Do you play them?

Do you see them?

Especially based on how they've been playing Nique Graz and R.

C with us, R.

C.

I start with you.

Do you think resting big Ben is the right call, Especially when you consider how their offense has been struggling recently?

Yeah, I do think it's the right call.

Listen, I wouldn't question Herman Boone for resting sunshine in this position, so I'm definitely not gonna question Mike Tomlin for resting Ben Roethlisberger.

Listen, when you look at this season not having, AH, bye week.

Also in the season where the playoff seeding changes, Number one seed is the only team with the by your playing in empty stadiums.

So home field advantage won't necessarily be what it used to be.

And so fighting for that second spots and hopes that the Miami Dolphins beat the Buffalo Bills and that you beat the Cleveland Browns, I just don't think it's worth it.

I think Mike Tomlin is prioritizing rest for his starting quarterback for his aging quarterback for his quarterback that struggled a little bit down the stretch.

Who hasn't had any rest this season coming off of an elbow surgery.

I think this is the smart thing to do.

I believe he understands that winning is his job.

Winning is what he's paid for, but it's winning in the playoffs and giving yourself the best opportunity to advance.

And this is the decision that Coach Tomlin gives him that best chance.

Nick.

What do you think the first of all, I appreciate Ryan Clark, R C.

For starting off.

Easy for you, Ryan Smith.

He gave you a nice soft ball with the Herman Boone reference.

I think you can handle that one.

That was, that was nice of you.

But I do think that as much as Ben Roethlisberger is important to that team, the strong side of that team is the defensive side of the ball.

So those guys probably needs some rest, too.

But I would say that Ben Roethlisberger is 38 years old and he's been playing for, like, more than 15 years in football.

I'm not sure what swag who thinks a few more reps is gonna do for Ben Roethlisberger, but he is who he is.

That team is who they are, who they are.

I think that rest is much more important getting them healthy and getting them feeling right going into the playoffs because a quarter of play is not gonna change.

Been into a different quarterback.

And it's fortunate for them that the second half, particularly the fourth quarter, that looks really good.

So they could go in on that high note.

Ben Rosberg was attacking down the field.

They were catching the ball making plays, so I would be nervous to put them back out there for another quarter and exposed.

Been I think it up.

Yeah, Let's not forget you don't want you don't wanna you don't wanna They got a good taste in the mouth right now.

They had a Michelin three star meal at the in the fourth quarter.

You're gonna put him back out there and they're gonna get them in and out burger, and then you're gonna have to put him on the sidelines.

Gonna be a problem, Okay.

We already got off to a good start, Graz, I gotta ask you cover this game for the Steelers.

You saw the comeback last week from what you saw.

Does this move?

Surprise you at all?

Oh, no, no, look.

Last week talking to people around that team.

They were on a three game losing streak and everybody was saying, Look, Tomlin's trying to keep this business is usual that he doesn't He doesn't like, you know, to panic anybody.

They're trying to do things they would normally be doing this time of year to get ready for the playoffs, and this is one of them.

Tomlin has a history of sitting Big Ben and others down in Week 17.

When things they're all locked up, there's no way to get the one seed.

There's no real differences here between the two or the three seed eso.

This makes a lot of sense.

I wouldn't be surprised if other guys on the Steelers got some rest as well.

Look, they are what they are.

They're going into the playoffs with the team they have.

They look good in the second half against the Colts.

They look awful in every other game they played, uh, in December.

The problems aren't going away.

You know they're not getting Devin Busch.

Who's there?

Gerry Bertier on defense.

He's not coming back, so they're still gonna have issues as they go into the playoffs.

That they get Big Ben some rest, then, uh, then they will.

Then they'll they'll be in the best position to take advantage of their opportunity.

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