Tag: Sirius XM NFL Radio

How to watch, listen and stream Cowboys vs. Eagles in Week 18

#Cowboys vs. #Eagles: How to watch, listen and stream online in Week 18

The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have secured their playoff berths, so Saturday’s matchup has lost a little bit of the normal luster.

Saturday’s game will only affect playoff seeding and matchups, but it’s still worth watching as both teams want to enter the postseason with positive momentum.

The playing status of Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott is still unknown, but here’s your Week 18 watch and streaming guide.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger talks new weapons and the deep ball

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a recent guest on SiriusXM’s Movin’ the Chains.

SiriusXM NFL Radio made the rounds this summer for their annual NFL Training Camp Tour. Of course, it was conducted virtually this season, but nevertheless, Pittsburgh was a recent tour “stop.”

Former general manager and scout Pat Kirwan, along with his co-host and former Steelers quarterback Jim Miller, had Ben Roethlisberger on as a guest during Movin’ the Chains Steelers stop.

Roethlisberger’s newest weapon may just wind up being his surgically repaired elbow. But he also has new weapons in wide receivers Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and tight end Eric Ebron.

Though Johnson is in his second year, he was only on the receiving end of three passes from Big Ben before his season ended.

“With the offseason we’ve had, it’s been unique,” said Roethlisberger on Movin’ the Chains. “Typically, you get minicamps, OTAs. Not having those was difficult, too, which is why we organized some [practices] on the side to get together as much as we could to get to know each other.”

Roethlisberger said that building chemistry with Johnson is a process that can only be helped by playing games.

“[Diontae] and I don’t really have any chemistry,” Roethlisberger said. “We never really played together. So, there’s still a lot of learning and trust that has to come from both sides when it comes to his play on the field. He’s extremely talented, and I’m excited to get out there with him. We just don’t know each other well enough yet… Obviously, JuJu [Smith-Schuster] and I know each other and James Washington and Vance [McDonald], but there are still a lot of question marks out there.”

In the evenings after work, Ben watches practice footage, sends clips to his receivers, and talks with them about specific plays and what everyone can do to get better.

“We just try to get in as much work as we can knowing that this is going to be a work in progress as the season unfolds,” he said.

Kirwan noted that Roethlisberger took 76 deep shots in 2018 for an average of five per game, and asked the quarterback to assess where he is with that part of his game.

“Let’s go for seven a game then,” Roethlisberger joked. “The arm feels good. I guess we’ll really test it… That’s going to be key for us. We have guys that can stretch the field. I need to do my best not to force anything to certain guys or certain coverages. But when we have the deep shots, we have to take it, and same thing when we get underneath.”

Roethlisberger said that Smith-Schuster is one who can stretch the field and get underneath and create matchup. He pointed to the two 97-yard touchdowns JuJu scored — the first versus the Lions in 2017 and the second versus the Broncos in 2018.

“People talk about him not being a ‘speedster,’ but he has two touchdowns over at least 97 yards or something like that. That doesn’t happen too often unless you’ve got enough speed.”

Big Ben shares that the game plan is to move the receivers around, but only to a certain extent.

“Obviously, we don’t want guys to play slower because they’re thinking too much. You want guys to just play fast and be natural,” he said. “We’ll do our best to get guys into the positions to make plays for us.”

[vertical-gallery id=475928]

[lawrence-related id=476007]

Dick LeBeau talks Troy Polamalu and the 2006 Super Bowl champion Steelers

The former Steelers defensive coordinator was a recent guest on Sirius XM NFL Radio’s Late Hits.

The legendary Dick LeBeau, former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator, was recently a guest on Sirius XM NFL Radio’s Late Hits.

As the portion of the interview reached the topic of the Steelers, LeBeau was asked his feelings on his protege Troy Polamalu, who will be joining him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

“Yeah, I guided him, alright. I stayed the hell out of his way,” LeBeau said with a laugh when asked about grooming Polamalu. “…Troy had the ability to go from point A to point B probably as quickly as any man I’ve ever seen… he confused offenses. He had great anticipation. I think he’s the best safety that’s ever played, that’s my opinion. Of course, it is biased.”

“Troy is one in a million — as a player, as a person.”

LeBeau had to work for nearly five decades in football before he won his first Super Bowl ring. In 2005, his 47th season coaching, the 2005 Steelers finally brought home the Lombardi.

After a midseason four-game win streak, the Steelers lost three consecutive games to the Ravens, Colts, and Bengals taking their record to 7-5. They were dealing with injuries to Ben Roethlisberger, backup quarterback Charlie Batch and Hines Ward — the outlook for the remainder of the season was not good. Thankfully, Pittsburgh beat their next four opponents (Bears, Vikings, Browns, Lions) to finish the regular season at 11-5. That year, it was just enough to head into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed.

LeBeau was asked what made that particular Steelers squad so special.

“We really got off to a good start,” said LeBeau. “We hit a snag with a lot of injuries in the middle of the year. As we began to get those key players back, it was just at the proper time that the team was really gelling. The character had been built in the games that we had to play without some of our best players. By the time we hit the playoffs, we were a handful for anybody we were going to play.”

“They were a family and a brotherhood, which all successful championship teams are. It was a joy to be with them,” LeBeau shared. “That team, that year, we were really stout, and the offense was really coming on as the season matured.”

The Steelers were only the second team ever (and the first in 20 years) to beat the No. 3 seed Bengals, the No. 1 seed Colts, and the No. 2 seed Broncos to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 40. With the victory, they became the first team post-merger to win a Super Bowl without having played a home playoff game.

“We played four great playoff teams — we were a six seed and had to go on the road all the way. We played four straight offensive teams that averaged over 400 yards a game — more than now, that was a sizeable amount of yardage.”

“I had been to the Super Bowl three times before, that fourth time was the first time we won. I wasn’t a spring chicken, I didn’t know if I was ever going to be part of a championship.”

[vertical-gallery id=472174]

[lawrence-related id=431078]

JC Tretter: Football ‘is a game that is almost built to pass this virus’

Browns center and NFLPA president JC Tretter: Football ‘is a game that is almost built to pass this virus’

Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter is at the forefront of the league’s adjustments to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As the president of the NFLPA, Tretter has been actively involved in working with the NFL to develop the strategies to get back on the field in a safe manner.

In an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio this week, Tretter talked about the very real dangers the logistics of football puts on the players on the field.

“This is a game that is almost built to pass this virus,” Tretter said. “In the trenches, pretty much every play you’re getting someone who spits on your face when you’re (an) offensive/defensive lineman. You’re a foot away from each other all the time.”

Tretter continued,

“You’re almost having to rethink everything you’re doing on the field and how you can keep players safe.”

He also talked about how the teams handle practices and the locker room scenarios in the era of social distancing, noting that “packing guys into the weight room, packing guys into meeting rooms” is not the best way to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

Tretter emphasized, “The players will have to feel safe” and their families must as well before the game can go forward.

[lawrence-related id=48626]

Ben Roethlisberger on his beard: ‘When I can throw an NFL pass, I’ll shave it’

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger explains his reason for the beard.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a guest on Thursday’s Sirius XM Blitz with Bruce Murray and former teammate, quarterback Bruce Gradkowski.

And, of course, the subject of Roethlisberger’s beard came up.

The quarterback said when he was flying out for the surgical procedure on his elbow, he decided to grow a beard. “I’m not sure why,” Roethlisberger said. “I just felt something that said don’t cut your hair or your beard until you come back.”

His wife, Ashley, isn’t a fan.

“She liked it at first,” Roethlisberger said with a sigh. “Hates it now. I keep saying that she’s going to cut it off in my sleep.”

He isn’t going to budge on the beard… yet.

When Roethlisberger told Ashley that he would shave it when he can throw an NFL pass, she wanted clarification.

“‘Like, an NFL pass in the living room to your kid? What qualifies as an NFL pass?'”

“Every day that I’m out throwing, she’s like, ‘That definitely was an NFL pass.'”

While 2019 wasn’t the first season Roethlisberger sported a beard, this is definitely the messiest, most epic one yet.

Roethlisberger said that he’ll know in his heart when he’s ready. Hopefully, it’s sooner than later.

[vertical-gallery id=461808]

[lawrence-related id=377008]