[ad_1]
Coming off an upset playoff loss, the Steelers have one of many NFL’s most tough cap conditions to navigate. Ben Roethlisberger‘s status is uncertain, and the crew faces the prospect of shedding a number of longtime starters in free agency.
GM Kevin Colbert is tasked with main the franchise out of this predicament, however his standing will not be locked in for the 2021 season. With the Steelers since 2000, the Pittsburgh native’s contract expires in Could. The Steelers gave Colbert an extension by this level within the 2020 offseason, having signed him to a one-year deal on Feb. 5, 2020.
Colbert didn’t present assurances he will probably be again with the Steelers in 2021, although he indicated that dialogue with possession would come.
“Fairly actually, that’s all I deserve as a result of we’ve got to proceed to show ourselves yr after yr,” Colbert mentioned of his lack of a long-term contract, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Joe Rutter. “We didn’t do adequate. That’s the analysis I’m making on myself. Artwork (Rooney II) and I’ll focus on it on the applicable time.”
The Steelers employed Colbert after he spent each Nineteen Nineties season with the Lions. Rumblings of Lions interest in rehiring the 64-year-old GM emerged early this offseason, however nothing developed on that entrance. The Lions agreed to phrases with former Rams faculty scouting director Brad Holmes to succeed Bob Quinn.
Pittsburgh resides in an uncommon place, having overtaken Baltimore within the AFC North however seeing its season finish after a disastrous wild-card outing in opposition to Cleveland. The Steelers have endured upset losses of their previous two playoff video games, with the loss to the Jaguars three years in the past ending a 13-3 season. And so they turned an 11-0 report right into a 12-4 end this previous season. The Steelers are greater than $30MM over the projected $180MM cap, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, Bud Dupree, Alejandro Villanueva, Mike Hilton and James Conner are free brokers. Maurkice Pouncey retired final week.
“Coach can solely accomplish that a lot with the gamers he’s given,” Colbert mentioned of the state of the crew’s Mike Tomlin-led roster. “I can present him with what I feel are the suitable suits. When it really works, nice. When it doesn’t, we each know we weren’t adequate.”
Tomlin is signed by means of the 2021 season, and the Steelers have a crew possibility on their coach for the ’22 season. Tomlin has coached the Steelers for 14 seasons. He’s one season away from matching Invoice Cowher and turning into the third straight Steelers coach to get pleasure from a 15-year tenure. Tomlin, Cowher and Chuck Noll have been the franchise’s solely coaches since 1969.
The Steelers have been to the playoffs eight occasions below Tomlin, profitable Tremendous Bowl XLIII and shedding in Tremendous Bowl XLV. However they’ve solely superior to the AFC championship recreation as soon as up to now 10 seasons, marking a downturn for the six-time Tremendous Bowl-winning franchise.
“Mike Tomlin has executed a lot extra good on this league than not good,” Colbert mentioned. “Mike is a superb NFL head coach. He’s received a Tremendous Bowl. He’s been to 2. Have we had the success we wished to have not too long ago? No, that’s a collective ‘we.’ We’ll simply proceed to work to ensure (a downward development) doesn’t occur.”
Picture courtesy of USA As we speak Sports activities Pictures.
[ad_2]
Source link
