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Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat: 6.5.18
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Ed Bouchette
1:56
Good afternoon, let's begin
Greg
1:56
What in the world is Antonio Brown talking about?
Ed Bouchette
1:57
Goodness, I tried. Read some of that stuff several times and I still don't know. I told Sean Gentille today that maybe you have to be 22 to understand it. He's 32 and he said he had no idea either. Maybe that's a good thing.
Rahn
1:57
What's the most memorable game you've attended, as a reporter and also as a fan?
Ed Bouchette
2:00
Well, as a kid I saw Tony Conigliaro hit two home runs at Fenway Park. As a reporter, I covered John Candelaria's no-hitter at Three Rivers Stadium. I've covered every Steelers real game but one since 1985 plus many more before that including Super Bowl 14.  I'd have to say their last Super Bowl victory was the most memorable for what it meant, all the drama and the great plays that were made -- and I include the go-ahead Cardinals TD by Larry Fitzgerald in that. Many others, including their playoff victory in 1989 season in Houston in overtime
Steeler fan in Baltmore
2:00
Ed, How does the injury to Hawkins impact the Steelers in picking up another Vet from other teams? We don't have any good backup lineman now.
Ed Bouchette
2:01
They did sign veteran OT Bryce Harris Monday and he practiced with them today. This is his 7th NFL team in 7 years and he was swing tackle for New Orleans for four seasons. However, I would not preclude them adding another if and when he becomes available.
Rahn
2:01
Any story line that fans might not be paying enough attention to going into this summer's camp that you're keeping an eye on?
Ed Bouchette
2:02
Everyone's watching inside linebacker and the secondary. I would suggest paying closer attention to OLB because they are thin there and T.J. Watt is the only one who has really accomplished anything at the position and he did it for just one season.
NPG2003
2:02
Ed, Thank you for the chat. My Question...Should we expect another slow start from Ben if Le'Von is not in in sync with the Offense because of the holdout ? It seemed like Ben struggled without a strong running game in the first few games- he forced a lot of balls. (I was at the Jags game in Pit - worst I've seen Ben play.)
Ed Bouchette
2:03
I believe there were plenty of reasons for his "slow" start last year. They included Bell, Martavis Bryant returning after missing a whole season and rookie JuJu getting acclimated.
NPG2003
2:03
Ed, how would you deal with the Anthem issue if you were a Steelers player? If you were a Steelers Owner would you let politics (or Trump) dictate your behavior or policies? Would you have an Anthem policy, and If you had an Anthem policy, what would it be?
Ed Bouchette
2:04
I will consider answering all of that if you pay me $40 million, which is what Roger Goodell makes.
ALB
2:04
Ed, if there is one thing about pro football today that you wish would go away, what is it?
Ed Bouchette
2:06
I'd ban all injuries, including concussions. It is a brutal sport and I applaud their attempts to make it safer or it will disappear. I was chatting with a former pro player who attended Bob Buczkowski's viewing last week. He said he has two sons and won't let them play football. He said he had 15 concussions throughout his career, starting from the beginning. Another high school coach was there and he told me he has 37 players coming out for football this year. Said the moms are deciding they don't want their kids to play.
Marty
2:06
What is the rationale for game-day inactives? Since they are all getting paid, why not just expand the roster to 61 and get rid of the inactives and practice squad?
Ed Bouchette
2:08
Well, let's just have 100 on the rosters. The Steelers need two planes now to get to away games, they might as well have four. The rationale is that when they changed the IR rules so that once on IR you could not return (then added 1, and now 2 who can), they did not think it would be fair for some teams to have 53 dressed on Sunday and, because of short-term injuries, their opponent having, say 47. Thus, the inactive list
Rickster131
2:08
Hey Ed.....why didn't the Steelers show any interest in Mychal Kendricks?
Ed Bouchette
2:09
I'm not sure except they did sign Jon Bostic and probably believe that was enough. Or, maybe they just didn't think he fit. I have not talked to anyone there as to why not
Myers
2:09
Has Navarro Bowman been spotted around the facility?
Ed Bouchette
2:09
Not by me
Pammy Whammy
2:09
Hi Ed!  Can J Hunter step up this season or has he reached his ceiling as an NFL receiver?
Ed Bouchette
2:10
His talent is tantalizing. I saw him make two great catches in the end zone last week. He needs to do those kinds of things in games.
NPG2003
2:10
Will we see a more focused Big Ben with an heir apparent in Rudolph on the team? Are we done with the "maybe I just don't have it", dramatics this season? I think Ben will need an MVP type season for the Steelers to make it to Atlanta.
Ed Bouchette
2:11
I thought he had an MVP-type season in 2017. I'm not sure how much better you want him to be.
Brian
2:11
With the quad injury of Hawkins putting him out for the year, is offensive line depth a concern for the team going to camp this year ?
Ed Bouchette
2:11
It was a concern before his injury.
Brian
2:11
Ed, will Colbert or Tomlin institute some type of policy curtailing orchestrated end zone celebrations this year ? It's only a matter of time until someone gets injured or gets penalized due to the antics.
Ed Bouchette
2:12
The only thing they seem concerned about is if they draw a penalty. I really didn't see anything they did last year that was dangerous, nothing like AB sticking the goalpost or somersaulting into the end zone
JohnP
2:13
Is there any news on AB's IG and Twitter account being hacked. The messages are not "AB" like...
Ed Bouchette
2:14
Well, Roseanne blamed hers on Ambien
Professor Flush
2:14
How much of a cap hit will the Steelers take with Hawkins and McGee on the IR list after training camp injuries? Do NFL teams get injury relief for players lost for an entire season due to injuries like an ACL tear?
Ed Bouchette
2:15
No relief, but those two didn't make much. It will cost them the cap numbers for the two they signed to replace them.
Black Jack Bill
2:15
Ed, as you peer into your crystal ball, will the Steelers sign Chris Boswell to a long term deal before training camp?
Ed Bouchette
2:15
I do think they will, unlike Le'Veon Bell, who I do not think they will.
Black Jack Bill
2:16
Do the Steelers intend to flipflop JJ Watt and Bud "Lite" Dupree in certain passing situations or just random plays to confuse the other team's offense?
Ed Bouchette
2:17
Not sure yet because Keith Butler hasn't given me his playbook. Really, they are experimenting themselves and it probably will go the way everything does, week to week.
Doug
2:17
Hi Ed - what is your favorite part of training camp?
Ed Bouchette
2:18
Probably, the start, when there are so many fresh stories, although the increasing coverage of OTA practices kills some of those for camp.
Big jer
2:18
Our defense often looks confused and running around aimlessly , especially with late subpackage substitutions....will Tom Bradley help not only with the dbs but with organization and calls please?
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