The Pittsburgh Steelers tight ends have been in the spotlight this weekend. Heath Miller was introduced into the Steelers Hall of Honor and Mike Tomlin recognized him before Saturday’s training camp practice in Latrobe, PA in front of a rumored crowd of 17,000 fans. While the festivities for Miller were going on, the Steelers current tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Zach Gentry appeared on a new YouTube Grillin’ N’ Chillin’ segment with Christian Kuntz, the former Duquesne linebacker turned long snapper, who has been with the Steelers in two stints since 2019.
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Freiermuth and Gentry sat down with Kuntz in front of small charcoal grill with a package of still packaged hot dogs and started firing away with the comedic timing, which would of make Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels proud. Gentry fired away with bonkers questioning like:
"Would you rather fight one horse sized duck or one hundred duck sized horses and why?"
Kuntz, who has attended training camp with four different teams, and been on both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers practice squads, has never appeared in an NFL regular season game. He did play for the Dallas Renegades in the latest iteration of the XFL, but after the league folded, he rejoined the Steelers who waived him on August 2nd, 2020, before bringing him back to their practice squad.
“100 duck sized horses,” Kuntz replied. “Ducks aren’t as tough as horses.”
You just cannot argue with that kind of logic. Gentry, the Steelers fifth round draft pick in 2019 out of Michigan is leading the questioning while the hot dogs remain on what we can only hope is an unlit grill. Both he and Freiermuth are modeling outstanding looking grill apparel adorned with the Pittsburgh logos, but while the pair are dapper, they are a little light on in depth questions for Kuntz.
“You and Cam Heyward fight to the death," Gentry asks, “but he has one hand tied behind his back, who wins?
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Kuntz ponders a moment, while Freiermuth, the Steelers second round pick from 2021, chides his would-be teammate that "he should be confident in his abilities." The former Penn State product who became a huge part of the Steelers offense in the second half of last season is obviously enjoying jabbing away at the prospective long snapper. Kuntz, who is playing a wonderfully confused straight man at this point to the two oversized hams replies:
"Cam Heyward. He’s a big man, do I have a weapon?"
Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
It is rumored that Cameron Heyward as a Steelers captain felt the question was inappropriate and reportedly refused to answer if he would allow Kuntz a weapon. The Steelers tight ends kept going and after a couple goofier questions which you can watch here, finally get down to a serious interview question. Freiermuth and Gentry displaying flawless interviewing technique, have put Kuntz at ease and go deeper now that he is comfortable. They hit him with the one question that every Steelers fan has on their mind during the 2022 training camp. Gentry puts him on the spot and asks "who he loves more, his mom or dad?"
“I love them both very much,” Kuntz answers diplomatically. “They are both going to see this.” After being told by Freiermuth he must pick one, “My dad isn’t that social, so my mom.”
As a father of two teenage girls, I empathize with the elder Mr. Kuntz. Dad’s everywhere work with their sons to push them along during the trials and tribulations of Pee Wee, middle and high school football and send them off with pride to play college football. Then the first time their son appears in a big game and makes a great play, or sits for an interview on a YouTube segment, "Hi mom, thanks mom, I love you more than Dad," is the first thing that falls out of their male progeny's mouth.
“Mama’s boy,” Freiermuth laughs, “I wouldn’t have answered it. Would not have answered it.”
It appears unlikely that the Food Network will pick up this new culinary interview show, especially since cooking hot dogs in a package is generally frowned upon as sound food preparation technique. This is not to mention that the insurance for an obvious fire hazard would make future episodes a tenuous proposition for any network. There is always YouTube, which helped launch Hot Ones into the culinary stratosphere, if the two wish to continue. After all, Ben Roethlisberger is rumored to be auditioning to appear on the famous program. Gentry and Freiermuth could finally put Roethlisberger on the spot and find out if the future Hall of Famer adds an apple pie when he visits his favorite fast-food chain.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are Gentry and Freiermuth the next great comedy duo? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
