You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.11.19
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
At this point? Not great.
DaquidoBazzini
12:24
Does it seem that Chris Boswell would've been cut by now if that was going to happen?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
Yes I think so although his roster bonus is not due until mid-March. Still another month or so to figure that out. He'd cost $4.8 million against the cap if they cut him. That's not good and it's a big reason they'll probably bring him back and give him a shot to become the kicker again.
Epiballo
12:25
Ray, a writer at ESPN picks the Browns to win the AFC North, and a local writer has the Steelers finishing third behind Baltimore and Cleveland. Really? I don't see them falling off that far. Do you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
I think the Steelers, Ravens and Browns will be good next season. I can see them knocking each other off and all having between 8 and 10 wins. Kind of like what happened in 2018 but with the Browns getting off to a better start and being in a legitimate playoff race. I'm not sold they'll win the North, but I think they'll be in the race.
tom
12:26
does your gut tell you, this is tomlins last year here?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
If the Steelers miss the playoff again? Yes, that's a decent possibility.
Pittsburghsouth
12:27
There is a lot of blame to go around in the secondary. The draft picks haven't planned out. The cupboard is almost bare. How do they fix it?Personally, it looks like a multi-year project.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
If they want to address CB in the first round they'll have that ability. Greedy Williams of LSU, Byron Murphy of Washington and DeAndre Baker of Georgia are some of the possibilities. They need better talent and they need to start getting younger because Joe Haden is 30.
WyoHunter
12:28
I think the most important thing to be considered is the “Team” aspect here. The best Steelers teams to take the field were the ones who had mutual respect for one another and played hard for their brothers. Recently, the top group has all been a bunch of self centered narcissists who simply care about themselves. They don’t need the best players, they need to become a team again. Until that happens, expect more of what we’ve seen this year.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
"They don't need the best player, they need to become a team again."... Sounds like the Patriots' approach to success.
Chris
12:29
Any chance steelers draft antonio browns cousin to replace him I wouldn't your thoughts.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
Read my story on the top 10 WRs in the draft tomorrow morning. I have plenty on that possibility.
Chris
12:30
Any chance that steelers draft greedy Williams
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
Maybe. Some draft analysts have him going in the top 10. Others don't even have him going in the first round.
MTScott
12:30
From a FA market - do you see the Steelers having more opportunities to resolve their LB or CB issues?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
CBs because three-down ILBs won't be available, at least not ones I would pay good money to. I think they'll be able to sign a vet CB, maybe even a mid- or high-tier one to help fix things in the secondary.
Jack
12:32
Is there an "Avery Williamson" type linebacker that you think might be available in FA this year? He seems like the type of 3-down linebacker they need desperately.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
Williamson signed with the Jets last year in free agency, right? I don't think he's available. Plus, someone I trust told me he's basically Vince Williams. That's the problem with ILBs. There just aren't that many true three-down ILBs.
Draft Greedy W.
12:33
"Others don't even have him going in the first round." Really... who?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
I think Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network has him as his No. 34 overall prospect. Thus, early second-rounder. I understand top 50 lists aren't mock drafts, but my point is there is some debate about the corners in this class.
3rd Generation Fan
12:34
Worst play of the year for me was when Rooney dropped the ball and claimed there was no “culture problem.”  Sure we can rid ourselves of AB and LB but if the enablers remain, what will prevent the next “young money crew” from rolling into camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Good leadership and the head coach setting the tone by not playing favorites and allowing "stars" to have a different set of rules. Get the idea the outside perception of the Steelers is a country club setting. I think that needs to change.
Draft Greedy W.
12:35
G.W. is listed as 6'2" that is a rare commodity in top corners.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
Yes he has the size and the athleticism. Very enticing traits to work with. And he looked really good at times. Some inconsistency in his play is what some analysts seem to be concerned about...
Chris
12:37
Could steelers go after the lb. from kc in free agency
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
Dee Ford? He'll probably get $15 -17 million a year either from the Chiefs or another team in free agency. The Steelers have money to spend, but I don't know if they have that much money to spend.
WyoHunter
12:38
Thank you for mentioning getting a quality WR in a later round. Brown was a late round pick, as was Hines. I think we can fill the spot easily in the later rounds. We need some quality defensive players in the first and second rounds. IMO
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
I agree.
Hank
12:39
Ray, I am not defending AB or Bell or anyone else, but what is it about Steelers fans (and maybe fans in general) that cause such knee-jerk reactions to players' lives?  I can totally understand a Kareem Hunt/Ray Rice situation, but AB's for example was that his ex blocked the door, he asked her to leave, she refused, and he pushed her out of the door so he could shut it.  Yet people act as if he smacked her with a Louisville Slugger.  Why?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
Hank, you said it yourself. He pushed her out of the door. The incident report says she suffered scrapes and injured her arm. There has to be another way for a multi-million dollar athlete to solve his problems with the mother of one of his children. How about pulling out a $100 and reimbursing her for a hair appointment? That would have been much better than getting the police involved.
Draft Greedy W.
12:41
When Stephon Gilmore was a fa the Steelers weren't even in the conversation. He graded out as the top CB in the NFL in 2018-19... Why didn't the Steelers pursue him?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
Was that 2016? As I've pointed out before, the Steelers have been up against the cap in previous years and they've been limited in what they could do in free agency. That's not the case this year.
Jimmy
12:42
isn't there a chance that this whole "AB pushed his wife" thing could go away quickly & his trade value jump again...from reading police reports etc. it doesn't seem like a very big incident as these things go.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
We'll have to wait and see. It's up to the district attorney now. The woman did not want to press charges. I wouldn't be surprised if he's not charged, but we really don't know how it's going to play out.
No to D. Bush
12:43
Watched all his games at Michigan. IMO, overrated.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
Really? I disagree. He can run, cover and blitz. My only concern is his size and his ability to defend the run on a consistent basis because of it. I think he's just what they need. Don't get me wrong, I'd take Devin White if I had the chance. I just think he'll be gone by No. 20.
Big B
12:45
I feel so dissatisfied with the post season comments from Steelers ownership and management.  It's all very noncommital and lacks the decisive action and direction I'd have liked to see outlined.  What is Rooney's motivation for not being more open with fans and demonstrative that performance on and off field improve?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
I'd say Rooney is more open with the fans that owners of some other NFL teams. How about some other owners in town? How often does Mario Lemieux speak to reporters? How often does Bob Nutting? Rooney is much more accessible. You might not like his answers, but at least the fans have the opportunity to hear his thoughts.
No to D. Bush II
12:47
Ray, I think it's more of the fact that he can do all those things you say, but there is nothing "explosive" in his highlights.  Many of his tackles are the "hang on and drag down" types.  If he can't be explosive at Michigan, how is he going to be explosive for the Steelers?
Connecting…