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Now, on with the show. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Rich Eisen Show. The Pestons want a foul fall from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. It appears inadvertently tripped by Alan.
He trips him when he's going through a loose bowl. Indiegame situation. That's tough. Today's guests. Steelers radio network host Jerry Dulak.
NFL network insider Tom Pellisero. Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Weber. And now, it's Rich Eisen.
Well, that's correct. I can't confirm it because here I am on the Rich Nisen Show here on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio, and also. SiriusXM Channel 80, everybody. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial here on this program. Lots to talk about as the Pivotal Game 5 went Cleveland's way in overtime last night in Detroit in the Eastern Conference semifinal for the right to play the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
And then tonight, the Spurs can wrap things up against the Minnesota Timberwolves. We'll keep an eye on all of that. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial. We've got our regular Thursday guest talking about that later on. I won't mention his name yet because I want to introduce to you who's sitting in Chris Brockman's chair here today, because Chris is out in his annual excursion being a celebrity.
Celebrity at the Kevin Rahm charity tournament on behalf of St. Hugh Children's Research Hospital.
So we always love giving that. uh tournament of pop the uh very Talented Kevin Rahm, the actor, making Chris Brockman a celebrity. Doesn't sit well with you.
Well, it sits greatly. It sits fine with me. I don't know how that sits with somebody who pays good money to golf and something like that. With a celebrity, yeah. And sitting in Chris's chair is the lovely and talented Susie Schuster.
Hi. How are you, Suze? It's pretty exciting to sit in for a celebrity.
Well, this is a long day for you. This is the first of two Women's Sports Now.
Well, export today. It's a real heavy lift for me today as I go from this show to the next. But yeah, we've got it. I can handle it. I've got a little extra pep in my step.
Excellent. Yeah, excited to be here. Women's Sports Now later on, 6 Eastern Time. There you go, on ESPN and all of its digital platforms. And so it'll be you and Renee and Sarah.
Colleen Wolfe is off this week. She is off this week. Very good. She's load managing. Very good to know that.
And so we'll talk about that show throughout this program. Good to see you, Jason Feller. Hey, long day for me, too. What's going on? Oh, that's right.
You sit in that chair for Women's Sports Now. That's why it sounds so damn good. It sounds great. TJ Jefferson, the candle's lit. Good to see you, sir.
Show is. What's going on? Well, Susie's got a long commute to her next job. It's six feet away from where she's. I understand that.
But at any rate, Susie is here, and this is exciting because let's talk more about me. One of her favorite guests, one of her favorite people is on an hour number three, albeit he's not here. Chris Weber is on today's program. C-Webb. What was that look for?
I don't know. That was a strange smile. Wow. What does that look for? What look did you just give TJ?
I just looked at him because I looked at him. No, no, no. Give the look. Give the look. Now that you're on camera, go ahead.
You can't recreate that look. I don't know. I don't even know what you're saying. Wide-eyed. He said, look, it was the last time I saw this look.
Yeah. Have you ever seen that? Yeah. When Claire Underwood was on the show. Oh, right.
Yeah. What are you trying to say? The big Z-Web fan. This little burr came out of his mouth, and you just kind of went. All right.
I am a fan of the Sacramento Kings. I mean, there you go.
Well, he was on other teams, yeah. A couple understood. The Wizards. Agic, first up. Jerry Dulak is first up.
Jerry. And we've been wanting to talk with him for a bit because, where's Aaron Rodgers? What the heck's going on? Where's AA rough?
So we'll ask him that question. And then Tommy P, Tom Pellisero will be on and out. Ready for the video. Chris kindly left a what's more likely For you to administer later on in this program, Suze, so that we got that going on. Yeah, which is nice.
And the schedule is going to get released tonight. In full. Right now, it's just still drip, drip, drip, drip, drip. And as you know, because I'm not hosting. The schedule release show for the first time in 20 some odd years.
Weird. I don't care. Billy gas. Normally, I'm flipping out about it. Like, come on.
Like, what else is there to. And this is true. Reveal when it's already revealed. There were times when we would come in before work the last few years, and you would literally be like upset about it, like with this voice. Yes.
Legitimately upset about it. You know what it's like now? The schedule release now, because it's. You know, to the CBS up fronts, and then it's the NBC up fronts, and then it's the ESPN up fronts, and then it's the Amazon up fronts, and then everybody's got an everybody's up front. You know, and they're announcing this game, they're announcing that game, they're announcing this game, they're announcing that game.
It's kind of like now the schedule release used to be like you had no idea, only a local. Show or two would get the schedule. You might not hear about it. You might see it on Twitter as it used to be known.
Now, you know what it's like? It's like seeing that movie preview where you feel like you've seen the whole damn movie. Right. Like, why do I need to see the movie now? All right, great.
Did you get that memo? Did you get the memo that you're not supposed to leak anything, but there's some leaks? And there are some games that have been announced. and put it all together. Right now.
What we know is and a little bit of leakage. Um is the Thanksgiving Wednesday Through Friday. It's no longer just a triple header on Thanksgiving. As you know, that has also been eventized, the John Madden Thanksgiving. Um Special, basically.
They memorialize, we remember John, and we pay homage to John with those Thanksgiving games that are just great. And Boy, man, the league has just loaded up that plate like a Thanksgiving. Dinner. And now As you know, there's a Wednesday game before the Thanksgiving triple header that leads into a Friday game on Amazon. You need an appetizer.
My goodness gracious And the league is just absolutely loading up. We found out yesterday from Netflix. Ta-da. Suze, I think this is what we're doing Wednesday Thanksgiving. We're going to Sofi.
Okay. We're going so fine.
Okay with that suit? I don't know if Kara knows yet, but we're going. I was going to say it. Where are we sitting? There's only one place that I want to sit where there's a large bottle that's blue and white.
That's right. Very good. Some seltzer water? No, it's not that.
So not. No, no, no, no. There's a line in it. There's a classa that is blue. Yeah.
Azul. I disus is tequila of choice.
Okay. And Kara's too. And so very, very convenient. Jordan Love and the Packers in the home of the Los Angeles Rams the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Can be a lot of people.
Greenstorm Good Eats. Oh, yeah. I mean, that is pretty sweet. That's on Netflix. Talk about Thanksgiving, right?
Day before Thanksgiving. That's the day before Thanksgiving. That never used to be. I don't know. We'll find out what the schedule before.
Um The schedule before We'll find out tonight. That hasn't been released yet. Does that? I don't know. Does that mean the Rams.
And the Packers are playing the Saturday before that? Or maybe they're both coming off of a bye? Maybe they'll be both coming off of because I believe that's week twelve, they'll both have a week eleven bye. Yeah. Suze, all I know is the world is going to tune in to see Jordan Love versus Ty Simpson.
Okay. Dayboy. Wow. Look at you. It's going to be amazing.
Trolling everybody here. It's fired. All right. First-round draft picks. All right.
Just because I put Dallas fifth on my power rankings list doesn't mean you should feel yourself so much like that. Five I thought was fine, you know? And then the Thanksgiving triple header, the first two games we know. Yes. They have been announced.
It is going to be CBS. Nansen Ramo in Detroit. And it's going to be Ben Johnson going back to Detroit with the Chicago Bears, taking on the Lions. A division game in Detroit. Come on now.
Come on now. The Tigers are feeling left out. Great stuff, ma'am. Just great. But the lion tigers and lions and bears.
Oh, my. Oh, my. So Um That's gonna be fantastic.
So the NFC North will take center stage. to start Thanksgiving weekend. With the Packers here in Los Angeles, just up the road. And then that division game. leading to the division game that we already talked about earlier this week, that TJ Jefferson Says the Cowboys will lose.
I mean, that's what you said. I mean, I said it.
So I shall repeat it. He said now until that day. You say the Eagles are going into the Jones Mahal and making your Thanksgiving, giving you a little bit of ajita, a little bit of way, way, way too early on that tape. What about that? I mean, two division games like that.
back to back like that. My gosh, a massive conference game on a Wednesday night, then the next day. the bears and the lions And then the Eagles and the Cowboys. And that's that middle game gets the biggest rating. It always does.
Makes sense to put divorce. And last year, it was Kansas City at Dallas. And that game, even with both teams not performing As well as both teams had hoped going into that game. That drew fifty-seven Million views. And this game, Eagles and the Cowboys should break it.
And rumored Now the next two are Rumored, leaked, okay. Stay tuned tonight to find out if this is true or not. But I believe it is. The night game on ENBC. ENBC.
Kansas City. At the Buffalo Bills. Oh. In the house. The new House of the Bills.
Let's go. That is rumored to be happening. Oh my goodness. Those teams play Some of the best regular season games, best playoff games. Usually the Bills win it in the regular season, as you know.
But it'll be the Chiefs and Mahomes' first visit to the new Bills home. on Thanksgiving night. Could you imagine those four games in a row like that? I'm cold thinking about that game. Yeah.
That's going to be so cold. It's going to be cold, but you won't be. Nope. Um Wow. I can't wait for it.
I'm going to ask you a question. Are you having fun with this? And all this because you're usually so tight around the schedule rules. Oh, yeah, this is crazy. This is how funny is.
Are you actually having fun or not? Because I've always had fun. I mean, sometimes you get a little tight around this. Like, oh, I don't like that. They're leaking this.
And why would they say this? What are you talking about? That's for my show over here. And, like, now you get to kind of poke the bear a little bit. Were you just so focused on C-Web joining us an hour?
Did you hear that conversation at the top of the program? No, I can't tell. No, excuse me. I can't tell whether you're actually having fun with this or not. Oh, because you kind of are.
But then, didn't he kind of sound a little like a Costanzian? No, no, no. There's a little bit of FOMO. I'm not going to lie. He's grabbing a little bit, but he's let us know the last few days that he's a little bit more loose about this.
Now, you know. I didn't listen to the show. I heard some of it. I was just double-checking. I mean, she knows you better than us, so if she's saying there's some in your voice.
Did you hear what the Friday game would be, potentially? And if these are f three th these three have been were leaked and some of them then confirmed and then the fifth one. Is Denver at Pittsburgh? Oh, for Friday? Yes.
Okay. On Amazon.
So Man. And you remember last year, the Bears went into Philadelphia and shocked the Eagles on prime video. This game is now back in the Commonwealth on the western part of the state, where I don't know if there is a four seasons for Al. But That's going to be lit.
So I can ask you to do something that you weren't prepared for, Roque. Which is what? When I rank those highs, how I rank the games real quick. Five games. That's a great idea.
Oh, or we can wait if we need. No, I'll do it right now. Just off the top of the game. I'll do it right now. I'll do it live.
I'll do it live. Do you know why? You know why? Because you're a left-handed. Yeah, he doesn't care, Susie.
I am carefree. Rich says, Dilly Gaff, do I look like. I give, yeah.
Well, it is a topic.
So, is it a power ranking? But there's five games. Do I do a top five? It's a top five power ranking.
Well, there's five games. We already have a game. I understand that. Well, I'm just saying, how do we brand it? Branding is important around here.
The best game. Power ranking. I know that, but a top five in order, I give you the five games. What do you think, Hoskins? It's a top five or a power ranking.
What do you want? What do you want? What do you think? Your choice. What do you think?
I think the top five? It's a top five.
Okay. I got five games that popped that one up. What's up? All right, so because. You just threw this on me.
You had no idea this was coming. I had no idea it was coming. Hmm.
Okay. Oh, Jerry Dulak. This is perfect for Jerry Dulak about to join us here on the program. You want to do a top five or a power ranking? Top five.
Okay, here, hit it, please. Riches, top five. All right, on the fly right here, my top five, everybody. Um. Hehehehe Number five.
Gotta start at the bottom. Oh my goodness. Number five. I'll go Denver and Pittsburgh.
Okay. I'll go Denver and Pittsburgh.
Yeah. You wouldn't have to explain. No, I'm going to explain it because right now, in the middle of May, Rogers is not there yet. He's not there yet. True.
Right now I'm going on with what I know. And what I know is Raj is not there yet. Will Howard against bone nicks. Will Howard against Bone Nicks? Why not?
Um number four I'll go. Uh Number four is I'll go I'll go Packers Rams. Wow. Just because it's not a division game. Wow, and as a passionate Rams fan.
Okay, that's right.
Okay. Okay. I hear you. Yeah. I hear you.
I like the Rams, and I cannot lie. All right. Other analysts can deny. Number three is. Bears Lions.
Okay. The bears. Bears lines is three. Number two is Chiefs Bills. And number one is the Eagles Cowboys.
They hate each other, man. You know, there'll be Madden and video, they'll be Madden and Summer All Madden, Madden. gate you know calls of Reggie White, Nate Newton, you know, Ducking. Right, Nate Newton, Turducken. We'll see the.
What the Jimmy Johnson saying that Rex Ryan, I mean, Buddy Ryan got his fat butt back in the locker room, right? Like, it's. Oh, there's going to be some Randall Cool Curious Memory Lane stuff. You know.
So those are my Off the top of the dome. Top five Ranking Thanksgiving weekends. Thanksgiving weekend games. It's not Thanksgiving weekend. We don't even know what the rest of what's left.
Well, we still didn't have to say that you can't reheat these games.
Well, for two days. After you've consumed these games, there's no leftovers.
Well, what are the leftovers? As you know, Thanksgiving leftovers are great. Oh, yeah, for the first few days. There's got to be like, what's the Sunday night game? Oh, and by the way, in case anyone's wondering.
We will find out. just how much Chris Collinsworth. If this is true, loves Patrick Mahomes. that he'll do the Thanksgiving night game, which he does not do. As you know, that's usually a Jason Garrett assignment on NBC.
I think you know how much he loves us.
So, two things. Chris, we're going to find out. Here's a guy who normally doesn't normally do the Thanksgiving night game, but it's Patrick Mahomes. If he shows up, Check the box. If he doesn't, Then Torico, as you know, who does the game, will have to make sure.
And next time I talk to Mike, I'll make sure. Jason Garrett slides in. It's mandatory. It's got to happen, not to tell NBC how to do their jobs. Here's a game I don't usually do.
Here's a game I'm normally sitting at home. I'm mad I don't have a Collinsworth impression. You know who does? Coop. Cooper.
Does he? I could do like a Christopher Walking for you, but I can't. Nah. You want to. You want to.
It was a guy. It was a guy. He's a guy who's coming off of it. All right, forget me. That's my de facto top five.
All right, Jerry Dulak is going to join us. What's going on with Aaron Rodgers? A A Ron. And then what and other things. The insider of insiders.
We were in his town for the draft. He's coming up next. Uh Where is The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. If you've ever wanted real energy without choking down something that tastes like regret, Bucked Up is the answer. The flavor is the thing people keep coming back for.
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Alrighty. Auto parts. Yeah. Our friend, the Steelers Radio Network host, longtime insider of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jerry Dulak, is here on the program. All right, Jerry, I read what you write, I hear what you write, all of that stuff.
It was just, what was it, last week when we started knocking on your door? You were reporting that the Steelers were losing a little bit of patience with Aaron Rodgers. Um where do things stand right now?
Well, Rich, what I had said then was that if he was not there by May 18th, which is Monday, the start of OTAs, Then um Some people who matter were going to start losing their patience. Um now, what does that mean, Rich? I don't know what it means because I just don't see them walking away. From this situation, to me, Aaron Rodgers has all the leverage, and not that this is about leverage. I can't sit here and tell you exactly what it's about.
But I can tell you what I know and what I've been told for the longest time is that it is not about money. It's not like that's a holdup. It could be. You know, as to when does he want to come in? And sign?
Does he want to not participate in OTAs? Look, that's not a large deal. In the past, I know the Steelers, I go back to Dan Rooney, when there were some players who were contract holdouts. Dan would tell him, said, Look, wait till a week before the end of camp. And then we'll sign the deal.
Because they were older players and they'd say, just keep stay away because we don't need you. We don't want you to get hurt.
Now I'm not sitting here to say that's the exact same situation, but it wouldn't be uncommon for the Steelers to feel that way. They seem to remain very confident that calm and confident that he is coming. And you know, Rich, look at it. Mike McCarthy is coming. Back to his hometown to coach the team that he grew up watching and cheering for.
The Steelers won the division title last year. They've been in the playoffs five of the last six years. Mike McCarthy doesn't want anything less than that in his first year with the Steelers, and he feels the person who can at least replicate that and maybe take another step is Aaron Rodgers, more so than what he has. He's going to wait for Aaron Rodgers, and I really don't think it's going to take much longer. But you can just tell when there's no panic setting in.
But I will tell you that if this drags on, which they said it wouldn't, yes, some people are going to lose some of their patience. You want to. Give me an indication how high up the flowchart we go here with the patient. Rich, pretty high, as high as you can possibly go. If the elevator goes six floors, I'd say it gets stuck between five and six.
How's that? Thank you, Jerry. I appreciate that piece of information.
So is it true Rogers was in town? Last week, but didn't stop by the facility or meet with anybody? That is correct. That's what I was told that he was in town. Of course, nobody spotted him.
Um, but uh, he was in town, and they all they were doing was talking with his agent. And and I'm not exactly sure. I know in those instances, you know, you cross some K's and dot some I's. I understand that, and there's legalities involved, whatever the case may be. But again, the Steelers don't believe there's any big holdup with money.
They've never thought that at all. That was not an issue. uh with them and for him according the way from what they understood. I don't know if that suddenly changed. I don't know, I don't think so, but I don't know.
But they have not met with him. He has not been at the facility. where they've talked to him face to face. Mike McCarthy claims he talks to him all the time. And I know the GM and owner have talked to him as well.
But Mike says he talks to him, makes it sound like it's several times a week. And I don't think they're talking about the Penguins' early playoff techniques. Or Paul Skeens having an ERA less than two. You know what I mean? Still not throwing a complete game.
You know, Listen, it's the right move, Jerry. Right? I mean, there's no question it's the right move unless. Will Howard is flashing, and you want us to direct? Obviously, Drew Aller, who we'll get to in a second, is going to be a work.
I mean, we've been there and done that with Mason Rudolph with all due respect to him. But clearly, Rodgers, the way that he finished, the way that the team did not advance in the playoffs last year, we're not laying. A lot of that Or even a large percentage of that at Rogers' feet, or I don't even know what percentage you'd be. Able to lay at his feet at all.
So this makes total sense. To me, The thing that just makes no sense is why it hasn't happened yet. You know, do you have any you had any dart throw on that one? No, part of it is because it's, you know, let's face it, it's Aaron Rodgers and he does things differently. And I'm not going to lay it off simply as that, but it's kind of been his history.
The Steelers kind of know that. Why it is dragged? I don't see any reason why. Look, he never sold his house here, Rich, and he hasn't cleaned out his locker.
Now, does that mean he's definitely coming back?
Well, it's probably a good indication that he is. Um And and why they don't agree to the deal. Uh and and then just say, look, he doesn't need to be here, or if he wants to show up. And shake some hands and meet the new coaches, and probably many of whom he already knows, of course. I don't see what the problem is with that.
And so, why it has dragged on. I think that's kind of when I talk about some people losing patience. I think that's kind of what we're getting at there. They have said all along. That they did not expect this to be a repeat of last year when he signed on June 5th.
Well, it's tracking in that direction. right now. And when the owner comes out and says, Told me at the at the owners' meetings. that he expects him to be here by the start of the NFL draft. And he doesn't sign by the start of the NFL draft when the owner says he expects him.
You know, it just doesn't look good. Am I going to sit here and say it's embarrassing? No, but the optics aren't great. And so that it's just that whole situation as it keeps evolving, when they said it wouldn't drag on. Rich, if you pulled the fan base here, I bet you 80% well, I know from listening to them, 80% of them want to just move on and let's let the young kids play.
Well, this isn't a college program. That's not going to happen. But uh I mean if it happened I don't think there would be a large percentage of the fan base that would be upset with it.
Well, what about the relationship between Rogers and Mike McCarthy, are you hearing? That their ability to collaborate like it's old times or uh any gear grinding that was reported towards the end of their previous relationship. Would still linger. I mean, what are you hearing about that? Yeah, I'll be honest with you, Rich, not a lot beyond the fact.
That Mike McCarthy, when he talks about Aaron, he does so with a big smile. Again, he claims he talks to him, and I don't doubt him, excuse me, that he talks to him. Several times a week. I don't want to say if not daily, but certainly several times a week. He says he's in constant communication.
uh with air. And so I would imagine if they if it's constant that they're You know, on the same page with whatever it is they're either talking about or listening to.
So Obviously, I can't speak to the relationship in Green Bay, only what I read. But I will say this: everybody read some not-so-great things about Aaron Rodgers and how he is internally. And I can tell you that locker room in Pittsburgh absolutely loved having Aaron Rodgers around and all the things they heard, how standoffish he can be, and that he's a different duck. He was anything but, and so the players really embraced him, and that's all I can really speak to. As to how he has been received here and whatever his relationship based on what Mike McCarthy is saying.
You know, it seems to be okay. Derry Dulak here on the Rich Island Show. By the way, I've heard the same exact thing. I mean, anytime we've been around Cam Hayward, and we've been around him a lot, he's been on the show quite a bit over the last few weeks promoting his podcast. We saw him at the draft.
Off camera, on camera, said the same thing. Said the same thing. Like the yeah, he locked him. He loves him. He was an open book here, Rich.
He He encouraged the players, you know, hey, a training camp. Want to come down? My door's open. Come down and talk. He would go walk in on the players.
And chat with them. I'd see him in the cafeteria, not only talking to the players, but talking with like groups of people who different people who weren't players, who weren't coaches. He was just, he was trying to be very accessible and very approachable and communicative. And so I I you know, that what I saw was a comple uh a somewhat of complete opposite of what I had heard about him. And that's kind of why he was doing what he was doing.
Jerry Dulak here on the Rich Eisen Show, we talked about the draft in Pittsburgh, the draft for Pittsburgh. I liked it, man. I liked it a lot. Um But were you you said you were in the facility. Were you there when they were on the phone with Makai Lemon and he basically hung up on him?
I wasn't in what they called the war room, which now they called it yeah, which now they call the draft room. Right. I will tell you this, Rich. There were three guys they were willing to trade up to get, and two of them were going to be unreachable. And those were the two Ohio State players, Caleb Downs and Carnell Tate.
But the third guy they were willing to trade up to get. Was Makai Lemon. And so when the Rams did not take him, I guess that's your team, right? Good one. Good one.
Yeah, so when they didn't take him, and then you look at what was in front of them, I think they felt let me say this though, too. They thought they might have the opportunity with Tampa Bay at 15. To trade up. But when Ruben Bain was still on the board, Tampa Bay obviously loved Ruben Bain, and so they weren't willing to trade down. And so then I think the Steelers thought: okay, from what they see in front of them, it looks pretty good to be able to get Makai Lemon.
And then of course Philadelphia jumps in front of them. And you know, people make it sound like that was a failure on the Steelers' part or the Eagles snookered or the Cowboys, you know, with their help, snookered the Steelers. Rich, I go back to 2014, I think, when the Cowboys were on the phone with Ryan Shazier. And it nobody made a trade, I think, at fifteen or sixteen. And the Steelers had the 15th pick.
And while Ryan Shazier was on the phone with the Cowboys, the Steelers called and drafted him. And the Cowboys obviously weren't happy about it that that happened. But there was nothing underhanded about it. That's the way it works sometimes. And so the player that the Steelers wanted in the first round, they had an opportunity to get, they didn't get him.
So from that standpoint, it started off a little disappointment. And Rich, I don't know how you were able to gauge the crowd there. I can only hear it on T V, of course. But there wasn't exactly a big cheer when they drafted Maxi Honichor. Another offensive lineman three of the last four years, they've done that in the first round.
Not that he's deserving of that or not that he's not a quality player. But I think they were kind of hoping for more of a splash guy, and Makai Lemon would have definitely been that. and uh that they didn't get him when he was a target. it was disappointing in that regard.
Well, I mean, listen, Ihana Truer might be what they need more, to be honest with you. And then they get Bernard in the second round. What's the concept behind drafting Drew Aller? Based on your thoughts, knowledge?
Well let me say real quickly about Jeremy Bernard is that he's going to be the key. If Jeremy Bernard can be the player that they thought Mackai Lemon could be, then all of a sudden Maxi Ihonachur looks even better. At number one, to your point. But with Drew Oler, you know, that was the guy Mike McCarthy wanted of the quarterbacks after the first round. You know, he talked up Carson Beck a lot.
Carson Beck was gone, but even if he were there when the Steelers picked in the third round, Mike McCarthy was taking Drew Oler. And all along, I was told that the Steelers would only draft a quarterback if they felt at least modestly high. that it only if they felt he had a bigger upside than Will Howard. And obviously, they think that is the case. Look, True Waller's measurables are off the charts.
We all know that. He has the size. He can make any throw. He has the arm strength. Um but I think you know part of pe people saw it You know, his ability to underperform in big games is the biggest drawback of this guy.
Whereas the opposite was true of Will Howard, who performed his best. In the biggest games when they won the national title, went through that playoff, went on that playoff front.
So that's what has held Drew Aller back, and we're going to see. They're going to, you know, Mike McCarthy was giving him the one-silver in rookie minicamp, man. He is the only rookie, the only quarterback he had at rookie minicamp, the only one he brought in, and he gave him all the work. And you can see it was a pretty good workout for Drew Aller. But he wants to take a look at this guy and find out what he and Will Howard have.
Hopefully they get to play a preseason game. Is it true they broke him completely down? Everything that he brought into Penn State and learned at Penn State, they completely threw out the window and started him from scratch. Is that a true story?
Well, I think when you hear that. Um Rich, I think what that is, is they doing that excuse me, with his footwork and the way they had, first of all, putting him under center. Which is step number one. And then rolling him out of the pocket, play action stuff, moving his feet. Mike McCarthy, you've probably heard him say he's a big footwork guy.
He's talked about that with Will Howard. That's the thing that he wants is not only emphasizing, that he wants to improve and strengthen with these guys. And so when they start talking about breaking them down, that's what they're doing. They're breaking them down. They're not exactly breaking down.
uh his throwing motion. It's more his footwork and his and his ability to to maybe drift in the pocket, out of the pocket, whatever the case may be. Last two things for you here, Jerry. If you put into Artificial intelligence. Hmm.
Okay. Come up with a photograph of the perfect Pittsburgh Steeler offensive lineman drafty. Would Jennings Dunker come out? With that guy on the shooting come out. Rich, they couldn't have drafted a better Pittsburgh-centric player than Jennings Dunker.
And if Dunkin' Donuts doesn't offer this guy some promotional deal, I will be shocked. I mean, this is a thick guy with that mullet, with that mustache tattoos all over him. And you're right. He wants, Rich, he wants to go swim in the Monongahela River. Most people don't even want a boat in the Monongahela River, but he wants to swim in.
He even asked if you're allowed to swim in it. And you know, I was told, too, when he was waiting for his flight to Pittsburgh. You know, he was so tired, he just slept on the floor in the airport.
So, I mean, there are no pretensions about this guy. And yes, you know, in a way, he reminds me of Justin Strelzik, you know, the old Pittsburgh tackle. Same kind of guy, you know, rough around the edges, but boy, everything about him, you put him on the football field and look out. And we're going to see. Yeah, I think that has a chance to be a really good pick for that.
Look at that. Certainly a popular one. I mean, like Nike should be all over that picture right there. Oh, yeah. For sure.
Oh, yeah. And but you talked about the reaction in the draft hall of Steeler fans when Eli Heidenreich came out in his Navy. Um uniform. And he was introduced. The place was lit, man.
Does he have a shot? The hometown kid has a shot here? Jerry, what do you think? I think their failure to make that big splash in the first round, I can promise you, if Dan Rooney were alive with the NFL draft in his backyard within walking distance of his house, I know Dan was a showman. Dan would have done something in that first round to bring the house down while the Steelers did it there in the last round.
And I don't think there's any question. That was, when I say it was scripted, I think everybody knew the Steelers and he knew that was going to happen. I think that's why they kept 10 draft picks. And yes, extremely popular. You know, I was watching them the other day at Rookie Minicamp.
And I watch the players' feet. I watch their athleticism. And he has quick feet and he is athletic. It's going to be tough for him, Rich, because they have three running backs. They have a fullback, Riley Nowakowski.
Um and and so are they going to keep five? I doubt it. Is he a receiver? No, not for what they have, because you're already down to Roman Wilson, you're at four, and then um uh and and with uh Caleb Wheaton at that wheaton, that's five.
So is he going to fit in there?
Well, Mike McCarthy likes to keep extra receivers. You know, I know he's more of a wing player. He's not necessarily a wide receiver. I think he has a chance to be a practice squad guy for sure. Obviously, very popular pick being from Pittsburgh as well.
All right. I appreciate the time. Jerry Dulak or. As you will be known in week seven, when the Steelers are taking on the Saints in Paris, Jerry Dulac of the lake, of the lake. Rich of the lake.
You are of the lake. That was Sir Lancelot's last name. Did you know that? No. Sir Lancelot Dulac.
And if you look at diplomas from Notre Dame, it's Notre Dame Dulac. Are you gone? Yes. By the way, is that the only French you know, Jerry? No, I took French in high school.
Don't ask me to speak it. Suz, you want to help him with his French? You're fluent in French, Suze. Yeah, but I don't want to show off for Jerry. Jerry, do you know?
There has to be a certain amount of humility when it comes to speaking another language.
Okay. So that's going to be great, huh? Steelers? Rich. I will tell you that after the Steelers played in Ireland last year, which was just an unbelievably incredible scene, after Ireland, I did.
My daughter came and I went over to Paris for four days, and now I'm going back again. Look at you. Look at you, the whole. Dulac family is going in week seven. Look at that.
Taking on New Orleans Saints. That's going to be awesome. Steelers in Paris. Steelers in Paris. That is great.
Doesn't that sound great? I don't think you're going to say. And here we are. Jennings Dunker in France. We have to have it.
He's going to go jump in the Seine. That's right. He'll wade through the River Seine. That's exactly right. Thanks, Jerry.
Great to see you. All right, Rich. Always good being with you. Jerry Dulac. Hi, Jerry.
Right here on the Richard Eisen Show. Richard. We're back in a second. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Rich Eisen here.
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So, for our radio audience, we just saw a clip of Cube. Yes. back in the day, you know, here uh on the program. O'Shea, you and O'Shea conducted O'Shea Jr. Yes.
No contest wrestling. That's in the books with Brad Williams. Medium Brad Williams. I'm seeing a lot of great reaction from all of that. It was a fun one for me.
It's hilarious. As for Senior Cube, he was in the booth the other night because the Lowrider bobblehead night Yeah. Did you see his night where he threw out a first pitch? He did not know who was catching. Did you see that?
It turned out to be Mike Epps catching. I missed that. His first pitch.
Okay. Um so that was great. You bounced it a little in the dirt. You know, better than some pro quarterback. Oh, oh.
So, yeah, he did not go, he wasn't even close to Malik Willis. Um and then He was in the booth when Otani broke out of a slump and homeward. We was broke as a joke when I say we. It's me. There's a drive-off of the back boatani headed for the wall in the seats.
There we go. All we had to do was bring ice cream. I know Tani figures it out. It's that simple. Amazing.
You know, and with all due respect, with all due respect to Cube, okay? He's got a power. As we know, he ended World Series game two just by showing up, right? It wasn't. It wasn't Q being in the booth that got Otani out of a slump on Tuesday night.
How can you say that for me? It's the Rich Eisen Show cooler, Chris Brockman, coming up with this subject matter for Overreaction Monday on a Tuesday. Enough with the pitching sideshow. Otani needs to go back to hitting only. Or the Dodgers not going to make the NLCS.
So you think he's not hitting well because he's pitching? 1,000%. I don't know how you could dispute that.
Okay. Guy doesn't pitch for two years. We see 50-50 in the greatest offensive player we've ever seen.
Now we're back to pitching. What is he hitting? 240? It's just baseball, man. It happens.
Maybe it just happened. I don't know. I went to a couple games over the weekend. Didn't hit the broad side of a barn. I hear you.
I get it. Thumbs off. I know. You got Braves mania over there. Enough with the pitching.
No one cares. Untrue, no one cares. It is true. We're there to see you hit. Untrue.
We're there to see you hit. We're not there to see you do something cool every fifth day. We're there to see you do something awesome every day. Let's hit.
Okay, so then he hit that night. Still the Dodgers With that. Home run and Q being in the booth and throwing out the first pitch lost at fourth in a row. And last night Otani took to the mountain. What do he do?
'Cause it's no big deal? Seven shutouts, eight strikeouts to get lower his ERA to 0.82 on the season.
So there's many things that I like, as you know. Being right is way up there. It's on the list. Oh, good lord, is it way up there? The only thing that might be above that is slagging on Brockman when he's not here and can't respond.
I mean, and him being the cooler and way wrong. Good lord. Yeah, let's take somebody who's thrown 0.82. E R A Out. Of the rotation.
Any team should do that, right?
Well, all right, because we need him hitting, which he did anyway. The night He said he should stop pitching because it's affecting his hitting. He hits a home run and then throws seven shutout.
So Dodgers fans, thank Chris Brockman.
Okay. Thank you. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
