but if you're playing watching like it's said they're gonna divvy up the snaps let's say they give them 40% of the action when OTA's and many camps can roll around and then go from there it's not like you're restricting you know some super high investment pick you know it's not like cam ward we're not letting you

28:14get out there and let you develop you know I mean the guys that he would be stealing reps off of aren't the first overall pick they're not meant to first round yeah right so like hey we just drafted Mendoza and now we're gonna play him that much yeah somebody's in the way like Watson like no hey it will be it always is interesting to see how things play out in Cleveland but I think it will certainly will be particularly from that quarterback perspective here is the off-season programs begin it'll at least be interesting absolutely right right absolutely I'm not pretty not interesting not interesting because it's gonna be pretty but no it probably won't go well probably won't go well I'm I'm certain it won't but Matt Dan Campbell saying today that he's considering switching all pro right tackle pene soul to left tackle for the 2026 season yeah depending on how the rest of the off-season shakes out so I find this interesting too like originally I'd heard this was mentioned like a month or so ago I'm like him or Lane Johnson's the best right tackle on the planet why would you ever mess with something that's almost as close to perfect

29:16as football gets but their aligns in a bit of a disarray and they don't pick too far away from the Steelers they're gonna be looking at a lot of the similar O-line prospects proctor and fauna and lemoo and all those dudes and I think they want the the versatility on draft day to say we don't have to take a left or we don't have to take a right and I gave it some thought too I mean soul like Tristan Werfs is in the top 1% of all the offensive tackles in terms of a bill he's unbelievable I mean it's so and he was a left tackle in Oregon he was successful he's been at right tackle were and I mentioned Werfs because the bucks did the exact same thing with Werfs too is they drafted a left tackle made him a right tackle he was basically the best in the league and then switched them back a year or two ago and he's one of the best and it didn't matter at all because he's so good he's unbelievable so maybe soul would just be like I'm not good it doesn't matter you know and he might you know like we've talked about for years it's like you know it works both

30:19ways sometimes they start those guys on the right they're great and they leave them there like like Lane Johnson I think I think a lot of people thought eventually Lane Johnson would move to the left side for the east buddy just stayed there so there's no right or wrong answer yeah and there's more flip flopping than there used to be used to be right tackles are the Brawlers and rough tackles with the dancing bears and you don't flip them and there's a lot of famous quotes about you know it's like wiping yourself with the other hand if you flip and all those things but like look at Fauton who's draft class there was like six tackles drafted in the first half and all one they're all over place you know alt goes from left to right he's still great Fauton who was a left tackle he goes a right he's great you know maybe it's easier now yeah I just open to that yeah no I I certainly think that is definitely something that is evolved and you got to kind of change your process with that as opposed to how we all felt 10 years ago like the penny soul is sitting here like I don't care I'll be fine I'll be great I'll be great I'll be right they're gonna pay me big money I'll be great on either side I don't care no one's gonna get past me or

31:20whatever's bad whatever's best for the team Chris Ballard another name that you and I have discussed a little bit throughout the offseason Matt is Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson and yeah how of all the different I guess if you want to label them potential reclamation projects he would promise the Baker the Daniel Jones the darn old right right and so we've kind of mentioned that he would be the guy that we'd be most interested in that regard and that it seems like the Colts are ready to move on but Chris Ballard saying today there is a scenario where Richardson stays with the Colts quote there's definitely a scenario there he's a good dude he's talented I still want good for Anthony I think he's still got a lot in him he's had some freaking bad luck but I still think Anthony's got a lot of ability and he's maturing and growing and he's still young anytime you take a quarterback that high the expectations it's hard to live up to them no matter who you are yeah I've never thought he's somebody they have the trade got to get the sky out of the out of the room I mean no one's ever said especially with Daniel Jones yeah that's he be ready

32:21for the summer two like it might need Richardson I know they rightly Leonard but I think he's nowhere near the prospect Richardson was or the ceiling Richardson was and Jones probably I know Jones won't be available for OTA's mini camp probably well into training camp maybe not even begin the season if you're the Colts wouldn't you at least want to instead of dumping them for a fifth round pick wouldn't you at least want to give three or four months worth more of him actually playing football I mean he had a broken orbital bone but he's going to be fine now I mean that's that's not a lingering injury or you know an athletic changing injury he's still going to run he's still going to throw you in blah blah blah so if somebody comes and knocks your doors off great but there's a lot of these quarterbacks I thought would definitely be on the move like the Mac Jones is the world that just haven't been and there hasn't been quite as much quarterback movement around the league everyone's kind of settled even if you don't include

33:22the Steelers you know and where would even go it's a good point you know especially if you take the Steelers out of the conversation right which I think it's going to be Rogers and the two guys and maybe a pick and that's pretty much written on the wall there's there's some of the other movement and shaking of the day we have a few more teas to cross and eyes to dot when we wrap up hour number two on the other side our buddy Alan Saunders from Steelers now is going to join us in the bonus hour third hour before we get out of here we'll also get to to plenty of your tweets as we roll along here inside the built more we are on location in Arizona for the annual league meetings West Euler Matt Williamson it is the drive Steelers nation radio on the Steelers audio network your tune to the drive on your 24 seven home of the black and gold Steelers nation radio closing down the second hour of the show here on our third day at the league meetings it is

34:23the drive on location about 2,000 miles away from our studios in Bridgeville Pennsylvania here in Phoenix Arizona where it's sunny where it's beautiful all the movement and shaking of the annual league meetings and Matt across the timeline here via Tom Pelicero of course of the NFL network the NFL owners have approved four rule changes okay so here's what they are these things happen while we're here too there's a reason everybody gets together I thought it was for the fancy dinner last night right right right in the sushi and the smoked watermelon margarita and the Mexican floating around down here and all that good stuff too I'm about to I'm about to just abuse a burrito later for dinner I can't I think it's a good move Tom Pelicero saying these four have passed the first to permit the kicking team to declare an onsite kick at any time during the game has passed boom I mean I thought that was an easy one and I still 97% of them will still be in the fourth quarter of course 98% of them will still be in the fourth quarter but if someone's sitting the fort first doesn't make it smart but do it he cares right if you're down 17 points at the end of the third

35:28quarter yeah go for it desperate times you know right right desperate times desperate measures all that good stuff yeah that one they just screwed that up when they wrote the first time same you know yeah let's just correct it a year or two later and that's how a lot of these things work exactly exactly that's why you have competition committees right the second thing that has passed here in Arizona is eliminating the kicking teams incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50 yard line that was a total loophole that was one I just think they just didn't think through yeah especially how could you yeah yeah it was the first time going through it and so yeah we saw that Danny Smith did that a couple times last year we saw it I remember in Dublin was one of the times yeah yeah um drill it out of bounds and drill out of bounds no risk and yeah end up getting five yard you give the offense five yards less of uh you know of field of field position in the process too yeah kind of helpless feeling if you're the return team yes so that one uh certainly a little bit of a loophole uh so how did they worry that you're not allowed to drill it out of bounds yes now so again I think they by accident they probably still have

36:29to decide the parameters on that maybe I guess there's a big penalty maybe it's a big penalty yeah yeah yeah yeah just if you kick it out of bounds the ball goes here you know it's just yeah okay to the fifth star or something yeah yeah okay it's a 35 or it's probably what it is right or whatever so some of the language of these rules will still have to be um delegated yeah yeah yeah but but we know at least that but what was proposed passed yes to eliminate that incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds has passed so that's two of the four and um a third one also directly it we talked about this on Sunday on our kind of opening uh show and our our kind of primer and 411 to set the scene here for for the week um a lot of this for one one me 411 is like need it's like your information like 411 well I know but like what's why did that come about that's a good question why in the 287 it's 411 relevant information or the truth what does the slang term 411 mean and where did the rive from I guess is my originates from the United States telephone system

37:29where 411 was the number dialed for directory assistance to get information to it's like 911 you know like there's certain numbers you Tom Pike was it it was Google basically before Google you dial 411 you could get your information uh so give me the 411 is all the news all the all the gossip all the lowdown wait for internet to one on a particular subject yeah I understood what it meant I just know where it came from hey we're learning something new here every day a lot of these as we shared with you are related to the kickoffs in the third rule change that has passed is also related to kickoff to modify the kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team players in the setup zone so they're allowing that they're allowing that so teams will have a little more wiggle room a little more freedom to how they want to align on kickoffs now it's not rigid and set and stacked yeah yeah it has to be this way again that's both we both lean that way whenever we brought this stuff up you know when we got here and again I mean like if you're going to allow defense coordinators offense coordinators play designers on those sides of the ball to be more creative with their formations and schemes why not let the special team coaches do it too

38:34makes a ton of sense yeah yeah absolutely makes a ton of sense so those three I think we thought that there was a really good chance that those three would pass all related I bet there wasn't much resistance on those all related to the kickoff all of those proposed by the competition committee and according to Tom Pellicero you need to remember the whole dynamic kickoff still pretty new it's all we're all right right yeah so we're so the dynamic kickoff is still on its rookie deal entering it's on its rookie deal right right looks like they'll pick up its fifth year off right I think I don't think it's going anywhere I don't think I'll have to think about that one too much and then finally Matt the fourth and final rule change that has passed according to Tom Pellicero of the NFL network is that dun dun dun for one year only the NFL will allow the officiating department to correct clear and obvious misses made by on field officials that impact the game in the event that there is a work stoppage involving the game officials represented by the NFL referees association yeah and at a minute this ref thing is not going to go away soon I'm sure we'll be talking about this for weeks maybe months hopefully not months and

39:37months and months my takeaway and this really reaffirms it is at a minimum the owners and the league you're putting pressure on the ref yes you know and that might be all right yeah maybe it's all the one right right right but that's at least that much yes no they're they're they're pushing pushing the hammer down a little bit oh and also a via palace arrow NFL owners also just approved an amended rule change that not only will allow league personnel to consult with on field officials when considering disqualifications remember we talked about this yeah like spitting incidents and spitting yeah punching and stamping um so not only uh to review those type of things uh but also to uh throw flag on the play as well too so not only that did get approved yes okay so not only could someone from the league office or from the booth you know buzz down and say hey uh Jamar chase just spit on jalen ramsey yeah yeah look at that you got to eject him out you could also say you could throw 15 yard personal foul on that even if the referees miss it all good

40:42again i think i brought this up two days ago that that should happen i don't want people getting away with disgusting acts and things like that yeah i agree but how far do we take it you know is it like shove yeah right right right oh he might hit him in the face mask after the penalty or you know like little palm to the face or does it have to be a growing punch does it have to stop on the ankle does it have to be put in your hand around somebody's throat you know like that does leave some interpretation up to the officials i'm not super worried about it but i don't want someone to take it too far like we're gonna review that come on you know that's where i'm with you i obviously i want technology to be part of the game but i don't want it to take over the game yes i think that's the balance like in the chase situation it would have absolutely changed the game you know right i said this to you a few days ago i i think there there's not a lot that uh that sports fans across the board all agree upon but i don't care if it's football baseball basketball hockey i think everybody wants technology to be a part of the game yeah they just don't want it to take over and and clunk up the the flow of the game at the same time there's a balance there that we're all looking to strike yes Matt couple more uh teased across in eyes to dot before we put a bow here

41:48on our number two the super bowl is officially returning to Las Vegas in 2029 okay boy that'll be that'll be a fun scene there many people you want to go i think that'll be a fun scene there in Las Vegas also don't tell anybody i told you this all right but i was listening to some little birdies chirp last night at the at the dinner yeah sounds like Nashville in 2030 which who boy that wouldn't be a bad spot either not be a bad spot but my goodness downtown Nashville is like smaller than downtown Pittsburgh and wow that would be a lot of fun but a lot of chaos uh but we stealers are there back to back you and i have a good time in Vegas in Nashville yes exactly we sure will we'll be listen when we're when we're on the NFL's dime and travel schedule it won't be a problem we'll be we'll be we'll be doing fantastic uh also announced by the Minnesota Vikings they are picking up the fifth year option on wide receiver Jordan Addison hmm i thought that was semi debatable you know like nailer was up for free agency i thought they might try to just keep him and let Addison go um Addison's a good player he's a really good number

42:50two but he's very small and i think he's a slightly overrated player that benefits so much from Jefferson being on the other side and he keeps getting the trouble i mean this keeps getting the trouble over and over and over now fifth year option for guy like him he's probably a stock going to a pro bowl isn't really real diso this stuff breaking the back yeah yeah and i do think the Vikings are in it to win it this year with Kyler i mean i don't think they're taking a step back and trying to rebuild or anything but i didn't know if this was a slam dunk yeah i didn't either i mean it always in trouble that's that's the kicker he's a good number two and you know you use the first round pick on him a few years ago um but the fifth year option is also different then i'm gonna give you a huge contract with a 25 million and as you mentioned especially if he he was he was a later first round pick later first if he hasn't hit a lot of those i don't think he's hit a lot of the kickers yeah the number probably isn't crazy it's probably a fair number to pay a number two i'd receive yeah yeah and maybe end up if it if he walks if he walks the line like johnny cash maybe you end up extending him if not hey try it and he leaves at the end of the year

43:52you probably get a compic out of it yeah yeah that's a good point too uh let's see here met dolphins GM john erick Sullivan shut down uh any potential conversation regarding trade rumors for divine a chain earlier this morning uh saying appear in that but i don't if i believe it saying that it's a priority for them to extend him and there's zero effort to move him okay i mean originally when he said that a couple weeks ago right after the water trade i just thought then no one's offered enough yet his style i mean running backs just don't last no league especially tiny ones by the time you're good is is that a good investment i don't know i don't think i mean he certainly helps with evaluating willis which is super important that part is important right i mean swing passes to him and you know i mean you got to have somebody that can do something for you on that offense and they'll probably draft two good pass catcher young pass catchers getting pretty high but still i would think that's a piece you want to move then one of the last things that uh that i think we need to discuss here met because it's not a huge story now but i think in the coming

44:56years it will be and that is at the NFL announced a partnership with tomorrow sports the company behind you know that uh total golf league that we've seen on espn sometimes it's all the pro golfers that are in the indoor facility yeah yeah yeah virtual golf the greens all change or yes right back Roy does it tiger woods does it like they've got big names we were named inapolis was the first time ever saw right it's the same company that does that uh they are developing a professional flag football league for both men and women that will be backed by all 32 NFL teams the NFL partnering with tomorrow sports for a pro flag football league Matt the reason why i think right now this doesn't grab a bunch of headlines or move the needle but it will eventually is because remember a little over two years from now summer of 2028 the summer Olympics are in Los Angeles here in the United States and flag football is going to be for the first time in Olympics sports so this i think is the ramp up to that um get people used to it how get people used to it get people

45:58interested in it get NFL players involved to see exactly what that looks like because they are vastly different games that are governed differently and played differently but that i just think is important i think that's something that again today isn't going to grab a bunch of headlines but i think this is the start of potentially something that could be substantial in in a couple years yeah and there was a get together here where you know Larry was involved Larry Fitzgerald it's right we ran into your old buddy that's one of the things and all the fun of yesterday we forgot all about that right right yesterday right that two days ago everything went together but yeah he was here promoting that with some other people and i guess it went well i didn't sit in there but i did run into Larry before we yeah i thought i thought you would maybe you know i've heard from you for a long time how good how good buddies you are with Larry Fitzgerald and all this i don't they don't see him or talk to him on it still i'm happy to see him my wife used to get along we used to watch film together and i'm like all right let's see how how well Larry remembers man i didn't know how well i'd be received walking down the hallway and we're maybe 20 yards away from him and Larry

46:59sees Matt and he starts smiling and waving right away all right so he wasn't lying he wasn't exaggerating they are they are buddies yeah yeah he was happy to see you and i think everybody on Twitter and social media got a kick out of how you're the same height is Larry Fitzgerald everyone was like wow how tall is Matt that that was kind of odd because the picture you took the pictures and i look a lot taller than him or notice it'll be taller than him and i'm not and so like a nerd i looked up Larry Fitzgerald combined measurements yep and he was 6027 which is six to two and seven eight so just a shade under six three which is exactly what i am and i'm like there's no way that i mean that i look the people are like that looks like he's six five i didn't realize when a giant i'm not six five yeah this is the weird picture i guess or whatever yeah six three inches yeah before my hair was standing up from wearing a headset all day before we cut you were always looking you were always looking tip top there Matt Williamson oh but also flag i want to mention i love the women get to be involved it's also great sport i mean yeah i mean i don't

48:00know if one day they'll wear helmets and pads and play this version of football or not but it's great that they had you know a whole new realm of young women and people are going to be exposed to this in a professional manner you know it's great uh last thing before we get to break into our buddy Alan Saunders of Steelers now to kick off our bonus third hour i've been keeping an eye on this all day Matt because remember Jermad McCoy corner back out of Tennessee oh that's today one of the more intriguing prospects pro day in Knoxville in Tennessee uh just within the past hour he just ran a four point three eight forty oh good for 38 inch vertical okay and a 10 seven broad jump about a half an hour ago at his pro day that's more than just checking the boxes of your healthy first round pick oh yeah i mean he probably always was going to be a first rounder but maybe now in the in the top 10 top 15 yeah i originally thought maybe he goes to a bad team you know like the jets that can just wait on them and be the eventual sauce replacement at like 17 or whatever that

49:01is now does he challenge the lane to be corner back one he just might i mean i think it's not crazy he just might good day a good day for Jermad McCoy for sure it's been a good day for us so far and when we return we will kick off our bonus hour with our friend Alan Saunders of Steelers now we'll cover all the moving and shaking here on the grounds of the built more on this Tuesday with Alan in hour number three West Shuler Matt Williamson it is the drive Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network