Which of these Steelers free agents should the franchise bring back in 2026?
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What are the initial thoughts on the Steelers' free agents for 2026?
I apologize for the seafood, guys. You can smell it a mile away. I knew there was seafood in the building, but I didn't see the food. And then I smelled the food.
Little shrimp over rice limits.
Smell it back here for sure.
Can you really? Yeah. I have to take this out of here. Bob, you start this conversation. Now I'm embarrassed. I'll be right back.
Jeff was going to play a game, which I thought we should play. But before we do the game, until Joe comes back, I want to ask you about Penguins' concerns, Penguins' beliefs heading into the Olympic break. They have a big game tonight in Buffalo, and it's a much-improved Sabres team. They're getting a lot of production out of their first line with Tuck and especially Tage Thompson. Yeah. They got some good players, and I think they're getting pretty good goaltending. Where are the Penguins in the Eastern Conference? Where are they now?
Should the Steelers bring back Aaron Rodgers?
Where do you think they will be at the end of the season?
By the way, for all those that didn't think the Penguins would be where they're at, myself included... Look at where the Sabres are. Damn, they got on a roll and then boom. And you thought, okay, it's just going to blow up, and it hasn't to this point. I mean, yeah, you're right. It's about time for them. I think I love the fact that the break is coming for the Penguins.
They need it, yep.
You know, they get some guys healthy. I know a few of the older guys are going to play in the Olympics, but other guys are going to... I mean, Malkin's going to get weeks to just rest. I mean, I think this is... I agree. I think this is a good thing. I think this, too... I like how they bounced back from Monday. They did. They didn't go and play the same way again. They didn't put their heads down. And I thought Muse handled it well in that postgame on Monday when he was like, We got to look in the mirror. There's no excuses. It could have easily said, you know, we'd won six in a row. Everybody has a bad game, but no. And the team responded to it on Tuesday. If not for some better goaltending, they win a game at the Islanders and have a chance to win, what, eight of nine.
going into the break.
He's an interesting guy. I'll tell you that much. Isn't he? He's just, I can't quite figure him out. What have you experienced? Have you ever sort of just talked to him informally?
He's a little bit easier to talk to informally than Mike was. What's he like? I mean, he's just, he's a regular dude. Like there are times, I remember after the Flurry preseason game, he walked off the podium after he did his post game and he's just like, he's like, man is this what it was like like is he really like you know he was just talking to us like a human being but i think what i really admire about dan is he's gone into that room and he's gotten them all to buy in i mean remember when mike johnson clear mike johnson had no nhl experience and you could tell from the beginning those guys are like who the hell is this and Malkin's playing wing. Carlson, with the exception of the last couple of games, is playing responsible.
They're doing the things they need to do in front of their net. I think he's been really smart in the way he's divided minutes in this compressed schedule to try to keep guys as fresh as possible, and it's been rewarded with the play of the third and fourth line. They've dealt with injuries and still overcome it. They dealt with a long losing streak where they just could have fallen off the cliff, and they only came back. All those things I really like about Dan. And their power play is better.
Way better. Let's play your game, Jeff. First, let me tell you what's cooking brought to you by your local Geico rep, Tim Hester. Thank you, Mr. Hester. Very kindly. Jeff, the floor is yours.
I have a list of the Steelers free agents, and there's some that didn't play much that I won't touch on. And I just want to know, would you re-sign them? these players and if so for like a year or are you looking long term all right let's start with the obvious one and Bob I'll start with you Aaron Rodgers you bringing him back no you mean now for this year yeah he's a free agent I mean I don't think I think they've backed themselves into a corner for this year given what they've done and what you know what their expectations are so yeah he's coming back
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Chapters
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