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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 02.18.19
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
Yes. Coty Sensabaugh, who started the final half of the season, is an unrestricted free agent. You have to find a potential starter in the event you don't get one in the draft. That doesn't mean you have to spend $15 million a year on the top CB in free agency, but you definitely need a stop-gap to hold place while the rookie develops.
Wallguy
12:21
Do you think the Steelers would trade AB for anything less than a first round pick. I wouldn't. We have him under contract for three more years he can either play for us or can sit out for three years and not get paid.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:22
At this point, I'd take an early second-rounder.
Larry in KY
12:22
Mornin' Ray.  We presume MT will begin to run a tighter ship.  How hard will it be for him to change his stripes?  Disciplined coaches, such as Belechic, Landry, Grant, were that way from the gete go.  Can MT make the change?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
That's a good question. That's a veteran locker room that will be watching closely. Good players and good leaders crave discipline. I think your core players can handle a change. The questions is whether some of the others on the roster could do so after being in a country club atmosphere for so long.
Charlie
12:24
Hi Ray, appreciate the effort you put into your chats. Obviously sample size is very limited, but what sense do you get of how high the Steelers are on Mason Rudolph after year one, based on what they’ve seen in practice?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
I don't think they know. They saw him compete last spring and summer but not much after that. He was the third-string QB and ran the scout team once the season began. He took very few reps with the starters, e=or even the backups, once the season started.
Retire21
12:25
Scenario where Steelers don’t get what they want for AB, would they hold out for mincamp, training camp or early season to see if a one or more teams’ top WR goes down?  Raiders got a No. 1 for Amari Cooper after season started.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
Not an ideal scenario. You'd have to pay him his $2.5 million roster bonus March 17. And you'd have to deal with the distraction for a few more months. If you have to do that to get fair value then maybe, but ideally they'd like to rid themselves of the distraction he has become before March 17.
Will
12:27
Someone had a twitter poll: AB and Steelers 1st for Peterson and a 5th. I would not do that, would you?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
I would not do that.
J.P. from Quebec
12:27
Hi there Ray,  have you heard anything on the Brown situation about the Steelers discussing with any team on a deal and what do you think the Steelers would accept to get rid of a serious problem
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
I think the trade talks will heat up at the combine next week.
john
12:28
Ray good afternoon. What is the best we can expect in return for Bell ...............  and Brown............ ?  thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
For Bell, third-round compensatory pick if he is allowed to walk this year. As for Brown...depends on what happens in the next month. It's so unpredictable because his behavior has been so unpredictable.
jake
12:28
best guess, our 2 starting ILB's next year are? our 2 starting CB's are? our 3 WR's next year are?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
Vince Williams and a rookie. Joe Haden and a rookie. JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington with a rookie pushing Washington if need be.
TShip
12:29
Hi Ray,  What's the minimum you would trade Brown for?  I"m thinking nothing lower than a 3rd.  They don't want him back but just can't give him away.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
At this point, I would not accept anything lower than a second.
The Ville
12:30
Ray, any chance the Steelers place the transition tag on Bell, match the offer he negotiated and agreed to from another team? Might be a good game plan to move to a heave run game after losing AB in the passing game. This will also prolong Ben's career and give the D a break while dominating TOP. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
I don't think that can happen now. Too many hard feelings on both sides.
ALB
12:30
Ray, are you looking forward to a couple months from now when AB and Bell are history and you can spend your discussing football?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
That'd be nice.
Ryno
12:31
Do you see any way Bell actually makes up the $14.5M he just gave up?  That is a lot to make up.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
It only takes one team, but the Todd Gurley situation late in the season was not a positive development for Bell and his quest to get $17 million a year. Maybe not even $15 million a year. We should find out his true worth in a few weeks if he hits the open market.
DJ cain Little Rock Arkansas
12:31
Ray will AB be on the Roster for 2019?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
My guess is no.
Kevin
12:32
The Steelers seem to down grade CB's in the draft if they aren't  good tacklers.  Based on the poor draft results is it time maybe they stress coverage ability much more that tackling ability ?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
I don't know that to be the case, but if it is, i say try anything because they haven't been very good at identifying CBs in the last decade or so.
Jay7
12:33
Say if AB is not traded and he skips camp and games, can Steelers basically get his salary back in the salary cap or would they have to suspend him
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
If he holds out like Bell did they get that $ back.
Jay7
12:34
Ray, is AB purposefully trying to hurt the Steelers by his tantrums so that they do not get the desired return?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
That is a theory. The end game, I suppose, is the Steelers decide to release him. But Rooney won't do that.
Ralph LA
12:34
At the start of the year I was ecstatic to see that Switzer seemed to be a competent insertion for kickoff returns. I know there’s always preseason competition, but is that position pretty much settled now?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Their return game was OK. Just OK. I think they can upgrade there if the right player comes along.
Jerry
12:35
You say get rid of the players that don't respect Ben. Why is it all about Ben oh because he's the QB? Players will not want to play for the Steelers because  Obviously Ben don't respect players either!!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:36
Who said Ben doesn't respect his teammates? You believing Antonio Brown?
Craig
12:36
I think AB is angling for a new contract from another team he gets traded to. He’s full of it. It’s not about winning or he wouldn’t be flirting with the 49ers or willingly asking for a trade knowing he could go to a team with a terrible QB.  Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
He said that's not the case in his impromptu Twitter Q&A Saturday afternoon. But who knows?
Poochie
12:37
The Steelers need immediate upgrades at OLB, CB and ILB.  If we trade Brown for a high draft pick shouldn't we use that pick on defense as opposed to drafting another receiver?
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