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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 09.07.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:58
OK let's get the chat going.
Joe
12:58
So it sounds like the Steelers aren’t going to get with the times and pay Watt the guaranteed money that other clubs pay out. They’re going to let him walk over this? That’s crazy. Pay him
Ray Fittipaldo
1:00
You are right. Guaranteed money is holding it up at this point, but Tomlin said he is optimistic a deal will get done. And while it might not be ideal other players have signed closer to the deadline. A few years back, David DeCastro signed on the Thursday before the first game. Troy Polamalu signed on the Saturday afternoon before the first game. Heck, Cortez Allen signed on Saturday night, just hours before the first game.
Joe
1:00
If Watt and the Steelers can’t come to an extension, do you think he will hold out for all but 6 games this season so he can get an accrued season?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:02
Why would he do that and forfeit money? That's an idiotic approach. The way the CBA is set up the teams have all the leverage. And beyond this year the Steelers can tag Watt twice if they so choose. Le'Veon Bell is one of the few players to hold out an entire season or even a few games to get the accrued season, and we all saw how that turned out for him.
Luigi
1:02
Will Watt sign?  Its killing me!
Ray Fittipaldo
1:03
I still say yes. Be patient. If it's not done by Saturday then you can start to panic.
Dave Moody
1:03
Hello, Ray! Love the chats. Regarding the T.J. Watt contract negotiations, do you think this is just a case of both sides using as much of the clock as they can to get the best deal possible,  or should there be real concern that something won't get worked out?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:03
I think you hit the nail on the head with the first part of your question.
The GM
1:03
Ray, why should the Steelers set the Market and make TJ Watt the highest Defensive Player in the NFL? I can't think of one NFL Team that has made it to the AFC or NFC Championship Game that has. Better yet, neither Team has won a Super Bowl.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:05
What's the alternative? Let him play on the fifth-year option and alienate him? There is no reason to do that. He's a two-time All-Pro. He plays a premier position. When you have players like TJ Watt you pay them as long as it's not so far above the market that it's unreasonable.
Steeler in Virginia
1:05
Does the gameplan change in your opinion with Dan Moore in at LT? More quick passes like last year?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:06
I think overall the plan is to run the ball more. Sure, that will help a young guy like Moore, but it will help every lineman.
Tyler
1:06
Do you think Dan Moore Jr can be the starting left tackle all year if he performs well in battle the first three games of the year?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:06
Yes I do, but he has to perform well. If he doesn't they can always look to move Okorafor back to LT when Banner comes back.
Jay
1:06
Hi Ray.  Some are predicting steelers with 5-12.  I'm not a huge tomlin fan but I cant imagine this team being 5-12.  Can you?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:07
No, I don't think it will be that bad. I think they'll be in the 8-9 win range.
Guest
1:07
I was very surprised Spillane made the 53 man squad, I thought he looked pretty bad in the preseason, especially in coverage.  What am I missing?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:07
So you'd feel more comfortable with Marcus Allen or Ulysees Gilbert as the top backup? I don't. Spillane isn't perfect, but he's a better option than those two in my opinion.
1:08
Ravens, Browns, Steelers, Bengals.
Mark
1:08
With final rosters now known, how’d you predict 2021 AFC North regular season standings?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:08
Question to previous answer.
Tom H.
1:09
Did the Steelers elect not to sign Roche to the practice squad or did the Giants claim him before the Steelers had the chance to do so?  Thanks Ray.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:09
The Giants claimed him.
dirtwinston4prez
1:10
With a 17 game schedule and injury attrition, it is probable that teams will loose 3-6 starters by the time playoffs come around.  It just seems so risky to tie up so much money in a non-QB like Watt.   Do you think teams will be changing their salary cap calculus to create higher quality depth compared to seasons past ?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:10
I don't think franchises can afford to think that way. There is a market price and sometimes you have to pay market price.
Scuba Steve
1:11
If I'm Colbert...I do this trade scenario in a heartbeat with Watt. You?  "The Raiders traded Mack, a second-round pick and a conditional pick to the Bears in exchange for two first-round picks, a sixth-round pick in 2019 and a third-round pick in 2020."
Ray Fittipaldo
1:11
And where has that gotten the Raiders? They stink.
Southside Jimmy
1:12
Hey Ray.  My condolences to the family and friends of Tunch Ilkin.  Your thoughts or memories about this good player and an even better person?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:12
Tunch was always so positive and after you had a conversation with him you felt positive. He was a great guy and will be missed.
DCSteelers
1:13
Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but wouldn’t it have been better to let Juju walk and use that money to help sign a premier offensive lineman?  The Steelers already have Claypool, Johnson, and Washington, and Ben’s return might be wasted with a line that seems pretty lackluster.  Plus Juju’s antics, which were well-known prior to bringing him back, have unsurprisingly continued.  Would the Steelers take a do-over if they could?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:17
I get your angle, but I am guessing they thought through that scenario. And in fairness to them, this was before they knew the full details of David DeCastro's injury. Maybe if there was a lineman they wanted to sign they would have done it and let JuJu go.
Greg
1:17
Won't BR's plan be the same as last year (get rid of the ball as fast as possible) until the new OL shows it can hold their blocks?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:18
The plan is to run it better, get the defense on its heels more and then run some play-action to help the line.
Jud
1:18
When did Cam sign his contract?  When did Troy?  Wasn't it on the way to the game?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:18
Troy signed on a Saturday afternoon before a Sunday game. Cam signed about six days before the first game last season.
Tony
1:18
So I guess t j watt will probably miss the first game in Buffalo when do we anticipate a contact getting done?
Ray Fittipaldo
1:19
Mike Tomlin thinks he will practice tomorrow and play on Sunday.
Darnell
1:20
Ray, I’ve heard that Witherspoon has had an up and down career.  What’s your opinion of him?  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
1:21
I haven't seen him play nearly enough. I saw he started one playoff game during their Super Bowl run and then came off the bench and played in the NFC title game and Super Bowl. His playing time has decreased pretty much every season since he's entered the league. He said he's happy to be starting over with the Steelers.
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