The Pomp And Joe Show
12 PM: Mike Tomlin press conference, Brian Batko reacts and gives the latest on TJ Watt
23 Dec 2025
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Getting ready for my friend Pomp to hand the mic to Mike Tomlin. Cam Hayward, I was just mentioning him from PFF. Pro Football Focus is just on a heater right now. Three-game winning streak, two sacks, a QB hit in 14 hurries. So he leads all interior linemen in the NFL in terms of their grade at PFF at 82-3. He's having a hell of a year. What will Tomlin say about DK Metcalf?
Well, we're going to find out momentarily. I don't have a guess, really. I'm very curious to hear it. I think the suspension is going to get reduced, but that's just my opinion to one game. So that'll be a focal point. I'm sure he'll be asked hypotheticals that he won't answer and shouldn't answer, really. There is no answer yet about what he would do if the Ravens won on Saturday night.
But the question still needs to be asked and probably will. And right now, it's just other than the Metcalf thing, it's pretty much good news. T.J. Watt, going to be asked about him. Is he going to practice this week? This is the most fascinating Tomlin news conference of the year. Would you agree, Sean? Yeah, maybe even a question about Will Hallard. Then why is Bob stalling?
Why is Pompeiani stealing the mic from him? That's a good question. It's almost 12.03, which means that Tomlin should be on. but of course Bob wants the camera. So TJ is a mystery and remains a mystery.
Chapter 2: What did Mike Tomlin say about DK Metcalf's situation?
The last real thing of substance we saw was Adam Schefter's tweet the other day saying it's still quote murky. And we don't know when we're going to see him. Now, TJ was at the facility last week. The key question is, is he going to practice? Do you expect him to play? I don't think he would play before the post season. No, but it's got to be asked today. Um,
And then with the Metcalf thing, you know, have you spoken to DK? What did he say happened? What do you expect the league to do? Are you in touch with all that stuff with Roger Goodell? I don't know, but that's bound to come up for sure. In fact, that'll come up first. I don't know if he'll address it unsolicited or not. We're waiting on some other injured guys. Nick Herbig is one of them.
And then we're going to hear him pontificate about the Cleve Brownies and about Shador Sanders and company. He should just skip that this week. He should just say, you know what? Usually I address the other team, but it's only Cleveland. So I'm just going to go straight. That'd be a great strategy. I'm going to go straight to your questions. What do you want me to say?
He's going to talk about Miles Garrett. Maybe here he is.
as always I'll start with a brief synopsis if you will of the last performance and there certainly was a lot of significant things that transpired in that game and it's just good to win games like that I just think there's individual and collective growth when you come through the other side of tough circumstances like that and certainly there were a lot in the game
You know, a lot's been written and said about the spectacular play, for example, by Kenny Gainwell that allowed us to go into the halftime tied 10-10. And certainly it was a spectacular play. But when I think about that possession, I think about those converted third downs. The first one by Pat Friermuth, I think on third down and 10.
And then I think there were two more by Adam Thielen that were third down and 10, third down and 11 like conversions. And to be quite honest with you, if we don't make those conversions, you don't get to hear about the quality play that Kenny made. And certainly, probably equally as important, we punt the ball away and they're probably coming back.
at us with an attempt or opportunity to extend the lead prior to the half. And so certainly the Kenny play was significant, but the whole sequence, those third down and 10, third down and 11 conversions that preceded it were equally as significant for a lot of reasons. And it's just good to to rise up in moments like that as a collective. And I just think it's important that we recognize it.
That's why we came together yesterday, man, to really analyze this tape and void the victory Monday, if you will, because it was just so much growth and so many things to lay to bed and gain an understanding of and appreciate. Because we got to do more of that as the road gets narrow, certainly.
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Chapter 3: How does Tomlin address the impact of player behavior on the team?
I thought situational football was... was big. We won a tight red zone sequence there early in the game. We certainly knew that Detroit is an aggressive group, particularly early in the game in that area in the search for seven points. I thought that sequence of events where we stood up and And one net sequence was big. I thought equally as important was the backed up offense that followed.
We didn't produce a scoring drive, but we had an earned first down and it's so significant to get earned first downs when you're backed up. It gives you room to operate, it minimizes the potential of a subsequent score if you punt the ball away. I think on that third down we hit Calvin Austin on our sideline and that was big.
By the same token, I thought we did a really good job and backed up defense. When we did turn the ball over with Darnell going in, our defense took the field and stymied their running game. And then on third down, we got a sack by Kyle Duggar that was significant. And so we played really good backed up offense. We played really good backed up defense in those examples.
And certainly just a no-blank component in our collective at the end of the game on the short field and just fighting down in and down out. It certainly wasn't easy. We absorbed some penalties and so forth, but that's just a component of play. I just think largely, man, our guys cut their eyelids off, man, and didn't blink and stayed in the fight.
And sometimes staying in the fight is probably the biggest asset in your hip pocket. And so that's what I mean when I say there's growth there. From an injury standpoint, we got a laundry list of things going on here. James Pierre worked out this morning. We'll see where that leads us. I'm sure he'll be limited and we'll follow his progress throughout the week. No new update on TJ.
I'm sure he's been in the building, but I'll gain further information about his potential participation at the early portions of the week and where that might lead. Ciamalo, same thing, no update there. Nick Herbeck is looking optimistic in terms of game availability. He certainly will be limited in the early portions of the week. Some in-game things that happened.
Brandon Echols, what is growing? Don't know where that is. Certainly hopeful. We're certainly thin in the secondary, but that's life this time of year. We'll see where his participation might pick up as we push through the week and thus his availability.
Jalen Warren should be limited at the early portions of the week, Spencer Anderson likewise, but we're optimistic that both guys will be available to us.
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Chapter 4: What updates were provided on TJ Watt's injury status?
As always, we'll do what's appropriate in terms of working hard and smart in an effort to get these guys and others to the stadium ready mentally and certainly in the best physical shape that we can get them in, in an effort to do so. Now on to Cleveland. Been looking at these guys quite a bit and certainly working with an edge as I sit here today.
At the doorstep of winning the division, man, I just don't take this opportunity lightly. Divisions are won on the road in those hostile environments in those opposing cities. And certainly we've had our issues in recent years in Cleveland. And so with that understanding, We're preparing and preparing with an edge.
We were in a similar circumstance a year ago at the doorstep in Baltimore and wasn't able to get it done. And so I'm excited to be here, but also urgent about where we are. Got a lot of respect for this group, and I'll start first with their defense. You know, quite frankly, they're the number one unit in the AFC North. They are.
Statistically, they're better than any other unit in the North offensively or defensively. They got what appears to be a slam dunk defensive player of the year. They got what appears to be a slam dunk defensive rookie of the year in their front seven. Miles Garrett has certainly been an issue for us in that venue.
I think he's had five sacks against us in our last two trips, neither of which we won. And so we understand the gravity of what we're going into and how they engineer victory and who's significant in doing so. He's at the doorstep of history, and so we certainly have respect for that.
They've got a quality, experienced coordinator in Jim Swartz who does a nice job dividing the labor up and really getting after people schematically. The environmental component of it I'm sure will be something to combat. It always is going to Cleveland, and so we've got to put together a thoughtful plan.
Certainly we could potentially lack some significant people and so forth, but again, that's life. We better put together a thoughtful plan in terms of how we divide the labor up and put ourselves in a position to engineer victory. Looking at their offense, they've changed a lot since the last time we played them.
The last time we played them, Kevin Stefanski was the play caller, now Tommy Reese is. And certainly the quarterback has changed. Shador is doing a really good job. He's growing and growing each week from an outsider's perspective. And I think it's always cool when you're growing with company.
Certainly see him gravitating towards some young players whose roles are expanding since the last time we played him. Can't say enough about Fanning and what he's doing.
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Chapter 5: How did Tomlin react to the questions about the Ravens game?
I think he's got 70 catches and over 700 yards as a rookie tight end. It's pretty special. Isaiah Bond's role has grown in recent weeks and you see Shador really looking for him down the field and he's provided some splash for him. Acquisition they got from the Jets and Malachi Corley wasn't heavily involved the last time we played him. He appears to be increasingly so now.
Reverses and so forth, man, really utilizing his skill set and providing some splash for him. Man, it's really unfortunate that their top young runner got hurt. I just got a lot of respect for that young man and how he plays. And certainly I never want to see anybody get hurt significantly that way.
And so just sending well wishes to him, but also understanding that one man's misfortune is another person's opportunity. And so I'm sure they have some capable guys that have been working behind the scenes and readying themselves for their opportunity. And I certainly have respect for for that and the potential of that and the unknown component of that. We're no different.
Dylan Cook is getting a lot of attention for what he's providing us, but he's been working in the ranks for a long period of time, and I was never asking him to be patient, but simply to work while he waited. And it's paid off for him and us through his participation. And so that's through the lens that we see their running back position. And we certainly better be ready to minimize the run.
It's kind of been a catalyst for us in recent weeks, our ability to improve our run game on offense and minimize opposing units run game. And so I imagine this week will be no different. But there's a lot of things to discuss, man. These waters run deep in divisional play. I'm excited about it. I'm sure our team will be. We better put together a good plan.
We better have a no-blink mentality as December is that time of year. Um, we anticipate being challenged and challenged in a big way. Uh, that's life in this league. Um, but that's what we love the competitors, uh, that we are. Uh, we love that. And so, uh, with that, I'll open it up for questions. I imagine you talked with DK Metcalf. Did he explain in your conversation?
What caused him to go over Costa Fin and why did he do it? He did explain to me why he did what he did and I certainly don't condone the behavior, but I support DK and I really don't have a lot to add. other than what I just told you.
I think he has a hearing this afternoon, an appeals hearing, and I certainly don't want to weigh in prior to that, and certainly I've heard more recently that there might be legal ramifications, and so I better be careful about what I say and how I say it. I'm sure you guys got a lot of questions.
I understand that, but that's just the posture I'm in as I sit here today with so many components of this thing yet to be resolved. usual situation but does the team have any protocols to sort of prevent or to monitor make sure players don't kind of go over there and have that sort of interaction exactly so is that is that a yes or no do you have protocols or not
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Chapter 6: What insights were shared about the team's performance against the Browns?
Another security person who did nothing but watch like he was a fan. I'm sorry, but if I'm a player, first of all, or a coach in that environment, I wouldn't be happy with the security to start out with. Like, what are we doing here? Anything could happen at any time in an environment like this in pro sports. You know what I mean? Go ask Monica Sellis about that.
when she was attacked on the tennis court. What are we doing? Nobody is standing there vigilantly protecting players from fans, at least having a watch the whole game. It didn't look like it. And if they were, they didn't do anything when a player started to approach the crowd. At the highest level, which the NFL obviously is, you would think that they would have to have security there
If nothing else, even if they're not intervening necessarily from a physical aspect so that they could be someone who can maybe convey what they heard in the exchange. Right. So it's not a he said, he said with a fan and a player. They have someone who's an arbitrator there to make sure the verbal exchange doesn't get out of hand. I agree with you.
You would think that that is something that should be universal at every stadium in the NFL. Each team could bring their own security. Whoa, where are you going? Right? That's what you need to say to DK. Really? Like, where are you going? What's up?
And a security guard, if Metcalf is going to go over there, should be stride for stride with him, kind of getting in between, just so that if the fan does try to throw something, for instance, it's not hitting a player. Right. In the end, and that doesn't absolve Metcalf, and I don't think Mike Tomlin absolved him, I certainly don't condone the behavior.
That's the money line from that news conference, pretty clearly. So he's saying there, basically, no matter what was said, and I compare it again to Shaq Lawson, the Bills defensive end in Philly last year, said that a fan and his teammates corroborated
You know, it's still a he said he said thing, but his teammates said that a fan was using threatening language against players and their families. If I hear that, I'm very tempted, you know, to go and confront somebody. But is that I have to not do that. That that's the thing. I have to not do that. Now, Lawson went there and pushed a fan and the NFL didn't even find him a penny.
That was two years ago in November. Here we have a situation where Metcalf went and physically confronted a fan, and he's getting two games. Something seems very inconsistent about that, for sure. But in the end, I'm with Tomlin. I'm with James Harrison, even, believe it or not. And Joe Hayden, who both said, yeah, man, I would have been tempted to go beat that guy up. But you can't do it.
You can't do it. I certainly don't condone the behavior. Let's talk to Brian Batko coming up next. There was a lot in that news conference, man. You don't hear Tomlin with rookies talk the way he just did about Derek Harmon. That was tremendous.
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