AI Summary
5 min read“Seven times, he said, ‘Hey Michael.’” That is how Ben Maller described Virginia Tech coach James Franklin’s awkward attempt to get a reporter’s attention during a press conference—a moment that captured the absurd, behind-the-scenes friction that often goes unseen in sports. On this episode of The Ben Maller Show, the host used three NFL storylines to expose the gap between what teams say publicly and what actually happens behind closed doors, from contract disputes disguised as injuries to coaches blaming their own strategies for embarrassing losses.
The Swiss Army Knife of Contract Disputes
The lead story centered on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Joey Porter Jr., who missed the season opener against Atlanta amid a well-publicized contract squabble. The team’s public explanation was a back injury that surfaced at the start of training camp. Maller was blunt about what he saw: “If you’re a very gullible person, you believe that as the gospel.”
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What you'll learn
- 1 (03:14) **Show Open & Lead Stories** - Ben Maller introduces the three main topics for hour three: the Joey Porter Jr. holdout, Jim Harbaugh's preseason regrets, and Landon Dickerson’s injury admission.
- 2 (05:58) **The Joey Porter Jr. Contract Standoff** - Ben breaks down the Steelers' defensive back's absence and the public vs. private explanations for his injury.
- 3 (11:28) **Harbaugh's Preseason Excuse** - The host examines Jim Harbaugh's admission that he regrets not playing his starters more in the preseason after the Chargers' embarrassing loss to Arizona.
- 4 (16:27) **Landon Dickerson's Deposition** - Ben discusses Eagles guard Landon Dickerson's comments about being a "liability" and not playing well due to a knee injury.
- 5 (21:21) **Maller Riddle of the Day** - Ben presents the riddle about Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer being criticized for allowing his players to enjoy a specific item after their loss to the Giants.
- 6 (32:50) **Deli Debate & Travel Tips** - A brief, banter-filled segment comparing New York's Katz's Deli to Los Angeles' Langer's Deli, followed by a discussion on the best cheap ways to visit New York City.
- 7 (35:49) **Caller: Metaphor Kyle** - A regular listener calls in to catch up, discuss the week's biggest losses (Bears, Broncos, Ohio State), and share a bizarre story from the Climbing World Championships.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Ben Maller talks about the stalemate between Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers, Jim Harbaugh putting the Chargers opening-day sloppiness on his own preseason strategy, Eagles G Landon Dickerson saying he was a liability and shouldn't have been playing, Maller's Mountain of Money: Nas Edition, and more!
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