Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 05.12.26
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
Good afternoon. Let's get the chat started.
Jim Bow Dean
12:00
Ideally, they would know for sure if Allar or Howard is the answer before the next draft. Is that possible if Aaron returns? If they have doubts, they need to take a QB in round one and will probably have to trade up, but it could be a waste of capital if it turns out they already had their guy. In the big picture, isn’t it best to move on from Rodgers and see what you have in the young guys.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
I think they can have a pretty good idea. It will be the second year for the Steelers front office to watch Howard in practice and (hopefully this year) preseason games. Obviously, Mike McCarthy and his staff are starting in a different place, but I believe they can have a much better understanding on Howard by next spring than Allar. I think they're going to take it slow with Allar and build him up with new mechanics. HIs development will take longer in my opinion. But yes, I think practices and preseason games are enough for the new staff to get a pretty detailed evaluation on Howard and his potential.
Jim Bow Dean
12:03
Is Heidenreich competing with Homer for a roster spot? I don’t think they gave the latter any signing bonus.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
There are a bunch of special teams spots up for grabs with Miles Killebrew, James Pierre and Connor Heyward signing elsewhere in free agency. They were core special-teams guys, and veterans and rookies alike will be competing for those jobs. I tend to think someone like Homer has an inside edge on a roster spot because he's been there and done that, but Heidenreich and the other rookies will definitely get their shot.
Vegas Steeler
12:04
Hi Ray, other outlets reported Boswell signed for 4 years 28 million and Gerry's report says 5 years 31.2 million. Do you have any idea why are the other numbers different Gerry''s? (I trust Gerry on Steelers news more than the others).
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
We go through this every time there is a signing. I'll try to explain as best I can. National reporters report as contract extensions because there is a quid pro quo with agents. The Steelers do not extend players. They rip up the old contract and sign the player to a new contract. So the old money is factored in on a five-year deal whereas with the national reporters the money seems higher because it's reported as a four-year deal. Does that make sense?
OldDuffer
12:07
A chart showing relative value of draft picks from the NFL assigns a point value to draft picks. Pick #1 is worth 3000 pts and pick #21 is worth 800 pts. Pic #5 is worth 1700 points. So, if the Steeler want to get one of the prize QBs next year they would have to trade the 2028 1st round pick and maybe a 3rd rounder. Do you think it would take more than that?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
Yes it usually takes much more than that because QBs are valued higher than other positions. And teams holding picks in the top 10 know teams want to come up for a QB. Of course, it will depend on the quality of QBs, but if it's a good class next year it will take more than a first and a third.
Silent Bob
12:09
Hi Ray - does Corey Tryce make the team? We fans probably over rate his potential as a 7th round pick. I know he has good size but will his injury history finally catch up to him?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
It will be tough for him. The previous coaching staff really liked him, but this is a new staff. He'll have to start over. I'm not sure how many other teams would have kept Trice around with all of his injuries. The Steelers kept him for a reason, but this is a do--or-die year for him.
Mntnr93
12:10
Ray - in your estimation what is the "red line", in terms of a date, that Rodgers must cross in order for the Steelers to walk away from him as their potential starter for this season?  Does a red line exist?  Why are we back here, and has any team ever had a worse plan for franchise QB succession than the Steelers, in your estimation?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
Whenever Mike McCarthy is asked I don't get the sense there is a red line. Anyone who saw the video from Saturday could detect he knows something, and all signs point to Rodgers being his QB in 2026. So while others in the organization might be rankled by Rodgers' indecision it seems to me McCarthy is who's most important because he knows what it will take for Rodgers to get on the same page with his teammates. I'll say June 2 (the first day of mandatory minicamp).
Scott via Louisville
12:13
If I’m a new guy or if I am having trouble  learning the plays, will the Steelers provide a tutor or reader for a player.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
Yeah it's his position coach.
PGking
12:14
How frustrated is the front office/ownership with Rodgers, if at all? Has there been a handshake agreement already
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
My sense is the frustration comes with the uncertainty, but as I wrote above it seems like McCarthy already knows what's going to happen.
Scott via Louisville
12:14
Do rookies get specific marching orders after rookie camp to work on prior to training camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
They'll be working with the vets in OTAs and minicamp so they'll jump in with them and try to swim in the deep end.
Scott via Louisville
12:15
Now that you survived the purge, is it back to work as normal?  Can we expect any substantial changes going forward in the sports department?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:17
Our Steelers coverage will look very similar. There will be some new elements added as we go, but much will remain the same.
Arthur not Art
12:18
Hi Ray.  Thank you for the chat and great work. Based on how the off-season played out and the assumption that Rodgers will eventually sign, do you think the Steelers did more than rest of the division to maintain an advantage and repeat as division champs?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
Hard to say in May. I keep saying this, but the Bengals will eventually figure out how to build a team around Joe Burrow. Is 2026 the year? If they do, the Bengals are going to be hard to beat. I feel the same way about the Ravens although I think they have a lower ceiling. By that I mean I think they can knock off the Steelers and win a playoff game or two, but I don't really see Lamar Jackson in the same light as Burrow. Burrow, with the right team around him, can win a Super Bowl.
Henry Hill
12:20
Greetings Ray; so what was the deal with A-Rod last weekend, was he actually in Pittsburgh? If so, were there any negotiations between him and the Steelers?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
Our Gerry Dulac reported talks were held between the team and his agent, but Rodgers did not come around the facility. Why would be with rookie minicamp going on? With OTAs starting next week this would be a good week for the contract to get hammered out.
Ice Man Paul Wall
12:22
Hi Ray.  Ive always been curious about something…this past weekend, a number of players came to the minicamp for a try-out and without a contract.  I understand why any hopeful would do that.  My question is, suppose one of those try-out players had a CAREER ENDING injury….is that just bad luck and part of the risk they assume, but more importantly,
would the Steelers be obligated to pay any type of settlement for now, but also ONGOING, future rehabs and surgeries that were due to this injury.  Im confident Steelers would do the right thing, but what does the rules/laws say?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
There are injury settlements every year with players who suffered injuries in training camp. Many times the players is brought back when healthy and they have another chance to compete for a roster spot. For tryout players, they assume the bigger risk because they're not highly-sought after players. There could be an injury settlement of some sort, but for the most part this is a one-shot deal before guys go on to their life's work.
epiballo
12:24
Hi Ray - thanks for the chats! Every headline containing 'Rodgers' gets a click because the fans want to know his decision, and every update boils down to no update. Can you guys agree to not post such articles until he decides?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
But there are updates. He was in town last weekend. We can't help if a contract did not come as a result. But it was news that he was in town. He's a future hall of fame QB. People want to know what's going on.
epiballo
12:25
After only two days of 'football in shorts,' one headline says the Steelers like what they see in Allar, and another his mechanics have to be built from the ground up. Seriously, what can be known after only a few days of rookie camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
It was everyone's first look at Allar. Here's what I noticed: he was absolutely gassed taking all the reps in the Saturday morning practice we got to view. He talked about it afterward and so did Mike McCarthy, who said it was by design. You're right. You can't make assumptions after one weekend, buy my biggest takeaway was how closely McCarthy and the other coaches watched him. He sometimes had three or four sets of eyes on him in drills -- McCarthy, QBs coach Tom Arth, Frank Cignetti and of course new OC Brian Angelichio.
SP
12:28
Ray, wouldn't it make sense this year to keep 4 QBs on the 53 and put the lowest DL on the practice squad or even IR with a return designation? Last year they kept 8 DL which is totally unnecessary. They flex that now exists with PS weekly call ups and IR to return couldn't they easily manage the back end of the roster without sacrificing a QB?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
I might be wrong, but I cannot remember any team keeping four QBs on the 53-man roster. And certainly not for an entire season. Those roster spots are precious. You need players who can fill roles on offense, defense and special teams.
Dormont_Legacy
12:30
Should we be concerned about all the OL position swap talk? I know they have to assess what they have, but I just don’t understand why every draft pick needs to move around. Even if Broderick Jones works out we are almost out of his rookie contract and still don’t know if he’ll get there.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:31
This staff views versatility as a positive. You need guys who can go from spot to spot without it hurting their game or the team Troy Fautanu, they think, is one of those guys. We'll find out soon enough. I expect him to be taking a lot of reps on the left side at OTAs next week.
Doug Y
12:32
I just read an article that suggests Chris Boswell needs to up his game from last year.  I disagree.  The Steelers need to up their game with a better sod.  And they need a holder as reliable as they had last year.  Any word on another legit punter to battle Johnston?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:34
Yeah the Steelers will be plenty happy if Boswell continues what he's been doing. He's one of the best kickers of this generation. And we always seem to fret about holders, but it never seems to be an issue. Plus, Johnston was here for the 2024 offseason and training camp before he was injured so there is already familiarity there.
epiballo
12:34
If Rodgers does not sign with the Steelers, would they really start the season with a raw rookie under center? Surely Rudolph would be QB1. What is it about his game that nobody seriously considers him? He's no Marino but he isn't a Ryan Leaf either.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:35
Rudolph starting is a possibility, but I think there is some momentum in the organization to find out what they have in Howard even if that means throwing him into the fire. After all, we already know who Rudolph is.
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