In short
NFL offseason talk on two moves: Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to join the Los Angeles Rams, and the Steelers trading OT Broderick Jones to the Cowboys; plus Steelers roster decisions (Elandon Roberts release, keeping four QBs) and the pressure for the Rams to win a Super Bowl.
Guests/backgrounds
Hosts are James “Deebo” Harrison and Joe Hayden (former NFL player/analyst). No other guests are named in the transcript.
Key claims
- Donald returned because the Rams became a “complete team” after offseason moves (including Miles Garrett), making Super Bowl expectations “Super Bowl or bust.”
- Rams’ defensive line is framed as historically dominant: both Donald and Garrett are said to be elite even when double-teamed; injuries/health are the main risk.
- Steelers traded Jones due to underperformance (sack allowance) and a neck injury; Steelers also question releasing ILB Elandon Roberts and keeping four quarterbacks.
Notable examples
- Jones: 2025 season cut short by neck injury (Week 11 vs. Bears); Steelers cite his sack issues (22 sacks allowed mentioned).
- Rams: references to double-team rates and sack totals; “two defensive MVPs” on the same line; Rams’ prior close loss to the Seahawks.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOAaron Donald's Return to the NFL
0:45 to 1:03
Discussion about Aaron Donald returning to the Rams after retirement.
“It can help turn them into an analysis, tracker, deck outline, prototype, or workflow you can review and keep shaping.”
Aaron Donald's Return to the NFL
1:06 to 2:53
Discussion about Aaron Donald returning to the Rams after retirement.
“Amazon Health AI presents Painful Thoughts.”
Aaron Donald's Return to the NFL
10:37 to 14:01
Discussion about Aaron Donald returning to the Rams after retirement.
“What's that, 7-10 or something like that?”
Rams' Super Bowl Aspirations
14:01 to 16:53
Discussing the Rams' team strength and expectations for the upcoming season.
“You got the quarterback, Matthew Stafford.”
Team Dynamics and Competition
16:54 to 18:16
Exploring the competitive landscape and pressure on the Rams from other teams.
“Only three players on record have 20 sacks.”
Team Dynamics and Competition
19:01 to 19:54
Exploring the competitive landscape and pressure on the Rams from other teams.
“ChatGPT can do more than answer questions.”
Rams Dominance and Fan Expectations
21:33 to 22:35
Discussing Rams fans' expectations and the pressure of their roster.
“I want you all to realize that when y 'all play against L.A., they already saying it's done.”
Steelers Trade Analysis
22:36 to 28:00
Analyzing the trade of Broderick Jones and its implications for the Steelers.
“Okay, Joe, you think this is a good move?”
Evaluating Steelers Draft Picks and Performance
28:00 to 30:55
The discussion revolves around the evaluation of recent Steelers draft picks and their on-field performance, highlighting specific players like Najee Harris and Kenny Pickett.
“Like, can you do exactly what we need to do at that position?”
Concerns About Steelers Roster Moves
30:55 to 38:18
The hosts express confusion over the Steelers' decision to release veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts and the implications of keeping four quarterbacks on the roster.
“Like, you go and reach for something that we shouldn't reach for.”
Show all 15 chapters
Concerns About Steelers Roster Moves
38:22 to 39:54
The hosts express confusion over the Steelers' decision to release veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts and the implications of keeping four quarterbacks on the roster.
“Amazon Pharmacy presents painful thoughts.”
Debate on Quarterback Strategy
39:56 to 42:00
The hosts debate the strategy behind retaining Mason Rudolph versus providing experience to younger quarterbacks in the Steelers' lineup.
“I don't think Mason can get it done for us for the rest of the season if that happens.”
Quarterback Evaluation: The Search for Experience
42:00 to 46:40
The hosts discuss the importance of evaluating young quarterbacks and the decision-making process surrounding veteran Mason Rudolph.
“You just bypassed that he wouldn't be able to finish the season.”
Roster Decisions and Their Implications
46:40 to 51:20
The conversation shifts to roster management, focusing on the implications of keeping multiple quarterbacks and the release of key players.
“If Aaron Rodgers, let's say worst case, if Aaron Rodgers were to get hurt, right, Mason Rudolph comes into the game.”
Roster Decisions and Their Implications
53:21 to 54:15
The conversation shifts to roster management, focusing on the implications of keeping multiple quarterbacks and the release of key players.
“You don't feel as interesting as you used to.”
Transcript
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5:13How you doing today, Joe?
5:18James Harrison:Let me tell you something, Debo. Debo, it's my time real quick.
5:28Welcome back to this episode of Debo and Joe. I'm your host, James Debo Harrison, and I'm here with my co-host, Joe Hayden. Please make sure you like, subscribe, and download where you get your show. How you doing today, Joe?
5:45James Harrison:Brother Debo, I am doing extraordinary today, my brother. I'm back to regular scheduled programming back in the crib kids started school again okay it's just back to drop off you know what I'm saying bus stop bring them up there 815 and then I'm free to chill get ready for the show do my little workout get right oh yeah worked out Debo after I drop them off you worked out again you know what I'm saying and then get ready for the show okay surprise yes sir Okay, man. I can't lie. I had me a pretty decent weekend. You know what I'm saying? I got my bike back up here, baby. I've been riding. I've been riding.
6:29Motorcycle? I'm a Harley. Yes, yes. I got me a Harley, man. I got me a street glide special, baby. Okay, okay. Got it looking right, you know?
6:38James Harrison:Got the music bumping with the old school all that. Oh, you, brother. You know what I'm saying? Okay, old head. Okay, old head. Yeah. Smooth. Be careful. Hey, watch that. My bad. My bad. My bad. You know. You out there riding that bike. OG. OG on the Harley with the music bump. Sitting back, leg kicked up. Yeah. I'm telling you, that's how them OGs do it, Deebo. You do. I take OG. I take OG to O-N. Okay, no, no. OG? OG? OG? I take OG. I take OG. I take that O-N. Debo, my dad's birthday just passed. Turned 57. He turned 57 on Thursday. Okay. Happy belated birthday. Thank you. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
7:26James Harrison:Still working out 430 every day. For sure. For sure. 430 every day. That man getting it in, man. Getting it in. Yes, sir. Yes, it is. Aaron Donald has came back out of retirement. He is joining the Rams. Donald has agreed to a one-year,$20 million deal with incentives that could raise the total value to$30 million. Joe, they got Aaron Donald, Miles Garrett. They got Matthew Stafford. They got Puka. They got Adams. They got Brian Young. They got Jalen Watts. They got Duffy. Yes. Duffy. anything less than the Super Bowl is a failure. Wouldn't you say? What you think? Debo, the way that they're coming out, we talked about this Aaron Donald thing, and you were saying that he wasn't going to be coming back, and why would he come back, and all of this and all of that.
8:24James Harrison:And I was telling you that the man was... Well, hold up. Let me tell you why. I was telling you the man was going to come back. Let me tell you why. All right. No, no, no, no, no, no. This is why I said AD wouldn't be coming back, okay? Why? All right. I said he wouldn't be coming back because... I thought the man was going to keep his word, Joe. I'm sorry. I thought the man was going to keep his word. That's my fault. But as I started looking at it, we know, like, you coming in for a workout. Yes. And they put you on the papers that's coming in for a workout. Not once. Twice. But twice. Okay?
8:57That's not – don't nobody play like that. Right around football season. Don't nobody play like that. It's one thing for getting clicks and all that other stuff, man. but don't nobody play like that. Aaron Donald retired in what, 23? Now, he retired in 23, and when he retired in 23, he walked away from the game. You talking about a guy that was still in his time. He was dominant, okay? Now, when you look at it, like, what's going on? Like, why is you coming back, brother? Like you said, you accomplished everything you needed. Did you hear?
9:32James Harrison:He said, I accomplished all I needed. Go ahead. Listen, listen, Debo. Did you hear his press conference? exactly and what did he say he said when he's sitting back and he was watching and seeing what was going on he's seeing all of the people that he's there bringing to the team he like man i would love to be on that squad and he said that he was keeping himself right and keeping his body in shape running on the treadmill trying to stay in shape because this is the only thing i was thinking if aaron donald comes back and he believes he could still be the same aaron donald where he feels in shape he feels in condition when he retired people knew he still had so much more He was balling.
10:08James Harrison:He's still young. He could still go. So why'd he retire, Joe? Because he felt like that he achieved all he needed. But look, look, look. That's what he said. Look, look, D-Bone. No, no, no. Joe, let me tell you why he retired. People have the right to change their minds. They can. Brett Favre did it all the time. He was in and out. We didn't know. Brett Favre ain't never said, I accomplished everything I needed to. There's nothing left for me to do. So I had to dig, Joe. I had to look and dig and see why this man would come back. They won the Super Bowl in what? 21, right? So I look at 22. They missed the playoffs.
10:46What's that, 7-10 or something like that? And then I look at 23, the year he retired. They got bumped out in the first round. Bad tasting as well. As I look back at it, my man said, you know what? I'm here in L.A. it don't look like we got a snowball's chance in hell of winning another Super Bowl. So instead of playing the game, you know what I'm saying, with no chance of winning another Super Bowl and going through all the grind of the offseason and the end season and the camps and all that, my guy said, you know what, I'm going to retire. I accomplished all I needed to. There's nothing left for me to do.
11:22And he walked away from the game. And now, two and a half years later, after the Rams lost the Super Bowl last year and then traded for Miles Garrett, he's back to win a Super Bowl. And as you said, the man said, what did he say? He said, obviously, seeing what - Moves were made. Seeing what there was being done, yeah, and what moves were being made, you know, getting there. I was like, that's a complete team. His words, that is a complete team. And he went on to say, and then you see the other moves. they are making, it's like, okay, I wish I was out there playing right now. So when you say that, that tells me you're only coming back because you believe with the addition of you that you are 100 % going to win a Super Bowl.
12:17There's no other way that you go out there and do it because you signed a one-year deal for$20 million with a bonus on that gets you up to 30. Chaos. Now, so what he's saying is what he said before wasn't really true. He just wanted to have a chance to win another ring. And now he got that chance to win the ring, so he's going to come back. Yes. See, that's what he's saying, Joe. Now, I accomplished everything and ain't nothing else I need to do. That's false. Now, we ring chasing. AD. AD, we ring chasing AD?
12:47James Harrison:Listen. AD got the right to feel. If you think it's ring chasing, call it what you want. But I feel like you said, the main reason, Debo, is bad taste in his mouth. He won the Super Bowl. Then he ended up losing, saw the team wasn't going to be exactly what it was. And he's sitting on the couch, still working out, still feeling like he got, he knows he got stuff in the tank. And then he sees the team bring in Miles Garrett. He's not going to, he's the same way we see it like this. Oh, man. He had 23 sacks last year. He's a dog. Now, okay, I see we're getting to pieces. Trent McDuffie, Jalen Wassa.
13:19James Harrison:Boom. Like, okay, the defense is working. I want to come back and be a part of that. And then one year for 20, we're up to the playoffs. I can go get another 30 ball. I'm just sitting here at the crib. I see all these boys balling. I can go win me one more ship on the way out. Leave with a good feeling. Like, okay, bet. Now I did accomplish everything. I got to play with another Hall of Famer. Nah, you can't say that again. You already said that. It doesn't matter. It doesn't look bad to have two Super Bowls versus one. No, it doesn't. Go do it. So this is where it gets to the point where you're saying, end of the day, Debo, you still, on paper, it looks good.
13:56James Harrison:You got Miles. You got Aaron Donald. You got Brian Young. You got Trent McDuffie. You got Jalen Watson. You got the quarterback, Matthew Stafford. You have, between Aaron Donald, when you talk about a team adding on players, like we used to, or the offseason, We've added 13 all pros, eight with Aaron Donald, five with Miles Garrett, two defensive MVPs with Miles Garrett, three defensive MVPs with Aaron Donald, 125 sacks with Miles Garrett, 110 sacks with Aaron Donald. We're adding 230, 240 sacks to our team that we already had. So with us now, the players got to play. They got to go out there and do what they got to do.
14:40James Harrison:But when you're looking at it, when we always saying, what does our team look like on paper? They got to, but they have to go do the season. So them coming up short of a Super Bowl is a Super Bowl or bust. You know what I'm saying? So like on paper, for this team, knowing you got Matthew Stafford, you have Sean McVay, you got Puka Nakua, you got Devontae Adams, you got Kyle Williams, you got all the spots. You needed a defense. You needed some cornerbacks. You went and got Trent McDuffie, one of the best cornerbacks in the league, and then brought his partner. You know what I'm saying? So when you talk about on paper, when you talk about having two defensive MVPs on the same defensive line, that's never been, nobody's ever had that before.
15:18James Harrison:Then you have on the same team, you have the reigning offensive MVP, MVP of the league as your quarterback. So on paper, it looks good. And we know, Debo, 100 % chance that somebody, like football is 100 % chance of injury. So it's, if they end up being healthy, it's a long season. Like all these dudes got to stay healthy. All these dudes have to stay on the field. Miles Knee has been swelling up. He hasn't practiced the last two weeks. Aaron Donald, like we said, he's coming off the couch. He hasn't played for two years. So we know we're expecting him to be Aaron Donald and be dominant off rip.
15:49James Harrison:I'm not saying he's not, but all that got to play out. We still got to play the game. All the other teams are seeing the same thing. They're going to be shooting for the Rams. Like, okay, bet every game is going to be their Super Bowl because they know, like, oh, no, these dudes already, y 'all crowning them. Man, we got something for them every single week. So they're going to get every best shot of every team. But just when you talk about on paper and you talk about looking at squads and how the Rams were already nice, they lost by a nail-biter to the Seahawks, to the team that won the championship.
16:23James Harrison:And what they've added, I'm like, okay, that's looking really good. Y 'all have to go play the game. But if you're coming up short of a Super Bowl with this loaded mob, that's like, y 'all got mobbed. Because he said himself, before he got there, he said what he was looking at. It's like, okay, that's a complete team. Yes. Before he even got there. Now you there, it's no brainer. It's Super Bowl. It's Super Bowl bust. I mean, you look at the stats just right here from like, I guess, since the double team became a rate that they started tracking in 2017. Only three players on record have 20 sacks.
17:04Right. So two of them are now on the Rams. That's Aaron. And that's Garrett. Garrett was double teamed at 30 percent. A.D. was double teamed at 64 percent in 18. Aaron was doubled at sorry. Aaron was doubled at 64 and 18 with Garrett being doubled at 30 percent last year. The only other person is TJ. He had 22.5. He was at 17%, 21. So anything less than a Super Bowl is a 100 % bust. That's a lot of pressure to put on. But as they said, it was a complete team when they came in. Before he came in, it was a complete team. So now it's a no-brainer. So all you other teams out there, all 31 teams out there, y 'all fighting for running up.
17:47That's what they're saying to y 'all right now. I want y 'all all to know this. every team out there, you are fighting. Yep, Debo. That's what I'm saying, too.
17:54James Harrison:Because no matter what, no matter what, they're in the NFC. So are we over here in the Steelers? We're going to meet them in the Super Bowl. You know what I'm saying? We're going to meet them in the Super Bowl. So it's going to be what it's going to be. So we're going to get there. That's all I'm saying. Come on. All I'm saying, I'm just letting all 31 other teams know. They got to deal with that. y 'all according to the los angeles ram you are fighting for second place that's it it's already theirs let's go on over here and see what the still has got going on but hi i'm ashton lansdale a first round pick in the women's pro baseball league for years players like me dreamed of this moment they said we couldn't play baseball so we trained harder played tougher and never gave up on our dream of professional baseball.
18:44James Harrison:Now, the dream is here. This August, the first Women's Professional Baseball League in more than 70 years launches, featuring the best players in the world. A new era of baseball begins. Don't miss your chance to be a part of history. Get your tickets now at womansprobaseballleague.com slash tickets. ChatGPT can do more than answer questions. It can help you get real work done. ChatGPT work is built for bigger projects with multiple steps. You bring the goal along with the information it needs, like briefs, notes, files, feedback, calendars, data sets, or project plans. Then ChatGPT can help turn all of that into something useful.
19:23James Harrison:An analysis, a tracker, a deck outline, a prototype, or a workflow you can keep shaping. It can also use approved apps, connected tools, files, and browser contexts to help move the work forward. And you stay in control. You give direction, review drafts, approve actions, redirect the work, and choose the final output. So you spend less time sorting through busy work and more time making progress on the work that matters. Put ChatGPT to work on your most ambitious ideas and projects. Get started at ChatGPT.com by selecting work mode. Available on Plus and Pro plans. Get the feeling you should maybe get out more, see and do more?
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20:40James Harrison:Yeah, but I'm not itching to go downtown and tell a receptionist I'm here to talk about my downtown. Some things you'd rather type than say out loud. There's no question too embarrassing for Amazon Health AI. Chat your symptoms and get virtual care 24-7. Healthcare just got less painful. Discover a spectacular island destination with crystal blue seas, endless sunshine, and the cool Bahamian breeze. Baja Mar, located in Nassau, Bahamas, offers your choice of three luxury hotels, over 45 fine dining and nightlife venues, John Batiste's all-new jazz club, the Caribbean's most luxurious casino, and one-of-a-kind experiences for the entire family, like our 15-acre tropical water park, wildlife sanctuary, world-class golf course, and so much more.
21:30James Harrison:Visit Baja Mar.com today. Now, again, all 31 teams, they saying we own y 'all like white on rice and you can't get us off and we winning already. It's done. It's over. I want you all to realize that when y 'all play against L.A., they already saying it's done. It's over. If I was a Rams fan, I would be saying the same thing. Because if you a fan of your team and you just looking at it on paper and if everything is equal, if they stay healthy and everybody performs at the level that you expect, you're thinking that the Rams are going to be good. I'm undefeated, man. What you talking about? You got handlers and everybody out here talking about that.
22:06I'm undefeated.
22:06James Harrison:No, I don't say undefeated. 17-0. Yeah. 19 or 20-0 when it's all said and done with. I mean, I remember a team that had something like this a while ago. I think it was like 2007, 2008. I think it might have been like somebody named like the Patriots or something. They had everything over there. Perfect season. And then somebody ruined it in the Super Bowl. I would hate for that to happen. I would hate for that to happen
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22:35Look here man The Steelers traded offensive tackle Broderick Jones And a 2027 fourth round pick To Dallas Cowboys in exchange For a 2027 third and Sixth round pick So he was drafted 14th overall by Pittsburgh in 2023 He served at a starting left tackle During the 2025 season and then before the season-ending neck injury in week 11 against the Bears, his season was cut short. Okay, Joe, you think this is a good move?
23:07James Harrison:Honestly, from the way it looked, I saw him in a couple of preseason games this season, and it was kind of – it didn't look too good. So I think that the Steelers just looked at maybe what they saw during training camp, what they saw on the way of him rehabbing and getting back. It just wasn't. They'd rather cut short now and just cut their losses. They had a first-round pick. It didn't pan out. They don't think he's going to be the future. So let's move on. I think they see more in Max. They see he has a brighter future, and it's more like, let me see what we can get for Broderick Jones now. He's coming back off of the injury, and I think that was the decision here.
23:42James Harrison:So I haven't seen him too much in practice, but when I seen him, it didn't look like, obviously, we didn't sign the fifth-year option, then a neck injury and he's been giving up a lot of sacks when I saw him out there in the games it didn't look he didn't look great so I think that from what they saw in practice and just the recovery and then trying to figure out let's just cut cut the bait it was a first round pick and being able to understand like all right let's not just try to hide the wound it is what it is like just being like all right I understand it's not going to quite pan out let's see what we can get yeah um I'm gonna have to agree with you because when you you even go back and look at it you know since he got in there and what 23 he is allowed you know 22 sacks and that's the fourth most among you know all tackles so it wasn't like you know it was a year thing it was a combination of things that you know through throughout the years and when you look at it you when you were first round pick, dude, there's certain expectations that come with that.
24:43I mean, you would know that. I wouldn't know. You know what I'm saying? I wouldn't know more about that.
24:47James Harrison:Expectations, you know expectations of performing, though. Yeah. And you know, they actually, I think they went You have to be performing. Yeah, and I think they actually moved up a couple spots to get him. So, when you do that, man, it's not like you have, I mean, they gave him plenty of time, I think, you know, three years. I think the big thing was Like, you know, they were saying he was raw and athletic, you know, all that other stuff. But we really haven't hit on our first round draft choices. You know, like, look at this since 2016. I think the only person we got in there right now that actually got a long term deal from was TJ.
25:27And when you look at it, what we got? You got Artie Burns 16, TJ 17, Edmonds, Bush. We traded over there for Minka. Well, Minka's not here no more. He wanted to tell them his opinion or how he felt. They ain't like that, I guess. Harris, Pickens, and Jones. So when you look at it, since 2016 to 23, we haven't really hit. And shit, Burns, Burns, I would say Burns, Pickett, and Edmonds, that was reaches. Like, I think that was a reach. Again, you're looking at something that they was considering like a raw talent. You know, when you look at, I think Jones. Sorry. Yeah, I think Jones, Harris, Bush, they were legit and they just didn't didn't come to pass.
26:21So now when you look at that, is it the player that just didn't come to pass or was it development? Because, you know, when you look at even the guys that they reach for, a lot of this is development. Like, are they being developed by the, you know, the coaches that they have on staff? So, you know, for me, and then you take into what Mason Rudolph had said, you know, just from him being here under Mike McCarthy, it's like, yo, he was jealous of the guys because, you know, they had a whole system and they're talking about footwork. And he was like, yeah, I was never even told anything about footwork.
26:55It's just do what you do. so I think that that is something that you got to look at too when you're talking about guys not actually getting to the status of what or the potential that everyone thought they could do
27:10James Harrison:I ask you this Debo with these draft picks when did you think because you with Coach Tomlin picking or with the general manager picking when when did that when was there a shift do you know I think I think it was a shift around, I want to say I would say around that 12, 13, maybe time frame. It was for sure switched all the way good by 16. Like it was definitely a head coach decision at that point. And that was something that, you know, I think, like I said, as much as him coming in and being our catalyst for change and getting us that Super Bowl and taking the guys that we already had there. I think, you know, when it got into those last 10 years and not being able to, you know, make it past that playoff game, that first to get that win, I think that was something that culminated into us not being able to do that because, you know, we were reaching for things that we were enamored by numbers, you know, athletic talent, all that, instead of what the guy can do at the position that we need him to do.
28:19Like, can you do exactly what we need to do at that position? And that's what I think led to some of the stuff where we're changing how the defense is ran. We're changing what this person is doing because the talent that we may have at that spot doesn't dictate that they can do everything that needed to be done. And you can't draft for, you know, a player, but you got to draft for your system. Otherwise, you're changing your system every year and you can't do that.
28:42James Harrison:Sure. I think a lot of the some of the some of the stuff is the players. They got to they got to play. I think with D. Bush, he got injured. You know what I'm saying? And he was able to play a little bit longer now, getting back in with the Browns and showing that he could still actually play. It was just injuries with him. I think Terrell Edmonds, he was a safety, but it was more some of that was just play. Like some of the stuff with tackling angles and stuff like that. It's just the pick and the performance. I think Najee Harris, good running back. But when you talk about first round picks and you just need to be a little more explosive, like when you was watching his tape versus Jalen Warrens, You just saw the explosiveness of the backs and just trying to figure out, OK, is that really just translating?
29:23James Harrison:Because in college, I didn't lie. I thought Najee Harris was going to be amazing. Like you can't miss. But the same way when you come to the league is just Reggie Bush. We thought I thought there's no way Reggie Bush will be one of the best running backs ever. It's just sometimes it just doesn't quite translate the exact same way that you would think it would. Trent Richardson, I'm watching his tape in Alabama. I'm like, oh, he's going to come to the league and be unbelievable for the Browns. It's just lifestyle. The way things happen, it's just sometimes it just doesn't work out. So with Kenny Pickett, I think he's one of the players where I'm like, okay, that just wasn't – I don't think that was a great pick.
29:59James Harrison:I don't think he's going to be a starting franchise quarterback in the league. You can kind of see that. Broderick Jones, you know, just the time that we had him out there, 22 – giving up 22 sacks. I mean, you're going to be able – you get that learning curve period, but at some point you've got to stop giving up sacks and, you know what I'm saying, and start learning the position because you're going to get three years to like, you're going to get a long enough time to learn if you're a first round pick. That's your first year. Okay, boom. Second year, you're going to get a little more. Third year, by this time, brother, we gave you these years.
30:28James Harrison:These third round picks, they might have been out of there, not had the first year to even show us that he has the chance. Like, no, we gave you a chance. And now you're to your third year. All right, if you don't get it by now, then we're going to have to move on. So just playing, players got to play. And just some of the stuff with some of the picks with Kenny Pickett, I just don't think some of them were just not really good picks. So it's a little bit of both. Yeah, and that's what I'm saying. Like, you go and reach for something that we shouldn't reach for. We go in and get a guy that we need to develop and we can't develop.
31:02So, you know, and then also the player, you know, you got a 50-50. You know what I'm saying? It's on the player and it's on the coaches to develop that talent, to get to, you know, that point of where y 'all see him having that potential and getting there. The Steelers also, this one has lost me, bro. The Steelers released veteran linebacker, inside linebacker, Elandon Roberts. Roberts was signed late in training camp. And then they released him, dude. Like, I don't understand that. I just this right here, this this move right here, I am one hundred fifty thousand billion percent lost on. You bring him in just to release him.
31:45So you telling me you brought this man in to like be a camp body, dude, that is that is unbelievable. Like, that is no way, because from everything that we were hearing beforehand was basically, it was reported like, you know, he's going to come in and basically almost be like a rotational starter. Like, we need somebody like him, you know? And it's everybody. Like, let's not make like E was trash. Like, he was our best run defender on the inside. okay and and then and that's just being honest bro i'm not trying to take nothing away from the guys that we got in there you know it is what it is just be real when you look at it queen queen is not a better run defender than e the shedding and blocking the shedding the tackling i think i think he is better p dub p dub got more issues than than than uh than that like just the point of attack, like running the ball at him because of his inability or difficulty in shedding blocks.
32:53And then he, like, it's almost like sometimes he can't recognize, like, the run. Like, he can't read it fast enough to get there. Now, Holcomb is probably the best dude that we have now because E is not there. But at the same time, I'm still taking E over Holcomb, Queen, and P-Dub as far as the run game. And what is the other guy we got? We got a rookie in there, Bruner. I can understand that. Special teams, he's doing all the other stuff. But I'm still rolling with E. Like, I hope this don't come back to bite us in the ass week one when we play Atlanta. And they got B-Zone over there, bro. I hear you.
33:36James Harrison:I hear you. I'm hoping, and this is what I'm thinking, with Queen and with P-Dub, them dudes are going to start. With the defensive line, we got to watch, Debo, from the first game of the season, like you said. If you're saying sometimes they weren't feeling this hard, they're going to have to now. Or it's going to have to show that it's been happening because they didn't play too much in the preseason. But when the season comes, we're going to, like you said, first week versus Atlanta, when they're coming against B. John Robinson, we're going to be watching and seeing if, is the defensive line holding stuff up?
34:10James Harrison:Are McQueen and P. Dub being able to come downhill? because like you said, you like the way 50 comes downhill, and so do I. That was what he came to the team for. If they brought him in just as a camp body, that's for physicality. So I'm saying what Queen was talking about when we was up there in camp, what P-Dub was talking about when we was up in camp, I'm hoping and I'm expecting that we're going to see them coming downhill. I understand what you're saying, and I'm hoping to expect the same thing. I sat there, and I'm like, yo, it sounds good. When we come down to it, when we look at the history over what you've done, that's not what we're saying.
34:48That's not what we're seeing, sorry. And, like, I just, I'm just, I'm lost. Like, he was with Patrick Graham over there, D.C. in Las Vegas, right? And then you bring him in and you release him. I don't understand the mindset. I don't understand, like, why that would happen. and then we go and we keep four quarterbacks. Like, that's probably one of the reasons why it's happening. Like, we go and we keep four QBs. Like, why are we keeping four QBs, man? That's crazy to me. Even Charlie was on here Friday. And Charlie was like, it sounds good, but it's impossible to do. It's not impossible to do.
35:35Hey, it's impossible. It ain't impossible no more. Like, dude, we got, what, 53 roster spots, bro? And four of them are for a quarterback, okay? That spot is costing us another roster position for another player that we could have because we then decided to keep, like, four quarterbacks. So what is this dude doing all week in practice? Like, because you can't be getting much reps. There's no way. The third barely getting reps. You know, that's usually your practice squad dude that's, you know, out there throwing the balls, doing all the stuff in practice squad. And then in the game, you're not getting nothing from you in the game.
36:11Like, I understand, like, kind of, like, we need to keep – I would say we need to keep at least two, three. Well, we need to keep at least three because when it comes down to it, you got your two young guys. I got to keep them. I got to keep Aller and Howard. I got to keep both of them. But I don't know if I'm keeping Mason, dude. He's had eight years or so, and we've seen what it is, And I understand a lot of people say, OK, what if Aaron gets hurt? You have nobody that has experience to come in. And, bro, I don't care. I do not care. We know Mason is not the future quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
36:51And if Aaron gets hurt, we're screwed anyway. OK, because.
36:55James Harrison:Hi, I'm Ashton Lansnow, a first round pick in the Women's Pro Baseball League. For years, players like me dreamed of this moment. They said we couldn't play baseball. So, we trained harder, played tougher, and never gave up on our dream of professional baseball. Now, the dream is here. This August, the first Women's Professional Baseball League in more than 70 years launches, featuring the best players in the world. A new era of baseball begins. Don't miss your chance to be a part of history. Get your tickets now at womansprobaseballleague.com slash tickets. Chat GPT can do more than answer questions.
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39:54James Harrison:Visit Bahamar.com today. I don't think Mason can get it done for us for the rest of the season if that happens. And this is what I'm telling you. It's not about what we think, Debo. It's about what Mike McCarthy can do. And because with Mason Rudolph the same way, Sam Darnold, he was not thinking to be looked at like he was going to be Sam Darnold when he was in New York, when he didn't have the coordinators, when he didn't have structure. When he comes to a spot where he has structure, he has a really good offensive-minded coach. He's looking at Mason Rudolph like you can make all – it's not the strength of the throw for Mason Rudolph.
40:32James Harrison:Like he's not done. Like he's won. So you see Mason Rudolph having a possibility. No, no, no, no. Even under Mike McCarthy. Not being in the franchise, but I'm saying if Mike McCarthy, you got a vet on your team and you think, rather, you like the two young guys and you see what you see in Mason Rudolph. I'm just saying why Mike McCarthy would do it, because he's a heavy offensive-minded coach. And he's thinking these four quarterbacks are better than me keeping the sixth linebacker on the team that I don't want to get rid of Will because he's young. I don't want to get rid of Aller. We got four inside, we got four outside.
41:09James Harrison:We usually keep nine piece. Hey, that's what happens. That's what happens. That's when you difference between having an offensive-minded coach and a defensive-minded coach. That extra body, they're going to keep on offense instead of keeping them on defense. They're like, no. Okay, so why not even keep a receiver, extra receiver? When you got six of them, you run in the West Coast. Why not have seven? Well, look, that's on Mike McCarthy. I'm just trying to figure, I'm just trying to say why he would do these things. I feel you, D-Bo. Listen, my thing, dude. If that happens, God forbid Aaron gets hurt.
41:43And now we have Mason as the starter. Mason's not going to get us through the season. We done seen that. We saw that already. Let me go with you. I understand. Okay. But you just, and this is my thing. Why even hold on to Mason? So we know already you got two young guys that you need to find out.
42:01James Harrison:You just bypassed that he wouldn't be able to finish the season. dude we got two young guys that you need to find out what they can do and the big thing and the big knock on them or why you keeping mason rudolph is experience right experience he has experience he's been in there he's been in the fire okay how did he get the experience he had to go trial by fire okay we can't just keep drafting quarterbacks and not using them and then going and play and say oh well they ain't got no experience because you don't never let them get in there and get in real fire to get to the point to where they can get some experience we don't even know what we have like we don't know what we have at some point we're going to have to find out what we have because if next year come Aaron's gone and you keep those three quarterbacks what you're going to do draft another quarterback you can't find out what the what experience they got no we're not going to draft a quarterback I guarantee we don't draft a quarterback for at least a year or two because we got to find out what these two young guys can do and you're telling me you're going to go into that when Aaron's gone with Mason as the one and then these two as the backups?
43:06Like you keep saying, though, he's going to eventually you're going to end up getting able
43:12James Harrison:to play. If you're the backup quarterback, like you're saying, Mason's not going to make it through the year. So the same way with the Sean Watson and Shador Sanders, they feel like they have a vet that played a little bit longer. McCarthy is an offensive minded coach where he's like, I don't think I've seen the best of what Mason can do. We keep saying, oh, we know what Mason's going to do. He's going to get out there and he's not going to be able to finish it. Why not? Why? Let us see what Mike McCarthy can do with him. If not, then we still have these two young quarterbacks where Drew Aller and Will Howard, they're going to get the play.
43:42James Harrison:We're going to hold on. Aaron Rodgers is only going to be here for this one last year. This one last year. And then we're going to be able to see Drew and or Will next year. We're going to hold on to the possibility that he can develop into something. No, no, no. That is going to beat out. and be better than Aller and Howard, right? That's what you're saying, because that's the only reason I'm going to hold on to him. Because when Rodgers is gone, I'm saying, hey, he might be our best option. That's the only reason. I'm just saying, for me, that's the only reason I would hold on to him. Yeah. Yes.
44:22That's it. And when you look at it, dude, right here, we got Deshaun Watson is now, he's been placed on the IR, so he's going to return. Deshaun Elliott sorry Deshaun Elliott he's been placed on IR okay with a designation to return so when he returns we gotta get a spot for him we gotta get a spot for him that's four weeks what happens then? who gotta go then?
44:52James Harrison:somebody gotta go they need to they gotta figure out a way if he wants to keep all four because like you say if it's you not it's Mason is Will, is Drew? Drew's looking, I thought going through the offseason, when we were talking about Will, I didn't know what Drew was going to do. But if you're just being from my honest assessment, Drew looks better than Will. And that's just from my, if I'm just being honest, who do you think has been looking better, Drew or Will? If I'm looking at it, and I'm being like 100 % honest, I ain't gonna lie I might have to say Howard You might have to say Howard I may have to say Howard Now Drew has like I mean Aller So Aller has better arm strength placement Stuff like that But like just in the whole Quarterback position itself I think Howard may have did A little better as a whole Okay But again I'm not I'm not Hey listen man that's why we over here man That's why I ain't coaching I hope I don't know what I'm doing.
45:59I really do. I hope I don't know what I'm talking about right now.
46:01James Harrison:Both of them made really good passes. Both of them didn't. It's not like I'm saying he looked way better. I think both of them looked like they got something. And Drew, I think he put the ball, a lot of the passes he threw, they was dropping some of them too. So I think he could have got a little bit more yards with some of his passes where he was putting them in good ball placement where dudes was kind of dropping passes. So both of them, both of them definitely, they definitely look good. Like they got some potential. Yeah, I understand that But, like, I'm not even going to get to see it by fire, like, because we're afraid or we don't want to give them that chance to figure it out when it happens.
46:38Like, because my thing is this. This is the thing, Debo. This is short.
46:42James Harrison:What's the thing? This is the thing. If Aaron Rodgers, let's say worst case, if Aaron Rodgers were to get hurt, right, Mason Rudolph comes into the game. His leash isn't the longest. So it's like we're not just like, no, this is your job to lose. This is basically like, okay, we're going to get you out there because you're the vet. We know you've been in the system. This is your opportunity to show that you can actually do something. If he doesn't perform and goes out there and throws two picks, he's getting snatched. And then now instantly we can see what's good with the young dudes. Mason Rudolph is not like, oh, no, you're the guy.
47:14James Harrison:We're giving you the keys. No, no, no, no, no. Because we know that you're a vet, you know what I'm saying? You've earned the right to, now you've been in here. You've shown that you know my system. You know what's going on. as Mike McCarthy, boom, let me see what you got. If you go out here and you're not executing at all, like you're not executing, we're going to pull you because then we know we got these young dudes that are waiting in the holster that are showing me they got some skills. They're like, you guys are all around the same way. You get the nod because you're a vet. That's the only reason.
47:43James Harrison:It's not because like I just, the young dudes are playing better than you. You get the nod just because you're a vet. Okay, let's see what you can do. And then if you're playing any type of bad, Me and Deebo look like, whoa, whoa. Get this man out of there, Mason. Like, you had your shot. Okay, we believe in you. It's quick. It's not like, no, you get two games. You get one game. You get a game. As soon as you get in there, listen. Nah, you ain't going to pull him that fast. You ain't keeping him just to pull him. I'm telling you this. You want to go out there, and if he's not playing well, you get a game or two.
48:14James Harrison:I'm not saying, like, we're not giving him. You get three games. A game, you have to start playing well. So two for show. Two for show, obviously. If he gets hurt, you're going to finish the game out. Next game, let's go. Let's ball out. Okay. So let's roll with that scenario. Let's say that happens, okay? And they sit him down and they put in one of the other guys, okay? Now, do he go to three or do they release him totally? Because you just said that he's not going to do it. You're using up a roster spot. You done used up a roster spot that whole time to figure out something that we didn't even, like, At that point, if that happens, now it came to fruition that it was a waste of a roster spot.
48:55Because looking at it, there's no way I see us having a chance of doing anything that we think we're able to do by catching lightning in a bottle with Mason Rudolph. And I'm not going to say we have a chance of doing that with Howard or Aller either. Because when it comes down to it, we don't know what they can do. Yes. But at least I can find out what they can do in that process.
49:19James Harrison:I hear you. I hear you. But you always know when you're playing with the last, the sixth defensive lineman, the sixth wide receiver, being able to try to sign them to practice squad, being able to release them and how they always switch. And you got one person, you got people coming in and out. That little, that last people on the roster. Hate to say it, but you know how the league does it when they flew? They just flew my man out there, signed them, and then released them. Like, the league is savage in the way that they do that, the people at the bottom of the roster. And you know that, Debo.
49:50James Harrison:Like, I know the way that they be moving. It's not right, but they want to keep four quarterbacks. They got somebody that's trying to teeter on the bottom that they're going to release and try to sign a practice squad to be able to move that position. And on top of that, bro, we kept all 10 draft picks, bro. All 10 draft picks. like I don't know like what the percentage is of keeping all 10 like how many I don't even know how many teams have kept all 10 in their draft choices like especially in the first year of you being I don't know bro like you telling me it ain't I mean I understand the list but like I I don't I don't understand this bro I am I am lost I am I am so lost on that move that it just it It totally 100 % baffled me of why you bring him in.
50:48Talk the talk you talk. And then you release him. Like, how you release E and talk all that talk. Then we got four quarterbacks on the list. That's definitely one of the spots. And you keep every single draft pick.
51:10I don't know, man. I feel like they're gonna hopefully I feel like I feel like it's some smoke in the city right now but I don't think it's bad man I ain't saying it's bad but I'm just questioning like the biggest thing I'm questioning is keeping four and releasing Elandon Roberts like how do you release him when that is your like that's what our issue was getting ran on last year right for sure here's the thing bro even if you say oh the D line is doing well how many guys do we really have that can hold a true double for an extended period of time. Like, you got to be able to hold that double.
51:45And when it comes down to it, if I want to, if me, if I'm on the other side of the ball, I'm sorry to say this, bro, but I'm running that P-Dub. I'm doubling up to him so that I can't, so I ain't got to worry about him shooting the gap and doing all this. I'm going to double up to him and rub off. And I'm going to try and get, you know, three, four yards in a cloud of dust every play. No, I hate. That's just.
52:04James Harrison:I know what you're saying. He definitely is coming downhill. so when we watching the games and if you not seeing our backers going downhill you gonna be like you can go downhill too but remember you gotta shed when I'm saying downhill obviously if somebody gets up on you you gotta get them up off you
52:28you know when you do that bro you gotta come downhill bang bang get off it's not no bang fight with him as he pushing two three yards and now you make the tackle but hell, he done got four or five yards now.
52:38James Harrison:You are engaging and disengaging very fast. You're engaging, extending, and releasing. You got to. You got to. Hi, I'm Ashton Lansdowne, a first-round pick in the Women's Pro Baseball League. For years, players like me dreamed of this moment. They said we couldn't play baseball. So we trained harder, played tougher, and never gave up on our dream of professional baseball. Now, the dream is here. This August, the Women's Pro Baseball League launches, featuring the best players in the world. A new era of baseball begins. Don't miss your chance to be a part of history. Get your tickets now at womansprobaseballleague.com slash tickets.
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53:50James Harrison:Wait, I came in for two things. How is this$47? All right, we're going to need a plan here. Just start simple with Bank of America Advantage Safe Balance Banking. No overdraft item fees, no monthly maintenance fee if you're under 25. Plus, as a new checking customer, you can earn$100 when you open an account and make qualifying Zeller debit transactions. Oh, that's actually really simple. Safe balance banking. One less thing to figure out. Learn more at bfa.com slash earn100. Terms and conditions apply. Bank of America and a member FDIC. Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building.
54:25James Harrison:You're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog, HVAC on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering, and 24-7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. Grainger, for the ones who get it done. This episode is supported by FX's The Drop, a snowfall saga. Wanda and Leon are back, but this time they're chasing a different kind of legacy. As West Coast rap begins to take over 90s Los Angeles, Wanda is betting on a new generation of artists.
55:07James Harrison:But in a city where every opportunity comes with a price, they'll have to decide what they're willing to risk to leave their mark. FX is the drop. Premieres September 8th on FX and Hulu. This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.
From the publisher
NFL Legends James "Deebo" Harrison and Joe Haden react to Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to join the Rams, Steelers trade Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys and much more!
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00:00 - Introduction
4:30 - Aaron Donald returns to the Rams
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29:00 - Steelers keep 4 QBs on Roster
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