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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 08.20.24
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:24
The elbow. Jones has never once blinked when asked about playing right and left. He said it's not an issue for him.
Dave
11:25
Do the players in camp get some kind of stipend or anything considering NFL players only get paid for games and many of these guys won't make the team?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:26
Yes the players who don't make the 53-man roster are on reserve/futures contracts and get paid from the time they sign them (usually in January) until they are cut. Many who are cut get signed to the practice squad. Practice squad players can make over $100,000 a year if they stick for the whole season.
Turk in MD
11:26
If Warren is going to miss 2-4 weeks with a hamstring (and those injuries can linger for skill players), should the team consider adding another RB to the roster besides Patterson?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:27
Maybe, but I'll point out Warren came back from a hamstring injury during his rookie season and only missed one game. Obviously, it depends on the severity of the injury. All indications are it's not serious.
John in SC
11:28
Once cuts are made, how active do you think the Steelers will be with free agents or even other’s practice squad players? WR, backup C, DB?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:28
I would expect a few waiver wire additions for sure. They are obviously thin at a few positions.
Leaper
11:29
Any news on Roman Wilson’s availability?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:29
No yet. He was watching practices in street clothes last week.
Erik
11:29
Hi Ray! If the niners don’t facilitate their decision prior to regular season, and since Aiyuk wants his contract ripped up for this season (allegedly) - - if this goes into week 3/4 of the season would he Steelers renege on their compensation to a 3rd / 4th instead of 2nd / 3rd ……. Wouldn’t theoretically the Steelers be getting less than initially agreed upon, considering they would have to implement them into offense midway through a season?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:30
It depends but I would think some concessions on the compensation would have to be made.
Mark in Buffalo
11:31
I see preseason games as very meaningful for the coaches to evaluate player talent.  A shame season ticket holders are forced to buy those tix, but I think these games are invaluable.  Going to an 18-game season with 2 pre-season games, I think, is just going to make the product on the fields in Weeks 1 and 2 sloppier and poorer.  Your thoughts?  How will coaches or the league replace the talent evaluation value of losing a 3rd game?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:32
You're probably right, but these owners are investing millions in these players. They don't want to see them get injured in games that don't count.
TxSteeler
11:33
You and others, correctly, point out B Jones massive struggles last week and wrote articles about it but do not question Mike T post game about it at all? Shouldn’t issues with a starting tackle who was taken in the 1st round be a point of emphasis to get the head coaches thoughts regarding the reasonings?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:34
The locker room is open at the same time Tomlin meets with the media. As reporters, we sometimes have to decide if we'd like to interview players or the head coach. And the reporters who do attend Tomlin's news conference might have more pressing questions in their mind.
BPOS
11:34
Jones just doesn't suddenly forget how to play tackle.  He's a widely agreed upon first round talent so his performance has to be injury related right?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:35
I'm leaning in that direction, but the injury apparently wasn't bad enough for him to miss any practices. That's the tough part to understand.
7 year drought
11:35
Ray, what is MT's infatuation with Dan Moore Jr.? Why has he been so loathe to put Jones at LT and leave him there?It feels like he has wasted all of OTAs, mini camp, and training camp not giving Jones LT snaps with the starters. What is to story here?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:36
The story is they value Dan Moore's experience. They also have to evaluate Jones at left tackle because he spent almost all of his rookie season at right tackle. Of of course, he might be injured.
Erik D
11:38
Ray, last season Pickens seemed to become disgruntled when he only saw 1-2 targets a game - - and to be honest us fans were pretty disgruntled too…. When Ben and AB had their “thing” goin on - - if Ben saw him 1 on 1 or in an advantageous situation he would always throw his way……. But we saw that it almost never happened until after Canada was gone….. Do you think Arthur will give Russ/Justin the freedom to take advantage and scrap plays if they get a look they want or will this be the same “check down” type offense we have seen for 3 years straight?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:39
Pickens is by far the best receiver and should be targeted accordingly. But because the Steelers don't have legit No. 2 it's likely Pickens will be double coverage. So in the end, the QBs have to make good decisions and get the ball to Pickens when he is singled up.
That's it for today. Steelers coaches are going to do interviews soon. We'll do another chat next week.
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