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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.07.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
Safe? I don't think he
12:34
I don't think he'll be back on a one-year $9.2 million deal. But I think they could do a two- or three-year deal with salaries of about $4 or 5 million a year. That way, they have a solid backup if they find someone better in the draft. Or they have Dupree to start while they try to find someone. Either way, you can't pay $9.2 million to someone who has never had more than six sacks in any of his first four NFL seasons.
Utah Jim
12:34
What was the Steelers biggest offseason mistake?
• Misreading the Bell situation.  Could have used that money on Defense.
• Not drafting a single ILB and only signing Bostic
• Ignoring Burnett’s long injury history
• Forgetting about Ridley’s long fumble history
• Paying a kicker, any kicker, $4M+
• Other
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Good list. All of the above.
Linebacker Lounge - 3Rivers, MI
12:35
Hi Ray, I feel like the Steelers will go all D in the draft, for the exception of a RB and WR.. Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
I'm with you. They have to invest in the defense again especially after they went with three offensive players in their first four picks last season. And I don't think they need to take a RB high. They can use a late-round pick on someone to come in and compete for the No. 3 job. And I'm not sure they absolutely need to draft a WR high. Maybe third round if you're not convinced about James Washington. But not first or second round. Not a lot of people are talking about TE or OL. But they need to develop a TE if they don't re-sign Jesse James and they might have to replenish the depth along their offensive line if Finney and Feiler are promoted to starting positions.
Rico Steel
12:37
What are the chances ownership requires Tomlin to bring in some experts (Challenges, time mgmt etc.) to help him during the game.?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
I'd be in favor of it especially for the challenges.
JoeB
12:38
Who is James Jones' source? He is the only one reporting a pro-AB slant on what happened.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
He's not the only one.
Fredward
12:38
Is it realistic to think the Steelers can replace the best receiver in the league with a draft pick? Look how bad that offense was in Week 17!
Rico Steel
12:40
Why haven't we heard from Art II yet?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
So you learn to win another way. Run the ball more. Run the ball more efficiently. Feature JuJu. Throw to Vance McDonald more. Make sure James Washington is nourished instead of waiting until midway through the season to get him involved. There are all sorts of ways to win the NFL. Just look at the teams that made the playoffs. In case you have to be reminded, the Ravens won six of their final seven to win the AFC North with a running game centered around a rookie QB. Please don't tell me the Steelers can't figure out a way to compensate without Antonio Brown. Anyone is replaceable. This is the NFL.
12:41
This is the answer to the Art Rooney question. He will speak to a few select beat reporters in the next week or two.
Zak
12:41
Read keion Adams got pay raise before last game to the 53 man minimum even though he is practice squad is this true? Can me expect him on the 53 next year you believe?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
I wouldn't bet on that. They just wanted to make sure another team didn't poach him. They want to develop him, but I think it's clear they like Ola Adeniyi better at this point. He was promoted from PUP to the active roster late in the season while Adams remained on the practice squad.
Ron
12:42
If you ask me (and nobody did), AB is a monster of Coach Tomlin's creation. There was never a price to pay for the stupid end zone celebrations that had us kicking off from the 20 after the penalties. Nor for the tantrums on the sidelines. It was clear his own stats / brand were becoming more important than winning. Then the Facebook live thing. Forty years ago Jack Lambert and / or Joe Greene would have put a stop to that conduct fast. But in today's NFL, its up to the head coach.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
Good points. And yes the blame does ultimately fall on the head coach.
Rico Steel
12:44
Bigger need in the draft this year...CB or ILB?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
Both. I give the slight edge to CB, but they desperately need a 3-down ILB.
Alan
12:45
What would you say are the chances the Steelers could get a 1st round pick for Brown?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
Depends what the market is. But I would never trade him for anything less than a first.
Nate
12:46
Ray in regards to AB. It has always been written about how hard he practices.  Catches a pass at the 20 and sprints 80yrds to the end zone. Teaching by example. Now we hear he gets upset having to run a hot read 2 times. Has his effort in practice dropped over the years or what?  Kind of confused by everything going on with him.  Thanks.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
He's been different this year. Just different all around. Different on the practice field. Different in his interactions with the media. And I'm told different in his interactions among teammates.
Jack Straw
12:46
Hi Ray.  You may have noticed that Ryan Clark said recently that "Ben is not a natural leader".  From what you have seen inside the locker room, what do you think?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:48
I saw that comment. Ben might not be a "natural" leader, but the Steelers won two Super Bowls with him. They don't have an answer on their roster so they're going to extend him. With Ben, you take the good and the bad and hope the good outweighs the bad. And he's had by far more good moments than bad over his 15 years with the Steelers.
abowers
12:49
A lot of fans are angy that AB was paid despite being "benched" by the Steelers.  First of all, is that accurate? Second, if the Steelers wanted AB to incur a financial penalty, would they have had to suspend him?  I don't know what player contracts dictate or what the CBA mandates in terms of player punishment.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:50
He was made inactive for the game. He was not suspended. It was a delicate situation. I'm sure throughout the day Thursday and Friday they were searching for ways for this to end with him playing against the Bengals. But once he stopped communicating and didn't show up for his MRI the Steelers knew they had to do something. I can't tell you why a suspension wasn't on the table, but they made their point by benching him.
Rico Steel
12:51
How about one of the Raider's first rounders and Garreon Conley for Brown?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:51
Raiders have the No. 4, No. 25 and No. 27 picks. I'd take 25 and 27 for Brown in an instant.
JohnDK
12:51
Hey Ray, do you feel a Number 1 and Number 2 in 2020 would be compensation enough for AB?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:51
Depends where in the first round you're talking, but you're pretty close on that.
Jack
12:51
Do you see Conner repeating his performance from this year or will teams figure him out?  Is the "real deal" at running back?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:52
Conner can be very good in this offense. He can run and catch passes. That's what they ask their RBs to do and he does that well.
Mac
12:53
Ray, So what do the Steelers do if no team wants to put up with Brown's antics? No one gives up a #1 or a good player and other draft picks?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:53
Then you bite your lip and try to work with him. But you can't just give him away because he's unhappy. You have to get fair return for him.
Adam
12:54
Are Conner and Samuels good enough?  We need a speedy guy, but we've struggled picking those guys in the draft.  Who can be our deep threat?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:54
They just need a solid No. 3.
Steeler Fan
12:54
What  did you think about ILB Matthew Thomas going to the Ravens. I thought he may develop into a good player.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:55
I was a bit surprised, but I still don't know what's behind the decision or even if the Steelers wanted to keep him. I assume they did, but I don't know that for sure yet.
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