JotCast | Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.28.19

Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 01.28.19

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Ray Fittipaldo

12:18

Eliminating Brown would fix a lot, but you have a point. Tomlin let a lot go with Brown. Players would be watching to see if JuJu or James Conner or anyone started getting special treatment.

AugustWest

12:19

What do you make of the report that AB lived in a rented villa during training camp while his teammates stayed in a campus dorm? Does this kind of star system send a bad message to the team - and did it play a role in the fiasco that ultimately led AB to walk out on his team before a de-facto playoff game?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:21

That was common knowledge among those who cover the team and many fans I think. It was out there although it might not have ever been specifically reported in a story. Everyone knows Brown got special treatment. Before the rented house, he never went to the cafeteria to eat. He's always had a special chef make his meals. He's always had a photographer/social media guy on the sidelines when no one else on the team had those privileges. The enlightening part of the report, to me, was the players that were interviewed were rooting for Brown because he was able to get away with so much. I found that to be kind of funny and disturbing at the same time.

Jake

12:21

Ray, Is there any real leaders on this team? For Captains to be saying they want AB back is absurd. Are we going the way of the Browns becoming a joke around the league?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:22

I tend to agree with you. But I'll pass final judgment when I can ask the players myself. I wasn't at the Pro Bowl so I don't know exactly what they were thinking when they said those things. As I brought up earlier, maybe they were asked by the front office to say nice things.

Jerry

12:22

Ray..isn't 31 old for a WR these days?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:24

Nope. Go to Pro Football Reference and look up Jerry Rice's best year. It came at age 33. Look up some of Cris Carter's best years. He had a bunch of 1,000-yard seasons after he turned 31. Do some fall off at that age? Sure. But Brown takes care of himself and is motivated. His age is not an issue in any trade scenario. It's the baggage.

tee

12:24

Its funny how people forget that BEN! not ab is the reason we are a playoff/super bowl contender every year. Also pretty ridiculous how much The national media hates on BEN.

Ray Fittipaldo

12:26

They can hate on Roethlisberger all they want. He doesn't deserve everything, but there are some ways he can improve the situation. What irritates me is how pro Brown almost every national analyst is. I was watching the NFL Network morning show this morning. The one that has Nate Burelson on it. He at least is more tolerable than most of these dimwits, but even he was saying the Steelers would be making a big mistake if they trade Brown. Listen up people: the guy quit on his team. End of story.

Utah Jim

12:27

I’ve read in some places the Steelers lack of quality corner backs is because of their usual low draft position. Do you buy that? Draft position hasn’t hurt the offense especially at WR. For whatever reason the Steelers are not good at identifying and developing players at corner. Bad luck has played a role as well, but not draft position.

Ray Fittipaldo

12:28

To a certain point yes. When they drafted Artie Burns in 2016 it was the first time they used a first-round pick on a corner since 1997 when they took Chad Scott in the first round. The troubling thing is they haven't been very good in subsequent rounds either. Senquez Golson was a second-round pick. Curtis Brown was a third-round pick. Cortez Allen was a fourth-round pick. I could go on and on...

Steeler Joe

12:28

Seriously--WILL the Steelers actually sign a significant free agent to help fix the problems on defense?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:29

I don't know, but they should consider it if they can find the right fit. As I noted in my story last week the low- and mid-tier free agents have not been kind to them in recent years.

Bubby Brister

12:30

It seems like the Steelers have too many holes to address in one off season, especially with the impending removal of Brown from the roster and their philosophy regarding free agency. Do you think this team will report to camp with a few high expectations on some recently drafted players and nothing else?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:31

As long as Roethlisberger is the QB there will be high expectations and there should be. If you have a franchise QB you have a chance in the NFL. And as I type that all of you know my feelings on how much he passes. They have to cut back on the pass attempts, feed the run game and play off the run game with play-action. They've gotten away from that and would benefit if they went back to it.

Jake

12:32

Once March 13th arrives does AB get traded then or draft day? Thank you.

Ray Fittipaldo

12:32

March 13 because he is owed a $2.5 roster bonus a few days later and they don't want to be on the hook for that. Let the acquiring team pay that.

mtsteel

12:32

Ray, thanks for keeping up the chats. I dont see how you move AB for less than a 1st round pick. He's not a criminal and his stats put Amari Coopers to shame. Anything less, I say we keep him and keep him under control. Your thoughts

Ray Fittipaldo

12:33

You mean: try to keep him under control. I'm sure they've tried that. They've been unsuccessful in making the situation tolerable. But I'm with you. If you can't fair value in return you can't just give him away. He's too valuable.

Confused

12:33

Early in the year, folks were praising Bostic's play and saying it was a prudent signing. Now, folks are generally saying all LBs but Watt could go. Yeah, the team in general collapsed but how did his personal level of play tail off? Never, even in the beginning, was a big playmaker.

Ray Fittipaldo

12:35

None of their ILBs, Bostic included, are good enough to play on all downs. That's why they have to invest in a fast, three-down ILB. No offense to Bostic or Vince Williams. Both are fine players and solid run defenders. But they often got exposed in coverage because they can't run well enough to keep up with RBs and TEs down the field.

JoeB

12:35

How can AB ever be a part of the locker room again after all the social media stuff he's been doing that is essentially saying he wants no part of the Steelers?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:35

Exactly. Although, to be fair, he posted that Friday. Most of the Pro Bowl interviews that I saw took place Wednesday and Thursday.

Huey Richardson

12:35

Why Do We keep Missing the Mark on drafting OLB's and CB's? Other than Watt. Do they have a problem with evaluating talent?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:37

Certainly the CB evaluations have not been good enough. That's been an ongoing problem. As you mentioned Watt is excellent. We have to give them credit for the good picks too. Jarvis Jones obviously was a failure. Bud Dupree isn't a failure on that level, but he's not worth $9.2 million a year either. So they have to negotiate that number down and explore a new, cheaper deal. If they can't it should be Adios Bud.

Kev Dawg

12:37

If AB isn’t traded but pulls a LB and sits out, can the Steelers suspend him without pay and how does that impact the salary cap space?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:38

He's under contract so if he decided to sit out he most certainly would not get paid.

93.7 the idiot

12:38

Maybe the players get something you media folk don't when saying they want 84 back. Imagine if they made the trade you just outlined with SF. Trading a top 3 receiver all time for picks (no current 1st rounder) is laughable. You would be punting on the end of Bens career.

Ray Fittipaldo

12:38

How many Super Bowls have they won with Brown?

Shaun

12:39

Do you see a world where Larry Fitzgerald might end up a Steeler? I think he'd be a great addition. They'd still need a speedster to stretch the field, but his veteran presence would be a boon to the WR corp. Agree?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:39

No. He just re-signed with the Cards. And they're paying an exorbitant amount for a WR entering his 16th season.

Delton Hall Jr

12:39

Do you think they will go after a CB in FA or through the Draft? Considering they can't seem to do a good job drafting any.

Ray Fittipaldo

12:40

That might not be a bad idea. They did fine Joe Haden in free agency, although he was a free agent very late in the process.

Daniel

12:40

Do you see Mason Rudolph making the leap from third-stringer to franchise QB? How do you think the Steelers will handle their QBs over the next three seasons?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:41

The Steelers have to see him play a lot more to get a good evaluation on him. He's entering his second season. Look at the jump Dobbs made from Year 1 to year 2; I'm sure they're hoping for similar results with Rudolph.

LI Steeler Fan

12:42

im indifferent regarding keeping/trading AB - but if they do decide to move on - b/c of his childish attitude they best get a least a 1st rounder and probably a 3rd as well. he's still playing as a top 3 receiver in the game and has a very attractive salary off $11+mio/year . Labriola and Bouchette seem to be happy if they get anywhere near a 2nd for him thats misjudging the market in a huge way. your thoughts?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:42

I can't speak for Ed, but I think he's like me. They have to get a first-round pick or a player like Patrick Peterson in return.

Steeltic

12:43

How does swapping 1st round picks with San Francisco and trading them Brown sound to you?

Ray Fittipaldo

12:44

So the 49ers get Brown and No. 20 for the No. 2 pick? I'd do it,

Steller Fan

12:44

Is having TO as his "mentor" the most bizarre thing AB has done?