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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 06.09.20
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Ray Fittipaldo
1:59
Welcome and let's talk some Steelers.
pozone
1:59
Ray this could be bad year for NFL Revenue. Empty seats, players kneeling etc. You know not everyone agrees with the commissioner. I think Sports in General will take a big hit in popularity this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:02
Of all the major pro sports, the NFL is best-situated to withstand a season with no fans in the stands or stands at half capacity. TV revenue generates about two-thirds of the revenue for each team. The sport has never been more popular. And no matter what happens with kneeling and other forms of protest this year that won't change. We all heard how some fans weren't coming back three years ago. And you know what? Ratings went up. The new TV contracts are going to be through the roof.
BB
2:02
Ray - thanks for the chats.  Are we all just holding onto false hopes?  I get the move to Heinz Field and what it offers in the way of more locker rooms and better social distancing opportunities. But, at some point, you do actually have to block or tackle someone....when and how is that going to happen?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:04
They are adhering to NFL/NFLPA guidelines that were jointly agreed upon. It's something they have to do, if only for appearances sake. They won't be changing their practices all that much. Like you said, it's football.
Antifa Anuj
2:04
Hey Ray...do you think the NFL will circumvent criticism from President Donald Trump by ending the practice of playing our National Anthem before games while players are on the field?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:07
Will be interesting to see if the national anthem is played if no fans are in the stands. Would they do it just for TV? Would they do it just for the sake of doing it? A few owners have close ties to the president, but the tide is changing on the social injustice movement. I don't think the league's owners can afford to care what the president says or thinks.
A-town Steeler
2:08
Could you imagine a healthy Ryan Shazier added to this defense??!!!  So heartbreaking for him.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:08
Yes it's s shame, but the most important thing is Shazier is healthy and walking on his own.
Steelerfanin AL
2:09
Of all the big time players with expiring contracts next year who do you think they sign. I would sign Dupree, Heyward and Watt
Ray Fittipaldo
2:09
Among the three you mentioned I think Heyward and Watt have the best chance to remain with the Steelers.
Utah Jim
2:10
The criticism of Edmunds is he lacks coverage skills.  To my untrained eye coverage isn't his issue but rather he can't make a play on the ball.  Am I correct and can he improve this ability?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:11
I think Edmunds can improve in all areas. He's still young and learning the game. It's Year 3 for him. I think it's reasonable to expect better from him in 2020.
Buster
2:11
Ranking the Steelers’ greatest linemen would seem heavy on centers and guards (Webster, Dawson, Pouncey, Hartings, Faneca, DeCastro). Who would you rate as the best ever left and right tackles?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:13
You make a good point. I've never really thought of it like that. The Steelers just put Larry Brown in their Hall of Honor last year. He was the left tackle on the Super Bowl XIV team. Jon Kolb was a mainstay on those Super Bowl teams as well. Tunch Ilkin never played in a Super Bowl, but he was very good on some bad teams in the 1980s. Leon Searcy was very solid for a stretch in the 1990s. There have been some really good ones, maybe just not Hall of Fame caliber ones like at center and guard.
Tom in Dallas
2:13
Have you found your job easier, harder, or about the same since COVID changed our lives? One thing I've noticed, working at home and all my customers working at their homes, people have accepted no more face to face meetings, and are willing to talk more on conference calls.  Are your target interviewes understanding your plight and making themselves available?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:17
We're doing the best we can. It's not ideal, but nothing is ideal during this pandemic. For reporters, having open locker room access is extremely important. It's how we get information and produce news, fun stories and features on players and coaches. The Steelers have been doing some zoom calls with players, but everyone is getting the same answers to the same questions. So there is no variety. Hopefully, by training camp, our access improves. Heinz Field is perfectly set up to handle media. There is a huge press box to social distance and watch practice and plenty of space in the suites to conduct social distancing interviews with players and coaches. There is no reason for the NFL to restrict media from covering practices especially as they plan for fans to be in the stands at their games.
SoCal Steelers
2:17
With a tight cap, many big FA next year and Ben’s cap hit bigger next year, isn’t this season really our last best chance for S.B. 7?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:18
One of the last, best chances. Ben has two years left and this defense is primed to be among the best in the NFL.
Francos Italian Army
2:18
Ray, I'm not sure what the likelihood of this is....but should the Steelers go 8-8 this year and, presumably, no playoff appearance (for the third year in a row)...how do you think such thing bodes for Mike Tomlin?  Personally, I think as of this moment (June 2020) MT is running out of time/space/chances. I feel like when the time comes for Big Ben to retire....that, to me, would be the ideal time to make a change at head coach. And, let's face it....BB has, what?, a year left in him? Maybe two? Your thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:19
Yes Ben has two years left. Maybe Mike Tomlin does walk away when his quarterback does. Or maybe he looks upon the situation as a challenge. GM Kevin Colbert is going year to year on his contract and could choose to make the same decision.
Buzz
2:20
There are quite a few Steeler contracts coming to a close. What do they do? Hayward,Shuster, Bud,TJ, Conner. Do you lose all these guys and pay Ben $40 million??
Ray Fittipaldo
2:20
I think they keep Watt and Heyward and maybe Smith-Schuster. Probably not Dupree and Conner.
Guest
2:20
What happens with next year Ben's Huge salary cap hit and the cap goes down because of the loss revenue from no crowds this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:21
Check out post-gazette.com later in the week on this very subject. Obviously, it's not an ideal situation.
Raymund
2:22
Ray in all honesty the truth is Terrell Edmunds has been much much better than Dupree in his first 2 years by Far.. I know some fans are a little down on him, he’s very young still and only needs to improve in coverage and we have another great player.. thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:22
He doesn't even need to be great, just good to OK. He was kind of a weak link in that secondary last season.
Mike M
2:22
Although I don't see this happening, if the NFL revenue goes down say 10 or 20 percent, does the salary cap go down as well?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:24
More like 35% based loss of game day revenue, but remember the TV contracts are going to go way up. So maybe there is a flat cap in 2021. It could go down too based on whether fans attend any games at all. But one thing is for certain: it's not going up like we all thought in February, before the pandemic.
PAUL
2:25
Just a plead to the Steelers, please keep the politics out of our game.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:25
I don't know if I would categorize silent protests as politics. If you do, you might be disappointed this season. The black players have a platform and want to be heard.
Steeltowntim@aol.com
2:25
I hate to say it but if everyone starts kneeling do the TV ratings go down and then if no one goes the whole sports revenue way down.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
The TV ratings won't go down. Don't listen to that nonsense.
Frank
2:26
Hi Ray  Been watching a few early super bowl games of the 70's and noticed how much lighter many of the great players of the time were compared to today's bulked up athletes. Ham and Lambert appeared downright slim! Do you think these guy would match up well with our current players? Thanks
Ray Fittipaldo
2:26
Sure. Both could run and that's important now with the way teams throw the ball around the yard.
Lloyd have Mercy
2:27
Hi Ray thanks for taking the time to chat. For us to resign Cam this year, Juju and Watt next year. Who is out the door next year?
Ray Fittipaldo
2:28
Like every year in the NFL the middle class gets squeezed so look for those middle-of-the-road types of players to get the boot. Guys like Mark Barron who are on those $6 or 7 million a year deals.
boone
2:28
hi ray.do you think maybe they will switch more to 4 3 this year .seems the lineman they have are better suited ,and there is not a good nt.
Ray Fittipaldo
2:29
They are a 3-4 defense only in running situations. For three-quarters of their snaps they're in a 4-3 or some variation of it.
Steeltown
2:29
Ray, any chance that Villanueva is around beyond this year? Thinking if Ben sticks around for two more they may want to sign him for another year?
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