Bud Dupree will not get franchise tag from Pittsburgh Steelers again

All proper. Thanks for taking the time to speak to me at this time and let me begin with After you spoke, your quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, spoke to the athletic web site and he informed them not solely was he fairly positive he wished another season, however did not care about his paying for that season. What does that say to you about Ben and the probabilities of bringing him again subsequent yr? Properly, Ben’s been fairly clear and constant that he desires to return again subsequent yr. So, uh, , that is not a shock. And, , we sit up for having conversations with him about the place we’re going and the way I’ll attempt to get there. And yeah, I do know his representatives all the time do a very good job tryingto get, get the job finished. Proper. So we sit up for having these conversations. Properly, does it say to you that he, uh, he actually desires to make this occur in any manner doable? I imply, only a few gamers gonna come out and say, I do not care what I receives a commission subsequent season. Yeah, I imply, look, I consider he desires Thio come right here and play, and I consider that, uh, , bends at some extent the place I believe crucial factor to him is profitable, and and that is crucial factor to us. And so we’ll, , we’ll sit down and speak about , how we, uh, how we put collectively a plan that may work for everyone. Uh, , as we strategy this season 2021 we now have a wage cap state of affairs. This most likely not like something we have confronted earlier than when it comes to a cap really happening. And so, , Ben’s contracts, Not the one one which we’re gonna have to take a look at sadly, and doubtless gonna need to make some laborious selections. And so we , we have our work minimize out for us right here this offseason. Or at the very least in my subsequent query. You already know, even when Ben’s contract restructure, you talked about the cap state of affairs you are in. Do you are feeling assured going to this offseason you may carry again individuals like a finances pre or juju Smith Schuster. You already know, Andrew, I believe the very first thing we have to know is what’s the cap quantity and and we’re anxiously awaiting that. Hopefully we’ll get that within the subsequent couple of weeks. Uh, as , we all know what the ground is, however we’re sort of hoping that there is at the very least somewhat bump over that ground. However we additionally know that it is most likely going to be a discount from the place it was final yr, which, , presents a troublesome state of affairs. And clearly we we weren’t crucial planning for this after we put a few of these contracts in place. So it it places all people in somewhat little bit of a troublesome state of affairs. You talked about that if Ben just isn’t again, you have got a consolation degree with Mason Rudolph and also you talked about you’ll carry a one other quarter again into the fold to compete. Would you have a look at somebody wish to Shawn Watson, who desires desires a commerce proper now, desires to go some place else. You already know, Andrew, I’d be responsible of tampering if I began mentioning names of quarterbacks we may be excited about. So I’ve received a draw back from that look. Approach would clearly, uh, , look, overturn each stone we may if we if we needed to be in that state of affairs. However, , I’ll say that, , we be ok with Mason and his growth and his his capacity to proceed to develop, develop. So, uh, , I I believe we’re in a very good state of affairs so far as that is involved. Do you have got any issues that given all of the gamers who could also be going, perhaps staying, you have got a really small window now to have success with this specific group? You already know, and I believe yearly we have a look at attempting to place collectively one of the best workforce we are able to, a workforce that may compete for our division on a workforce that may compete for the championship. And, uh, so yearly is a brand new problem, and this one might be perhaps somewhat more difficult than regular. However we’ll take the identical strategy and simply attempt to put collectively one of the best workforce we are able to tow to compete subsequent yr. James Connor, we requested about him final yr. You mentioned you actually need to see extra of him earlier than you may actually make an analysis. Regardless of the issues with the operating sport this yr, we did Seymour of him. What are your ideas on James Connors future with this workforce shifting ahead? You already know James is in a class with plenty of our gamers that manner definitely could be excited about having him. And we’re gonna need to make selections. You already know, I believe I mentioned earlier than in some unspecified time in the future yesterday that , if I may have the identical roster, uh, a zoo this previous yr going into subsequent yr, I take it, , I assumed we had a very good roster, a very good group of gamers and and actually a workforce that had nice chemistry. And so, , there there are not any gamers that coming off this roster, that that we’re saying, Properly, we do not need him eyes actually gonna be making selections on, which of them match, which which of them can we get contracts finished with? That is sensible. So it zig una be. There will be some robust selections and and we’re gonna be working laborious to determine one of the simplest ways to do it. You talked about Mike Thomas is your coach into the long run. However do you have got issues? As a result of regardless of the success he is had in the course of the common season, he is had some playoff groups That at the very least I am positive the group felt ought to have gone additional and failed to take action in the course of the playoffs over the past couple of years, I believe. Jacksonville, after all, in opposition to Cleveland this yr. You already know, Andrew, I’ve, Ah, lots of confidence in Coach Tomlin on lots of confidence that, , he received simply the chance to be within the postseason, Uh, as a rule. And, uh, , one among these years, we’re gonna have the ability to reap the benefits of that chance. You already know, this yr’s sport is an instance of , we definitely felt good going into that sport in opposition to Cleveland. And, uh, , I do know high to backside by way of the coaches and the gamers manner. Felt like we had an opportunity to thio go deep into these playoffs. Uh, and, uh, , sadly, uh, , once you flip the ball over 4 occasions within the first half, you simply do not give your self an opportunity. And so, , it is laborious to pin all of that on our on our coach, frankly, and so, , I am blissful to maintain working with Mike and I, , I believe, uh, I believe we’ll get again to the Promised land ultimately. Right here. Properly, that is very, very troublesome season, after all, given the coronavirus pandemic occurring round you, Uh, no followers within the stands for essentially the most half. Um, Mike, I am curious. How did this affect your monetary backside line? Clearly, you have got clearly TV cash, however no concessions, no followers, no parking. What’s the monetary affect on this franchise on the finish of the season and shifting ahead? Properly, it wasn’t an awesome yr, Andrew. There is not any query about that. Uh, , we like lots of companies across the nation had the climate, the storm, and, , hopefully we’re gonna be OK, however I’ll say it, Z You already know, it is essential that we get again to one thing near regular on this upcoming season. And, , we did one of the best we may get by way of one season, however, uh, , be fairly robust, however we had to do that once more. So there may be some monetary points if this occurs once more subsequent yr, the place you possibly can’t have the followers within the stands. Yeah. I imply, look, I I , I believe it zona be robust on lots of companies. If this factor final for much longer, and, , we’re no exception to that. Properly, lastly, uh, although you there are stuff you could not do, I am positive you could have plans for the long run enterprise smart with the franchise with the stadium. Are there any massive plans on the horizon enterprise smart for the Steelers franchise that we’ll see within the fall or perhaps into subsequent yr? You already know, Andrew, it is a It is a good fall of query to your prior one as a result of we’re gonna be fairly conservative this yr. Aziz. We go in and attempt to be conservative when it comes to any initiatives that we had been fascinated by. Going to this yr will most likely put them on maintain for an additional yr till we actually see the place we come out of this factor a Z You already know, we we constructed and opened a brand new merchandise retailer on the stadium, which we opened within the fall, and clearly with out having followers within the stands, it wasn’t an awesome open a brand new retailer. Uh, it is an awesome story. Lovely. I am glad we did it, however, , it is , if we had todo do it over once more, would most likely wait a yr realizing what we all know now. So these varieties of choices. We’ll, , we’ll go gradual on and we’ll have to try what sorts of further investments we make. You do not have to take our time on a few of that.

Report: Steelers is not going to franchise Bud Dupree; linebacker set to turn into free agent

Up to date: 12:39 PM EST Mar 9, 2021

Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree is headed to free company after being knowledgeable that the workforce is not going to use the franchise tag on him, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday.Video above: Steelers proprietor Artwork Rooney II on the workforce’s challenges and priorities heading into 2021 seasonThe Dupree choice had been anticipated. The Steelers are dealing with wage cap points with many pending free brokers this offseason — together with Dupree, huge receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and operating again James Conner — and different high names whose contracts expire in 2022 (linebacker T.J. Watt, security Minkah Fitzpatrick, cornerback Joe Haden).Dupree performed the 2020 season beneath the franchise tag. He had eight sacks and two pressured fumbles earlier than a season-ending ACL harm in Week 12.

PITTSBURGH —

Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree is headed to free company after being knowledgeable that the workforce is not going to use the franchise tag on him, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday.

Video above: Steelers proprietor Artwork Rooney II on the workforce’s challenges and priorities heading into 2021 season

The Dupree choice had been anticipated. The Steelers are dealing with wage cap points with many pending free agents this offseason — together with Dupree, huge receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and operating again James Conner — and different high names whose contracts expire in 2022 (linebacker T.J. Watt, security Minkah Fitzpatrick, cornerback Joe Haden).

Dupree performed the 2020 season beneath the franchise tag. He had eight sacks and two pressured fumbles earlier than a season-ending ACL harm in Week 12.

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LB Bud Dupree, Pittsburgh’s franchise participant final yr, has been knowledgeable that he is not going to be franchised once more this yr, per league supply. Dupree is headed to free company.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2021