Deebo & Joe - Part 2: Steelers Disrespecting Joey Porter Jr.? + Harbaugh on Chargers Upset Loss

15 Sep 2026 · 40 min · 15 chapters

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In short

Steelers contract/guarantee debate around Joey Porter Jr. (rumored $33M offer, franchise-tag leverage, and how Pittsburgh structures guarantees), plus Jim Harbaugh’s comments after the Chargers’ upset loss and how many starters should play in preseason.

Guest backgrounds

Deebo Samuel (former NFL linebacker; co-host) and Joe (co-host). They discuss NFL contract strategy and injury/roster management from a player/football-ops perspective.

Key claims

Steelers rarely offer large guarantees beyond the first year (they cite T.J. Watt’s $80M guaranteed; DK Metcalf’s $60M guaranteed as a contrast). Porter Jr. reportedly wants more guaranteed money; Steelers’ stance could lead to a franchise-tag stalemate and “reserve to return”/IR timing games. Harbaugh said, in retrospect, Chargers should have played starters more in preseason for game-like reps.

Notable examples

T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, DK Metcalf, Alex Highsmith, franchise-tag “up to three years” logic; Carson Wentz incentive bonus; Isaiah Pacheco back-surgery recovery timeline; Harbaugh preseason snap-count debate.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Steelers Contract Discussions and Joey Porter's Future

2:21 to 14:01

Analyzing Joey Porter Jr.'s potential contract with the Steelers.

“What kind of guarantee would you think he was worth?”

Introduction to Franchise Tagging

14:01 to 14:36

Discussion on the implications of franchise tagging players in the NFL.

“Everybody in the Steelers, all the fans, me, Debo, we want you to get paid.”

Contractual Dynamics in the NFL

16:45 to 19:19

Analyzing the complexities of NFL contracts and negotiations.

“Are your kids bored with the same old sports?”

Guarantees and Performance in NFL Deals

19:20 to 21:44

Exploring the relationship between player performance and contract guarantees.

“But$30 million guaranteed, Joey Porter's looking at that deal like that's a one-year$30 million.”

Trading Players and Team Strategies

21:45 to 24:41

Discussion on the strategic considerations of trading players in the NFL.

“And well, I'm just going to let him go before I can see if, you know, he could come back when you already got money guaranteed that you got to pay him.”

Incentives and Bonuses in Football Contracts

24:42 to 28:00

Examining the incentive structures in player contracts, including performance bonuses.

“I just really don't know how that's going to work.”

Injury Challenges and Surgery Recovery

28:00 to 31:19

The hosts discuss the physical challenges and recovery experiences from injuries in football.

“And, you know, the first week or two, I could feel it.”

Injuries Affecting Team Dynamics

31:20 to 31:37

Injuries can disrupt team strategy and player availability, prompting discussions about roster decisions.

“Like, injury is a thing that can happen to anybody.”

Injury Challenges and Surgery Recovery

33:46 to 33:56

The hosts discuss the physical challenges and recovery experiences from injuries in football.

“so you spend less time sorting through busy work and more time making progress on the work that matters.”

Preseason Game Strategies

34:05 to 34:34

Discussion on how head coaches should approach playing starters in the preseason.

“It's fast, competitive, and even offered at the NCAA level.”
Show all 15 chapters

The Importance of Preseason Preparation

34:35 to 38:54

Exploring the significance of preseason games for player readiness and team chemistry.

“the head coach, Jim Harbaugh, now wishes he played more starters in the preseason.”

Super Chats and Fan Interaction

38:55 to 39:34

The hosts read and respond to fan messages and questions from the audience.

“We got Super Chats from Monday that we did not get to.”

Steelers Contract Decisions and Challenges

39:35 to 42:00

Discussion on the Steelers' management decisions regarding player contracts and team strategy.

“You're by far my favorite linebacker of all time.”

Steelers Contract Issues and Guarantees

42:00 to 47:44

Discussion on the Steelers' contractual operations and their impact on player retention.

“You can't preach win now while letting one of your own young stars walk.”

Preview of Upcoming Football Games

47:44 to 48:08

Hosts discuss upcoming Thursday Night Football game and schedule.

“We got the Lions at the Bills Thursday night.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. This is the Dan Levitard Show. This is Dan Levitard and I've been doing this for more than two decades. Our show is contagious. It's a little bit addictive. It's in the most positive of ways. It has a good amount of range from smart to silly and it's got a journalistic backbone. Monday through Friday I show up and talk about sports. Listen to the Dan Lebitard Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever it is that you get your podcasts. Power Slap 23 is live and free on YouTube on Thursday, September 17th. Dana White is bringing Power Slaps to Texas for the first time on the campus of Texas Tech University.

0:44Two massive title fights headline the card, including slap fighting legend Wolverine. Also on the card is former WWE champion Jake Hager and the debut of former UFC heavyweight Chris Barnett. You can watch Power Slap 23 for free on Power Slap's YouTube channel. Thursday, September 17th for the first time from Texas. Power Slap's biggest card of the year. Dad, Disney activities are on Lingo Kids. What? Moana and Elsa and Marvel's Spider-Man, all of them. On Lingo Kids? Yes, Dad, on Lingo Kids. That's pretty cool. I know. You just lost them for the rest of the afternoon. Worth it. Full of fun activities inspired by Disney's Moana, Frozen, Zootopia, Marvel's Spider-Man, and more, Lingo Kids is where little ones discover more about favorite characters.

1:31Lingo Kids! Everything kids love. Download it for free. Hey, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sykema, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Show. Are you ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, you're already playing from behind. Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move count. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have your kids ever wanted to try an Olympic and Paralympic sport?

2:10Try fencing. It's fast, competitive, and even offered at the NCAA level. Find a beginner class near you at trifencing.org. That's tryfencing.org. What kind of guarantee would you think he was worth? With Joey Porter Jr., I think if he goes to the open market, it's the difference between what the Steelers are going to try and do and what every other team I think in the NFL do. When we talk about guaranteed money, this is the only organization that doesn't really do it. The only dude that they've been giving the guaranteed money to is T.J. Watt in the past. T.J. Watt has signed in 2021 when he signed four years, 112 million.

2:55They gave him 80 million guaranteed. In his last extension, he signed three years, 123 million with$108 million guaranteed. That is it. And T.J. Watt has been first team all pros, set and sack records, and all of that stuff. So he has the stats, the accolades to go with it. So I think with, and that's the one. The next one that's got the most guaranteed is DK Metcalf, a recent deal where DK got four years,$132 million with$60 million guaranteed. The Steelers normally only give that first year of signing bonus guaranteed contract. And then the rest of the rest of your first year basically is guaranteed from the Steelers.

3:36They give you your signing bonus and that's what your guaranteed portion is. So with Joey Porter Jr., if it's around, if they're saying$33 million for the Steelers, that's just like one year. So it's basically going to get a one-year deal. And the Steelers, they normally pay it out. Cam Hayward, he saw his first deal in 2015 with six years,$59 million with$15 million guaranteed. His second deal in 2020, four years,$65 million with$26 guaranteed. So it's basically, you can get up to the two years of your contract guaranteed, but they don't do more than that. with Witherspoon. That's the first three years of his contract because if you're making $30 million a year, 30, 60, 90, it's right around 100.

4:16And then he has two more years left on his deal. So it's a five-year contract with three of those years are guaranteed. So basically, Witherspoon's playing on a three-year, $100 million contract fully guaranteed with two years on the back end. With Joey Porter Jr., if he signs a four-year deal, the Steelers are looking like, you look, you're signing a four-year deal, you're going to get your first year guaranteed, and then the next three years, you're on the squad making around$25 million a year average price per year, but it's not guaranteed. And with Joey Porter Jr., if you go to a different team, they will be able to give you those higher contracts because teams normally do it.

4:50But the Steelers, in their history, they only give up normally the first year guaranteed, maybe two. So with Joey Porter, his number, if you go to the open market, it's going to be right around that number you're looking for, around$90 million guaranteed, depending on the length of the contract. But with the Steelers, that's not something that they're looking to do. So it's like, it's tough. It's tough because - So where do you see his guarantee being as far as what you would do? What I would do? A worst case scenario. What's your bottom? Bottom line, I would go around the, if it was a four-year, if it was a four-year deal, I would do four years.

5:29It would look basically like T.J. Watts' deal. I would want him to get around four years, 112 with 80 guaranteed. Okay. Okay. So if that's the case and they're saying it's the guarantee, 33, I don't see him signing for 33. I don't see nobody actually going to 33, especially when you look at the market right here. When I'm looking at the market right here, the last 18 months of signings from these guys, the lowest one I think is$70 million of a signing bonus. So that's where I would think like you would start at and just be like, yo, we're going to do 70. Yeah. And that. And I think even if we and if I think that that's that's not I think that around that number, Debo, 70, when you're going to that's that's going to be two years of the guarantee.

6:16Most teams are not going to give the three is you're reaching. But that's us assuming that it's a three million dollars. It's no way. We know that's not it because he wasn't asking. He wasn't even trying to break. Like, like we know, we know what that is. Like, so we know already like this 33 that ain't, you know, that's, that's a year and some change. You know what I'm saying? And when it comes down to it, it's basically a year deal. You get signed a bonus, whatever. So he's like, yo, I'm not doing a year deal. And this 33 made me think like, so I'm like, yo, if it's 33, let me look and start looking at the scenarios, dude.

6:56that come behind this. And it made me think when Mike McCarthy said that it's no time limit for Joey Porter's return. I think we got the sound for that, too. We got the sound for that? You know, hopefully we'll have a good plan for him on Wednesday. Hopefully we'll do more. You know, that's the outlook. So, yeah, hopefully we move forward more volume of work. You know, that would be my anticipation. so now it's no timeline on his return so when you listen to that and they're talking no timeline on the return now it got my head spinning now i'm spinning i'm running look at mine mine i'm not even spinning all right we already know what's 33 you're talking 33 right so now i got to take this 33 and say all right if this rumor is true and it goes to that joey is due to make four this year right four 3.9 and if they tag him what are you at 20 24 24 next year if they tag him he's at 24 next year okay so if that's the case it's around 28 27 something like that right yes well the 33 would sound like a good deal maybe to me as a as an owner because when it comes down to it this all i have to do yeah you know what i'm saying but that's just that that's that's not usually how it works and the fact that they started to deal so late this may be you know i'm saying a a point where okay your back is hurt now i can't i can't make you, I can't make you play.

8:44And if you say that your back is hurt, then I'm going to have to believe that, which means you can sit out, you can get paid, you don't get fined. And with this happening right here where he says there's no timetable, I feel like this may be where if I'm the owner and I'm the Steelers, I'm trying to use my leverage now. And I'm trying to force him to have to play or sit out. because now what you're doing is you're playing or not playing because your back is hurt. So I have to believe that as an owner that your back is hurt. So I got to keep paying you and life goes on. Or, no, listen, no timetable on your return.

9:36What do I do? I say, okay, it's no timetable on your return. We don't know what's going to go on. I'm an IRU. Reserve to return. That's four weeks. And basically, that's me as an owner saying, hey, is it real? That's my warning shot. Boom. I done shot. I done shot. Now, after that four weeks is up, you return. Now, when you return, you got to either play or you can say you still hurt. and sit out now if you do that i are i argue for the whole season okay now i argue for the whole season you say next year comes and well for me personally if i'm the owner i'm going to i argue i'm going to take your um i'm going to go ahead and give you the franchise that because you didn't get a chance to play for me and i'm hoping that you get healthy yeah okay because I have to believe that you are.

10:43Now, what this will do is if he is not hurt, he's going to have to be like, you know what? I'm going to have to make a difficult decision of if I'm going to say, play it out, I'm hurt, and then take a chance of getting franchised at the end of the season, and now you either play or sit out. Now you're going to sit out two years. Hello. So two years out now, what you going to do, sit out again or play? Well, if you sit out, you're two years out. Now you're back on a prove-it deal. So now that 23, 24 on that franchise tag, which are four, and the 33 that they offer look a whole lot more appealing, but they don't do deals in season.

11:31In season. So when it comes down to it, if that's the move that ends up happening, now you're still stuck there or you got to say, you know what? I'm going to go ahead and be like, yo, I don't want to be here. I'm going to sit out. I'm going to take the fines. Now, if they franchise tag you, they know you don't want to be there. Why would you tag me if you know I don't want to be here? And I'm going to tell you why I'm going to tag you. The reason I'm going to tag you is because I got no value from you. And you came at the beginning saying that it was a back. And now I find out because you finally say, I don't want to be here.

12:13I want, I want, you know, I want out. And if they can't get what they feel is the value of him in this process of seeing, you know, what they can and can't get. If it's me, I'm telling you, I got to get something. Like even if it's next year and I don't get nothing but a, you know, a third or a fourth, I got to get something. And you get the money off of your books. But if that's the process, that's what it comes down to. And now, really, what you're doing, you know, especially if I'm – yo, this is what we do at Stillers. We do not give large signing bonus. That's not what we do. Large guarantees.

12:57We're going to make you – yeah, we don't give large guarantees. So what we're going to do – We'll make the numbers. We're going to make you a cautionary tale for anybody else when it comes contract time that we the Steelers, we don't do large grantees, but you got a high chance of your contract being played out. If you don't want to be here, then you should go ahead and be like, yo, I don't want to be here in that process. If we can't get a deal done and you end up doing Le 'Veon, he set out. Then you go and get a contract somewhere else the next year.

13:31Right now, it's looking messed up. You broke it all the way down because this is the thing. The Steelers, we know, they've given contracts to Washington, to Nick. You know what I'm saying? So, like, right now they have him under contract. It's not like we would love all the players to re-up and get paid. But when you do have they have your rights. They have you right now. They have you under contract and then they can franchise tag you. You've outplayed that contract. Everybody in the Steelers, all the fans, me, Debo, we want you to get paid. It's not that. It's like now it's just getting ugly because as the business side of it is.

14:17This is the Dan Levitard Show. This is Dan Levitard, and I've been doing this for more than two decades. Our show is contagious. It's a little bit addictive. It's in the most positive of ways. It has a good amount of range from smart to silly, and it's got a journalistic backbone. Monday through Friday, I show up and talk about sports. Listen to the Dan Lebitard Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever it is that you get your podcasts. Power Slap 23 is live and free on YouTube on Thursday, September 17th. Dana White is bringing Power Slaps to Texas for the first time on the campus of Texas Tech University.

14:56Two massive title fights headline the card, including slap fighting legend Wolverine. Also on the card is former WWE champion Jake Hager and the debut of former UFC heavyweight Chris Barnett. You can watch Power Slap 23 for free on Power Slap's YouTube channel. Thursday, September 17th for the first time from Texas. Power Slap's biggest card of the year. Mom, can I have Lingo Kids? Seth, Lingo Kids, please! When did we become the Lingo Kids house? No idea. Last week it was dinosaurs. This week it's... Lingo Kids! Why Lingo Kids? Because it's the best thing ever. We can play games. With astronauts.

15:31Wild animals. And superheroes. With more than 4 ,000 interactive games, songs, and shows, Lingo Kids is the number one entertainment platform for young kids. So, no dinosaurs? And dinosaurs. Lingo Kids! Everything kids love. Download it for free. 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, an analysis, a tracker, a deck outline, a prototype, or a workflow you can keep shaping.

16:16It 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. Are your kids bored with the same old sports? Try fencing, the Olympic and Paralympic sport that mixes speed, strategy, and fun.

16:56It's like chess meets cardio. Quick feet, quick decisions, and a satisfying beat when you score a point. Kids, teens, and adults can start anytime. Fencing is one of the fastest-growing NCAA sports, with new colleges adding programs every year. Many clubs have loner gear. Coaches teach fundamentals and safety from day one. Find a beginner class near you at try fencing.org. That's try fencing.org. Right. Under contract for them. And now what can they do to you? So you can go with the back and all that stuff. And then at the end of the day, we're figuring out like you eloquently put Debo into this year.

17:29You can be able to weigh up. IARN being able to get out. And this year you'll make$4 million. Then they tag you. And you can make 24 that year. So that's two seasons. You haven't played no ball. And you've gotten. Now hold up. Now hold up. If I want to be a real A-stick, like A-hole, those are star finals. I can tag you again. You want to get fined no matter what. No, that's what I'm saying. We're just saying, D-Bo, we're saying they can have them for three years. Yes, they can tag you again after this year. Yes. At the end of this year, you go through that one, sit out another, and they can tag you again.

18:06so that's why when we say the things that we say with the team and understanding what it is understanding that i want you to get paid you deserve to get paid we're not not saying that ever but the thing is when the team is looking at it too they have you under contract you have out outperformed it so that's they they won they got you in the second round for four years nine million dollar contract so joey porter it sucks but now and contractually you they have you so You can try to work the ways. We expect you to get paid. We hope that happens. But they have you this year. They have you next year.

18:41And they can tag you again. So they can have you up to three years. Now, I'm trying to figure out how can we get you paid, nephew. Collective bargaining agreement. That needs to be changed there. The NFLPA needs to be front and center in making sure that all of that stuff is one of the things that are non-negotiables. on the docket when that time comes for that to be done, which I don't see doing or getting done because as me, as being an owner, if I'm an owner, I have everything I want right now and I'm not going to give up anything until I have to. And that won't be until after 2030 when you get locked up.

19:26Like, it makes no sense. it's it's sad to see but it's a business it's a business so the Steelers they do have Joey Porter on the contract so when we know like at the end of the day fans we want them to get extended we want to get a contract but then it's like what are their numbers the Steelers are only trying to give certain amount of guaranteed certain amount of things in their contract they're not willing to budge on maybe the average per year is good it could be I don't know it could be a four year let's say 36 to 91 On four years,$120 million. Average per year is good. But$30 million guaranteed, Joey Porter's looking at that deal like that's a one-year$30 million.

20:06Like the rest of the years, it sounds good, but that is a three for 90, zero guaranteed up in the air. I understand. I know y 'all are talking about when the Steelers sign contracts to their guys, you normally play it out. He said, but I can't take your word for that. If you can just sign it and make it be, say it's a two years for$60 million, when I know my first two years are guaranteed, that's just more comforting that's just the way the deals go if it was another team that's have two years for sure maybe if you're a baller you can get three that's the way that Gonzalez's contract he's got three of his years guaranteed 100 million and Witherspoon well you gotta look at it you go all the way back to 18 with JC Horn that was that was that was that was 100 million he had 70 million guaranteed boom that's three those are the first three years right those are the first three years of the deal You got your last year at a one year for$25 million.

21:00They can let you go. You can renegotiate. You can kind of tear that thing up because now what's the new market? I was playing at$25. Now the market now is at$33. So you're looking at that deal like, okay, bet. The extension is going to be to the$33 million. We got you a one for$25. Let's just add it on. So that's kind of how it works. So with Joey Porter, I respect he's trying to get that guaranteed. The Steelers are looking at it. We don't do guarantees. We pay out the first year big signing bonus. it'd be 30 million maybe. Who knows? But then after that, you got to trust us. Joey Porter's like, no, I need to see that.

21:34And I need to see that on paper. Right. Only thing I can trust is that you ain't going to waste your money. You know what I'm saying? Like, you ain't going to be like, yo, I'm just going to let him go before I find out if, you know, God forbid, somebody ended up getting hurt. And well, I'm just going to let him go before I can see if, you know, he could come back when you already got money guaranteed that you got to pay him. Anybody will do that. like if you do that your play is absolutely horribly like it's horrible yeah try it like they done went and said you know what we're gonna do like miami and we have a hundred you know what is it 200 and 300 something uh two what is 170 something against the cat they only got half of what they can use for their actual roster available yeah yeah so i mean it's gonna come down to it's just gonna come down to who will blink first yeah and and that it's not i mean and you know how it go big bang take little bang come on because i'm i'm saying you when you look at the past and i look at players in who signed contracts and how much guarantees they've done that's just what the history says from big ben to cam hayward to ab to minka like those were just deals that are getting done.

22:50The biggest ones is TJ Watt. Because it's like, when you have a dude that resets the market, because he's one of one. He was up there. Him miles with the numbers, with the all pros. It's like, now you don't have no leg to stand on. With Cam Hayward, he was up there too with some all pros, but he still didn't get as much guaranteed. But you're going to get the average per year because it's like, Cam, we believe you're going to be here. We're not going to cut you. But it's like, you had to see it. That's what happened with Cam. I can't believe that. Debo, Debo, trust me. I'm with you 1 ,000. Like I said, it's a business at the end of the day.

23:23It's a business. So I'm with Joey Porter where he's like, look, it's $100 million guarantees going off over here. And when you're talking about less than 30, I can't do that. It just doesn't make sense to me. So the best thing would be, and for me now, get as much as they could if they're going to trade Joey Porter Jr. because That's just it though. It's no panic to trade. It's going to cost you what? Four? It's no panic for me to trade. if I don't get what I want, who knows? Like he said, the art dude said it could be a, it could be a first round or it could be a first and, and, and, and another one and a player that comes with it.

23:59That's a high ass though, but it could be. And if that's what they want and saying like, yo, we'd rather go ahead and sit here and hold on to this and, and just not even get the 4 million and then say we franchising next year and figure out we can get after that. Then that's what they go do. Cause you're going to take the franchise off of your books. You, You ain't spent nothing before and you end up getting something. Even if it ain't nothing but a two, three, four or five, whatever it is, you'll get something. So it's like it's no need for them to let you go unless they get exactly what it is they want.

24:32Yeah.

24:35Yeah, it's a difficult situation, man. But I'm hoping everybody could. I don't know. I don't know. Cooler heads can prevail. I don't know how that's. I just really don't know how that's going to work. Me either. I'm flustered about the situation. Old me, eagle me, I would have held on to it. You know, that's just old me. But your guy over here, the Vikings quarterback, Carson Wentz, he earned an additional$100 ,000 after replacing Kyler Murray in Minnesota's upset over the Packers. It's an incentive bonus that the quarterback will earn in every game where he plays at least 60 % of the snaps and the team wins.

25:19100 ,000 bonus is capped at the six wins. Each of his next wins after, I guess, the six and beyond is worth 150 provided he plays 60 % of the snaps. Yes. Yeah. So, see, they out here. They out here just. That's what you call incentive and gives a little man some initiative. Yes. Yes. I might. Yeah, Joe. Man. Yeah. He going to drop some dots. He going to drop some real dots. He going to drop some dots, Debo. Bruh. I'm happy for him. He's not giving me incentive like that. 60 % of the snaps in a win? He don't even play on the other two phases of the game. No. Like, that's... Mm-mm. He can go out, listen, he can go out there and throw four or five picks, man.

26:20And they still... See, you're right. You're right. At least give me some dinner or something, man. Give me something to eat. Oh, for sure. If you go out there, yeah, yeah, yeah. And the special teams run back some kicks, you know, threw two picks. Oh, yeah, you got to take care of them. No question. Your guy, what's his name? Pickett. I always get his name wrong. He went to the Lions, the running back, Isaiah. A Pacheco. Pacheco, that's it. Yeah, Pacheco. They're saying he going to miss 12 weeks, dude, after having to undergo back surgery to remove a loose body that was pressing on a nerve in his back.

27:03They say he could return early December. Dude, no. No. Hey, do not do that, bro. No, don't do it. I don't know what you had. I had two micro-discectomies in a matter of seven, eight days, right? Dude, six months later, bro, my back was still lit, brother. How did it happen? Dude, I guess they don't know. I don't say here. Don't say how it happened. Oh, I was talking about you. You said you had it. Oh, me? Yeah. So I don't know how it happened, to be honest with you. I think it was over the course of time. So what ended up happening is it was 2010, the year we ended up going to the Super Bowl against Green Bay.

27:54And we, yeah, that one. So through the course of the year, you know how you get the tour it all, right? Yeah. So you get the tour it all. And, you know, the first week or two, I could feel it. But when I got the tour it all, it'd go away. And by the time I got to like week four, the tour dog wasn't taking it away no more. And now it was actually just going all the way down my leg. You know, I'd go to turn the corner, step to turn the corner, my whole leg go dead. I just fall. You know what I'm saying? And so I go to the doc. I'm like, yo, you know, I tell them your back is lit. They do MRI and everything is kind of pressing over there between S1 up to L5.

28:41so they do the test they like well you're strong enough and you know you can you can keep going or you could get the surgery done and you'll be back in six weeks i'm like okay let's do the surgery yeah let's jump back in six weeks they're like no no no let's just go ahead and do it to you i'm like all right cool i could do that too whatever so i go through the year bro bro i done had to get shot in my back on a Saturday to play on a Sunday, epidural, all that, bro. Like, I can't get out the bed. Like, they got to come help me get it like, bro. Okay. Now, get the surgery. We go all the way through to the Super Bowl, man.

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29:19Get into the Super Bowl, get done, get out, end up getting the surgery. In March, right? No, right before they locked us out, because that was the year to lock out. So it was right before March. That's why I had to do it so fast. So it was right before that March time frame. August, July, whatever it was, July, August came around. Bruh, back was lit going through OTA, going through training camp and all that. I mean, lit. So what are you talking about? Low back ain't no joke, man. 12 weeks, and they done, I don't know, like a nerve in his back, dude. Like, you had to go into there. Like, they fillet a fish you, bruh.

30:01They opened up your backside. I got a cut from here to here, dude. Ah. Yeah, that little part is fillet and fish, bro. Like, you can see the spine. Like, it's crazy. Yeah. And you coming back and running back, too, Pacheco. You got to make sure. You're getting spanked every play. They might tap your back. Like, he's had some, like, this bad, bro. He had, like, some injuries over there, too, in Kansas City. I think it was 24. Before, he did the fibula. He broke his, well, fractured. He fractured his fibula. Yeah. And last year, he got lucky. When he got hit, he only sprained his MCL. Remember that game?

30:48Yeah. 100 % injury in that league, bro. And especially now he playing that running back. Got to be more careful. Yeah. Yeah. Wishing good luck, man. A thousand percent. For sure, for sure. But after... Go ahead. Go ahead. I said, I know they probably wishing they had our boy Montgomery out there. Well, they wouldn't have got him. So... They weren't trying to get him no dough. If they had rid of Montgomery, they wouldn't have had to get him. You see what I'm saying? Like, injury is a thing that can happen to anybody. So the fact that he got injury don't mean that just because Montgomery is over here.

31:33This is the Dan Levitard Show. This is Dan Levitard, and I've been doing this for more than two decades. Our show is contagious. It's a little bit addictive. It's in the most positive of ways. It has a good amount of range from smart to silly, and it's got a journalistic backbone. Monday through Friday, I show up and talk about sports, listen to the Dan Levitard Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever it is that you get your podcasts.

32:28September 17th for the first time from Texas. Power Slap's biggest card of the year. Dad, Disney activities are on Lingo Kids. What? Moana and Elsa and Marvel's Spider-Man, all of them. On Lingo Kids? Yes, Dad, on Lingo Kids. That's pretty cool. I know. You just lost them for the rest of the afternoon. Worth it. Full of fun activities inspired by Disney's Moana, Frozen, Zootopia, Marvel's Spider-Man, and more, Lingo Kids is where little ones discover more about favorite characters. Lingo Kids! Everything kids love. Download it for free. ChatGPT can do more than answer questions. It can help you get real work done.

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33:52Put 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. Have your kids ever wanted to try an Olympic and Paralympic sport? Try fencing. It's fast, competitive, and even offered at the NCAA level. Find a beginner class near you at try fencing.org. That's try fencing.org. Not injured that he wouldn't have possibly got injured. You see what I'm saying? So that's six in one hand, half a dozen in the other, and a lot of if and all the other stuff. So if there was the fifth, no question, brother. If there was the fifth.

34:34So after the Chargers took that L against Arizona, the head coach, Jim Harbaugh, now wishes he played more starters in the preseason. Listen to this, bro. Yeah, I mean, we made some preseason type of mistakes. You know, and you know, I now in retrospect, you know, we should play the guys a little bit more in the preseason and get those reps. but those game-like reps. So, yeah, the onward and attack in all areas to find improvement.

35:27Joe. Yeah, Friday. If you were a head coach, brother, how many snaps are you giving your starters? so now it is different from so we going off the three preseason games that there is now right yeah because it used to be faux so when i would do i would go through the three preseason games i'm going first preseason game i'm having them play probably like a series the second preseason game i think i might have them play maybe i want i wanted to play maybe like i want them to i want Because when it was four, it was perfect because when you kind of just was able to kind of get up a little bit until you had maximum maybe like a full quarter to a half.

36:12But now with this one, I would do a quarter to a half. So now I'm going to go. First game, you're going to get a series. Get your feet wet. Go out there. Just get one. Boom. The second one, I want you to get at least probably 10 to 12 plays, maybe like two to three drives. and then the third game, I would want you to get, for sure, maybe a half. Maybe a half or maybe, yeah, maybe a half. You going to give them a half at the third game? I mean, no, no. See, I wish it was four games. I wish it was four games. All you got to do is spark up the first game. Give them two, three series. Two, three series the first game and then the half the second one and then none the third.

36:53Right. Because I think that's what I'm saying. The last game... The last game, I don't want to lose nobody and be like, I don't want to lose nobody. And that's really for the cuts. That's really to see. All right, what you got, what these guys really talking about the bottom of the roster of like, all right, second and third tight end, the fourth and fifth linebacker. Okay, what is it looking like? So I'm with you, Debo. I will go, I will say a series or two, half, none. Because you going from zero to 60, when we first played rookie year, first, like rookie, I played all preseason games, every snap, all four phases.

37:28Coach Mangini didn't care about none of that. He didn't care when you were drafted, what pick you were. First round seven pick, you're playing kickoff, kick return, punt, punt return. Bet, coach, got you. So I didn't know no different. So you see the vets, like everybody's getting a little bit warm, but that last game, everybody's chilling, want to see you guys go. So with this one, we're just being cut a little bit short, but that's like training camp to how fast the preseason happens. It's next thing you know, we're playing real games. So that was so smooth to be able to like, you got to get out there.

38:01And then when the rookies, what I heard was, you don't even drive. They don't realize from college football to the NFL is so much different. You wouldn't drive to the home games. Like you would bus to the games. Like just being able to, like you're leaving the hotel and they're like, oh, you're jumping in your car. And you drive into the stadium. That was crazy. Just understanding like, okay, no, I'm a real live pro. Like, hold up. There's no bus taking me to the, no, no, no. Get in your whip. You got your little pass. Pull up. Pull up. I'm like, dang, this is tough. You know what I'm saying? So just getting the flow of it, understanding what's going on, get the flow of the season, playing a little bit the first game, definitely getting your second game, just like getting right.

38:42We're tackling. We're playing. This is how it goes. And then season goes. So I definitely think it did nothing but help you to get out there because that's what we expect. We're playing. It's a game. It's preseason games. these games you might not it's not going to it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things but as far as our preparation and trying to get ready and being able to communicate against other guys with refs and like real tape that you can watch to be like okay no you're going to be able to get better on this I'm trying a little something you know what I'm saying that I feel like that really really helps out yeah I'm a rep guy so I'm the type of cat that I want to play and practice because the more I actually do it the better I feel about it and like Looking at it on paper ain't as helpful for me as it is just going through it.

39:27Let's jump into these Super Chats, bro. We got Super Chats from Monday that we did not get to. Okay. What are they talking about? We have, what is that? Cody Lemon? Seven, four, three, four,$50. Said Debo. Hey, Cote. You're by far my favorite linebacker of all time. I think the Steelers can go 14-3 this year and go to the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy beat their old team in the Super Bowl this year. Green Bay-Pittsburgh Super Bowl. That sounds gravy, but after what happened to Green Bay, I don't know if they go make it what they did over there with Minnesota. They sold. They sold.

40:11They sold. It's early. Yeah. I like it, though. I like what you're talking about, though. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Pittsburgh for the show. Pittsburgh for the show and called my dog best favorite linebacker in history. Come on, D-Bo. We got Gabriel, 8-3-2-1,$5 appreciation. It said it showed the most starters didn't play in the preseason. That will adjust over the course of the season. They will build chemistry. D played great. He's talking about yesterday. That's another one from Monday. He's talking about what we were talking about after the game. Today's chat, we got Covenant Life. What up, Co? $20.

40:59She said, if our offense don't work on their soul, salvation, and come to Jesus the right way, we will be slaughtered by the Patriots. It's week two. Feed our giant 80. give more give me this give me this scene from 300 just kick them down the hole hey Joe what up COVID it what up COVID it listen Pittsburgh hey Joe you seen me say this is Pittsburgh you seen me in the video that's what I got to say yeah it's fine they don't even know what we're talking about they're talking about the video that's played at the stadium before the game. Covenant Life, she is back one more time. $20. Appreciate you, Covenant Life.

41:54What up, Covenant? She said, forget the market. Why haven't the Steelers made, JP, a long-term priority? You can't preach win now while letting one of your own young stars walk. Is this a money problem, a talent problem, or a Steelers problem? I think right now what we're running into is a Steelers problem of how they operate, the way they do contractual operations now and how they have been doing it compared to what the times are right now and what every other team is doing. And we are falling behind and keeping up with that. I would say that you are correct. So, yeah, that's where I'm at. It's a Steelers problem, and I think when we say a money problem, a.k.a.

42:49a guaranteed problem. Yeah. Yeah, the money, the guarantee is not what it is across, you know, every other team as far as how, you know, they function on what it is that they're willing to guarantee and give in the amount. Like, it's just, you know, you just heard. It's only what, TJ? And then you had, who else you said it was? It was. Well, it was. That's really it. That's really it. And then with the newest, we got DK Metcalf. He signed what it looks like. It's$30 million a year. Four for$132 million with$60 million guaranteed. So that's basically the two years. Two years. You got two years guaranteed, two years or not.

43:35So that's like, it's just the Steelers just, the way that they do the contracts and the way that they say, like, you're going to play your contract once you sign it. They're not hearing that. You just, you got to guarantee it. I mean, that's what they did with DKs, guaranteed the two years. They just really don't do it in the history of their deals. yeah and i mean i don't know what it is as far as how likely you are to play out that contract now but you know didn't they just release uh what was his name uh the linebacker that they ended up just signing last year harrison yeah uh so you know it's not it's not a hundred percent guarantee and the only thing that's guaranteed is that guarantee that's why everybody want that guarantee because now that guarantee lets me know, okay, I got a two or three year guarantee.

44:32Now I know I can play free. I can go. I can take all. I do what I need to do. And if I do end up getting hurt, I know my guarantee is going to allow me the time to be able to come back and get to where I'm at 100. And I'm not saying, you know what? Oh man, I ain't got no guarantee left. And now they looking and like, yo, you ain't got no guarantee left. And you do 30 million this year and you just, you know, you just hit your, you know, you just sprained your, you just tore your ACL or something. You think they ain't going to say, hey, we're going to need a pay cut or we're going to release you?

45:05And you coming off fresh, you know, off of ACL? Listen, that's the high likelihood that that could happen. And that's the same thing because, like, they're looking at it, too, where, like, Alex Highsmith, they signed him to the four years, $68 million back in 2023. You know what I'm saying? And then we had T.J. Watt. They signed Nick Herbert. He's been done with his guaranteed money since 2023. So he's been this year, last year, year before that. He's been on three years of not guaranteed money when they're signing other players with the bag where they could have cut Alex Highsmith. They could have got rid of him because his guarantee was up.

45:44But it's like, look, Alex, we signed you to the deal 17 and a half a year and you're balling. So he was performing. But you got to understand something. 17 and a half a year for outside Russia right now when you got guys up there making 40, 60, 40,$50 million. Sorry, 40,$50 million. I understand. We're speaking. We're not even at half the price. And you telling me he ain't worth at least half with the production that he's done? That's a no-brainer. No, a thousand. Yes. You just gave Herbick 25. That's what I'm saying. And you got my starters sitting here at 17. But listen, with 25 guaranteed, with one year guaranteed.

46:23So that's why the Steelers are looking like, yeah, I can give you this, but, like, you're not going to have a guarantee. You're going to get that for one year, and you better continue the ball, stay on the rise. Like, we have now control. So, like, that's why they can – that's why 17 was a good number back in that day because they're like, okay, bet. We'll give that to him at 68 when the highest is, like, 25, 30 at that time. Do you know what I'm saying? So they're putting it in trying to get you paid early, but at the same time, it's not that guaranteed part of people. Like, if you were cut, Steelers, you still could chop me.

46:54Like, I understand all this friendship. You still could let Haslam go after the first 17, and then you sign TJ and Alex, and then what? You know what I'm saying? Now, nobody's going to be looking sad for us or like I already got 68. No, I got 17 million my first year. Then they cut me because I got hurt. Like, oh, then you signed – no, no, that's 68 is nothing. I got 17 million. That sounds good. you know what I'm saying? Now I signed to another team seeing what's going on with the guaranteed because the guaranteed is all that I'm guaranteed. Right. Right. Yeah. For sure. For sure, man. Hopefully, man, we'll I don't know.

47:29I don't I don't see they don't negotiate in season. So I don't see this being a good a good in, you know, that is going to get us a long term deal done. They don't negotiate the season, but you know, it is what it is. Look here, man. We got Thursday Night Football. We got the Lions at the Bills Thursday night. Of course, we'll be back here on Friday. Yes, sir. I want to thank you guys for joining us on this episode of D-Boys. So please make sure you like, subscribe, and download where you get your show. Joe, see y 'all here on Friday, same time, same place. Let's get it.

48:20This is the Dan Levitard Show. This is Dan Levitard, and I've been doing this for more than two decades. Our show is contagious. It's a little bit addictive. It's in the most positive of ways. It has a good amount of range from smart to silly, and it's got a journalistic backbone. Monday through Friday, I show up and talk about sports, Listen to the Dan Lebitard Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever it is that you get your podcasts. Power Slap 23 is live and free on YouTube on Thursday, September 17th. Dana White is bringing Power Slaps to Texas for the first time on the campus of Texas Tech University.

49:00Two massive title fights headline the card, including slap fighting legend Wolverine. Also on the card is former WWE champion Jake Hager and the debut of former UFC heavyweight Chris Barnett. You can watch Power Slap 23 for free on Power Slap's YouTube channel. Thursday, September 17th for the first time from Texas. Power Slap's biggest card of the year. Mom, can I have Lingo Kids? Dad, Lingo Kids, please! When did we become the Lingo Kids house? No idea. Last week it was dinosaurs. This week it's... Lingo Kids! Why Lingo Kids? Because it's the best thing ever. We can play games. With astronauts.

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From the publisher

NFL Legends James "Deebo" Harrison and Joe Haden react to the latest on the ongoing contract dispute between Joey Porter Jr. and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jim Harbaugh's comments after the Los Angeles Chargers loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and much more!

Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/DEEBOJOE and use code DEEBOJOE and get $150 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!

Timeline:
00:00 - Latest on Joey Porter Jr.-Steelers negotiations (cont.)
00:24:38 - Carson Wentz's $100k roster bonus
00:26:19 - Isiah Pacheco undergoes back surgery
00:31:29 - Jim Harbaugh regrets not playing starters in preseason
00:36:19 - Super Chats

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.)

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