Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 04.21.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
Zingggggggggggggggggggggggggg!
Jim
12:24
Curious how Ward could rate higher than Ben in the draft pick rankings, not many players more important to the franchise than Ben. Not knocking Ward, he was great, but my thinking is a QB is always more vital to the team than a WR.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
Again, it was more about the round where they were drafted than the player.
Alice
12:25
Hi Ray, in 2023 we traded from pick 17 to 14 for B.Jones and gave up 120th (4th) if one of Ioane or Thieneman is available at pick 16/17 before Vikings 18 shouldn't we try to trade up and grab whichever is there also preventing someone to jump ahead of us ? Why risk if we could give one of our 4ths let's say 121 pick and get one of those two.. get WR later, thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
Yeah I'd be fine with that. They did a good job of acquiring those extra picks. If they feel strongly about a player I have no issues with them using one of them to ensure they get said player.
DSFEDOR
12:25
Pens have a Lemieux statue, Pirates have Clemente and Maz and Stargell, Steelers have Art Sr but Franco is at the airport with no players' statues outside their stadium.

What's it going to take to get a bronze memorial of Bettis plowing over Urlacher to grace the North Shore?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:27
I think the problem is there are so many to choose from. Nothing against Bettis, but to me if you do that it has to be one of the Hall of Famers from the 1970s fist. I'd love to see one of Franco or Lambert myself. How about one of Lambert with his teeth missing? That would be awesome.
Jim K in Jax
12:27
Thoughts on Tomlin joining the media? I don't think it's really a surprise as he is a football lifer.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
I always viewed him as a coaching lifer. TO be good at TV you have to want to do it and I never got the idea this was on his bucket list. If he's doing it for the paycheck he'll have the job for a few years. But if he's going to do it long-term he has to be invested in that job.
AK
12:29
Have questions on your top 10 Steelers draft picks:  there are 2 left.  There isn't room for all of Polamalu, Woodson, Blount, Lambert, Bradshaw, and AB.  How you determine who gets left out?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:30
That's how we passed the time on the way home from the combine. We killed about half the drive debating it. There are no right or wrong answers. That's why these types of things are fun.
AK
12:31
How about a statue of Lambert throwing down Cliff Harris?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:32
That would be great too. Or his picture perfect tackle of Robert Newhouse in the same Super Bowl. Or was it Preston Pearson? Or how about his INT of Ferragamo from Super Bowl XIV?
Stairway to seventh seed
12:32
Ray: how much does Omar Cooper's lack of production in the post season against the better teams concern you?  He seems like a massively over-rated prospect to me.  Not that big.  Not that fast. Not that productive.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:33
I think he's in that range of the best 5-7 WRs in this draft. After Tate and Lemon teams will have different takes on all these guys.
Greenwood
12:34
Ray, I am assuming the best draft picks list is best use of a draft pick to find a player other teams missed? And not a greatest player off all time list? Is that on the right track?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
That is correct.
Eddie B
12:35
Who are the Steelers more likely to trade, Highsmith or Watt? My vote is to move on from TJ and forward with Herbig.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
I don't think they are likely to trade any of them unless some GM out there makes Khan an offer he can't refuse.
Lenny from NY
12:36
Good morning Ray. What are the Steelers against starting rookies?  Was  it a Tomlin thing or front office? I would guess every team starts and plays rookies more than the Steelers do. The whole argument against starting will Howard makes no sense to me.I read he’s not ready. Many teams start rookies. While Howard is in his second year, he’s been learning and should get a chance to earn starting role. Hopefully with Tomlin gone they will change their ways. Thoughts?  Thank you
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
For years, it was because they had stacked rosters and first-rounders sometimes had to wait their turn. But in recent years rookies have played quite a bit. Look at Harmon last year and Frazier the year before and Najee Harris before that. It happens much more frequently now.
Meyers
12:37
Ray, glad the paper is going to continue.  How far up do you think the Steelers would trade up to get Lemon, the receiver from USC?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:37
I'd say around 15-17.
Maryland Steeler
12:37
Since Dallas signed their kicker to a 7mil/year contract where do you think an extension for Boswell will be per year and how many years (extension)?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:38
Not sure of the term because Boswell is older, but the money will be very similar.
George T
12:38
I here a Cowboy WR from the 1970’s will be presenting one of the Cowboy’s picks should someone give him a towel for they where know as the Cryboys.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Drew Pearson? He's seen way too many Terrible Towels in his lifetime. He probably has nightmares about them.
Nick Danger
12:39
Has anyone asked  Art Rooney directly if AR has been offered a contract? Seems to me that the public uproar is misplaced until that is verified.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Money isn't the issue. It wasn't last year and it's not this year.
Yardley
12:40
Hey Ray, do you think the Steelers have any interest in drafting Heidenreich, or he more likely be signed as a free agent?  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
That would be a nice story, but for his sake I'd like to see him go somewhere he can make the team. If that's the Steelers fine.
Chris
12:41
There's been a lot of smoke around Highsmith and Herbig being dealt. How likely is it that either of them get moved soon? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
Not likely at all.
Jay
12:41
Hello Ray, thank you for your coverage.  Gerry and Chris both are leaning toward WR in round 1 and OL in round 2.  Matt Williamson thinks OL in round 1 because alot of WR still around in round 2 and 3 but not OL.  I have a hard time seeing WR in round 1 unless we plan on throwing 50+ a game.  Would you prefer OL or WR in round 1?  Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
I have them taking Boston because I don't think Ioane or Fano will be there. But if they are it very well could be OL. All depends on how the draft falls.
Jimpod
12:42
Will be in Pittsburgh for my first time this week. Primanti sandwich or something else for my first dining experience?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
Ranucci's in Sharpsburg.
Ok thanks for all the great questions this week. When we do it next Tuesday we'll have all sorts of new questions to debate until training camp. Enjoy the draft!
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