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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 11.24.21
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:06
OK let's get the chat going. Fire away with your questions.
Donna
12:07
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Ray.  I would like to know how Juju is progressing and if you think he will re-sign with the Steelers.  Thank you.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
JuJu is at some practices and seems to be in good spirits when he is there. As for re-signing with the Steelers I don't think there is a great chance. It was kind of a surprise this year, and the Steelers have Minkah Fitzpatrick and Diontae Johnson up for extensions. I think they'll come first.
Jeff
12:08
Ray.   I’m shocked the reporters haven’t pushed more on tuitt questions.  We are at the point where it needs to be addressed
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
It's addressed almost every week in some form or fashion. If Tomlin isn't asked about it -- and he's asked quite often about it -- his teammates or assistant coaches are. And it's always the same answer. They're supportive of him and his situation. And most of the time when pressed they all say they believe he'll play this year. FWIW.
doug
12:10
Ray…. Tomlin hasn’t be afraid to sit down number 1 picks.  Jarvis Jones ziggy hood Artie burns.    Why won’t he sit bush down when anyone that is watching sees he isn’t getting job done.   There is zero fight or agresssiveness
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
Maybe he thinks a hobbled Bush is better than Robert Spillane? I am not sure, but I do know the Steelers have a lot invested in Bush. More than any of those others you mentioned. Yes, they were all first-round picks, but the Steelers traded up 10 spots to acquire Bush, a player they believed would run their defense for years. It's hard to admit that mistake three years and especially when I am sure they'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt coming off that ACL tear.
John
12:12
Ray do you really think Steelers get aggressive this off-season    They will have a lot of holes but a lot of money too
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
If they want to be competitive next season they have to. They don't have enough draft picks address all of their holes on their roster.
Paul
12:13
When Ben's recent progress, could it be his arm is now fully healed from surgery?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:13
Or maybe just getting more comfortable in Canada's offense. I don't think Ben's elbow was a big issue late last season or early this season. I think arm fatigue might have been involved last season than the arm not being healthy.
AK
12:14
Should there have been more eyebrows raised when they immediately gave Schobert play calling duties?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:14
I think there was plenty of brow-raising at the time. I know I wrote about it right away.
Paul
12:14
Happy Thanksgiving Ray and thanks for all that you do keeping us entertained all year!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:15
Thanks for reading, Paul!
Brent
12:15
Ray … they can’t possibly think Mason can be their opening day starter      I’m not sure they go after a Watson or Rodgers but what about Jimmy G or a Mariota
Ray Fittipaldo
12:16
Watson and Rodgers are pipe dreams. Watson has unresolved off-field issues that prevented him from being traded this year. Rodgers is going to want big $. Even Jimmy G would take up a big chunk of the salary cap. Many teams have been successful with QBs on rookie deals. Eventually, they're going to have to bite the bullet and do it. Guess it just depends on what they think of Mason and/or the QBs coming out in this draft.
Guest
12:17
did you hear tomlin tell aaron andrews after half time his "subs" were playing,,,,what happened to the next man up tomlin always says, he doesn't say the next sub is up !!!!!!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
I was on site in the press box and did not see or hear the interview. But Tomlin basically said yesterday they were a bit limited in what they could do with the young guys. Two guys who were called up from the practice squad played in their first NFL game. And play significant snaps. That's a tough deal.
DaquidoBazzini
12:18
Hi Ray - Do you think it's 100% that Ben retires at the end of this season?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:18
100%? I don't know, but I'm not convinced he's coming back. Let's see how the final two months play out.
Justin
12:19
With the recent struggles of the inside linebackers, will Buddy Johnson get a hat soon or is this a red-shirt year or him?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:19
I don't think the coaches believe he's ready for a role on the defense yet.
Mustard bowl is now heartbreak hotel
12:19
Finally the other cleat drops. Makes no sense to let what 12 mill of cap space just idle away while your roster has more holes than Swiss cheese. Has done nothing for either line or 2ndary help. And lastly letting Hilton & Nelson go were colossal mistake's and they could of kept both.  Idiots
Ray Fittipaldo
12:20
Nelson isn't having a great year with the Eagles. And I don't think they wanted to pay Hilton as much as he got with the Bengals. Sometimes, you have to make choices.
ppozone6031@gmail.com
12:20
Ray do you think the Steelers take Pickett if he is available when they draft?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:21
I am sure they will do their due diligence and scout him as well as the other QBs that are coming out. The great thing they have over the other 31 teams is their ability to see him practice and their communication with the Pitt staff. They'll know going into the combine about where he is on their draft board. I don't think they have all of that research and such done just yet, but they will in a few months.
Brent2
12:22
What does Devin bush do well?    No one can name one thing.     Cool he’s athletic.   So is every guy in nfl
Ray Fittipaldo
12:23
Before the ACL injury I thought he made some plays. I remember him intercepting a pass against the Bengals a couple of years ago, a diving one at Paul Brown Stadium. I recall the fumble recovery and TD against the Chargers in 2019. He was around the ball more, made some things happen. We haven't see that post-injury just yet. The Steelers, obviously, are hoping he can rediscover his skills.
ev
12:24
Hi Ray, Happy Thanksgiving!  Hindsight vision aside, how nice would it be to have Matt Feiler and Mike Hilton in Black and Gold
Ray Fittipaldo
12:24
Absolutely, but that's about $13 million in salary right there. You can't pay everyone.
Mike
12:24
What is the latest to get the three defensive starters back this week
Ray Fittipaldo
12:25
They are about to start practice now. Fitzpatrick hasn't been removed from the COVID list, but Tomlin expects him to be back. And I think Haden will be good to go. We'll see about Watt later in the week I think.
Marvin
12:25
Who takes over returns with ray ray out?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:26
Probably Anthony McFarland, but there are some other options as well.
Bill in SF
12:26
What is all the excitement about the Steelers 4th qtr. offense is all about?  Those scores were set up by turnovers and short fields.  When they really needed to move the ball, they went 3 & out in 19 seconds after the pick when they had a chance to burn some clock and put up a TD, then went straight backwards in the 2 minute drill after SD regained the lead.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:28
I keep seeing things on social media about the no-huddle not being good on the final possession. They ran one play out of the no-huddle on that possession. It was a sack for an 11-yard loss, and it came when the Chargers knew the Steelers absolutely had to pass. In the other 10 plays out of the no-huddle in the third and fourth quarter Roethlisberger was 9 for 9 for 96 yards. I'd say that's pretty effective.
Chris
12:28
I don’t understand how Matt Canada still has a job.  Based on Ben and Najee’s reactions / body language, shouldn’t his time be up?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:29
Mike Tomlin has a lot invested in Matt Canada. He fired Randy Fichtner and hired him despite him not having an NFL experience calling plays. He'd be admitting a big mistake if he let him go after one year.
Chris
12:29
Would the Steelers save any salary cap space by cutting Tuitt?  It’s clear he won’t impact the team this year.
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