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So many coaches on the college scene there. They're leavin', they're goin', they're comin'. Man, we're here at the uh Bottom quarter of the NFL season and We got coaches across the league. People are like, hey, we got to get him out of here. We got coaches.
Brian Dayball's been fired. And. Just as past Sunday we all heard it, people are screaming once again. For Mike Tomlin to get the boot. It's on the national airwaves.
Mike Tomlin is having to answer questions about this. What the heck is going on with the Steelers? We know things are not going to last forever. Aaron Rodgers isn't going to be there forever. They still need a QB.
They've needed one since Ben Rofflisberger. They got players who are leaving. Slay is now gone. Yeah, yeah. To get an understanding of what's going on in the Steel City, joining us right now is a national writer who covers all things NFL for the AP.
Welcome back to the show, Will Graves. Will, how have you been, man? You good? I'm good, man. I've been better than Mike T, that's for sure.
Oh, my goodness. You know, for years people have been saying, hey, let's fire him, get him out of here. We've heard this for years now. But I don't think I've ever heard him more specifically have to answer a question. About his own job status and hearing it from the fans.
Do you think this is coming to an end whether it's this year or the next year? Like, nothing lasts forever. I think whatever ending happens for Mike in Pittsburgh, it's going to be on his terms. I just. He's had a look, he's built a Hall of Fame resume.
People can say a lot of the arguments you hear here is, oh, he won Super Bowl with You know, with Bill Cowher's players and this, that, and the other, inherited a franchise quarterback, blah, blah, blah. I mean, that's true. But, you know And they get mad when you talk about the fact that they he's never had a losing season, but like we both know that's not how the NFL is supposed to work, right? Like you're supposed to go down and then back up. And he I mean, he went eight and eight with with Duck Hodges and Nathrudoff, the quarterback in 2019.
I mean, he went, you know, he managed to get a winning record in 2022 with Kenny Pickett as a rookie. And Mitch Trubisky starting the first part of the season. I mean, like, he finds ways to keep teams competitive. But it look, it was look, I was at the game on Sunday. That was the first time that the the jeers were that noticeable.
I mean, they were There was a point late in the third quarter or fourth quarter they had just been stopped on fourth and go fourth and two from like the Bills five and that effectively ended the game. The the PA guys, uh I I don't know if you may know, but like they play this song Renegade, uh, it's an old rock song by the group Styx. For 20-some years at home games, they play that during a decisive drive where you're supposed to fire at the defense and fire at the crowd. It is a staple of every Steelers home game. And for the first time in history of ever, They booed the entire time.
That to me was more jarring than people yelling for him to get fired, right?
So, look, it's strange. It's very strange. I was there today. You know, he got asked. End of the way.
I think if he had to go back and revisit that, if you listen closely to the audio, he makes it. The reporter that asked finished her question by saying, and people thinking you should be fired, what do you say to that? And he said, I agree with them. That was, I don't think you heard the second part of the question because you could cut it up and say he greasy should be fired, but. you know, it's some it's it's strange, but I just don't see You know, the Roonies look, you know, there was a couple of years ago when they lost to the Bills in the first round.
of the playoffs. After Mason Rudolph had that great run, you know, the last three games to kind of get him in. There was some stuff out there. Oh, he might step away, this, that, and the other. This was all coming from his side, all designed.
To create leverage in his negotiations with the Steelers, and he got what he wanted. He got a longer contract extension than I think we were anticipating. He's a prideful guy. I d it's really hard for me to see him leaving Half finished, you know? Yeah, yeah.
But their needs are many, too. Like, you look at this team, look at what they've done the last month or so. ten point home loss to the Packers where the game was not competitive in the second half. They got I mean, the game against the Bills, not competitive in the second half. They had a game earlier in the season against the Seahawks that turned on like a kind of a flicky play when Caleb Johnson decided not to return a kick and the Seahawks fell on it.
Or that you know they've they've You know, they're six and eleven in their last seventeen dating back to last season, and eight of those losses have been by ten points or more. And that is a jarring thing. But These are the Steelers. They like to do things a certain way. There's no scenario I see Mike Conlin getting fired.
This year or next year, maybe even the year after. I think whatever whenever the end comes here, it will be with Mike's blessing. Will Graves is here with us from the Associated Press based out of Pittsburgh.
Well, we heard the fans, we heard the response from Mike Tomlin. And now it seems that even some of his former players, you hear Ben Rofflesberger criticizing. him and his schemes, but James Harrison is now laying it on as well. This all has to just be a massive pain in the backside. What are these guys' current relationship with the Steelers, or is it just noise?
Well, I mean, I think a a lot of it's just always a lot of former players, you know, like to consider themselves pundits in retirement, and they've certainly earned the right to do that. Look, Debo and Ben have a little more insight than most, I think, because they were so tight with with Mike and with the organization. Um At the same time, you know, It is, when you look at the there's there is a sameness to what's been going on here. The last six, seven, eight years. And I think that is.
You know, any other on what other franchise would sort of, if a coach went Eight years without winning a playoff game would keep their job, right? I mean, look, but the problem is, it's not the problem, but like you also have to accept the fact that. Before that stretch began, the guy was really successful. Won a Super Bowl, went to another One multiple divisions, you know, one playoff games, and it just hasn't been that way the last seven, eight years. It's a You know, then the irony of all of this is like the backdrop of this is they're tied for first place in their division.
Right. I mean like that's the thing. It's like the way that people are talking you would think the Steelers were two and ten and angling for for the first pick. And if they beat the Ravens on Sunday, I think that's a tough ask for them considering the way that they don't seem to be able to stop any effective running game. at all, regardless of who's on the other side.
Um, you know, but if they win that game, they're kind of in control of their own fate again. I mean, so, like, and that's one of the iron, what's one of the great ironies here in Pittsburgh. The people that so badly want regime change Listen up, football fans. You won't want to miss this. Right now, new Bet365 customers bet $5 and give $150 in bonus bets, win or lose.
So you could turn that $150 into something bigger when you bet on money loss, rent, totals, player props. $150 in bonus bets when new customers bet $5. I know where I'm going to bet from now on. Download the app today and see why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Gambling Problem, call 1-877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.
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To have the stands, the stands would have to look like they looked in Tennessee on Sunday, right? But that's the thing, like, it's not happening, you know. People are. I wrote yesterday that people, you know, the patient seems to be running out. The response I got was: we ran out of patients a long time ago.
Maybe, but there's still 67,000 of y'all there. ten, you know, eight to ten times a year. Right. So you're not showing like, vote with your feet, vote with your pocketbook if you're that upset, and it's just not happening.
So. You know, and to me that would be the way to get the Rudy's attention, and it's not happening.
So it's uh It's just a it's very bizarre, man. It's a super bizarre year. But Mike, look, Mike's hyper-confident. Um you know he We were kind of, you know, what do you change? you know, when things are do you reevaluate?
And he goes, Well, what do you do when you um You know, when you write a bad article, and I responded, I said, Mike, I got more confidence than even you, so I'm good, right? And everybody laughed. But, you know, the. He he has a high regard for his abilities and I do believe that Like, you know, he is I'm not saying that he thinks it's funny. I think he knows he's, you know, in sort of a serious a tight spot, but I mean, he's going to survive this, right?
I mean, and it all matters like Can they get, you know, you talked about it, like, can they get a quarterback? I mean, that's been sort of they've they've misfired There's been six guys they've run through here in the last four years And they haven't found an answer yet. And I really think everybody's pointing to the draft. The class looks great. The quarterback in class looks great like three months ago, and now it's like, well, maybe not so much.
I still think they're going to try to find their guy. And I think maybe the fate of that guy, whoever they settle on, Um maybe that guy and Mike's fate are going to be maybe more closely entwined. And that could play a factor in what he does down the road. But I mean, like as I mentioned, it's just very hard to envision is any other way than Mike T deciding, you know what, it's time for me to go do something else.
Well, Will, we know the guy that he's currently tied with because they had a little bit of a bromance over the years is obviously Aaron Rodgers. His birthday is in what, two, three days? Today is today. He's turned on today. Oh, how about that?
He's 42 years old. Aaron Rodgers is. We know every year is am I going? Am I coming? Am I staying?
It's not going to get any better as he gets older. What do you think the reality is for him? Is there a possibility he's back once again next year to maybe babysit a future quarterback? You know, I think we had this conversation maybe six weeks into the season where. You know, they're they're not they're not tr putting up a lot of yards, but they're really efficient in the red zone.
They're scored points. The defense is forced to turnovers. He's throwing he was on pace until that Charger game. He was on pace to break Ben Rothesberger's single season record for touchdown pass, the franchise record.
So he was being really productive until about halfway through the season. The Chargers game was bad. He gets hurt at the Bengal game. He sits out. And he looked bad last week.
And I think You know, when you got when Joey Bosa lands on top of you, And you come up and your nose is bloody and you got turf coming out of your front of your face mask and stuff. I think there was some of this like Danny Glover lethal weapon, I'm getting too old for this, maybe going on a little bit. I just don't see He doesn't look good. He was ineffective when he played. Look, he's playing with a broken wrist.
I'm not questioning the guy's toughness. He's going to the Hall of Fame. Everything that's happening with him this season is house money. Right. Yeah.
Like, he's he's he even said before they played the Packers, look, I'm gonna go in, I'm going into the Hall of Fame of the Packer. Like, this is like, let's just be s real here, right? But I just it's really hard for me to see any scenario when he comes back, especially look, you know, what's been happening in the last couple two, three weeks. He's questioning practice habits of his teammates. He's kind of criticizing guys publicly for route running, for not doing the right things, and not just rookies, but established guys like Johnny Smith.
So, I really think that it's getting a little sideways here, and I imagine that the You know, there's not going to be a lot of conjecture when the season ends on whether he's going to do this again. I mean, I think that we've seen in the last five, six weeks, and the answer is definitely going to be no. Oh, wow. Wow. Damn.
And now you think he's going to hang them up or is he going to drag another team around? I the competit look, he's a competitive guy, and I want to be I'll just be honest with you here. I think when he signed here for people that do what I do for a living, there was a lot of like, oh man, what's going to happen? What is this going to be like? He's been great for the most part with us.
He's been you know, transparent, honest, interesting when he wants to be. Um but I just you know what team could look at the way that he's played the last You know You know, month or so, and you know, and say this is the guy. He had one really good game, and it was against the Thursday night game. Against the Bengals, but A, the Bengals' defense is terrible, and B, he got a lot of help with some yak stuff from. Pat Freiermuth is some other guys.
He's struggling getting the ball down the field. They have basically no vertical passing game at all right now. That's one of the reasons that they're having trouble generating. You know, points because they have to go 80 yards and 15 plays. There is no quick strike stuff in this offense because he can't get the ball down the field, or when he can, the guys that he's thrown to can't get the ball.
So it is, I mean, they signed Adam Thielen today. To the practice squad, they signed Marquez Valdez Scantlane to the practice squad a month ago. It tells you how tells you where MVS is at if he can't even get on the fifty-three considering the issues that they have with the with the passing game.
So there's there's a lot going on here, but he's Aaron is not, you know, I just can't see him playing next year.
Okay. All right.
Well, Will, we always appreciate the time and your insight, even dropping that insight, sharing with us nationally. Hey, tell us quickly, where can we find you online and everywhere? You can find me at Will Graves AP. I not only exploit as much as I used to, but I'm on the other stuff, too. You can find me.
Just do a search for my name, and I'm not the former North Carolina basketball player. Hey, Will, we always appreciate the time, my man. We'll catch you soon, okay? Enjoy the rest of the season. It looks like it's going to be a fun one, okay?
All right, man. Take care. Uh That 365 is paying out before the final whistle. Check out Bet365's unrivaled early payout offer. When you bet on the team to win and they take a 17-point lead, you get paid no matter the final score.
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Call 1-877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC Supplies. You've built a killer sports podcast. You bring the heat every week and you have a loyal audience.
But when it comes to monetizing, you're still leaving too much on the table. That's where the Odyssey Creator Lab comes in. We host your show for free. No fees, no catch. You focus on delivering the play-by-play and hot takes, and our experienced sales team goes to work bringing in ad dollars.
Let's turn those downloads into revenue. Apply now at creators.odyssey.com and start making money from your podcast. Welcome to Radio Rental. The scariest stories you've ever heard in your life. All told by real people.
And off we go. This wasn't a human being that I saw. There's something here in this house, something not of this world. There was a woman moving through the hall. I stepped back and I was completely alone.
Radio Rental is available now. Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season, starting with the true crimes that inspired Hollywood's most iconic horror villains. Listen to and follow Crimes of available now wherever you get your podcasts.
