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This is the Rich Eisen Show. Try some more. The Rich Eisen Show. Go think to the end, girl. It's intercepted by Jalen Ramsey.
Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Jalen Ramsey is now going to be a Pittsburgh Steelers trying to win right now. Why not? Aaron Rodgers is not getting any younger. Today's guests.
Steelers radio network host Jerry Dulak. Miami Herald Dolphins columnist Omar Kelly. Jaguars Chief Strategy Officer and AEW CEO Tony Kong. Author Jim Murphy. And now.
It's yours.
Well, that's right. I can confirm it. Welcome to the edition of the Rich Eisen Show here on the first day of July. The NBA. New league year is going off the rails as we come on the air here on the Roku Sports Channel, Infinity Sports Network.
Sirius XM Channel 375, the Odyssey app. We say hello to anybody who listens to us whenever they want on our podcast, all three hours. We've got four guests today coming up in 20 minutes. We were planning for this yesterday, wondering, you know, just how much fireworks the new league year and the NBA would provide. That we were going to cover the big news of Monday, the trade between the Steelers.
and the dolphins involving two Perennial Pro Bowl and all pro players in Jalen Ramsey and Minka Fitzpatrick. And lo and behold, that even got even crazier in the last hour when Darren Waller. decided to come out of retirement and the Dolphins flipped a sixth round pick. To the New York Giants, who were just sitting around going, oh, listen, I'll take that six-round pick out of nowhere. I mean, exactly.
So, um, You know, it's kind of like you're you've been retired and then All of a sudden, you get a $1.1 million check annually on July 1st. It's Bobby Bonier Day. It's now Darren Waller Day for the New York Giants. Congratulations. You woke up today.
You now get a six-round choice. from the Miami Delphins.
So we'll we'll talk about this trade. With Jerry Dulak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Omar Kelly of the Miami Dolphins in one segment. You know, we'll just hit that, and that's coming up in this first hour. In the second hour, the seat occupied by Josh Hines-Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday will be occupied by the CEO. General manager and head of creative of AEW, who also happens to be in the front office of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tony Kahn is going to stop by here. Uh it's kind of an annual tradition. And um and last time he stopped by here, he dropped off his His autographed neck brace that still is on the Rich Hideson show bust that's next to Chris Brockman.
So Tony's going to be joining us in hour number two. And then in hour number three, while we're covering a day-old NFL story, we might as well cover a seven-month-old NFL story. Remember this book? Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy that A.J. Brown was left hold holding on the sidelines on the bench in Philadelphia.
Jim's going to stop by in the studio.
So that's our show today: 844-204-Rich. Number Dale. Good to see you, Christopher. How are you? Good to see you, Jay Felly.
Good to see you, Jason Felle. We're going to see that Los Angeles Dodgers hat very shortly on this program. That's called a tease. Good to see you over there, TJ Jefferson, celebrating the Bobby Bo Day with your Mets hat on. Did they win last night?
Listen, that's not about last night's day. Oh, okay.
Okay. And it's about Bobby Benilla Day. Congrats. And they're off yesterday.
Okay. So they did win.
So we didn't lose.
Okay. We start this show with what was it, about a week and a half ago? About a week ago. A week and a half ago, that nine days ago, game seven of the NBA Finals up in the air. The Indiana Pacers in Oklahoma City.
Who knew who was going to win? As a matter of fact, at the end of the first quarter, it looked like the Pacers were showing up like we'd seen them all playoffs long. stout, tough, resilient. Tyrese Halliburton making threes. Then as Achilles gave way, then the Pacers gave way, then...
The Oklahoma City Thunder took over. And um and Shea Gilgis Alexander. wrapped up one of the great individual Seasons in NBA history. Hard G, soft G. That's right.
Yeah. with the trifecta of scoring leader. NBA regular season MVP. Finals MVP. Very rare list.
We spent the following day talking about how SGA had done things that we'd never seen before, or we'd seen before from people like Jordan and Kareem, and so on and so forth.
Well, the Oklahoma City Thunder have rewarded. SGA with the richest contract in NBA history. The Super Maximum Contract Four years, $285 million. Through 2030-31. And his annual salary.
is something that, you know. would make uh Messi blush at, right? BOLIN! like a superstar Footballer Okay. out there in the If you will, soccer world.
63.5 million when the extension starts kicking in in 27, 28. That goes up to 68 million the following year. 73. He's going to be in 2030, 31. A $78.7 million a year athlete.
Shea Gilgis Alexander, in the same way that throughout his ascension this year, it's like, is he for real? Is this for real? Is he really a superstar player? Oh, yeah, he's a superstar player. Oh, yeah, he actually did it.
And even after doing it, a lot of folks are wondering: is he really all that? It really is amazing how we're wondering that.
Well, the Oklahoma City Thunder have now wrapped him up through 2031, and they're going to pay him. Remarkable amounts of money. And keep building around him. By the way, great plan. Great plan.
He's happy. Everyone in Oklahoma City is going to be happy, and they have a million draft choices.
So That happened today. And just when you thought that was going to be... The biggest story of the day. The Pacers got involved.
Now We saw it with Jason Tatum's Achilles giving away. And the Luxury tax of the 2nd April. staring the Celtics in the face. And the thought that If We could running all that with everybody healthy. Maybe just maybe.
will pay an absurd amount of luxury tax money. But Jason Tatum's out. And so now is Jiru Holiday and Christophe Sporzingas. Right. The owner, Josh Cronke, of the Denver Nuggets, say We're all just one Bad injury away from trading away our best player.
When he mentioned 15, right? Everyone in Denver's like, whoa, what? Why aren't you bringing that up out of nowhere? As they traded Michael Porter for. Cam Johnson today.
That was a little shocking. A Nets Nuggets trade. Um but The reason why I bring this up is you're only one injury away from doing something that you don't. really consider. Which is in the case of the Pacers, who, according to Ramona Shelburne, have not paid a luxury tax.
In 20 years, 2005 was the last time they paid a luxury tax. Decided with Tyrese Halliburton now out for next year. Do we go ahead and go into the luxury tax for Miles Turner? And the answer turned out to be no. Not going to happen.
And that is where, wait for it, the Milwaukee Bucks come into play, because amidst all of this, Brooke Lopez winds up signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. Which makes Lakers fans a little bit. head scratching because Lopez was one of the players.
Some Lakers fans were thinking, we need a center. Yeah. Maybe he could be one? Albeit, he's a three-point shooting center. They need a rim protector and a shot blocker, which Lopez can be.
Instead, he's going to be. it into a dome. With Zubach. And Kawai and Harden. That led Post.
A photograph of him, I guess, from his celebration. Lopez from his, yeah. Yeah, the championship. Of winning the championship. He's got the goggles on, and, you know, there's the.
The plastic over the locker room. Lockers, I don't know what's going on right now, man. Mood 100%. Giannis was not pleased about Brooke Lopez disappearing.
Well, the Bucs. apparently had a plan. Because if you want a rim protector and a shot blocker and a three-point shooter in your center. How does Miles Turner sound? And Miles Turner agrees to a four-year, $107 million deal with the Bucs.
A player option for year four And then the ultimate, which is a 15% trade kicker.
So they gave They gave Miles Turner, all that. And the third big-time player in these playoffs who blew out is Achilles. And Damian Lillard, he's not there next year.
So the Bucs are clearly going over.
Some sort of a threshold here, right? Because you got Dame, you got Miles, you got Giannis.
Well, here's the ultimate kicker to the story. Right, they signed Portis too, right? Here's the ultimate kicker to the story. Lillard's cut. Oof.
Now uh listen. God bless all these capologists and front office experts in the NBA. Is there anything more confusing than the NBA collective bargaining salary cap? There's not. Structure.
As people who struggle with marriage, there is. Hey. There's something where you can stretch somebody's contract out when you cut them. And so they're stretching Damian Lillard's contract. For five years And the 113 million they're paying him, or that he's owed.
They're going to stretch it out over the next half decade. to send him packing now. 22 million a year. Forget about Bobby Bo getting 1.1 forever. Right.
Annually, he's going to get 22 million Milwaukee Bucks dollars sent to him. And I mean, I I I guess like That's an unkind cut. To say the least, it's just, hey, Dame, we... We wanted you. You wanted...
You were sweeten forever. To see if the Blazers can make A championship team for you. You and your family married to that community, and they to you. And after all the soul searching, he finally demands and gets the exit visa to Milwaukee. Where In year two, full year one.
His Achilles pops in the middle of a playoff game, and they're like, Yeah, we've got to move on. But I mean for Giannis, it's just like you get Miles Turner now. And How is Giannis? Taking that, well, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Not well.
He's being told Giannis is not pleased with the team decision to waive Damian Lillard. Here we go.
So now, you know, does this mean anything? Or is Giannis just unhappy with it? He's unhappy because he knows Damian Lillard was there for him, and he might have been his handpicked choice to come. to keep him happy in Milwaukee. Or is this just another moment where Giannis isn't terribly happy with the current situation in Milwaukee?
He'll eventually cool down, or at least that's what the Bucs are thinking. And realize Miles Turner ain't too shabby, certainly, if Dean wasn't going to be around next year, but maybe Giannis is looking for years down the road and. Lillard is just a great dude and teammate. He's just not happy with the fact that he's now going to have to rehab this Achilles. Um Without a team.
That does make him. Quite the uh Attractive pickup, one would think. In 2026, But who thought that would be the nine days after the Pacers. And Thunder concluded the 2024, 2025 season that culminated with a championship for Oklahoma City. An SGA season for the ages.
A Pacers team that shocked the world. But a lot of people talking about what's with all these Achilles injuries. And all of these Achilles injuries We were front and center in the first biggest splashes of the NBA. New league year. Celtics are like Yeah, we're gonna go with A whole new start in five next year.
Waiting for Tatum to come back. And we'll try and win as many games as possible. Al Horford may be gone. The Warriors appear to be his next spot, which would be interesting. Um And those are the changes.
The Pacers are like, yeah, Tyrese is out. Miles Turner. Four years, 104 million, 15% trade kicker. Thanks for the 10 years, Miles. And the Bucs are like, we'll take Miles Turner.
But the third guy with an Achilles popping. See you later. 22 million a year. Go rehab on your own and Thanks for the time and Can't make it up crazy. 844-204 Rich is the number to dial.
Have any thoughts on what's going on? DeAndre Ayton got bought out by the... Blazers. He's a free agent. The Laker fans are like, can we sign him yesterday?
Yeah. He could be dropped out of the heavens to hook up with Luca and LeBron. Um We'll talk about that. But let's take a break. When we come back, Jerry Dulak will tell us why the Steelers did what they did.
And is there an issue with TJ Watt or not? With the trade with the Miami Dolphins, and Omar Kelly has the Dolphins side of things. From the Miami Herald. 844-204-Rich, number to dial. Jerry Dulak receiving our call, top of July, when we come back right on the Rich Eisen Show.
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One last thing from Chris Haynes on the. Damien Lillard cut. And this one is really mind-boggling. Did you see this during the commercial break? I did not.
They didn't tell Dane. You learned about it on social media. No. Oh wow. Oh man.
According to Chris Haynes, dastardly right there. I mean, how is that possible? Jeez. Yeah, I saw this during the commercial break. He's on NBA TV right now, dropping that knowledge.
I mean, how is that how do you how do you do that? And by the way, it's two years to the day that his... TradeMe demand was made public. You know? Wow.
That's too bad, man. He's like... Such a likable player.
So many big moments over the years. And just to see the last couple years of his career kind of play off. He didn't want to leave. Right. It's such a bummer.
He didn't want to leave, but he did realize that it was getting so. Um Sparse there. Yeah, they're in no position to attention. They were in no position to contention. They still aren't.
Right now, two years later, they're still rearranging. Ugh, it's too bad. Like the point where Jeru Holliday's sitting there going, you know, I. You know, I'm a gold medal winner here. I'm a champion from last year.
You know, my my time's not long left either. But, you know. I would say be careful what you wish for, but he had to get out. You know what I mean? It's one of those, it's not one of those things where he's just.
Up and decided I'm leaving just at the time where I'm needed most. He was he had every right to ask out. And if this is in fact, I mean, Chris Haynes is usually spot on, man. If they didn't even tell him that that's the way it ended, and he learned about it on his phone. No wonder Giannis is pissed.
Laku stopping by. Big, huge trade in the NFL on Monday. I'm sure Jerry Dulak didn't expect one on July 30th, but neither did I, Steelers radio network host and longtime chronicler of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jerry Dulak back in the program. Good to see you, Jerry.
How are you? Rich, I'm good. I couldn't have been more surprised if I were Bobby Benilla on July 1st, getting the payout. I will say this: what didn't surprise me, Rich, is that You know, they were willing to move on from Minka Fitzpatrick. You know, I was told about a month ago that they weren't going to actively shop him, but if somebody came a knocking, They would listen.
and be willing to make a deal because For what they're paying him, his lack of splash plays was not commensurate. with the dollar figure he's getting. Minka Fitzpatrick's a good football player. Once you go over the last two years, there's no scooping scores, there's no picks, there's no pick sixes, there's no game-changing plays. And you're paying him a lot of money to do that.
and he wasn't doing that and so they were willing to to make a deal for him If the right one came along.
So I'm not surprised. uh that they that they made that move I'm not surprised that they went and got Jalen Ramsey. Because that's just You know, Rich, there's a couple ways, there's a couple adjectives you can affix to this, and I don't know if it's... if it's urgency or desperation, but it's move after move. with this team.
And they've gotten away from their philosophy in free agency.
Now I realize this was a trade, but their philosophy in free agency was always get a guy heading into his second contract, whether he was 25 or 26, and hoping that his best years were ahead of him. All the moves they made the last couple years are for guys whose best years are probably behind them. And so that's a departure. from what they have historically done, but it points up that they are willing to do what they have to do to try and win a playoff game. That's what this is all about.
You know, they've made the playoffs for the last five years. But, you know, they've 0-5. Mike Tumlin, 5-straight, 1- and Duns. And they're trying to change that. And I'll give them credit for doing everything they can, obviously, to change that.
But, you know, you have to be careful 'cause a lot of these guys You know, I love golf analogies. You know, if they're on the back nine of their career, to me, they're putting out on the 12th green.
So it's different from what they've historically have done. But that said, I mean, when you got a 41-year-old quarterback, right, like this is it. The eggs are all in the 2025 basket. And so, you know, bringing in Ramsey would make sense, even with having Darius Lay and Joey Porter Jr., you're now strengthening that back end despite. you know, losing Fitzpatrick, but you pointed out the lack of splash plays.
And now you're bringing in a tight end that Arthur Smith at least knows, right? Who isn't on the back nine? I mean, he just came off of the best year of his career in John U. Smith.
So if you're wondering who the pass catchers are going to be at the wide receiver position, why not add at a tight end of. Of Smith's capability, yes? Sure, is that what I'm saying? Is that the mindset? You know, Rich, I mean, he'll be their third tight end.
What he is, is he's Michael Pruitt, but a better version. He's an upgrade over that. He's a guy who can play tight end. He's a guy who can line up at wide receiver, and he's a guy who can line up at fullback. And that's exactly what Arthur Smith wanted when he brought in one of his former players, Michael Pruitt.
And it's the same thing with Jonu Smith.
So You know, I think the other thing in play here when you look at John U. Smith perhaps lining up outside or in the slot. You're talking about a guy, 6'3 ⁇, 6'4, almost 250 pounds. You're bringing in Jalen Ramsey, another physical. Tough ombre, and you look at what they did in the draft where Mike Tomlin openly admitted they're interested in physicality, and that goes back to DK Metcalf.
They are trying to become more of a physical football team, and everybody knows they're a physical football team. But after the way they got pushed around twice by the Baltimore Ravens, they don't want to get pushed around again.
So, physicality has been a big emphasis in this offseason. And Jalen Ramsey and even John Lew Smith. Is are factors in that.
Now, Johnny Smith isn't brought in to be a game changer. He's not that kind of player. He's going to be a complimentary player. But Jamon Ramsey obviously has the ability to be that. Jerry, do you like here on the Rich Eisen show?
The sub the subtext to all this too, Jerry, the background noise that popped in. to the four Ground in the aftermath of this trade on Monday is TJ Watt. And the fact that he is looking for a new contract. And Jalen Ramsey is brought on. And given a $1.5 million raise to bring his salary to 26 and change this year.
And John Roose Smith's salary goes from $4 million to $12 million.
Some were saying might not sit well with TJ Watt, who's looking for his. What can you tell us about this situation, Jerry?
Well, Rich, what I can tell you is that these moves have, and I've been told, have nothing to do with any negotiations with TJ Watt. Stalemate is going to be the TJ Watt. Excuse me, wants to be the highest paid non-quarterback in the league. And the Steelers are looking at it that he's age 31. in order to accommodate any kind of large contract.
It can't be a three-year deal. It has to be a five-year deal because you need to spread the money out in terms of the guarantee and the signing bonus over five years, not three. And now you're looking at TJ Watt being age 36.
Now, that doesn't mean, of course, as you get closer, they can change it up and move on from if they choose to do that. But I'm bringing all this up because it's not a smart business decision for the Steelers, and they know it. And that's what they're weighing. They want to bring TJ Watt back. They did see a decline in his performance last year, but they tend to pay guys for their past performance as much as what they feel they can still do.
They believe they will sign TJ Watt, but something's going to have to give because the Steelers know even if they sign him, it's probably not the smartest business decision. And let's face it, Rich, they're not the Jets or the Browns. They've had a history of making smart business decisions. I'm sure they will do it again, but that's kind of going to be the conundrum in these negotiations with TJ Watt. But this last move with Jalen Ramsey.
Has no bearing, I was told, on anything financially that'll happen with TJ Watt. No, and that makes sense. It's just, again, what? sitting there and saying, I deserve to be paid. And two guys who haven't played a down for the Steelers are brought on.
and given raises. And, you know, it's not like the Steelers don't want to give him a raise. They just don't want to give him the raise. above Miles Garrett. And look at that as a business decision.
But that said, Jerry. I mean, again, all the eggs are in the 2025 basket. How do they play footse with TJ Watt? How how is that possible?
Well, that's what we're going to find out. And if TJ Watts sticks to wanting to be the highest paid non-quarterback in the league, then they're going to have a problem. Look, Rich, the Steelers do have the leverage. They could have him play out his final year and they could put the franchise tag on him if they want to. The Steelers don't play hardball for the most part with their stars.
Maybe some other players, but not with their stars. And so I don't think they're just gonna all of a sudden relent to TJ Watt, but that's what we're gonna find out. And that's why I said it's gonna be a headbutt and we're gonna see who butts heads the hardest here. And is TJ Watt willing to acquiesce a little, or the Steeler's gonna sit there and go, you know what?
Okay, let's just pay him and we'll worry about the rest later. Um yeah, that's what we're going to find out. This isn't going to be as easy. Has the last contract for TJ, where he was in his prime. And I'm not saying he doesn't have good years left, but they saw a little bit of a decline last year.
And again, at age 31, they wanna be very careful. How much and how long this contract is for? But they don't have much option other than a five-year deal with any kind of significant money. And to your earlier point, Rich, yeah, DK Medcal, five years, $150 million, biggest contract they've ever handed. TJ Was gonna sit there and go, whoa, whoa, whoa, you're giving this guy that kind of money.
I think you gotta do something even above that for me. Yeah, yeah. I mean, You can't blame them either. You know, hang on. These are three guys that have yet to play a down for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And TJ want, I mean, you'll obviously just look at Aquashir. How many 90 jerseys are there? You know what I mean? And so, what do you think? Um when when is midnight strike?
Every team has a different sense of when midnight strikes. What is it? Do you think for this deal? I think midnight strikes after August 23rd or whatever that Thursday is, the last preseason game against Carolina, and sometime between the 23rd or whatever that date is. I don't have the calendar in front of me, Rich, but in September 7th.
The season opener.
So sometime between there. As I said, the Steelers want to and believe they will sign TJ Watt. He's TJ Watt. Trading Minka is not going to cause a big fur among the fan base. There are probably people, well, I know there are because I already hear griping about maybe it's time to move on from TJ Watt.
They're not willing to do that. You know, this is a different animal than Minka Fitzpatrick. You could see that one coming, at least so far, as much as I was told. That's not on their radar to trade TJ Watts.
So that's not going to happen. But we're going to find out. You know, where it stands, but I think it'll go through training camp personally, Rich. But before the regular season.
So, if you say midnight strikes around August 23rd, when does midnight strike for the time Mike Tomlin will not take any more questions on TJ Watt, Jerry? When does that midnight?
Well, I think that was yesterday.
Okay. Thanks for the time, Jerry. You're the best, man. Thank you. Rich, always good being with you, my friend.
Yeah, we'll chat around training camp. That's for sure. That's Jerry Dulak right here on the Rich Eisen show at the Steelers side of things. All right.
Now, from the Miami Dolphins side of things on this trade. From the Miami Herald, Omar Kelly's here on the Rich Isaac Show. How are you doing, Omar? I'm good, Rich. How are you doing?
I'm good.
Well, let's start with the most fresh piece of everything. My colleague Tom Pellisero reporting before we went on the air that the Dolphins are going to fill the void left by trading John U. Smith with Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers by trading for Darren Waller and bringing him out of retirement, and he's going to be the tight end in Miami. Your first blushed thoughts on that, Omar. It doesn't surprise me from this standpoint.
Steve Ross is an owner who likes to swing for the fences. I just didn't know. I thought it was a possibility, especially with the connection to Drew Rosenhaus and Waller. I just didn't know if Waller was ready to get back to playing football again, and it looks like he is. Yeah, I guess so, you know, and I guess that's the Giants gain out of nowhere is that he wants to come out of retirement and they could at least get something for him.
And so he just plugs in where John U. Smith is. And we were all wondering where they're going to find a tight end at the top of July with training camp, but there he is, right? Absolutely. Darren Waller's established himself as an elite player in this league.
Most people would know about his substance abuse issue and how he's basically rebuilt his life. And he's got a great story. Last year, he stepped away from football because obviously he didn't find the love for it, went to be a rapper, and now I guess he's back. The rap career didn't take off. He went back into his lane, I guess, right, Omar?
You know, who knows? Who knows? You know, Shaq would platinum. You know, you never can underestimate it, guys. I know.
And who talks about Kazam right now these days, right, Omar? Nobody talks about it unless we bring it up to Shaq. But at any rate, so that's the news there. Let's, you know, obviously revisit the Jalen Ramsey portion of this. Can you explain why somebody of Jalen Ramsey's caliber got traded away by a Dolphins team that could clearly use him?
Well, Jalen Ramsey, if to best describe him, he's a mercenary. He's a gun for hire. The Dolphins traded for him two years ago to make a title run, but they just aren't in that position right now. They are a team that's clearly rebuilding and getting younger. And unfortunately, Jalen and Mike McDaniel or Jalen and the culture of the locker room wasn't a good fit.
And the Dolphins feel like they have to change the culture of the team and of the locker room. And that meant that Jalen Ramsey had to go.
Now, fortunately for them, they found somebody who was willing to not only trade for him, but take on his massive contract. Most people don't realize this, but the Dolphins are going to eat $18.5 million in cap space because of the contracts that, and because of the trade and because of the contracts with Jalen Ramsey.
So it's not like the Dolphins are taking this victory lap for moving Ramsey, but they're certainly. happy that he's somewhere he wants to be. And that they also got good value for him in Minka Fitzpatrick. But, you know, another component of that was the John New Smith. They traded two Pro Bowlers for one Pro Bowler in a fifth-round pick.
And now we see what that second move is. Oh, yeah, I know. The second move being Darren Waller.
So I guess. Dolphins fans might ask the question, Omars, is how does this make the Dolphins better? How does this make them better? It makes them better from the standpoint. Waller's probably a more accomplished player than John New Smith, who did have a career year with the Miami Dolphins, set franchise records in every category.
But he was also 30. John New, really, the situation with John New was the Dolphins were happy with him. He was just under contract for $4 million, and the Pittsburgh Steelers gave him 12.
So he tripled his salary in one season by getting traded to Miami.
So it's going to be interesting to see what they give up for Darren Waller and whether or not this is something that makes the offense better because Tua did have a tremendous amount of chemistry with John New Smith.
Okay. So let's talk to us since we just landed on him there. Is. Obviously, this is all contingent on him, right? I mean, every move we just discussed, even on defense, we could talk about how Mink is going to bring a different maybe locker room vibe than Jalen Ramsey, and that might be an addition by subtraction right there just for Mike McDaniel and team chemistry and what have you.
But um you know I can speak from a personal, you know. Viewing as we all could, if Zach Wilson's in there, it's a different story, Omar. You know what I mean? Yeah. So, what is I know?
Tua was talking about playing with a better sense of self-preservation. What does that look like? Do you think Omar? We saw it at times in the 2023 season. He saw the pressure coming and he just immediately went to the ground.
You know, this is a situation where Tua has to learn how to throw the ball away. Even in practice, that's just not something that he operates doing. He buys time, he waits, he waits, he waits, and then he throws it. At some point, you got to start learning how to throw that ball away. I think it's probably and stay in the pocket.
Tua is well aware that this Dolphins team only goes as far as he can take them. And that requires him to stay healthy. Unfortunately, he's only done that for one of his five NFL seasons. Yeah, and so you know, Tyreek Hill is still there, even though it appeared at the end of last season when the season was over. You know, he.
He said something publicly that made it sound like he was going to demand a trade. Chris Greer had to talk about it publicly. It seems to be back in the bottle right now, but is that something that could bubble to the surface once regular season rubber hits the road? Absolutely. I think if they're losing, you're going to see a disgruntled Tyreek Hill.
People don't understand in that situation at the end of that Jets game, Tyreek was frustrated by his situation. This is the first time in his nine-year career that he never made it to the postseason. That just was not satisfactory. And then, as I said, for two minutes and 20 seconds, he said all the right things that captain should. He talked about, you know, things that happened during the season and said all the right things.
And then, like that, a flip, a switch flip, and Tyreek. Became Tyreek and basically said, you know what? If this is not a situation I want to be part of.
Now, That was speaking from emotion. As time progressed, Tyreek realized how well the Dolphins organization has treated him and his family throughout the years. He realized he just got a new contract and basically, you know, and basically came, said, you know what, I'm really changing my tune in terms of. Warning out, I'm going to give this one more try. But to me, I personally believe that they're not winning, you might see Tyreek Hill on the trading block by the trade deadline.
Man, that would be something else. I mean, but you take a look at this team though, and in Mike McDaniels, Image Of wanting to be fast and quick and get a guy who, like Tua, can get the ball out quickly and accurately. You know, you look at Hill, Waddle, Westbrook Aquina, I thought was a terrific pickup from Tennessee right there. A-chan, Jalen Wright. I mean, this is a quick.
Team And the question is, is when it all comes down to it, cold weather, what happens? I mean, it's the age-old question about the Miami Dolphins, right? But It's speed is the best, but it's not necessarily what they need. They need physicality, they need toughness, and that's part of what changing the culture of the team has really been about. When adversity hits, they generally buckle to it.
And you have to be tough mentally, you have to be tough physically, and you have to play for one another and care about one another. You know, last this during OTAs, Bradley, you know, I've always heard the same thing about changing the culture around here, but Bradley Chubb was the first one to admit, hey, When we said it last year, we were probably lying. We didn't work that hard to be a team that's a collection of, we were just a bunch of individuals. And that comes to Jalen Ramsey, a mercenary. Everybody was out for themselves.
Everybody focused on themselves.
Now they have to focus on building a better team, a better unity. And leaders have to step up, and that includes Tua. All right.
And you just mentioned Bradley Chubb in our couple minutes left with Omar Kelly of Miami Herald. You mentioned Chubb. Obviously, certainly with Jalen Ramsey gone, I'm looking at the defensive depth chart right now. And the two starting corners for the Dolphins are listed as second-year player Storm Duck and Jason Marshall Jr., who they snagged in the fifth round in Green Bays in the first round of the draft. That's who they have listed.
But the point is, is like, you got to get home. At the quarterback to help that unit out for sure. What is the scoop with Chubb and Jalen Phillips? They're both going to be ready for the season opener. Both worked in the offseason program.
You got to add Chop Robinson to that equation as well. When you pair all three pass rushers with Zach Seeler, you basically have four players who have the potential to be double-digits that guy.
So they will certainly use the pressure that they can create to sort of help out the secondary.
Well, and I can personally attest as well: I'm a Michigan guy. That Kenneth Grant kid is one of the best Michigan's had in the middle of a defensive line. And I know Christian Wilkins is gone and some fans missed him. This guy is the real deal. Kenneth Graham.
Okay. Yeah. So keep an eye out for him, Omar.
Now, was he eating off Mason Graham's plate? No, no, no, no, no, no, no. The two of them together. Just watch the Ohio State tape, Omar, because it's some of my favorite tape of all time. Literally, like, I'll just pop it in every now and then.
He's great. You're going to love him. You're going to love him. So that's the idea.
So thanks for the time, Omar. Really appreciate your two cents on the subject matter. Thank you, sir. All right.
Always a pleasure. You met that's Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald here on the Rich Eisen Show. All right.
So lots of takeaways from that. We'll kind of take a break, come back and. Take something away. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. This message is brought to you by Abercrombie and Fitch.
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So I give you, these are my three favorite coaching cliches. I'd love to see a press conference where you nail all three of them within one press conference, if I give them to you. And see if you can pull it off. What if I. What do you think?
Can we double down? And what if I can pull it off in my next press conference in Indianapolis? This is exactly what we're talking about. Yes, sir.
So, ready for them? Here you go. This is number one. I don't have a crystal ball, guys.
Okay, like that's what you say. I don't have a crystal ball. It's easy. It's whenever somebody asks you to predict the future. Like, for instance, how aggressive are you going to be in free agency?
Then you say, well, well. You see, I mean, if I had, I don't have a crystal ball, but it's as aggressive as what's best for the organization. Very good. That's a good one. Very good.
Okay. Here's another one. It's as simple. You're going to nail this. It is what it is.
It is what it is, guys. It is what it is, ladies. It is what it is, folks. You know, like, however, you want to just throw it out there. It is what it is.
That's another one. And then the third one is... I'm only talking about the guys that are here. That's it. I'm only talking to user.
So I'm just gonna triple down and say, what if I can do that all in the same statement in my Indie Correction conference this week? Yes, Mike McDaniel, instant legend. Yes. My my only request is when I do it. Yes.
Mid-press conference. Yes. Can we I wanna I wanna Sprint up to the stage, high five. Let's not forget, like... It is what it is.
You know, I honestly personally I don't have a crystal ball You know? But really the only guys I can talk about are the players that are here today. Excuse me. Oh, hey, didn't see ya. Boom!
Out of boom! Triple play. Yeah. I did that at the Kanban. Hey, man, when you go there for 20 minutes, you got to do something to switch it up.
My favorite of that exchange was the, oh, hey, didn't see you. Like, we didn't plan this. That man, listen, that man is a genuinely funny individual. Mike McTanya. He's got a great sense of humor.
Me personally, I don't have a crystal ball. He doesn't. Who does? We do. I just bought it.
It's too big. And you bought. You went top of the top, which is mad respect. I've never been before. The crystal ball being too big.
Well, it's too big because we don't, you know, we could use it more often as a gag or a bit or anything. It's not too big. It's a crystal ball. What's it? You go get it.
You know, I'll put the crystal ball right here. It's really heavy, dude. I'll get Randolph Jr. to bring me the crystal ball. Did I get the 30-pound one?
You got a really heavy one. Yeah, I don't know what the actual weight is, but it's very heavy. Yeah, we could drill holes in it and bowl. Are you going to crack it? Like, come on.
We could work out with it. We could. Kettlebell squats, all that. All that good stuff. Yeah, get ready for the rose in it.
Yeah, get ready. I want that so bad that we can get the rose bowl. Lots to talk about on this program here on this busy Tuesday. NBA going off the hook, and we just had that whole conversation with. With two guys locked in on the Steelers and the Dolphins side of things.
Yeah, I like that. You like the back-to-back, yeah, man. We're information people. Again, 844-204-Rich is the number to dial on the program. Coming up next hour, I think Tony Khan's walking into our green room very shortly.
Nice.
So we'll chat with him. We'll chat football and wrestling with Tony Kahn. And then Jim Murphy, the author of Inner Excellence, is going to be in the studio. I can get some tips from him.
So, two things just jump out right here: is that the Miami Dolphins. Clearly, based on what Omar Kelly just said, clearly feel that Ramsey's departure is an addition by subtraction and that whatever was going on last year in the final throws that created poor team chemistry, Um is going to be fixed by Minka Fitzpatrick coming in. Jalen Ramsey going out. And um And The Dolphins need to start fast. You know, and you you look at their schedule if you can Call up the Miami Donaldson schedule.
There it is. They do have the ability to start fast. I mean, in this league where you look at the Steelers schedule, the Packers schedule, right? And we'll look at the Steelers schedule again shortly. You know, it's just chock full of...
Must see television heavyweight. playoff contending matchups. And Four of the first five didn't make the playoffs for the Dolphins on this schedule. The only one are the Bills. Yeah, they could start 4-1 very easily.
So they, you know, again, if you're just describing last year's record to this year's team. But They can start fast and they just need to healthy. My God, they need them healthy. Unless, you know. The perfect opportunity is if Tua is going to be out, do it week four when the Jets come in and have Zach Wilson score four touchdowns on it.
That would be hilarious. That would be very Jets-like on a Monday night for the whole country to see. It would be very Jets-like. And we shall see how, again, they are a fast team. They are a quick team.
They're just on the back end of their defense now, certainly on the edges, completely green. Anthony Weaver, D.C. is going to have a lot of coaching up to do. And then the Steelers thing. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, you look at their schedule right there, it is chock full of.
of landmines and must-see television, big-time matchups, they're going to have their work cut out for them.
Well, before they get to this, apparently, from what Jerry Dulak had to say. They got their work cut out for them. With TJ Watt, who wants to be paid more than Miles Garrett entering age 31 year. He wants to be the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL. W would he be willing to do that for fewer years?
Maybe the Steelers, according to Jerry Dulock, though, need to spread it out. And I heard, you know, he wants to be paid all this money, and the Steelers. wanna pay him less, but spread it out. And TJ Watt knows there's going to be phony money. I don't want to be 33 and having to deal with this again.
Right, it'll be 31 in October. Correct. This is age thirty-one year. Yeah. And Mm.
My two cents on this is the Steelers, unfortunately, do not. I mean, you could say leverage, they can make them play it out and then have a franchise tag. I mean wha w what do what we even I can't imagine. It goes to that. I cannot imagine because I don't think TJ Watt would play.
I don't know. What are you going to you're going to take this guy and make him Hold out into the season on you? But what are you gonna do? Give him a three for one twenty with eighty guaranteed or something? Yeah.
They don't have a choice. Yeah. They don't have a choice. When it all comes down to it. And I don't know when midnight's going to strike.
But you just heard Jerry Dulak say it's going to be in training camp.
So buckle up, Steeler fans. But at the end of the day, I think it's going to get done. Because it has to. And Miles Garrett got 123.5 guaranteed. Right.
So, once again, I'mn't going to come close to touching that number.
Well, I mean Miles Garrett is how old? 28? Was he 32? Is he 30 as well? You can't say 32.
I have it written down here. He's 29. Yeah, he is 29. He turns 30. Four days after Christmas.
So he's like 14 months younger than TJ. Here's the problem for the Pittsburgh Steelers. If it is a problem to re-sign TJ Watt. They have one year. With this quarterback.
They have not won a playoff game in eight years. Jerry Dulak said. The whole goal of getting Jalen Ramsey and John U. Smith.
And DK Metcalf, and all the other moves that they've made are to win a playoff game this year. End the streak. Get to. the final four of their conference. if not further.
And they have a quarterback. Who's been there? And done that. and may not have another year left. He is motivated.
And I'm For sure. I And again. I'm talking I'm talking about what I think is Aaron Rodgers' head. If you told him. You're going to Pittsburgh, but you don't have TJ Watt.
He'd have been like. On this planet? Right. That's true. Good point.
So all of these moves are to create The now from being The best now it can be. Not next year. Not planning for next year. We're not talking about cap space in 2027 like apparently our neighbors down the road, the Lakers are. Dude, that's another whole quote.
I know. But. It's now. Yeah, it's like spaceballs. Everything that's happening now is happening now.
And week one, right, exactly. You know what I mean? In week one. is at the jets. And Justin Fields, you just gonna let him sit back there?
Without TJ Watt coming around the edge. Not ideal. Exactly. It's not, none of it's ideal. I get it.
To jump into Jerry's point, do you think TJ Watt has already peaked and he's now? Crept over the hill a little bit. I mean, on average, the answer is yes, but it doesn't matter because peaked, his slightly less than peak is still above average. I know, but you don't want to pay a guy who's on the way down $120 million guaranteed. Guess what?
Deal with it then. Your whole strategy is now. You can't also say, well, there's later, too. No, all the moves they've made are for now. It's go time.
Yeah. It's go time. Like right now. Jim Rome takes on sports. Why?
Because you're not playing me. With rapid fire takes. And a lot to get to, and I'm not sure you're going to like all of it. Honestly, I don't even care if you like all of it or not. I have a job to do.
Scorching debates. On any given week, you have lots to beef about. Take advantage of it. Get up in here. He's the Spitfire of Sports Smack.
Which is not my fault. We will get to all of that. The Jim Rome Show podcast. Get up in here. And we'll beef later on.
What's your beef? Follow and listen on your favorite platform. You've been warned. Yeah.
