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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 6.19.17
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Ray Fittipaldo
12:39
Hmm. Sean Davis I guess.
Matt
12:40
I agree with your W Gay assessment and how the Steelers traditionally deal with veterans and cutting them loose early for FA...but in this case, since they are unsure what they have in rookie class and signed FA...would it be out of the question to cut W Gay after preseason?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:40
No, it wouldn't be out of the question. Just a small chance I believe.
Yancy Thigpen
12:40
If M. Bryant is dominant for next two seasons...and stays out of trouble...changes Steelers re-sign him?  I don't think they've ever had two high paid recievers (e.g., Ward over Pax; A. Brown over Wallace).
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
No. They just committed $17 million a year to Antonio Brown. You can't afford two big contracts at one position.
Guest
12:41
what are the chances, Burns, Golson, and Sutton are the 3 starting corners, counting the slot CB?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:41
Not counting on Golson doing that, but Burns and Sutton certainly could hold down two of the three starting spots.
MoJoJoJoJo
12:42
People keep on saying there's a TE problem. I'd tend to agree, but I think they supplement that with formation (not a FA). More sets with AB, JuJu/Eli, and Marty has got to make up for lack of talent in the TE room.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:42
Right. I agree. I wrote about that after the draft.
Rod Rust
12:42
Would you day the ravens browns Bengals are trending up or trending down comparatively to afc east teams the Pats face?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:43
Well, the only team in the AFC East the Pats have to worry about is the Dolphins, and it's not like the Dolphins are a great team. They're a good team. The Ravens are probably on par with the Dolphins at this point. I think the Bengals are trending down and the Browns can trend anymore downward.
AK
12:44
Ray, to my knowledge the Steelers have never had to beat the Patriots in the playoffs in the years they made the Super Bowl.  They either didn't make the playoffs or another playoff team beat them.  The Steelers may need tyhe type of help to make it to the Super Bowl.  What AFC team do you think has the best chance of upsetting the Patriots in the playoffs?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:44
Raiders.
Taz
12:44
I liked your response to Harrison for HoF consideration.  But while he doesn't have anything close to the sack #s to back it up, isn't it worthwhile to consider that sacks are only part of James's job description?  If I had to pick James Harrison vs Jared Allen in their prime, there's no question I'd take Harrison, although Allen's sack numbers are nearly twice that of Harrison's.  Gimme a guy that helps the team win - play the run, play the pass, sack the QB - as opposed to the guy in it for stats.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:45
Right. But I was giving you my perspective when it comes to Hall of Fame voters. You don't have to convince me James Harrison was one of the premier OLBs of his generation. He was in his prime. It's just a matter of people recognizing that without the help of flashy sack totals.
MoJoJoJoJo
12:45
Who gets deals this offseason? I'm optimistic that Bell, Tuitt, and Al will get them
Ray Fittipaldo
12:46
I think Tuitt will get done. Not sure about the other two.
Lambert's Gang
12:46
Do you see Pitt limiting Bell's carries later in the season in hopes of having him strong for the playoffs?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:47
They haven't taken that aproach in recent years because they've needed him just to secure a playoff spot in recent years. If they are in position to rest him late in the season I think they would do it. They just haven't been in that position.
Lambert's Gang
12:47
What type of deal do you expect Pitt to offer Bell? Not having played an entire season yet has to factor into their thinking??
Ray Fittipaldo
12:49
I wrote last week that four years at $40-45 million makes sense. That'd would keep him the highest-paid RB by a wide margin and it would take some of the risk away from Bell when it comes to other teams making his value on the open market. The truth is, most NFL teams don't value the RB position as much as the Steelers, and he'd be taking a risk going into unrestricted free agency.
Bryan Hinkle
12:49
Are the #s 58 and 59 unofficially retired with regard to giving these numbers out to rookies?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:49
Unofficially yes.
Chad Scott
12:49
If Sutton beats out Cockrell for starting position- would Sutton move to slot in during nickel and Cockrell play on the outside...or would it be Sutton, Burns, and Gay?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:50
Good question. That will be something to watch in camp. I don't know they've determined that yet, if it happens.
Rob
12:50
Who will be the next Steeler to have his jersey retired? Will they wear a patch in memory of Mr. Rooney?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:51
My guess is Franco Harris and yes I think they will honor DMR in some way. I think they wore a patch in 1987 after Art Rooney died.
jake
12:51
which rookie are you the most excited about heading into training camp?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:51
JuJu just because that WR corps is so loaded and I think he adds a different element and balances out the offense.
MoJoJoJoJoJo
12:52
Burns seems to have stepped it up in terms of preparation. Or just not missing time like last year. His Snapchat he posted showed him pressing (and putting on the ground) Justin Hunter. Is there more optimism for him this year to be the #1 guy? I think so
Ray Fittipaldo
12:52
Burns had a nice spring. He has to carry it over into summer and the regular season.
Ryno
12:52
Isn't it potentially a good idea to tag Bell this year and next year?  My understanding is the number is an average of the top five players at that position, and that number will be significantly lower next season?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:53
Not true. If they franchised him against next year they'd be forced to pay him closer to $14 million because the second time a player is franchised it's always higher.
DSF
12:53
It's early, but which rookie do you think will have the greatest impact this year?  and which one has the best chance to start?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:54
Watt has the best chance to start and has a chance to make an impact. I just stated that Juju has a chance to make an impact and so does Sutton. Might not be early in the season for all of them, but the potential exists for all three to make significant contributions as rookies. The top three picks last year had all significant contributions as rookies.
Old School
12:55
It seems as though many players wait until late spring to have surgeries, rather than right after the season ends. These late surgeries sometimes impact camp readiness. Why the wait?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:55
In most cases, the surgeries take place right after the season. In some cases, players wait to see if injuries heal on their own because no one wants to go through a painful surgery and rehab process if it's unavoidable.
Chris
12:55
If steelers cant get deal done with bell, do they cut their loses and try and trade bell.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:55
No, they'll try to win the Super Bowl.
Guest
12:56
I'm a big fan of what he's done for the Steelers, but I think we tend to overrate James Harrison a bit. He had five really good seasons, from 2007 to 2011. One of those, in 2008, was a truly great season. That's just not enough for the Hall of Fame. It's miraculous that he's still playing at his age, but that doesn't mean he's had a great career or is still a great player. He's solid, and much better than a guy his age should be.
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