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Brian Batko’s Steelers chat: 06.09.25
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Brian Batko
10:00
Hello everyone and welcome to our first Steelers chat of the Aaron Rodgers era. !
Tim
10:01
Is Jaire Alexander a potential fit for Steelers?
Brian Batko
10:02
Rodgers is old news already I guess. I don’t see Jaire Alexander pushing for a release from the Packers just to go to a different team with two entrenched starting outside corners.
Bob
10:02
Any idea why they didn't sign Gabe Davis when he visited? Still injured, etc. They need a proven #2 WR.
Brian Batko
10:03
Steelers aren’t the first team that had him in to visit and then didn’t sign him. Maybe it’s more of an issue on his end - wanting to explore other options, high asking price, whatever.
no woke
10:05
Steelers going more woke. Now they go broke. Lots of steel workers jobs saved in Pittsburgh so they can spend money on the post gazette, NFL and Steelers. Conservatives can give them the Bud Light treatment.
Brian Batko
10:05
Having a normal one, are we?
A. Carnegie
10:06
Top 'o the morning, Bats!  I don't think the Steelers should trade for Lazard, Pitts (ATL will want something of value back-possible 3rd rounder) or Jonnuu (not sure he is worth a 4th that Miami will likely be looking at).  Why not see what Keenan Allen is doing or Cooper?  I know Gabe Davis was recently in for a visit and I'm assuming he didn't get a contract because he's still recovering from his injury.  If anything, call GB and offer a 4th for Doubs or Wicks. They might be available. Do you know if they have called GB?
Brian Batko
10:07
Not sure but I do agree with the Pack having a surplus of receiving assets. Perhaps that's also baked into Omar Khan's patience here. He knows new avenues to improving the pass catchers could present themselves between now and Week 1.
Dormont Legacy
10:08
Brian - is there any way to tell during mini camp or preseason if AS/MT will open up the offense and allow Aaron some flexibility or will we have to wait until the regular season? What should we be looking for?
Brian Batko
10:09
In my opinion, not really. Maybe you'll see some encouraging signs in training camp but I assume preseason work will be pretty vanilla. If he even plays in preseason.
RAM
10:09
Hey Batts! Do you have any idea why the Steelers went back to afternoon training camp practices? I really liked the morning sessions not to mention how hot it can get in the afternoon.
Brian Batko
10:10
Yeah, as did I. But no word yet on why they're going back to the old days. Mike Tomlin will probably give an explanation at some point.
Pittfan
10:11
Hi Brian. I don't believe Tomlin was sold on Justin Fields. There was a point last season where I believe Tomlin challenged him to take on more of a leadership role. I just can't believe he was their first choice. Was he?
Brian Batko
10:13
I don't know if I put much stock into the leadership angle of your question but I do believe he was their first choice at a certain price. Maybe even the Rodgers price. But, obviously, Justin Fields got a deal worth damn near his fifth-year option tag of $25 million from the Jets.
Lou
10:13
Brian what is your hot take on the fan view that Steelers might as well tank the season?  I just can’t imagine ANY team going into a season with the ANTI Rally Cry of “men get ready to lose 14+ games!!”  Not only is it delusional, but there is no guarantee your top ranked QB is going to be the  next FRANCHISE.
Brian Batko
10:15
While I would not advocate for outright tanking, there's something to be said for re-tooling and focusing more on a developmental season. To me, a good example is turning to Russell Wilson at 4-2 last year when you had the chance to further evaluate Fields, maybe build the offense around him for the rest of the season, etc. In the end, you got a short-term boost and a long-term nothingburger of a 2024 campaign.
Retire21
10:17
Old Yinzer SB Winning QBs who went to other teams I can think of......Namath/Rams, Unitas/Chargers, Montana/Chiefs. And didn't Montana beat the Steelers in a playoff game? Of the three I'm taking Ringgold Joe as our outcome . You?
Brian Batko
10:19
I think winning a playoff game would constitute a successful season for the Rodgers experiment. At least it would get a monkey off this team's back. And you didn't waste a year of Cam Heyward/TJ Watt with a rebuilding season.
Happy Gilmore
10:20
What do you think happens if Rodgers plays poorly and looks washed through the first 4-5 games. Does Tomlin have the gumption to actually bench him or does he start every game if healthy?
Brian Batko
10:22
That's a great question, albeit a depressing one to ponder. I remember kicking around that hypothetical with Ben Roethlisberger going into his final season. In that situation, I just didn't see Tomlin ever playing that card against a franchise legend who'd probably earned the right to keep playing if he wanted to. Can't imagine there'd be such a loyalty to the 41-year-old QB in the fold now. And if it's truly going that badly, he might just bow out gracefully anyway.
Stairway to seventh seed
10:23
Brian: has there been any official word on what the milestones are for Rodgers to earn the incentives in his deal?
Brian Batko
10:23
Not that I've seen yet other than playing time. I'd hope the Steelers included some performance incentives in there, but this question actually could be linked to the last question if the Rodgers incentives end up being intertwined with how many snaps he logs.
A2theMFJ
10:24
Now that we have 4QBs in camp, we can move onto the WR2 issue. Or non-issue.  Other than a handful of teams, I can’t name the WR2 for most of the league. Wilson and Austin will be fine.
Brian Batko
10:26
Ehh I wouldn't be that bullish, honestly. Those guys have something to prove. More than anything, this receiving corps just doesn't have a lot of size outside of the biggest wideout in the game in DK Metcalf. If they're going to add to it, it's got to be a bigger body, in my opinion. Whether that player's a straight-line speed outside type or a possession chain-mover, I have some concerns about this group's overall physicality and play strength.
CoalportKid
10:27
What's the level of excitement in the press corps over the Aaron Rodgers availability tomorrow?
Brian Batko
10:27
I might go to sleep at 5:30 today just so tomorrow can get here sooner.
Henry Hill
10:28
Hey Brian, just wanted to say it was good to hear you on Dukes' show yesterday morning!
Brian Batko
10:28
Thank you, sir
Bill
10:29
By name and position, what Vet FAs should the Steelers seek to add before Latrobe?
Brian Batko
10:31
Preston Smith, outside linebacker
Arthur Maulet, cornerback
Gunner Olszewski, wide receiver

In all seriousness, Mike Hilton is still out there and I can envision the Steelers trying to shore up slot cornerback if Beanie Bishop doesn't solidify himself in the summer.
P.T.
10:32
Good morning.  Heard that Jaime Alexander is expected to be released by Green Bay.  I would think Omar would be interested in acquiring him.  Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
10:33
Like I said before, Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay are the outside cornerbacks on this team as long as they're healthy. I'm more curious if the Ravens will scoop him up...
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:34
Morning Bats! Does Arthur open up the playbook and let AR throw the ball around a bit or will the first quarter of every game be run, run incomplete pass punt? Really have not loved the game plan in any of the games save the first Bengal game when RW audibled at the line of scrimmage.
Brian Batko
10:35
Good morning, Mr. Sunner. Arthur Smith isn't just going to throw his philosophies out the window, but I'll say this much, it wouldn't surprise me if he has a lot more trust in Rodgers and thus gives him a lot more freedom than last year's duo had. And that shouldn't be a surprise. Rodgers has always been known more for that surgical slicing and dicing than Russell Wilson, who at his peak was a master at extending plays and winning that way. If this is going to work, leaning into Rodgers as a pre-snap maestro should be a major ingredient in the formula.
Guest
10:37
For all the talk about "building through the trenches" I feel like the OL is still in a dangerous spot when it comes to quality depth. Are you surprised they haven't done more to get a starter-capable swing tackle in case either of the young guys falter, or a more experienced backup guard if there's injury to one of those two starters?
Brian Batko
10:38
Couldn't agree with you more, Guest. That's why I didn't love the Jack Sawyer pick initially and even the two seventh-rounders had me scratching my head a bit that they wouldn't at least take a chance on a developmental tackle with some traits and upside. Obviously, the starters are set, and I like Spencer Anderson and Ryan McCollum as interior backups, but tackle gets thin quickly. Might be that they just really have faith in Calvin Anderson/Dylan Cook?
Tampa Too
10:40
Brian     Million dollar question. So when Rodgers goes in the Hall of Fame does he go in as a Steeler or a Packer?  (Certainly not a Jet!)
Brian Batko
10:41
Well, the Pro Football Hall of Fame doesn't work that way, but here's how I envision the ideal world for Aaron Rodgers in Year 21: Lead the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory, ride off into the sunset, retire as a Packer in the spring. Everyone wins!
In Kahn We Trust!
10:41
When reading these chats, you would think that the Steelers have 15-20 draft picks a year.  Everyone seems to want every position fixed right away.  And everyone thinks we should have the top player at every position and our back ups to be as good as the starters.  People need to be more realistic!
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