Asked and Answered: Jan. 21

ROBERT ANAVIAN FROM REDONDO BEACH, CA: Who’re probably the most notable offensive linemen the Steelers have chosen within the first spherical of the draft?
ANSWER: Within the 52 drafts since Chuck Noll was employed in 1969, the Steelers have picked an offensive lineman on the primary spherical solely seven instances. If by “notable,” you imply good, I give you three names: Alan Faneca in 1998, Maurkice Pouncey in 2010, and David DeCastro in 2012. If by “notable,” you imply a mistake, there are two who stand out: John Rienstra in 1986 and Jamain Stephens in 1996.

JOHN SAUERS FROM NORTHLAKE, TX: Assuming the Steelers don’t restructure the present contracts for the next gamers, what’s every participant’s wage cap impression for the 2021 season: Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey, Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Vance McDonald, Derek Watt and Vince Williams? What can be the wage cap impression if the Steelers have been to launch every participant?
ANSWER: Primarily based on printed reviews, the next are the wage cap numbers (rounded up/down in some circumstances) to maintain the participant vs. commerce/lower the participant: Ben Roethlisberger: $41.25 million to maintain; $22.25 million to chop/commerce; Maurkice Pouncey: $14.5 million to maintain; $6.5 million to chop/commerce; Joe Haden: $15.6 million to maintain; $8.6 million to chop/commerce; Steven Nelson: $14.4 million to maintain; $6.2 million to chop/commerce; Vance McDonald: $7.9 million to maintain; $2.7 million to chop/commerce; Derek Watt: $3.8 million to maintain; $1.1 million to chop/commerce; and Vince Williams: $7.03 to maintain; $3.03 million to chop/commerce.

DAVID MILES FROM SOUTH BLEND FALLS, NY: Been listening to lots of chatter about Deshaun Watson being sad in Houston. That being stated as I do not imagine we’ve got our subsequent beginning quarterback at the moment on our roster, are you able to see any manner we might convey Watson in to spend a 12 months studying the system and constructing rapport with the crew whereas backing up Ben Roethlisberger? Simply making an attempt to examine what the long run seems to be like for the Steelers at quarterback.
ANSWER: Regardless of the future is perhaps for the Steelers at quarterback, that is positively not it. If Ben Roethlisberger is on the Steelers roster in 2021, he’ll rely $42 million on the crew’s wage cap. To get Deshaun Watson from Houston, the Steelers must supply vital draft capital to entice the Texans to make a commerce, after which Watson can be due $146.5 million on the contract the Steelers must assume by making the commerce. That is not possible in so some ways, and probably the most not possible can be any state of affairs the place each are on the roster and one is backing up the opposite.

ED BURGH FROM NIPOMO, CA: My query regards conditioning. Because it appeared that the crew was overmatched bodily in so many video games and at particular person positions, might or not it’s that there could must be adjustments on this space?
ANSWER: Sure, there must be adjustments, however the adjustments must be in personnel. In too many areas, the Steelers have gotten previous, and age coupled with the inevitable wear-and-tear on our bodies which have absorbed so many NFL video games take a toll. It is inevitable. It is a reality {of professional} sports activities.

H.C. PETLEY FROM CORTEZ, CO: Two eventualities: No. 1: Empty set, the quarterback will get the snap, takes off working to the left, and is tackled behind line of scrimmage. Is that this a sack or a deal with for loss? No. 2: The quarterback throws a move that’s intercepted by a cornerback, however the exterior linebacker is flagged for encroachment. Does the cornerback get credit score for the interception?
ANSWER: No. 1: It is a working play from the time the ball was snapped, and so it is a tackle-for-loss. No. 2: The offense accepts the 5-yard penalty for encroachment and the play that resulted within the interception doesn’t rely.

CHASE CROWE FROM GORHAM, NH: Do you assume the Steelers might feasibly re-sign each Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton when Bud Dupree most certainly takes an even bigger contract elsewhere?
ANSWER: Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton additionally might select to just accept a suggestion from one other crew that both pays them more cash than the Steelers are providing or perhaps presents them a job throughout the protection they like higher than the position they might have by staying right here. Each Hilton and Sutton might be re-signed, however I believe one in all them will find yourself being lured away by what they understand to be a greater supply/state of affairs.

MICHAEL WOLOZYN FROM OIL CITY, PA: What would you concentrate on hiring Ben Roethlisberger because the offensive coordinator sooner or later sooner or later? If he is making/opting out many of the play calls anyway, it could appear to me to be an inexpensive transfer.
ANSWER: I don’t know what Ben Roethlisberger plans to do along with his life after soccer, and in making an attempt to reply this query I will assume he performs out the ultimate 12 months of his contract. In that occasion, Roethlisberger could have earned one thing within the neighborhood of $280 million because the Steelers quarterback. Why would he wish to begin residing the lifetime of an NFL coordinator, which through the season entails late nights through the week and video games and journey and coaching camp? Then within the offseason the job would entail preparation without cost company and preparation for the draft after which rookie minicamp after which the offseason program and the OTAs after which minicamp? In so some ways, that life would take him away from his household and issues he may wish to do along with his life greater than being a participant did. I can’t think about somebody who had made near $280 million already and will likely be voted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame and as such might make a nice residing doing signings and making appearances would have any curiosity in that profession transfer. None. In his footwear, I absolutely would not.

TYLER WENRICH FROM DEVER, PA: Any thought if Tony Romo may come out of the sales space and be a coordinator or coach for some crew? The Steelers perhaps?
ANSWER: In response to reviews, Tony Romo earns $17 million to be the analyst on CBS’ No. 1 broadcast crew for NFL soccer. He may work one or two preseason video games, 17 common season video games, and about three playoff video games, which might be 4 within the years CBS has the rights to broadcast the Tremendous Bowl. That is 22 video games, perhaps 23, and it is just a few days of “work” per recreation. No strain. No second-guessing. No having to take care of temperamental gamers or house owners. I do know which job I’d quite have, and Invoice Cowher has come to the identical conclusion.

RYAN HANNAN FROM MURRELLS INLET, SC: With Ben Roethlisberger asking for JuJu Smith-Schuster to return, do you assume it is potential for the crew to make that work? And with all of the free brokers arising on protection do you assume defensive unit will nonetheless be top-tier subsequent season because it was the previous couple of seasons?
ANSWER: I see this as being an either-or proposition, given latest projections for the 2021 wage cap quantity. If the Steelers determine to commit the wage cap assets essential to persuade JuJu Smith-Schuster to re-sign, there will not be the quantity of house left to dedicate to the gamers on protection who will grow to be unrestricted free brokers to maintain the unit on the highest tier.

DEREK LAKE FROM BUSHNELL, FL: Thanks for all you do for Steeler followers. In a earlier installment of Requested and Answered, Rod Woodson was introduced up as a part of a query about the most effective cornerback in Steelers historical past. I had an opportunity to fulfill Rod, and one factor I observed was he had extraordinarily huge palms and lengthy fingers. Have been Mel Blount’s palms simply as giant and lengthy, and do you assume it had an impact on why they have been so good?
ANSWER: Mel Blount will likely be 73 years previous in April, and he nonetheless is a particularly imposing man in particular person. He does not look his age, there is no such thing as a seen softness to his physique that usually develops in older males, and he strikes round with none obvious orthopedic points. And I am certain his giant, sturdy palms had so much to do along with his skill to lock onto broad receivers and disrupt their move routes to the extent the NFL determined it needed to change the foundations to restrict that tactic in addition to intercept 57 passes throughout his Corridor of Fame profession

JERMAINE HALL FROM GROVETOWN, GA: Would you are taking Ohio State guard Wyatt Davis with the twenty fourth total choose of the 2021 NFL Draft?
ANSWER: I do not know practically sufficient concerning the expertise pool to make that call, however I agree with the best way you are interested by the utilization of the Steelers’ first-round choose. In assessing offensive linemen, tackles usually are picked earliest, and later within the first spherical is the place the inside guys usually begin coming off the board. There might be some good worth at heart and/or guard at No. 24.

RAY HEATON FROM COTTAGE GROVE, MN: If the Steelers lower/commerce Vance McDonald, Joe Haden, and David DeCastro, how a lot cap house would that open up?
ANSWER: After subtracting the lifeless cap cash from what these gamers are owed, the distinction is round $22.5 million in wage cap house.

BEN FIELY FROM MEADVILLE, PA: There are some sturdy working backs within the draft this 12 months. Do you assume as an alternative of taking our annual defensive participant with our first-round choose, we should always take a working again or a quarterback?
ANSWER: I’m not in favor of utilizing the No. 1 choose within the upcoming draft on both a quarterback or a working again. Working backs might be discovered within the third spherical, and at this early stage of the offseason I imagine the Steelers produce other urgent wants that want consideration earlier than interested by drafting a quarterback.

DOUG ENDRES FROM LEAD, SD: Since your acknowledged plan on doing Requested and Answered till you hit the Powerball, this is slightly lottery humor for you: A person comes house and requested his spouse what she would do if he received the lottery. She replies that she would take half and depart him. He instructed her that he received $12 and stated, “This is $6, now get out.”
ANSWER: I am normally the one who goes for the chortle, however that was fairly good. My spouse chuckled, too.