First and till if you ain't in, get out. It's the Training Camp Report on ESPN Pittsburgh against Steelers Nation Radio. Here we Go, Here we Go, Here we Go, presented by bud Light, America's favorite light lagger FedEx Where now meets next Lee Calm Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine campuses in Erie, Greensburg, al Myron, New York and Bradenton, Florida, by your neighborhood Ford Store excel A Health Expert Care here and by Ireland Contracting, Pittsburgh's number one home exterior expert called one eight hundred new roof or visit Ireland Contracting dot com. Welcome back to our two of our bud Light Training Camp Report show. Jerry Doolack and Bob Labriola were at the Big in Tavern on Mount Washington and Bob, no matter how many times I hear that intro with Mike Tomlin and chuckle, his his energy is is has to be unmatched, certainly not exceeded among any coach in the NFL. And this is year fifteen for him and his animation during practice and his energy, Um, you know, I mean, it's not contrived, it's not forced. It's just the way he is. Yeah, I mean, um, you know, Mike Tomlin is is funny, and I don't mean like a comedian. But you know, when you talk to him, you know, he always says, I don't have any hobbies. I'm a football junkie. This is what I do, you know, this is what I like, you know, and I've I've talked to him and a lot of it, um ends up on the Mike Tomlin Show, which appears, uh weekly before every you know, Steelers regular season, every game. Did you tape it already tomorrow already? Um? But you know, one of the one of the times, UM, I was talking to him towards the end of the preseason and we were talking about, um, you know, the process of cutting the roster and looking through the waiver wire, um, you know, trying to figure out whether there's anyone out there who could make your team better. You know, those kinds of things, and I was asking them about, you know, the process of it. And you know, one of the things you know he said that really resonated with me was that, you know, understanding knowing the personnela around the league, you know, is something that I just enjoyed doing and you know, so a lot of times when he's looking at the waiver wire, there are players that he knows things about, whether from the draft preparation process when these guys were picked, or you know, just in his informal you know, study of the league and the people around the league. Uh. And this to me really traces is back to what I believe. You know, it was a significant decision in Steelers history and one of the things that in my opinion, you know, makes Mike Tomlin a much better coach than a lot of Steelers fans are willing to give him credit for Mike Tomlin of the finalists being interviewed in two thousand and eight, excuse me, in two thousand and seven for the job to replace Bill Kaward, he was the only guy who said he was gonna keep Dick Lebau. Everybody else was going to change the defense, fire him, or get a different coordinator. I don't know firing is a correct term, but you know, I asked Mike Tomlin about that, and he said, you know, I had spent off seasons as a as as an assistant in Tampa studying the Steelers three four Because you know, Tomlin was a dungee uh disciple Tampa two for three. That's the way they played, and that's what he was raised on. That was his primary NFL job. And so you know, going or allowing, you know, his first NFL job to be run by a guy who was the antithesis of the Tampa two dick lebou uh to me was a fairly significant concession. When you look at, you know, a guy getting his first NFL head coaching job, ego is seeing you know, that's a factor. But Tomlin said to me, you know, it doesn't have to be about what I think or what I do. It's about what gives us the best chance to win. He said, I had studied that defense, the way it operated, that Personnelity said, I knew those guys, he said, and you look at that personnel. Why would I want to change something that didn't need to be fixed? And so, um, you know, you you talk about the kind of um cerebral to use his word, approach to a lot of things. Uh, you know, I have a lot of respect for that. I do, because you know that's super Bowl, super Bowl forty three. A lot of Steelers fans who are not necessarily Mike Tomlin fans. Um might write it off as he won this with Bill cowers players. Um, but he wanted with Bill Cower's players because he wasn't such an egomaniac, uh to tear it all down and try and change it. That's unfair to say that of any coach. I mean, you know, to make that point, I agree with you, Bob. I mean whether that yeah, he's smart enough to know what he has and to be able to, uh, you know, get those players to play for him, because that's not always I mean, that's not an easy thing to do. Sometimes when you come in as a new coach, some of those holdover guys might think, hey, we were successful before. Who's this guy? But he's smart enough not to change what he has and because he's smart enough to know what he has and right, and I think that, um, you know, over the course of the next few seasons, that was it was added and developed a little bit too, because I don't think that the two thousand and eight Steelers defense or certainly the two thousand and Tennis Deelers defense was the exact same you know as the O five Bill Coward Lebou defense. And um, you know again, I I think that when I when a head coach, especially one who gets his first opportunity, UM, is willing to look at the situation and say, I don't need to change this just because I'm here. Um, that's that's quality I'm interested in if I'm hiring a coach. And Bob I always used the example only because it was so obvious at the time of Josh McDaniel when the Denver Broncos hired him. He came in and he was intent, I'm gonna show you how smart I am. So smart that he drafted Tim Tebow with the number one pick and he put that franchise in the toilet after I think they started six and oh and then after that his record until he was like, oh, it's just abysmal because he was just gonna show everybody this is the way I want to do it. And he through everything, you know, to tow out the window. And and that's a complete opposite, the complete antithesism. My, Tommy, Yeah, and you know, and you mentioned Josh McDaniel, Josh McDaniels, and you know, that's to me, that's the that's a characteristic of a lot of Bill Belichick's guys. Charlie Weiss Um Matt Patricia. Uh. You know, they go into these new things, these new situations, you know, and they try to either mimic Belichick or try to create the same atmosphere that it existed in New England. And I don't think you can do that. I think you really have to be yourself because these are professionals. Uh. These guys can see a phony a mile away. A lot of them have been through a lot of coaches, systems. Uh, you know, those kinds of changes, and I you know, I don't really think you can b s um uh a locker room full of NFL veterans in that way. And so you know again, um, I I'm a Mike Pomba fan, you know, Bob a lot of NFL not a lot, but we can cite a number who hung around for fifteen years, but in those previous fourteen years to never have a losing season. Because let's face UPO, you talk about veterans, some of those guys, I don't mean in the steel locker room necessarily, I just been in general. Some of those guys here the same old message every year when it cuts the same coach, and a message goes in one ear and out the other with those veterans. And yet here's Mike Tomlin who has been able to endure that, keep this guys motivated and never have a losing season in that entire time, never losing the team. Uh, that's a tough thing to do. And not I mean I amn't gone back and look at it. How many have been in the lake fifteen years and never had a losing season? I bet nobody. Maybe Paul Brown, I don't know, but even Belichick did when before New England of course. Uh. And well and last year too. Um was it a losing Oh yeah, sure, yeah, um but you know, you know you look at I mean, that's that's one to me. That is is a significant um coaching job. You know, you lose your your franchise quarterback and you you didn't lose them, well, let me say that, say it this way. You lost them at a time where you were totally incapable and unable to prepare for that. Um, if it had happened in the first or second week of training camp, then you can experiment and try and build some things. You have time, you know, to work with the players and with the roster and you know, maybe come up with some kind of plan, uh to build around the guy you're gonna put under center. But when it happens, you know, at halftime in the second regular season game, you don't have any time, you know, in these ensuing weeks to revamp your offensive system or do any kind of serious uh makeovers in scheme or personnel. You got to prepare for the next opponent. And um, that's why the Miami Dolphins thought they were making a good move sending Minka Fitzpatrick to the Steelers for their number one pick. They thought it was gonna be a top five pick and ended up being the eighteenth pick in the first round. And that's no man's land because when you're picking there, you're not getting me a dozen or so um, truly dynamic players, and you're not late enough in the round where a team might who is looking to maybe move up to get a guy who has fallen a little bit, might be willing to trade up and give you something for that pick. And so um, you know, I just thought that that season was, you know, really a tribute to him and the fact that you can play games with Devlin Hodges all due respect, I mean, he was a fan favorite and all that stuff. I mean, but I don't know that he had any better arm strength than me. And to win games with him, um, you know, I think that's a UH reflects a significant UH coaching accomplishment. I couldn't agree anymore, Bob. And to your point about him being a football junkie, different people have told me this, and I remember having this conversation with Mike Tomlin as well at one point. He probably watches more film than any coach I know, and not just of the opponent and breaking down the opponent to what you said, scotting other players around the league. I mean the guy you know, Um, he's watching film constantly and that's what you know. That's why, that's what makes him a good coach. I mean, he's totally well prepared. And that's why I love the people who think he doesn't know what he's doing or people are the stupid Why is he doing that? I always tell him, I go, hey, I think he knows a little more football than you do, and I do, so I'm gonna differ well. And you know, when Joe Hayden got cut by the Bronze, you know, his his experience, his exposure to Mike Tomlin during the draft process, even though the Steelers had no chance of getting this guy that they knew, you know, a cornerback was gonna be a top ten pick. But you know Tomlin's um, the due diligence that he does with those pro days, you know and stuff like that. Um, that's a factor, Melvin Ingram, I mean, Mike Tomlin is a factor. And when he's choosing which team he wants to play for. UM, and and just some of the experiences and things that um, you know, stories that uh Mike Tomlin has told about, you know, pro days and stuff. You know, when he learned about pounds and uh from going to the those Florida Pro days when all those number one picks were on that team. And one of the things he has he told me he does is say, for example, he goes to Ohio States Pro Day and he might see you know, a young pro because a lot of these guys, once they get into the NFL, they still have these uh ties to their college programs and they might return for the pro day just to watch, you know. UM, or if you get a senior or a guy who is coming out in the draft that particular year. You know, Mike Thomas might strike up a conversation with him, and one of the questions he asked, is who am I going to be coming back to see here next year? And he said, invariably, you know, these players are talking about their teammates. They give him three or four names, and invariably those guys are real players that you end up trying to evaluate. And you know, just that kind of knowledge and report that he developed with these guys. I just think it's invaluable in the whole process of uh, the way an NFL team has to be built. UH. But one of the things I want to do when after we take a break, UH is talk about what the Steelers might be looking at defensively, who they you know, in terms of who they want to have It looks ye at Thursday night against Dallas, I do want to point up excuse me. Had a chance to talk to Art Rooney the second today, the Steeler's owner slash president, and he said, not surprisingly, but that they want to get t J. Watts signed before the start of the regular season. He said he's neither optimistic or pessimistic. He said, I've seen how these things can go different ways sometimes, So I'm I'm I'm not gonna say either way, but they've been talking to his agents and uh, I'm I'm certain I'll get something done. It's gonna make t J. Watt a very wealthy man. Yeah. Usually when um, the Steelers express a commitment like you just said that Art Rooney the second did Um, and you're working with a player and his agent who are interested in getting a deal done, it usually gets done. I would imagine. Uh, people ask me what do you think he'll what what's his worth? And I said, you could started Budd praise contract his free agent contract with the Titans, which was a big one, and use that as a basic and pretty much go from that. Yeah, that's eighteen. I think that that was the average round figures. Um, you know, some of the numbers I've seen a ridiculous I don't believe that any you mean for other players in general? What you mean, no, the predictions for what t J. Watt you end up making? You know, quarterback money? Quarterback money goes to quarterbacks. Um, all due respect the t J. Watt. Uh you know, Uh, he's not a quarterback and like it or not, fair or not whatever however you want to describe it. Uh, the NFL salary scale is that quarterbacks make more than any other position. And so, um, I I you know, I don't. I think that that's a fairly ridiculous assumption or expectation that you know, T. J. Watt is gonna get that kind of salary. But I do think that, you know, he will be paid certain a representative amount um and he won't need to be embarrassed, you know when he takes his check to the mac machine. Uh, you know, the deposited into his checking it down. Uh Bob speaking of quarterbacks and getting paid, getting paid? Excuse me? Are Rooney the second today also said that it's not written in stone that this will be Ben Roethlisberger's final year with the Steelers. Now we know he redid his contract after last season in order to be able to come back this year, took a five million dollar pay cut. It's a one year deal worth fourteen million dollars all guaranteed, and and the four years after that is there are four avoidable years they could spread out that signing bonus um. But uh, you know, I don't want to say that was surprising either, But people ask will he be back? What do I think will he be back next? Year, and I said, I don't know, what if they go to the a f C Title Game and lose and he wants to come back, or they get to the super Bowl and lose, I don't know. I mean, but he said, it's not written in stone that this is going to be his final yet, right, And you know, I don't think that there's any advantage into painting yourself into a corner with a decision, announcing a decision at this point that you know isn't necessarily gonna be how you're feeling six months from now, either the team or the player, and so um, you know, I one of that was one of Dan Rooney's uh basis basics of running the business. You don't have to make a decision until you have to make a decision, and now is not the time to make a decision whether Ben Roethlisberger is your quarterback in twenty twenty two or not. Jerry da and Bobleabriola, We're at the Bigham Tavern on Mount Washington. It's our Bud Light Training Camp Report Show. We're here until a p m. We're gonna take a break and we're to come back with a whole lot more right here on the yet end Deisberg is the training camp for avoid on ESPN p Spurg against Steelers Nation Radio, presented by bud Light, America's favorite light lagger FedEx where now meets next Lee Calm Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine campuses in Erie, Greensburg, all Myra, New York, and Bradenton, Florida by your Neighborhood Forward Store excel a Health Expert Care here and by Ireland Contracting, Pittsburgh's number one home exterior expert called one eight hundred New roof Or visit Ireland Contracting dot com for the most complete selection of Steelers merchandise, from official sidelined gear and authentic memorabilia to their extensive selection of jerseys and terrible tiles. Visit one of the official Steelers pro Shops stores located at Hinesfield Grove City Premium Outlets or to Tanker Outlets, or visit them online at shop dots Steelers dot com for all your Steelers merchandise needs directly from the team. All right, Bob, It's time for our training camp. Injury Port brought to you by Leecolm Lake Erie College of Osteopathic medicine campuses in Earie, Greensburg, Elmira, New York, and braden Tin, Florida. UM safe to say, Bob that they're not going to see nobody's gonna see t J. Watt or Stefan to it. They have not been involved in any form of practice other than just conditioning. Uh in terms of doing some running drills and uh watching. Um so they have been out for an extended period. Uh, we have not. We've seen very little of Zach Banner, although he did put the pads on yesterday. We see him get in for one or two plays, but there's been no Kevin Dotson, no Chucks a corp for And who am I leaving out there? Bob stevin Bosch. We've seen him out there getting a limited role, but I don't think we're gonna see him on Sunday. Terrell Edmonds has really not been involved in any type of contact. Mike Tomlins said yesterday. We have seen him on the football field and we have seen him and pads, but you don't see him do a whole lot. And Eric E. Brown was the other one who has missed the last couple of days as well. I think that covers anybody of significance as far as I can tell, right pretty close. Yeah, So you know when so when Mike Tomlin says Bob that, um, you know, Ben Roethlisberger won't play, Kim Heyward won't play Joe Hayden, among others. I think you could go through a whole lineup. I don't I'd be surprised if Tyson lu Lu plays any of those older guys. I don't know what they're gonna do with Melvin Ingram. I mean, I don't think they need to test them out, but who knows. You know, when you look at guys who you know, thirty two years old, who have been around coming off a knee injury, you know, what's the point, right, And and here's a here's a guy you know, kind of a late edition Cassius Marsh today back up outside linebacker. Uh, seemed to come up a little gimpy. Um. You know, I'm no doctor, but I think I do you worry that I sometimes play a doctor on the radio, but only when I'm on the air with you, Jerry. Uh. It seemed to me, you know, right, leg Um, I don't know if how serious it is. I don't know if Mike Tomlin addressed it after practice or not um because he doesn't have to. So UM, you know, that's a situation where to me, looking at it from the outside with no direct information, I would say that it's unlikely. You know that they would expose cashus Marsh when you have enough other guys, you know that you're trying to evaluate. So um preseason opener, extra preseason game. As Jack Hamlince told me about the Hall of Fame game or the preseason opener. By the time you get to the middle of the third quarter, all the guys on the field are going to be working construction come the fall. That's a training Campagne report brought to you by Lee Calm Lake Erie, College of Ostia, Pathic Medicine campuses in Eerie, Greensberg, Almira, New York, and a braident in Florida. Babo. And you look at the defensive side of the ball, and you look at some of the players that the coaches are curious to see who have somewhat a chance to be contributors this year. Um, we'll start with the rookies. We'll start with their draft pick draft picks. Buddy Johnson as a good opportunity with Vince Williams, now retired, h to be the type of inside linebacker, a true inside linebacker who could help them. Not saying he will, but this is a good opportunity for him to show something. There. Uh, fourth round pick Isaiah louder Milker, they'll get a look at him their defensive end, because you're not gonna see Cam Heyward. You're not gonna see Stefon too itt. Uh. Those are a couple of guys right there, and then of course on the on the back end, well, actually the back end guys were coming up to play in a slot. You know, you can get a look at Antoine Brooks Jr. Their sixth round pick last year, and Arthur Mallett, a five year veteran who was signing free agency. Those two guys are battling it out right now at that nickelback to replace Mike Kilton, and that's what they want to see how those guys fair. So, those are a couple of guys, uh, at least off the bat, that they're gonna have their eye on in in this game and future preseason games. Yeah, Buddy Johnson, I've I've heard a lot of good things about um. Whether he is going to you know, play significant defensive snaps as a rookie is something we're gonna have to see. But the expectation is that he will be one of those guys who gets a helmet on game days because he will be uh special teams contributor, uh primarily on the coverage team certainly. And you know you mentioned the uh nickel slot cornerback position. Um, you know to me that if there's there's a lot of things that are interesting about that that kind of might go beyond who ends up getting that job. Because you know, we heard Terrell Austin talk about the team's interest. Ire might be a better word to play the five best guys when you go to five best defensive five defensive backs. And so the way I won't say he explained it this way, but what he alluded to to me indicated that, you know, James Pierre is having a pretty good training camp so far, especially in terms of splash plays. Now, Um, James Pierre isn't a guy who will not get beat. Um, but uh, to me, a defensive back who gets beat can certainly mitigate that circumstances tremendously by taking the football away. Um. This is my own very unscientific, unofficial UM way of looking at it. UH. If you make an interception, that's two touchdown passes you can allow. And it's even because takeaways are that significant. And the way the league is now getting beat UH, you know, defensive backgending beat is is a regular occurrence. UH. The rules, UH, the way the game is played, the skills sets of the quarterbacks and the receivers. UH. To me, it's not a matter of if, but when a defensive back against beat. So we're gonna have to see how James Pierre UH continues as we now get into the preseason part of this summer. But if James Pierre, and this is my assessment at this point, if James Pierre shows himself to be better than whoever the Steelers decide is their best candidate to play the slot, you could see Pierre become an outside player and Cam Sutton moved into the slot when the team goes that way. Now, I don't think that Cam Sutton would be replaced in the lineup. UH. He would be the starting outside corner and then when the Steelers went to the nickel he James Pierre is the guy who would come off the sideline but he would come off the sideline to line up outside and Sutton would move inside. So you know, again it's really early. Um, we don't know. I don't know that that's necessarily going to happen, but I do think that that is a um possibility that the Steelers coaches are examining and good explore if the situation warrants it. Yeah, there's no question. It's one of the things they are looking at a training camp camp Sutton estate, specifically at corner. They's want them to be comfortable there. They don't want him moving back and forth right now. They know he can play that position. So it's funny where he plays in a regular season in one, barring injuries, is going to be contingent on how well Antoine Brooks or Arthur Mallette play in the eventually eventually, right, you know, and and uh, you know, if they are better, if they feel those one of those two guys is better than James Pierre. And I say James Pierre because he passed justin lane the depth chart last year. And for what you just said, if they feel that though the guys in the slot are better in the slot, then he is as the outside corner then Cam Sutton's gonna stay where he is, and if not, they feel that, you know, they're better with Cam Sutton at nicol and that James Pierre does a better job. Again to your point, the best five guys. So and that's kind of how it's gonna play out for Cam Sutton. Strangely enough, well in the Trey Norman situation, I think one of the other mitigating factors is I do believe that there is some sensitivity to not doing to him what they did to Sean Davis as a rookie and uh, you know, giving him too much to learn, uh, trying to make him too versatile too soon, and you kind of ruin him a little bit. Yeah, well, yeah, just let him be you know what he is right now. And because he's another guy who has some ability, you know, to get his hands on the football, uh and come down with takeaways, Bob, he should that. Last week in practice he had two picks in practice, one for pick six and if nothing else, it makes the coaches take notice of them. He's a draft choice, so quite naturally they're gonna take right. So but to what you were saying earlier too, that's what they don't see from Justin Lane. You don't see Justin Lane making plays like that on the field where you go, huh, you know, at least get your attention. And and so when Trey Norwood does that in his first week of training camp, not saying that makes them terrific or they're gonn throw them in the lineup, but it gets their attention. Yeah. Uh. And and you're right about Justin Lane. I don't know that it has reached the point where, um, you know, he's in serious danger of getting cut because Justin Lane was tied for third and special teams tackles last year. And you know that's a factor to um. So Uh, I would say that James Pierre is uh more likely to play significant defensive snaps in the one than Justin Lane. I do believe both of them make the team. Um. And again, there are some opportunities for some other guys. You know, Mark Burnett had an interception today, Um Shaquour Brown, Um, a guy that was the the lot of NFL draft people were a little bit surprised that he wasn't picked. The Steelers signed him. You know, he was seen at the time as a a good fit for that insight slot. Uh. Kind of position. It's gonna be interesting to see, you know, how he develops or shows himself in some of these preseason games too. You know, I think there are a lot of options. You know, we'll see how good those options are. Um. You know, as we continue. You know about the Steelers last two players in free agency on the outside by Dupree and of course um Um Gilt you know, on the on the outside, Ola Daney, So there are two spots there and of course Melvin Ingram replaces one of those. But they drafted Quincy Roche, uh defense eve and from Miami. You know, a quick twitch guy, you know, quick burst off the edge, and um, it's another guy in the preseason. You want to see what this guy has if he can be Now that the move to Ingram obviously was a good one because it immediately bolsters your depth big time, but they still want another guy out there, and it's gonna be an opportunity for him, and it could be a significant opportunity against the Cowboys of cash is Marsh's um injury today keeps him out of the game, and Quincy Roche I think would see some significant playing time. Uh and you know, get an initial opportunity UH to make an impression, because one of the things that Mike tomlin Uh said to me was that the way he views these preseason games, it's almost like you know, using building blocks to to build up um, you know, a little structure when you were a kid. You're not gonna win or lose a job in the preseason opener, but what you do in the preseason opener is kind of a foundation for how you're viewed. And then because guys, you know, there's first team, second team, third team right now, by the time you get to September in the NFL, there is no third team. Those are the guys that get cut. So if you're a third team right now and you show well in practice and then in a preseason game, maybe you get an opportunity, you know, to move up to the second team. And then that impacts who you play against, who you practice against, and how much playing time in practice time you get because you know, the the the goal is to move from j V the varsity, and if your third team you're j V, if your second team, you know your borderline JV, UH, maybe have some opportunity to become varsity. By the time you get to the third fourth preseason game. If you're not varsity, um, you know you're pretty much auditioning for another job. And so construction hours Danny Smith says, seven eleven. Um, So, uh, you know, guys who are going to get an opportunity against the Cowboys in Canton on Thursday. A lot of third teamers JV guys. If they show well, um, they have a potential to move up to second team. And then how you play against the better competition and how you practice against the better players determines future playing time and that kind of thing. And you know it's a it's like climbing a ladder, one step by the time. But I want to come back. I want to talk about a couple of the draft picks who uh we've seen the one get a lot of time at tackle because the injury that chooks the core for and that's Dan Moore, their fourth round pick. But also they're tight end Pat Friarmouth their second round pick, who I've yet to see drop a passing training camp made a couple more today, Bob, just incredible the hands that this guy has. And uh, the punter Presley Harvin could have got a chance to show off that powerful leg of his. We'll see how that shapes out as well, or at least gets what kind of start he gets off to. We'll talk about that. When we turned Jerry Doola Bob Labriola, it's our bud Light training camp reports show we're at the Big Him Tavern in my on Mount Washington. Will be back right after this at Lease gets the training camp report on ESPN Pittsburgh against Steelers Nation radio appreciented by blood Light, American speedbrit Light, Loot FedEx where now meets next Lee Calm Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine campuses in Erie, Greensburg, All Myron, New York and Raging in Florida by your Neighborhood Forward Store EXCELA Health Expert Care here and by Ireland Contracting Pittsburgh's number one home exterior expert called one eight hundred View Roof where they say Ireland Contracting dot com. So, but when I talked to Art Rooney today, I asked him about, um, uh, you know what with and and he was further asked about, you know, with the COVID cases back on the rise and some new mask mandates whether from the CDC or whomever, how does this affect the Steelers? And quite naturally, as of right now, they're still play on full stadiums. Uh. They hope things don't go backward, but they will, you know, listen and monitor what the CDC has to say. So shortly after talking to him, so about an hour later, I see a story that the nfl PA to Players Union for the NFL players, UH comes out and says they believe that the vaccinated players should be tested more frequently. And I'm sitting there going, no, the nfl PA should be urging it's unvaccinated players to get vaccinated. They're worried about the vaccinated players. Why don't you worry about the unvaccinated players who were causing a problem potentially for the vaccinated players. And they come out and say this almost to deflect the criticism against those players who have chosen not to be vaccinated. Preached Jerry, I know, I mean seriously, I you know, I'm a I'm a I'm a big believer in the science that the vaccine UM. You know, I I got it as soon as I was able to UM and uh, you know, it is some of the things that the players Union is doing. UM. You know, confuse me certainly. Um, you know you mentioned what you just mentioned. Um you know, the players Union is opposed to mandating vaccines. The Players Union is opposed to, um you know the risk bands that unvaccinated players. Um where or to you know, to designate them from the others in terms of the protocols, who needs to wear masks and those kinds of things. Um, you know, I have a lot of opinions on a lot of this stuff, and I'm not Um, my opinion doesn't matter, and so I'm not gonna get on my soapbox here. But um, you know, uh, as I said to you when you just finished your little rant there, preached Jerry, I uh, because I do think that the the surest quickest path back to quote unquote normal is vaccines. And um, you know you've gotta get to a level where, um, if you vaccinate enough people, the things like the variants are less impactful. Um. So hey, UM, nobody listens to me. So I'm just gonna shut up now, and I'm I'm listening to you. I will I will gladly make room on my pulpit for you, if you like. I saw a great quote from a woman the other day when they were talking about the rise now in the nation and especially in the southern states of whether Mississippi and Alabama, which you're lagging far behind of course with vaccinated people. That this uh uh that this woman said, um, you knows, decided to get vaccinated. She said, you know, it's one thing to be skeptical, which you hear that from people, she said, it's another to be ignorant, and and that's why she eventually chose to do what she did. Um, a little breaking news there, Jerry. Yeah. Yeah, it may prodab you, but there's no quit in me. Let me teach you. Unfortunately, towards a c L today. DeMarcus Asan yeah yeah, yeah, a guy who um, I don't know how much he was a competitor for that slot job at this point. You know, maybe he would have gotten a look, um you know somewhere down the line. But obviously now he just tweeted that he towards a c L today. To see that for any of those um, so it seems that certainly he uh can be considered eliminated from that competition, and I would imagine that his season is over. But by I mentioned at the end of the segment. A couple of guys offensively that I wanted to talk about, and one not just Pat Friarmouth, their second round draft pick um who has looked everything a bit of a number two pick, if not a number one, which is the great the stealers had on him. This guy has yet to drop a pass. Um you, Mike Tomlin teases him, Hey, great, but can you block? That's what they want to see from him. But there's no question this guy has stood out in training camp. And the other guy who has really caught my attention, I think I we talked about this last week, both in appearance and production, is Zack Gentry, who I did finally see drop a pass, but but the size difference in him now he looks like an NFL tight end and not a former college quarterback. He's noticeably bigger, stronger, and can catch the ball. And I think, I think this guy, uh, you know, can be I don't know how much of a contributor, but I think could be a solid third tight end with a lot of promise. We shall see, but he's caught. He's caught my attention, and I'm sure he's caught their Well. Yeah, and the thing with the tight ends. To me, Jerry and I, I agree with you about Pat Friarmouth and what I would say about him, you know, as Mike Thomlins said, Yeah, but can you block? UM. I still don't think that he is a NFL caliber blocking tight end. But he's getting better. I mean, his first couple of repetitions slash go rounds with guys like Alex Eig Smith, UM, I think you could qualify them as butt kickings. UM. Now he is much more representative in some of those drills. He still is not winning the repetitions, but uh, he is putting up a better fight. Let me say that. But I do believe that the Steelers situation at tight ends in terms of UM having one who can be an asset with his blocking for the run game, UM doesn't exist right now. It doesn't exist. Eric Ebron to me is not that guy, and I don't believe uh, he's ever gonna be that guy, despite his you know, um assertions to the media that you know he was gonna develop a different persona I won't say it on the radio. UM. In terms of that, I don't. I don't think he has it. I think Zac Gentry is another guy. Though, who is limited in that area. And so when you're looking at a number three tight end, if you're gonna keep Ebron and Friarmouth, which I think, um, you know that's pretty much a done deal, the number three to me could be Kevin Raider because if you want something different, he's the best blocker the He's now you know, he's not Mark Bruner, He's not Heath Miller certainly in that aspect, but he is the guy I think in terms of the physical demands of the position, gives you something a little bit different than the other two guys you're likely to keep. So but again it's definitely a wide open competition and you know we're gonna see have to see how that plays out. And as you mentioned that that is a position that bears watching him, uh Bob, I didn't want to switch back to the other side of the ball, But because you mentioned him, like I, who has really stood out of training camp. I don't know if it's because t J. Watt has not been been out there, but Alex Heigsmith looks really, really good and you and I have talked about this. He is ahead in year two where Bud Dupree was. He had two sacks last year. I think got to start about five or six games. But he looks bigger, but you just he just mad. You see him out on the football field being a verry I mean somewhat of a dominant player. He had two sacks last year. I think this guy because t J. Watt would get so much attention on the other side, and based on what I see, I don't want to go overboard with the guy because I know it's training camp, but I think it's very real possibility this guy could be six eight nine sack guy on that other side. Um, they really like him and he's really uh year one to year two, We'll see how it plays out. But boy, look really looks it really looks good right now. He does. And you know, let me just expand on that a little bit. Had an interception today first repetition of seven shots. Um, you know the Steelers does he did the Steelers and Ben was the quarterback too, Harris right. Um, it's not often that the Steelers asked their outside linebackers to cover, but I mean James Harrison didn't. I was just gonna say, but the idea, you know, behind the scheme kind of is instill some doubt in the quarterback where these guys are gonna be And I think Alex Highsmith is going to give the Steelers a little bit of that. Uh. He has the ability to create some of that doubt. And if you're throwing the ball, he'll catch it, which you know, I think is is pretty much all you're really looking for from those guys. And so what Alex Highsmith has done in my mind this summer is cement his status as the starter and create a situation where the Steelers will be able to use Melvin Ingram in the best way for a player, excuse me, a player of his age um to be used, to be effect to over the course of an entire regular season, his age and his knee um, Bob Presley Harvard their seventh round pick, the three hundred seventy five pound funder or whatever he has to sixty. That's a that's a half the young man. But boy, when he hits it, you just hear the thump in his leg. They want to see if this guy can unseek Jordan Berry as as I don't want to go all the way with Tom Donahoe's line at dy did and bring him into lead the band at halftime. But they certainly use a draft pick on the guy. They're gonna give him a long look at what he can do. Uh. And you know Jerry and your favorite sport. Um, does he have a short game? Yeah? Well, uh and let me and let me explain what I mean by that. If Chris Boswell and do not discount this. If Chris Boswell says this guy is not an NFL caliber holder, that will hurt him dearly. Sure, I'm practicing it a lot today. Yes, And um, he's not awful. Um, but he's not Jordan Berry in that respect. And um. Another factor involved in this too is Cameron Candidate, the incumbent long snapper. Um. Sometimes it's a little bit wild. You know, if he was a starting pitcher in baseball, Um, sometimes he'd walk about six or seven guys. So, um, that's a factor as well. I don't know if Coon's has enough to unseek Candidate in terms of you know, um speed, But uh, the accuracy with Candidate is not as consistent as you would like. And so when you have that, sometimes you need an above average holder to kind of uh smooth that out a little bit because you do not want to get in Boswell's head because this guy, since that one bad season, he's up over and you want that. That's money in the bank. You need that guy, that that version of Chris Boswell as your place kickers. So Pressley Harvin. Yes, he will boom some um and he could drive the ball, but he needs to work on it. He needs to become a dependable NFL caliber holder or um he may lose that job. You know, Bobby's not the tallest guy. He does not look like a punter. He looks more like a kind of bull back. Yeah, the fullback or a short inside linebacker. He's he doesn't look he doesn't. It looks nothing like Jordan Berry. Uh. The other factor here too is, you know, despite what people want to grumble, Jordan Berry had a pretty good year last year when they when they did bring him back, I think his career is average, was the best of his career um and and so you know they didn't. It's just not automatic that they're going to move on from him. But those other those other issues are going to be a factor. But there's no doubt that when Presley Harmon thumps that football, boom, it hangs and it goes yeah and I think that the Steelers are interested UM and a punter who's a little bit more consistent with UM, you know, getting them out of some tough situations, some tough field positions, situations, and you know, Jordan Berry over the course of his career has shown himself to be, you know, um, somewhat a erratic in that area. So that's why I think they spent the uh seventh round pick on Presley Harvin. UM. But he needs to be able to hold for Chris Boswell. Uh, that that has to happen. Well, the coaches and the fans and us are going to get a look at all this beginning Thursday night at eight o'clock. Don't forget you can hear Bob Labriola, myself and Mike pursued a on the Steeler Radio network beginning at six o'clock with the pregame show. So you want to tune in, uh went on Thursday night. UM, that's gonna do it from the Bigham Tavern our thanks to a Jacob here on site to Brian in the studio. Bob Labriola, year when you when you're back for next week? On a pregame on a training camp show. Next Monday and my pursuit on. I won't be back for a couple of weeks until I team up with the coach Tom Bradley. UM. We hope you enjoyed listening to two hours a good Stealer talk in our bud Light Training Camp show for Bob Lavriola. I'm Jerry Doolack. You're listening to ESPN Pittsburgh. Good night everyone. As the region's largest locally owned accounting and consulting firm, Schneider Downs uses big thinking with a personal focus to solve the challenges of all types, expected and unexpected. Learn how they can make your company better by visiting Schneider downs dot com, Wolfear