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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 06.06.22
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Brian Batko
2:48
Chuck Noll and Ben Roethlisberger.
Jud
2:49
Thanks for the chats Bats!  For all the Steelers did for Tuitt, would have been nice to know before the draft...
Brian Batko
2:51
Yeah, I understand that sentiment, but don't you think the Steelers already approached the draft - and this whole offseason - knowing that Tuitt was up in the air? If not, they should have. I'm on record as saying Devonte Wyatt would've been a good first-round pick, but clearly the Steelers were enamored with Kenny Pickett. And we all know how much of a need WR was. I'm just not sure if having an earlier decision from Tuitt would've changed their plans a whole lot, and if the guy really was torn, what can you do? He's a talent worth waiting on.
Matt
2:52
Hey Bats!  Do you think the Steelers knew all along that Tuitt was going to retire?  Do you think it was a coincidence he announced after June 1 or was that the plan all along?
Brian Batko
2:54
That would be quite the coincidence, what with mandatory minicamp approaching and the salary cap dynamics post-June 1. I suppose they could've "excused" him from minicamp, like the 49ers are doing with Jimmy Garoppolo, but that would've been a whole other distraction that signaled an eventual departure. It seems reasonable to me that it actually was a very difficult decision for him.
Guest
2:55
Brian, If the Steelers have enough cap space to make one or two big FA moves, do they make those moves asap or do they wait until mid August after they have had an opportunity to evaluate the people and needs they have at camp/preseason?
Brian Batko
2:55
Might as well wait. No one on the street right now blows me away as a must-sign-now type of player. And we know they haven't been shy about trading either.
The Mute
2:56
Brian I really think that if the team gave Tuitt all the support last year, and all the money thru the years that he did received which was a lot for what he really did on the field of play, was he a good player? Sure, but not the kind for all he received in my view plus all the injuries.. and Now he just walks away.. sorry but in my view that’s not a Pro, and he should give back to the team a lot of last year earnings.. Am I wrong? What’s your view? I just think he was not fair, thanks for all you guys do..
Brian Batko
2:59
You're missing one key piece of the situation: something legitimately traumatic happened to Tuitt and his family. There was no indication before his brother's death that Tuitt had fallen out of love with football or had gotten lazy or anything like that. We've seen in several other situations the Steelers treat players with grace as opposed to being ruthless financially. Now, a separate point to make, that 5-year, $60 million contract they gave him? It wasn't a good deal for them, partially due to things that were out of his and their control.
Manjo
3:00
What's the probability (%) that Mason Rudolph is named the Week 1 starter?
Brian Batko
3:00
Well these are always tough but I'll say 5.9%
3:01
OK folks, that's all the time we have today. Calvin Austin III signed his rookie deal, but wake me up when someone doesn't sign, that's when it will be newsworthy. Talk to you all next week in my last chat before vacation.
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