The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Cam Heyward on Steelers Expectations, Kenny Pickett Growth, Niners Wk 1

Episode Date: June 26, 2023

John is joined by Steelers All-Pro Defensive Tackle - and host of the Not Just Football podcast - Cam Heyward to discuss his offseason workout routine, his team expectations, how Kenny Pickett’s growth has instilled confidence in his teammates, expectations for the defense, what it was like watching his little brother score his first NFL TD, player awareness about rules regarding gambling, and his take on the Steelers Week 1 matchup against the Niners. Follow John onTwitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #volume #herdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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Here's what we got going on. Because of my man James, one of our producers here at the volume and on this show, behind the scenes for making this happen. He did it last year. He did it again this year. Pittsburgh Steelers, team captain, Cam Hayward, joins us today. Total stud.

So we will have him today. The plan is tomorrow at John Middlecock is the insuff. We're going to do a mailbag. So fire in those direct messages on my Instagram. We will do a big mailbag tomorrow. We will have a go-low pod on Wednesday. And then probably the week of July 4th, we're probably going dark. People need some time off in this operation.

It's not just me, though. I can't act like I'd be down to work. I'm going to take a little breather as well. So probably no content after this week. So Cam Hayward, mailbag, some go-lo pod. And we'll have to do for a little while. but enjoy today. Cam's total stud. Understand.

Easy to understand when you listen to him. Definitely when you talk to him. Obviously, you watch him play. He's a baller, but just why he's, you know, the team captain of one of the most prestigious organizations in all of sports. But before we dive into the interview, if you're a Steeler fan, if you're listening to this,

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Just hammer that promo code. Game time promo code, John. Back at it again this summer with, you know, I go, I lean all pros over pro bowls, but six-time pro bowl or four-time all-pro team captain, though, that's probably the coolest thing. Team captain of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cam Hayward. What's up, bro? Nothing much. Appreciate you having me.

How's it going? It's going good. you know, we've got some good weather in Pittsburgh finally. So, you know, embracing the sun. You know, people forever and you grew up, you know, NFL family, been in football your whole life. Back in the day, like 70s and 80s is like you do whatever the hell you wanted over summer, just show up in training camp and get in shape. Clearly that's changed.

What's your workout program really from the season ends? OTAs isn't probably as crazy when you first came into the league. Is it just to maintain or like, did you already hit a lift hard? this morning. How's that? What's the plan? So my morning is what? We had our run at seven, our lift at eight, and 8.30. And then I sign up for Pilates after. So I'm doing that. And then we have my son's baseball game. So I get to get out again and run around some more. When you say the run and the lift, like do you go into the team facility or do that separate? I'm doing that separately. So there's usually a couple fields around. And

I've been working with my trainer for, what, five or six years, and, you know, it's worked out pretty good. And, you know, now it's time to just really kick it in the gear. I feel like everything before is like, you know, you're working towards OTAs. You're working towards Manny Camp. But like now this is the time where, you know, we're really getting in the good shape, running a bunch. You know, it's not just taking them in the playbook.

It's, you know, we're pressing the gas now. I mean, you've seen it all now over the decade of just OTA. I've never been to one of your guys practices, but just seeing from Jim Harbaugh up to Kyle Shanahan, it's just a lot different than it was, you know, 10, 12 years ago in terms of the intensity. You still feel like the way Tomlin operates it intense. Obviously, you've been in the league a long time. You approach it differently, or is it not mandated, but are you kind of taking certain

practices off, you know, in June or late April, May, right, just to keep your body fresh for the season? Well, you know, the player in me wants to keep going the matter what. And, you know, I think the coaches have, you know, tempered me down in this time so I can really take advantage during the season. But, you know, with a guy like me or, you know,

a guy like TJ or Mika, it's not just about getting those physical reps, it's mental reps. And, you know, it's about the communication we have, you know, holding guys accountable, showing guys how we practice, showing guys how competitive we are. I think, you know,

our mini camp and OTAs have been some of the most competitive drills we've had just because, you know, guys are really buying in and trying to take as much as they can from each drill. And Coach Cior always likes to say, it's football like, it's not football. We don't have pads on right now. But we have to do everything in our power to really take advantage of this time. So I think we're really doing that. You know, some teams, I think, do a disservice and saying, oh, we're not in full pads.

So we're going to scale back and, you know, we're going to, you know, prevent guys from doing a lot. But I like to think we accomplished a lot during that time, really bringing up the young guys and show them how we do things around here. And let's be real. I mean, your head coach at his core is a defensive coach, right? So it's, you know, he's not thinking post routes and run schemes. He's thinking intensity.

So I would imagine the, did you see the video that went viral? You were probably in the meeting of him talking about the stand. I think it went last week. And it's just, you know, you've played for one guy your entire career, which is, you have a lot of people that I'm sure you played with at Ohio State that have played on countless head coaches, even if they've been on the one team, even if they've jumped around the league. But it's probably got to be, there's a lot of cohesion for you going in what's expected

every single year. Well, like, first for me, like, even though he's a defensive mind of coach, I feel like when he's in practice, he's always with the offense. And that's just a play a wide receiver, right, in college? And, you know, he chooses his team wisely. And, you know, he pits each other against each other in those moments. And so I'm usually against them in that moment. But, you know, when I, I'm very lucky to be a part of just one head coach, one team.

Because I look around and I see so many guys going through different cycles of coaches. And you see the ups and downs of it. And it's hard for a player to really, you know, reach the standards that are set by each coach because those could vary year in and year out. How do you, you know, if a coach asks you to play one scheme and then the next year, you're in a completely different scheme. You know, you're all up against it because you were trying to build off what you did last year. So having a coach there for some time and, you know, creating that relationship, he knows how to push my buttons. and I think I'm better because of it. I was talking to Colin Coward last week,

and we were kind of talking about some teams that didn't win the division last year that could win it this year. And you guys came to my mind because both your coordinators are back. Obviously, your head coach has been the same forever. And last year when you came on this podcast, we talked about the quarterback, big change for the first time and forever. Well, you have a returning quarterback who by the end of the season, I mean, you look at, I was watching some of his YouTube highlights,

and I kind of forgotten because we're in the middle of June. He had some big time comebacks. the end of the season. Obviously, you guys finished, I think, seven and two to end the season, not under 500, because that's the Pittsburgh Steelers under no circumstances are going under 500. You feel, you know, it's hard in the offseason, you don't have pads on, but just the cohesion, the talent you have, the coaching staff, all returning, pretty confident about where you are different even from last year? You know, I don't like to buy too much stock into the offseason, but I like to think we addressed a lot of needs and brought in the right people. But

going into the second year of our quarterback, you know, the sky's the limit for him. I think Kenny has done a tremendous job to get us to this point. But, you know, I know he's chomping at the bit for more. And, you know, he's a hungry quarterback. And so it's around him with a lot of moving parts, whether it's another wide receiver and Alan Robinson, you know, more depth on the O line.

And I just think solidifying that group can do wonders for him. If he's got time back there and he's able to process a little bit more, I think he's going to have a lot of success going forward. Was there a moment last year when he became the full-time starter, whether it be a game, whether it be a week in practice, where you saw something with him that your confidence level as a player who's been around a Hall of Fame quarterback in Ben, I'm not comparing him that he's going to be that,

but I'm just saying that we can win with this player or I feel confident in him as a player? Well, I think you just look at December in January. And, you know, anytime it wasn't going his way, it never felt like he was out of sorts. Or it felt like, you know, the moment was too big for him. You can look in the Baltimore game. And, you know, that I don't think they had given up, you know,

a score in the fourth quarter for like some, like, amount of, you know, quarters, which was crazy. and, you know, he goes down and, you know, puts together a drive and, you know, you just see here, there. It wasn't just one person. He was feeding everybody. And then you look at that, you know, the Christmas game versus the Raiders. And, you know, that was, you know, a little bit of the same. And so every time we've needed a big drive at the end of the game, he was able to answer the call and answer the bell.

So, you know, I just look forward to them not. wait until the fourth quarter. Let's get off the bus doing that. And I think we'll have a lot more success that way. For those older Steelers fans, you go back-to-back weeks beating the Raiders on Christmas and then beating the Ravens. I mean, what's that worth? That's two wins, but that's worth about five.

Yeah, you know, you start the thing, man, if we had just gotten a chance to getting that playoff mix, you know, I thought we got hot at the right time. And some of it is luck. Some of it is getting hot the right time. injuries. All these things have to work together to have a good chance in the playoffs. But I just like that we were getting healthy at the right time. We had just gotten TJ back. There are a lot of things moving in the right direction. But in the end, we didn't get a chance

to really punch our mark to the playoffs. You notice a different confidence with him in this offseason now that he's the starting quarterback that he's played a lot. Yeah. You know, I think he's asking a lot more questions, you know, a higher level question. It's not just what am I seeing here, you know, what different looks of am I getting? I think he's asking the questions to be more twofold where it's, you know, how can I dictate a defense? And, you know, having that, you know, year under his belt, I think is going to, you know, really move the group forward. And the other great thing about it is we have a guy like Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph who have experience at starting this league. So, you know, that room consists of, you know, three good offensive minds that are going to be pushing the quarterback position forward.

One thing feeling that I could never shake when I was just a scout, if being at practice when a guy would go down or at a game and a guy would go down, you're in the league long enough, whether it's a coach or a player, you know, I don't think you ever get numb to it. But last year, when TJ has that injury, you know, you've been in the league a long time. I mean, he's clearly on the short list of just impact star players. and his talent is undeniable. Is that something that, because it's so easy, next man up, well, it's like, there's not a next man up for a guy like that.

Is that just obviously it's a gut punch, but how do you move on and then you hope he comes back? But how do you deal with something like that when a player of that level or caliber? And you've dealt with it in the past with Ben when he's gone down. But how do you deal with it? You know, I think it comes down to everybody's just staying locked in. That first game of the year, we were, you know, we were in a tight one with the Bengals,

and I think we had like 90 plays on defense. It was a hot one, too. So we had to, you know, just buying what we're doing. I think a lot of guys think they have to play out of character when one guy goes down. But I think with our defense, the best thing you can do is play up to your ability. Play way you're supposed to. We don't need you to, you know, do a million things. and, you know, try to play out of character

and try to be the next TJ White. Nobody's actually needed to do that. And so, you know, when we did have success, it was guys just doing their jobs, not trying to do TJ's job, not trying to replace the void. You're not going to replace a void like that. So we have to mix it up and do things a little bit different.

You look at a guy like Alex Highsmith, really stepping up in that. You know, I know the record didn't speak for it when TJ was out, but you look at a guy like Alex Highsmith, of going for 14, 15 sacks. You know, he answered the bell and was ready to, you know, really seize that moment. How good do you think this defense can be this fall?

You just mentioned him, T.J. Healthy now, Minka, ever since you got him, is just a flat-out star. You know, no big deal. You've just gone back-to-back double-digit sack seasons, still kicking ass, taking names. Just Terrell Austin, you know, coming back as a defensive coordinator. It wasn't that. I was thinking about it this year, or, I mean, when I was looking at his name as your defensive coordinator. It wasn't that long ago that he was viewed as like the next star defensive head coach back when he was with the Lions.

So, you know, you have a big year. Who knows? He could go off and be a head coach really quickly. You know, how good, how high is the ceiling for this defense with the unit and the players you have? What would Jordan say? The ceiling is the roof. Yeah. You know, I think, I think for us, it's just about answering that call every single week. Do we have the talent and we have the guys to do it? Yes. But it's something that has to be answered every week. You know, I don't think the best defense is crowned after one week.

And I don't think it's crowned after two weeks. To be the best defense in our league, you need a crown on your head that's saying you're the Super Bowl champion. And, you know, to do that, you got to do it every week. We can't be taking weeks off. We can't have those blunders where, you know, a running back, you know, had some yards. it's got to be consistently, you know, our goal to dominate every which way on defense. Because we have the guys to do it, you know, making the back end, you know, our inside linebackers, our corners with Pat P.

Our outside linebackers with Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt, myself, Larry Ogunjobi, have to lead the crew. We have leaders at every spot that, you know, there shouldn't be. looking around for looking for others to do it, we should be able to do it. Do you guys start implementing anything in the offseason when you have a week one opponent that's an uncommon opponent like the 49ers to just do some base stuff? Did you do any of that in OTAs or is that something that you get in a training camp? That's more individually, I think, right now. I think coaches break it out individually don't always share with players.

And players do it individually as well. just to really, you know, become familiar with their opponent. So you can really start to gauge where you need to go and what you got to take advantage of what they're going to do. You know, 49ers are a really good team. You know, they got one of my guys and Javon Hargravee over there now. Monster. Yeah.

And to go along with that, you got Nick Bosa. So, you know, you've got two guys that can easily go off for two to three sacks a game. So we got our work cut out for him. But, you know, I think everybody's just really looking at tape by themselves and seeing how they can develop and be better going into that week one. Like when you have teams in your division that make coordinator changes, like the Ravens, for example, now that we know Lamar is coming back, but they get a new offensive coordinator, or even like the Browns.

I know you played him at the end of the year when Deshaun was back, but it's kind of hard to judge him given how far. Is that something you keep an eye on it over the offseason start making, notes to offensive schemes with new coaches coming in on a team. Obviously, it's not just your rival, but it's a team you play multiple times a year. You know, I think right now you kind of try to look at that. It can be tougher because there's not a lot of film in that system with those group of guys. Individually, you can look at those players and say, this is what they're capable of.

This is what they've done. This is what they've shown on tape. But, you know, in a different scheme, I'm really big on looking at preseason tape. You know, week one is always a blunder because there are a million things going on. And everybody thinks they have the smartest playbook going in. And so they're going to try a million things, try to confuse you. But you have to stay true to your technique and your craft and can't take as many chances in that week one because so many guys are dialing up things. You think the Ravens, who their offense, once they got Lamar implemented, was pretty unique relative to the rest of the NFL in terms of,

to their run scheme? You have to think so. But do you think that stays? Because they've talked about, I don't know, you follow like some of us do, the headlines, they're going to get a little more pass happy, that maybe the run scheme,

do they become like a, you know, four, five wide receiver spread it out offense, which feels like you guys wouldn't complain about. Yeah, that is a complete opposite of the Reefins. You know,

you look at those games. They're going out there with three tight ends, two tight ends and a fullback. How many teams were carrying a foolback in the NFL last year. Not that many. And so, you know, they had a recipe for success. And they were doing it without Lamar half of the year.

So it's going to be different for them. But, you know, I wonder if there's going to have to be a mixture of both, whether it's staying on the same page if you had last year, adding some things, adding some wrinkles. Because that running game is second and none, man. They, they, it's not often that you get, you know, multiple running backs, your quarterback running for a bunch. That's very rare in our league because quarterbacks don't last long when you do that, but we'll see what they're going to do going forward. I think Lamar said he wants to throw for 4,000, so, or 6,000, you name it. So we'll just be ready for it all.

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Yep. That's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk. about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

Last year, you came on about the same time, and we talked about your brother being drafted. And one of the cool moments during the 2022 season, I vividly remember, was you walking off the field with Mike Tom and your brother had scored on that game in Atlanta, his first career touchdown. Just talk to me about that game, that lead up to that game, that moment with him doing that. And then that kind of that walkoff that kind of went viral for us on the outside to see because it was pretty cool. Yeah, that week was pretty special. I think we all had circle that week in my family. My wife had even flown down for the game. She never flies for any of the game, so she knew something was going to happen.

But, you know, going down to where me and my brother grew up, where our dad played for the Falcons. And, you know, we got a chance to go to his resting place, his grave site. And, you know, we just got to spend some time with him. But never did in my life that I thought that, you know, in the game, I had gotten a sack. And, you know, then they had the punt. And then the next series, Connor goes down and scores a touchdown. And it kind of hit me all once.

I wasn't expecting it to hit me because I wasn't even thinking about it. But, you know, you know, it was really cool to see him score his first touchdown. And then I started seeing videos. and it was kind of like Connor had scored the same way and my dad had scored his first touchdown. Wow. And so, you know, and then Connor's telling me after the game, Kenny came up to him and said,

we're going to get this one for you guys. We're going to get this, you know, be ready because I'm going to throw you the ball. And so, you know, all these different things were going into it. And I broke down and cried in the middle of the game. I cried like a baby. And I'm trying to hide and there's cameras around. I'm like, maybe they didn't get me.

And then, you know, the social team's coming here. We got you. You know, we're going to show you to you later. But, you know, it was just an unbelievable moment. Friends and family were all there. And we got the W on top of that. So, you know, it was a, I don't like to call it a storybook ending, but it was a nice chapter to go along in the book.

Did it become more normal as a season went along playing with your brother? Is it still something that you think about? Like, this is still pretty crazy. Well, we got done working out today. and, you know, just having those moments of when we're just working out and, you know, having those moments of just like, like when he's frustrated a little bit, I can just, you know, give him that extra wisdom. What he's doing stuff right.

Yeah. You know, because I didn't have that growing up. I didn't have that when I got into league. But, you know, being able to share with him all this different knowledge and, you know, it's funny. I feel like for every rookie, uh, there. is, you know, these hurdles during a season. And they don't expect it, but it happens.

And, you know, I got a chance to reiterate to him, I was like, aren't you just light years or where you were a year ago? And he's like, yeah, I feel I'm in better shape. I know the playbook a lot better. And, you know, I'm like, dude, believe in that. Like, you know, you are thriving right now. You are doing things the right way. And so I'm excited for him.

You know, it's really cool. I get to be a fan of him on Sundays. And I get to be his teammate too. So I don't tell him that often. Usually in practice, I'm giving him hell or, you know, talking a whole bunch of crap. You know, because he's on offense, I'm going to let him hear about it more. And, you know, when he does drop the ball, which is rarely, it's just, it's opening Pandora's box for me. And I just get to let him have it.

You know, you brought up something that I think. think a lot of us that have never played, you know, in the NFL, just, oh, the rookie wall, he's hitting the rookie wall. What is the rookie wall? And like, why? Because some guys don't hit it, right? They have unreal rookie seasons. But for the most part, it feels like most guys go through a little lull, maybe, I don't

know, after Halloween or the middle of November, is it the length of the season? Is the physicality of the game? Is it the, is it the scheme element of the depth of a playbook? What ultimately is the rookie wall? I think it's a cumulative. I don't think it's just one thing, you know, because I think it hits guys in completely different ways. Whether it's an off-field thing and you're just trying to stay focused, but you're exerting so much energy and, you know, you can, you know, run yourself into the ground a little bit. You see so many guys, like I feel like you could be after practice.

You could be knocked out on the floor. It's just you can start to see guys feel it. And whether it's after games and you're, you know, you know, you're just exhausted. But it's just about, you know, I feel like after that you're able to bounce back a lot more because you have to know what they expect. I think the unknowingness of the season in all the twists and turns and playing on a Thursday night and playing on Sunday, Monday, you can never really catch your bearing

until you get used to the chaos that is the NFL. I think embracing that your second year, your third year. year and knowing what you're getting into definitely prepares you're going forward. And it lets guys know that they can accomplish a lot more. Do you as a veteran player, obviously get tired during games or whatever, but do you get fatigued as a season goes along or do you understand the marathon of a season at this point and just have a routine and unfazed by that? Or are you just human and it's going to hit everyone at some point?

I think as veterans, I think you don't get as fatigued. I think you try to embrace it and try to get even in more shape. You know, whether it's week one going to, you know, week 10, there's just a constantly, you want to be on the rise. You don't want to be a guy that's, you know, up and down, a roller coaster. You want to be a guy that consistently gets better week and a week out. And that comes with developing a plan. A lot of young guys don't have plans.

They don't have regiments they go by, whether it's taking care of their bodies or spending more time before practice or, after practice or in the weight room or, you know, in the film room. There are so many different things that, you know, as veteran guys, you cross off your list that helps you prepare, that once you do that, you feel more comfortable and more confident in what you're doing. Are you a guy that takes Monday and Tuesday very seriously because obviously, you know, you take your craft seriously, but you want to be fresh for Wednesday because

practicing and getting ready, you feel more prepared come Sunday. I heard George Kittal say that it's so important for him to do everything humanly possible to feel fresh by Wednesday because he likes practicing on Wednesday, which leads to confidence as the week goes along leading up to Sunday. Yeah. You know, I think Monday and Tuesday are, you know, during the season, you don't usually get your victory Mondays where you get time off. But even if you do get time off, it's not like I'm really taking time off. It's, you know, getting a workout and doing some extra cardio, you know, finding, you know, getting, you know, getting, you know, getting, the cold tub or hot tub, doing contrast, film work, body work, massages, you know, taking care of rehab, you know, that's just to start on week, on day one. And then you're just trying to

constantly build on top of that, trying to get your body back. That way you can really hit their ground running on Wednesday. Speaking of Monday, Tuesday, you have, according to the schedule, multiple Thursday games this season. Now, I'll see a Thursday. They'll say that. Yeah. Now, the second Thursday game is flexible. I guess it's potential, but it's you guys and the Patriots. It's not going to get flexed. Right. Your bi-week is week six. Both your Thursday games come early November and then early December. Initial thoughts when you saw that. Ooh, I probably did one of those. So, you know, you look at that schedule and you're like, you embrace the night games. You embrace. Sunday nights, Monday nights, Thursday night. When you get an extra one thrown in there,

it's just, from the going into the game, it's rough because you don't have that much time to prepare. And it's just a constant, let me shove everything into about two to three days to get me ready for Thursday. There's not even really a practice. It's just walkthroughs at that point.

Yeah. But on the backside, it's pretty nice, man. And like Friday, Saturday, Sunday, you can really, you know, recover good if you can make it out. Some of those times, you know, you get a lot of blowouts. And the team that gets the blowout is able to arrest your guys a little bit quicker and then, you know, take advantage of the time. But, man, if you're in a rough one, it's, you know, it's monaumano. It's both teams, you know, worn down. So, but out of the year, you're really appreciate that time.

to really recover. Did you see Jason Kelsey's take on that he thought anyone who was anti-Thursday Night game was kind of full of shit because he loves him? Because if you're able to win it, you just put all your chips in the middle table. You get kind of that mini buy week. And like we said, your buy week is week six. But if you win that Titans game, the first Thursday night game, you basically get multiple kind of a second buy week back, you know, in like a four-week span. Yeah, let's just be addicted at the winning at that point because, you know, you want that time off. And, you know, you want a good, you know, on a good stench. If you lose out of that, that's a lot of time to just keep, you know, glossing over the same mistakes.

You know, I think Kelsey's, you know, O-Lyman, they like to, they don't have to run as much. So they're okay with that. Now, in both those Thursday night games, assuming the Titans are still a run heavy team, obviously the Patriots are going to be a pretty run-heavy physical team. I mean, those are going to be two physical games. Yeah. And, you know, luckily it's not the Baltimore Ravens game because, man, we've had plenty of those, you know, Cleveland's like that as well.

So you really got to, you know, just prepare your body for work and, you know, that struggle. I like it, you know, when you guys play like on Thanksgiving or Thursday night game against the Ravens on Thursday night, us sitting on the couch, you know, turkey hangover and you guys are just laying it on the line. You guys like it. And then we have Thanksgiving the day after, and then I get to watch everybody else. That's the only part I like.

Another big story, I'm sure you've seen around the league, some of these guys getting suspended for gambling. And I think there was a recent story last week that either a rookie around the league, the name hadn't come out that had lost like $8 million. Because technically I think you guys are allowed to gamble on other sports, just not football.

I think there are a lot of people screaming out on the internet, whether it's fair or not, because the NFL's in bed now with these gambling companies, though through the salary cap, you benefit revenue the players do, right? It gets distributed. But first and foremost, do you feel pretty knowledgeable every single year

with the Pittsburgh Steelers? They talk pretty specifically about the dues and don'ts when it comes to gambling, especially now that it's legal? Yeah, you know, we have security meetings every year since I've been in the league and we talk about, you know, gambling, not being in a sports book.

I feel like the rules do change a little bit with, you know, how much gambling is part of our league now. Yeah. But, you know. Some of these stadiums have sports books in them now. Which is wild. I know. Wild.

You know, I talk to some of my friends and they're like, they show me like the basketball side of it. And I'm like, guys, this is way too much. Like, you're, you're, you're looking for triple doubles, you're looking for, you know, him to hit these points.

And then, you know, you start hearing about, um, all the different, you know, options they have along with it. I just,

if, if you want to remain clean in it, just don't do it at all. You know, I think we're, we're paid handsomely for what we do. But, um,

you know, I understand we're competitive in everything we do. But when you start messing with the, the gambling side, it becomes very wonky and, you know, exposes yourself up to, you know, a whole lot of stuff that's not good for our league. Do you have any problem with the NFL doing business with these companies and then kind of

mandating it to the players? You can't gamble, literally on your own team. But even if you wanted to gamble, one thing a guy got in trouble for was making a college bet from the facility. I think it's one of the Lions guys. So he wasn't even gambling on the NFL. He was just gambling on a college game, which some could say he was a rookie, still knows guys, you know, that are playing in college.

Maybe you know quarterback's out or something inside information. I think technically they're very sensitive about that type of stuff. So that's a little bit different. I think, you know, when you look at the NFL, you're like, you're allowed to gamble and literally look at the product as it going. I can't gamble on a college game that I have no desired outcome that I don't have any insider information. but I just, you know, it's such a tight rope to walk and, you know, the rules are ever changing. But I guess we're exposing ourselves to that with having, you know, the casinos and having different, you know, different streams of revenue in our game.

And so you have to, it's just we have to keep our eyes and ears open because, you know, it's speaking to the crowd. not just one person. Before gambling became so prevalent as a player, it's not like you're locked into, we're a 10 point underdog or we're a five point favorite, right? So when people would ask you that specifically probably the media or even a buddy, like your big underdog,

did you even know what that meant specifically to the line? John, I kid you not. They brought it up in my podcast and I was like, what are y'all talking about? I'm worried about the W. I don't give a damn about what the point spread is. Got a cover,

bro. They tried to say, hey, say this. Like, you know, you know, say you're an underdog. And I'm like, no, I'm not doing that. Like, I don't ever believe on my underdog. And, you know, you can sit up there and look at what Vegas does. But that's just not me. Yeah. Yeah. It's a story clearly not going to go away just because every year, it seems like younger players, you know, a little probably, you've been in it long enough and heard, seen it all. Yeah. Some of these younger guys are just going to get money for the first. time. Well, NILs, I think, changing the game, right? I mean, you just, didn't you just draft a guy from Georgia? I think, you know, he's not, he's not coming in broke. Yeah. GP, I think all of Georgia guys never, never had to worry about, you know, a meal or anything. So I think they were pretty well suited going into the league. Well, I'll get you out here on this. You got a rookie scouting report on your, on your first round offensive lineman.

You know, I love his, I love his tenacity. He's got a good body. You know, he's able to move quick feet. And there's just things he's going to keep working on. I don't like to, you know, gas the rookie and just give them all the keys to the car. But he's setting himself up nice and, you know, he's going to be a big player down the road. In general, with the draft class,

I mean, you're with one of the teams that's probably known in all of sports is one of the best drafting, you know, organizations top to bottom, any position. Do you have a good idea right away or do you have to see in pass? or even preseason games before you feel confident, like telling a buddy or telling an assistant coach. Like, I think we got some, or we might have some problems here. O-line or just, you know, when we look in the trenches, I look at games and, you know, in pads

because, you know, there's plenty of guys who are, you know, underwear. Looks sweet standing there. Yeah. Like, you start doing that cute stuff and then somebody hits you in their face. and then you just completely just can't do anything after, I think that says a lot about you. Being able to see how you react to certain situations really tells us if you're ready for those moments.

So we'll see what we got in preseason. And then, you know, when you really put the pads on and you're in those bright light moments and you've got a guy injured and you step in, are you ready for that moment? Are you ready to seize that? One thing Coach T.R. says, one man's misfortune is another man's treasure.

And so that's just about seizing that moment and really understanding this might be my only moment. I've got to make the most out of it. Do you have a calendar that you mark X every single day with that circled training camp day one starting? I got to check into La Trobe. Or are you at that age yet? You know,

where you're like kind of peaking or is that always been something in the back of your mind? I think it glooms. But, you know, in my mind, I'm just, I'm taking it day by day. You know, I'm working on my craft and just embracing the grind I'm on right now. You know, I feel like, you know, you can start at the beginning of the season, the off season and just, you know, get to this moment and be like, oh, man, you know, time is passed by. It's right around the corner. But there is a lot of work that can go into play that I'm just looking forward to hitting right now. Yeah, well, stay healthy.

Have a good, have a good summer. And I think I speak for everyone. Week one, Niners, Steelers. You talk about an old school, some bodies getting hit. I already got that bad boy circle. I can't wait. That's got to be one of the better games of the first week. Dude, two good defenses.

They're just going to have it out. And so I'm looking forward to it. Well, good luck this upcoming season. I look forward to watching you guys play. Appreciate you. Thank you for having me on. The volume. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy,

not quite, unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Cliford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators,

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