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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 07.06.20
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Brian Batko
12:02
Hey there, trusty chatters. Thanks for stopping by. Although you all might be the ones catching me up after spending last week golfing (poorly), sitting on a beach and enjoying precious time with family. Let's go.
Gene
12:02
Hi Brian your thoughts on no preseason games good or bad?
Brian Batko
12:03
Mostly good. Players don't like them and neither do fans. If there were ever a year to see what football would be like without them, this is it.
THomas
12:04
Juju, DJ, James and Claypool....who has the inside track to WR5?  Please dont say Switzer.
Brian Batko
12:04
Ryan S.
Bigedbarr71
12:05
Hey Brian! Hope all is well with you & the family! So what's your gut telling you? NFL for 2020? Yes or no?
Brian Batko
12:06
My gut's telling me yes, Big Ed. All is well here.
Turk in MD
12:06
Hi Brian.  Hope you had a great holiday weekend.  ILB and NT are the notable areas the team is thin (meaning there’s no consensus starter on the roster).  Is there another position group where you think the team is thin and how severe compared to ILB and NT?
Brian Batko
12:07
Safety. To me, it's just as thin as nose tackle. There's no clear next man up behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds, same situation as last year when Kam Kelly had to rise up out of the AAF to start Week 1.
Retire21
12:08
Watched You Tube video of all Ben’s 2018 TDs. AB made some ridiculous catches. Suddenly worried he cannot really be replaced?
Brian Batko
12:09
It's not a sudden worry. But it is a question we only sort of got answers to last year. The receiving group fell off a lot, clearly, but it's a bit unfair to judge them without Ben Roethlisberger.
Ben
12:10
How would you handle an Orlando pride situation where a team has a high number of Covid positives? Forfeit the game or reschedule and keep prolonging the season?
Brian Batko
12:12
You're talking about the team that pulled out of the National Women's Soccer League after having 10 positive tests. I certainly don't think an NFL team would withdraw from the season. A forfeit is also tough to imagine. In this scenario, I guess you could just follow the league policies for "close contact" with positive individuals, which includes daily testing. And, obviously, remove any other positives from the team for the time being.
Ryno
12:14
Would it shock you if there is some type of virus-related disaster on at least one team if they do a 2020 season?
Brian Batko
12:15
Depends what you'd consider a disaster. Given the amount of testing, I could see an outbreak within an organization, sure. But as far as a bunch of players getting sick and/or needing hospitalized? That would shock me.
Tampa Too
12:17
Brian thank you for the chat. I see the positive testing for COVID 19 that is occurring with other sports. Even golf which social distances is having players come down with the virus. I think it’s going to be difficult for football to be played this year because if one player on the team comes down with the virus the entire team may need to be quarantined.  Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:19
Well, the NFL and NFLPA are already working on protocols to avoid a large-scale quarantine. It mostly hinges on immediate testing for those in contact with anyone who tests positive, and then increased monitoring of symptoms plus daily testing for a week thereafter. It's gonna be a tricky situation, no doubt.
Dominic
12:20
Good Afternoon Brian, is there any truth to possible interest by Baltimore in acquiring Antonio Brown?
Brian Batko
12:21
I don't know, but I still wouldn't bet on him playing in the NFL again, despite how quiet he's been lately.
Alan in Nashville
12:22
Good morning. Living here in Nashville,
people are already planning parking lot parties downtown during Titans games and I’ve already been invited to several for when the Steelers visit. Do you think the cities or the league will crack down on these things? We’re supposed to be IN the stadium but I know that if fans can’t be, many will resort to other gatherings, possibly defeating the purpose?
Brian Batko
12:24
It'll depend on the local government in each state, I'd assume, and what the restrictions are once the season starts. For what it's worth, it'll probably be a bad look for any place where something like that does occur. Doubt there's anything the league could do about it, though.
John Strange
12:24
You get $100 million if you are correct.  There will not be a complete 2020 NFL football season. True or false?
Brian Batko
12:25
Uh, to me, the preseason is part of the 2020 NFL football season, so I'll say true and take my $100 million. Nice knowing yinz.
ZO
12:26
Hello!  Thanks for the chat!  Assuming that Juju has a solid bounce back season, what do anticipate the Steelers would most likely course of action would be?   Franchise him?  Sign him long term?  Let him leave via free agency?
Brian Batko
12:28
Sup, ZO. They've been pretty keen on the franchise tag, and rightfully so. It favors the organizations. Probably depends on just how solid a season it would be, but I still think long-term is most likely. Don't feel all that confident about it, though.
CoalportKid
12:28
When will we see rookie's signing contracts? Are they guaranteed if no games?
Brian Batko
12:29
Some teams have already taken care of that, but most haven't, including the Steelers. Not sure when you'll see them get done, but I can't envision the NFLPA letting the rookies get jobbed on deals after spending all offseason in virtual OTAs, minicamp, etc.
Guest
12:31
I know this is negative but why don't they just postpone this season? It is highly unlikely that the virus will be controlled by then! I know this would create other issues such as free agency but trying to play in front of no fans and for how long? It will be difficult with no football or any other sport but it just doesn't  seem to be worth the chance! What do you feel about this?
Brian Batko
12:33
Because the NFL doesn't want to lose a season's worth of money. In general, I don't disagree with your point. But I'll leave it up to science to determine whether the risk is worth the reward.
Pitts4Life
12:33
Do you think Ben is still a Top 10 QB in the league? If not, how far has he fallen? Thanks
Brian Batko
12:35
Off the top of my head, I'd say no. He's particularly tough to gauge because last time we saw him play a full season, he was really productive. But last time we saw him PLAY, he wasn't. And now he's coming off injury. And other young stars are rising. He's probably juuust outside the top 10 for me.
Dave. Md
12:36
With Brady out of the AFC, do you think the Steelers chances of advancing to and out of the AFC Championship game, have increased substantially? Assuming, everyone stays healthy Throughout the year.
Brian Batko
12:38
I think every team in the AFC's chances have increased with Tom Brady leaving New England. But the Ravens and Chiefs are still head and shoulders above the rest of the conference in my eyes.
Buster
12:38
Don’t you think Daniel Snyder should be happy he has a reason to change the Redskins’ name and logo? Teams make minor changes to their uniforms’ color and design all the time in order to boost merchandising sales. This could be a bonanza for Washington.
Brian Batko
12:40
No, he's probably not happy to deal with a controversy that's likely to upset as many people as it satisfies. Such is life. I don't think the fans who are most resistant to the change would rush out to buy the new gear/support the new name.
Joe
12:41
If this country is now so divided that it must have two anthems played before a game, why don't we just decide to skip the ritual and get directly into playing the game?  That
Brian Batko
12:42
Personally, that'd be fine with me.
SteelmanInGeorgia
12:43
Your gut says yes to an NFL season, but mine says the NFL would LOVE to have a valid excuse to cancel the 2020 season and not have to stand behind their position on National Anthem protests for the season, and let it go away quietly, without the weekly exposure and long-term fan ill-will that will result. Then, they come back in 2021 hoping to get credit cheaply, for taking a stand that cost them little. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
12:45
Nah, I think they'd much rather take the money and the firestorm. They might even be uniquely positioned to withstand any fan pushback this year, given how much the country is clamoring for sports amid the pandemic. People will watch.
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