Michael Irvin Claims He Nearly Begged Jerry Jones To Draft Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

The argument related to whether or not Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster can continue to produce without wide receiver Antonio Brown playing across from him in the offense moving forward is one that will continue on well into the start of the 2019 regular season. Even so, former NFL wide receiver and current NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin weighed in some on the argument this week while covering the topic with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on ‘First Take’ and he made it clear that he fully expects Smith-Schuster to continue putting up great stats in the Steelers offense even with Brown no longer being in Pittsburgh. Not only that, Irvin revealed during that segment that in 2017 he strongly urged Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to draft Smith-Schuster.

“I told Jerry Jones, that’s the only dude, the one. This is the dude I went to Jerry Jones and almost got down on my knees and begged to draft with JuJu Smith-Schuster,” Irvin told Smith. “Because, again, I worked out with him. I saw. This kid, I said he’ll be the perfect guy to come in as a number two and take over as a number one. And that’s exactly what he’ll have the ability to do.”

Obviously, Jones didn’t take Irvin’s advice during the 2017 NFL Draft. In case you’ve already forgotten, the Cowboys drafted cornerback Chidobe Awuzie in the second-round that year and two spots ahead of the Steelers selecting Smith-Schuster. Since then, Smith-Schuster has gone on to become the best wide receiver in the 2017 draft class as evidenced by him catching 169 total passes for 2,343 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Not only did Irvin say recently that he believes Smith-Schuster and the rest of the Steelers offense will be fine moving forward without the likes of Brown and running Le’Veon Bell, he likes the team’s chances this year of returning to the playoffs and potentially making a run at a seventh Lombardi Trophy.

“The only thing that we have an ability to question is can they produce in the playoffs,” Irvin told Smith in regard to the 2019 Steelers. “Now, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown never produced in the playoffs to the tune of a Super Bowl. So, it’s not like to surpass them they’ve got to go win a Super Bowl. They just got to get into the playoffs and make plays. I believe the Steelers are in good position with the young talent they have.”

read more

https://steelersdepot.com/2019/07/mi...mith-schuster/

I'm still laughing at the people who said this was a luxury pick, you can never have too many capable WR's. They usually take the longest of all the skill positions (other than QB) to groom. And in today's NFL, a solid #2 is a must. Heck, if you're a passing offense a solid #3 is a must.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fire Goodell

I'm still laughing at the people who said this was a luxury pick, you can never have too many capable WR's. They usually take the longest of all the skill positions (other than QB) to groom. And in today's NFL, a solid #2 is a must. Heck, if you're a passing offense a solid #3 is a must.

---

But we were loaded at this position with AB,Martavis Bryant, Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers and etc! .. LOL

It was true for AB, but the others were big questions mark whether this is for the talent or if the player could stay on the field!

The season before, Cody Hamilton was our 2nd best outside receiver in the playoffs ... It was a need!

I thought Martavis Bryant was a star in the making. A damn shame because he could have been, all that talent just flushed down the toilet. Physically, he was much more talented than AB and if his head was in the right place, he could have been even better too.

Coulda woulda shoulda, though sadly that's the case with a lot of would-be great NFL talents that fail to live to their potential because of stupidity or laziness.

I never been a big fan of Michael Irvin(the person) but he is right on it

It's often been one of my points during this off season

Talent is important, but team spirit is also very important, it takes both to have a chance.

As in the 1990s (1992 to 1997), the steelers did not win the super bowl, but the team spirit and the talent was there, so we can not blame them, they are coming short a few times(1994,1995,1997), but the right mentality was there.

Same thing between 2004 to 2010, but the results were there (3 SB game, 2 SB win, 15-1 season in another season) .... The steelers had a lot of talent in the killer B's era (2014 to 2018) but the atmosphere was not always very good, but I believe Tomlin, Colbert and the steelers want to go back on what the Steelers have allowed to be successful before.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by polamalubeast

I never been a big fan of Michael Irvin(the person) but he is right on it

It's often been one of my points during this off season

Talent is important, but team spirit is also very important, it takes both to have a chance.

As in the 1990s (1992 to 1997), the steelers did not win the super bowl, but the team spirit and the talent was there, so we can not blame them, they are coming short a few times(1994,1995,1997), but the right mentality was there.

Same thing between 2004 to 2010, but the results were there (3 SB game, 2 SB win, 15-1 season in another season) .... The steelers had a lot of talent in the killer B's era (2014 to 2018) but the atmosphere was not always very good, but I believe Tomlin, Colbert and the steelers want to go back on what the Steelers have allowed to be successful before.

---

I don't know if I completly agree. Look at the patriots, they seem more business like than family.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vasteeler

I don't know if I completly agree. Look at the patriots, they seem more business like than family.

---

I do not think they've ever had players who have been problems in their locker room ... If that was the case, Bill Belichick would show the door very quickly.....

I mean, even James Harrison has already said that when he took a picture with Brady, Belichick told him after he could not do that!

He said that around 5:40 of this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YzYPDfKVXo

I wonder if Jerrah begged him to stop doing blow?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mojouw

I wonder if Jerrah begged him to stop doing blow?

---

Well, we do know that Jerrah certainly didn’t tell him to stop hanging out with hookers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by teegre

Well, we do know that Jerrah certainly didn’t tell him to stop hanging out with hookers.

---

True! I’ve never seen anyone look as wild eyed and sweaty as Irvin does without a habit behind it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vasteeler

I don't know if I completly agree. Look at the patriots, they seem more business like than family.

---

Well keep in mind that their owner is referred to as the "Assistant Commissioner" by those in the League office. It helps when you have Go To Hell in your hip pocket. The cheats have never had to play on a level playing field it's always slanted in their favor.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mojouw

I wonder if Jerrah begged him to stop doing blow?

---

Ten Best Narcotic Offenders in NFL History

By Bryan Douglass on July 12th, 2010

"The Dallas Cowboys of the 1990’s were as strong, as entertaining, and as troubled as any team the NFL has known. Michael Irvin was their leader.

Now respected as a quality analyst for the NFL Network, Irvin was known for his penchant for blow and being blown when he was the top offensive weapon for quarterback Troy Aikman during championship runs under Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. The details of Irvin’s party pleasures were detailed by a Penthouse Pet in the January 1997 edition of the men’s magazine. My apologies as I can’t find a decent link to it online. To be honest it’s fairly predictable… Irvin likes sex with multiple women, sex is better with cocaine, and when you are trying to please multiple women for multiple nights of the week, you need cocaine… LOTS of cocaine.

That’s why he’s The Playmaker. Based on the history built by this league and the evolution of sexual enhancement since, you can’t blame Irvin for the approach. Viagra wasn’t an option and, let’s face it, if you were lucky enough to have been there you would do what you had to do.

And you’d walk away with one hell of a story."

https://gunaxin.com/ten-best-narcoti...in-nfl-history

A story from camp.

JuJu and Justin Layne are doing blocking’s drills, and JuJu knocks Layne to the ground. Then, JuJu drives Layne completely out of bounds. Then, JuJu knocks Layne down once again.

Layne gets up heated, gets in JuJu’s face... and JuJu hugs him, while whispering in his ear.

SUMMATION:
Fuck Mark Madden!!!


(NOTE: That summation requires some lateral thought.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by teegre

A story from camp.

JuJu and Justin Layne are doing blocking’s drills, and JuJu knocks Layne to the ground. Then, JuJu drives Layne completely out of bounds. Then, JuJu knocks Layne down once again.

Layne gets up heated, gets in JuJu’s face... and JuJu hugs him, while whispering in his ear.

SUMMATION:
Fuck Mark Madden!!!


(NOTE: That summation requires some lateral thought.)

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by polamalubeast

---

Fine interview but he is still a Cowboy and still a big mouth.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hawkman

Fine interview but he is still a Cowboy and still a big mouth.

---

I really wanted JuJu to smack him across the head

Roethlisberger threw for a career-high – and NFL-high – 5,129 yards last season to go with 34 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He will be without Antonio Brown for the first time since 2009, but JuJu Smith-Schuster is a more than capable No. 1 option.

“He’s ready for it,” Batch said of JuJu. “He’s like a sponge right now. He’s absorbing any information he can possibly get, and what he’s been doing over the last couple days is working a lot with Santonio Holmes, former Super Bowl MVP. Working on releases, making sure he’s capable of taking on those double teams – something that he really hasn’t done before. The success he’s had over the last two years, he always had Antonio Brown on the opposite side, so that’s a huge question mark for him heading into this season.”

Smith-Schuster caught 111 balls for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns last year. The Steelers open the season on the road against the Patriots on Sept. 8.

read more

https://cbssportsradio.radio.com/art...e-more-seasons

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by polamalubeast

I never been a big fan of Michael Irvin(the person) but he is right on it

It's often been one of my points during this off season

Talent is important, but team spirit is also very important, it takes both to have a chance.

As in the 1990s (1992 to 1997), the steelers did not win the super bowl, but the team spirit and the talent was there, so we can not blame them, they are coming short a few times(1994,1995,1997), but the right mentality was there.

Same thing between 2004 to 2010, but the results were there (3 SB game, 2 SB win, 15-1 season in another season) .... The steelers had a lot of talent in the killer B's era (2014 to 2018) but the atmosphere was not always very good, but I believe Tomlin, Colbert and the steelers want to go back on what the Steelers have allowed to be successful before.

---

I grew up in South Jersey back in the 80's when the Flyers were a very very good hockey team. None of their players (besides maybe Mark Howe) were league leading all-stars yet but the point is I would often go out to local bars (the Flyers are based out of South Jersey not Philly) and see a group of players after home games getting a beer together. They would often show up an hour after the game, take up a bunch of tables and just have a good time. I would see Rick Tocchet, Tim Kerr, Peter Zezel, Brian Propp, Kjell Samuelsson, Ron Hextall, Dave Poulin, Murray Craven, Pelle Eklund, Brad Marsh, Scott Mellanby, Dave Brown and Craig Berube. A guy I played ice hockey with in a local adult league that worked in my company had been Dave Poulin's college hockey roommate at Notre Dame so I got to meet a lot of the players through him. The players all hung out outside of the rink and you could tell they just all got along. So when you needed that extra effort or a player to pick up for your mistake in a game they had each other's back. That's how the pushed the 1987 Oilers to game #7 and almost won the Cup with way way less talent.

Being a team is way more important than being an all-star.

That is an awesome Flyers story. That was the team that got me into watching hockey. I mean when guys do things like this for each other, it is hard not to like them:
https://www.broadstreethockey.com/20...-chelios-fight

But as important as team chemistry and camaraderie is, there has to be a baseline level of talent on the roster to put the team in a position to succeed. You can not just throw some veteran journeymen together, have them become best friends, and then win championships.

Take the Flyers example. Kerr was a 50 goal scorer who if his body hadn't disintegrated would've likely had a much more storied career. Propp was an amazing scoring winger and honestly the hit in the above link might have totally changed his career for the worse -- he was just never the same. The others mostly had long solid careers in the NHL. Hextall was likely the best goalie in the league in his first stint with the Flyers. Sure, they were the "Broadstreet Bullies 2.0" but they also had a pretty good amount of talent up and down the roster.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mojouw

That is an awesome Flyers story. That was the team that got me into watching hockey. I mean when guys do things like this for each other, it is hard not to like them:
https://www.broadstreethockey.com/20...-chelios-fight

But as important as team chemistry and camaraderie is, there has to be a baseline level of talent on the roster to put the team in a position to succeed. You can not just throw some veteran journeymen together, have them become best friends, and then win championships.

Take the Flyers example. Kerr was a 50 goal scorer who if his body hadn't disintegrated would've likely had a much more storied career. Propp was an amazing scoring winger and honestly the hit in the above link might have totally changed his career for the worse -- he was just never the same. The others mostly had long solid careers in the NHL. Hextall was likely the best goalie in the league in his first stint with the Flyers. Sure, they were the "Broadstreet Bullies 2.0" but they also had a pretty good amount of talent up and down the roster.

---

As I said in the post 5 in this thread, the talent is also important ... It takes both (talent, chemistry, team spirit, leadership and many other things) ... The steelers had that when the Roethlisberger era was at his peak (2004 to 2010), but the killer B's era, they had the talent, but not the other things that are important to be a true contender.

We have to see, how's going to be for the new era, but the steelers have a lot of potential talent in their roster ... They need to prove that on the field, but at least we can have hope ... I'm confident that the toxic locker room is a thing of the past, but we have to prove that too!