Asked and Answered: Aug. 10

MATTHEW JOHNSON FROM CASHIERS, NC: Do you suppose that Pressley Harvin III solidified his place because the beginning punter after his efficiency within the Corridor of Fame Sport?
ANSWER: To not nitpick, however Jordan Berry ended the 2020 season because the punter and since he is nonetheless on the roster, he technically stays the beginning punter. I will not argue that Pressley Harvin III had a powerful displaying towards Dallas within the preseason opener, however I’d not declare that competitors over, if for no different purpose than Harvin has but to show himself as Chris Boswell’s holder. Kameron Canaday has proven himself sometimes to be inaccurate with some snaps, and Berry sometimes corrals these and will get them ready the place Chris Boswell could make hen salad … I consider Harvin has to get to the extent the place Boswell is snug with him because the holder. Then, if he retains punting the way in which he did towards the Cowboys, the job will probably be his.

TIMOTHY BODDORF FROM SANTA FE, NM: Does the NFL mandate that each one golf equipment should spend at the very least a sure proportion of their wage cap every year?
ANSWER: Sure, and it is generally known as the Wage Ground. I consider a provision within the Collective Bargaining Settlement requires groups to be audited each two years to verify they’re spending to the ground at the very least. Groups decided to be non-compliant merely are assessed the cash between the ground and the place they’ve been decided to have spent, so for groups they’re in a state of affairs the place they both must spend the cash on gamers or lose it to the league.

KEN WALDROP FROM ONTONAGON, MI: With the addition of a seventeenth recreation to the common season schedule and quarterbacks enjoying into their 40s, do you see groups giving some gamers an additional week off except for the bye, type of just like the NBA does?
ANSWER: Within the NBA, what you are speaking about is known as “load administration,” but it surely’s necessary to recollect than an NBA common season consists of 82 video games, and even with an expanded common season in 2021 an NFL common season comprises solely 17 video games. Having such a comparatively small variety of common season video games will increase the significance of every one, even with an additional staff from every convention qualifying for the playoffs. It is uncommon for an NFL common season to get to the ultimate weekend of the common season with all the obtainable playoff spots in each conferences having been clinched, and for that purpose I do not foresee NFL groups going to a model of the NBA’s “load administration” process. Simply too dangerous when there at all times appears to be a staff or two that misses the playoffs by a recreation.

RAYMOND CHASON FROM CONNEAUTVILLE, PA: Who do you suppose will probably be our huge receivers on the opening 53-man roster behind the starters and Ray-Ray McCloud?
ANSWER: As of at present, which is 48 hours earlier than the second of 4 preseason video games and three full weeks earlier than groups should reduce all the way down to 53 gamers, I consider the highest 5 receivers on the roster are: (listed alphabetically) Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, Ray-Ray McCloud, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and James Washington. It is doable the staff might resolve to maintain six huge receivers on the roster, however I consider the sixth must be a big particular groups contributor. And naturally, the highest 5 might change over the course of the subsequent three weeks.

JACOB BURROWS FROM QUINCY, MA: Is it simply me or did Dwayne Haskins play higher than Mason Rudolph within the Corridor of Fame Sport?
ANSWER: I do not suppose it is simply you, as a result of there are a whole lot of Mason Rudolph haters on the market, and so they probably would have the same opinion with you. My private opinion is that neither Mason Rudolph nor Dwayne Haskins did something throughout the Corridor of Fame Sport to affect the present pecking order of the depth chart at quarterback, by hook or by crook.

KEN MAULDIN FROM CLYDE, TX: I am bought on James Pierre after watching the Corridor of Fame Sport vs. Dallas. He closes on the ball with such quickness and anger – I like this man. I simply needed to know your ideas on this younger man. Any background on him?
ANSWER: Popping out of Deerfield Seashore Excessive College in Florida, James Pierre was thought-about a three-star prospect and the No. 48 security within the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com’s composite rankings. Pierre initially dedicated to the College of Miami, then modified his thoughts and dedicated to North Carolina. Pierre finally wound up at Florida Atlantic, the place he performed in 37 video games over three seasons and completed with 80 tackles, three interceptions (all coming in his last school season of 2019), and 15 passes defensed. Pierre signed as an undrafted rookie with the Steelers in 2020 and was the one undrafted rookie to earn a spot on the staff’s 53-man roster. With nearly each NFL staff searching for cornerbacks, I just lately requested Coach Mike Tomlin why Pierre wasn’t drafted.

“There are only a lot of excellent soccer gamers in school,” stated Tomlin. “There are over 120 school soccer groups. There are groups that do not get a whole lot of nationwide publicity and a focus through tv, also known as ‘the group of 5,’ and he went to a kind of applications (Florida Atlantic). There are a whole lot of guys who’re able to enjoying. Our staff is represented with a whole lot of regional Mid-American Convention guys, and we have gotten publicity to these guys due to regional tv and the actual fact their video games are on TV throughout the course of the week. Loads of these MAC guys are from this a part of the nation, and a whole lot of these coaches recruit the Pittsburgh space, and after they do they arrive by and spend time with us, and so we acquire an understanding about a few of these gamers. I actually suppose it is about publicity. Children at large applications get big-time publicity; children at smaller applications get much less publicity. And typically high quality gamers slip by means of the cracks, and Pierre is unquestionably a kind of who, wanting again on it, little question was draft-worthy. However we’re glad we now have him. However as you’ll be able to see, and it is the attractive factor about our occupation, it would not matter by what means you get right here, as a result of if in case you have the abilities and the mettle to remain, you will have a possibility to carve out a task for your self.”

KEITH MILLER FROM CANTON, OH: How do the Steelers stand with compensatory picks subsequent 12 months?
ANSWER: The announcement on that will not come for one more six months or so, and I’ve by no means been capable of grasp the method used to determine it out. Determine it out accurately, anyway.

LARRY HEMINGER FROM SAN DIEGO, CA: May you clarify the method and timing for slicing all the way down to the 53-man roster and the way the follow squad is shaped? Does a participant should be waived first earlier than they are often provided a spot on the follow squad?
ANSWER: All NFL groups are carrying 90 gamers on their rosters proper now. These rosters have to be reduce to 85 gamers on Aug. 17, then to 80 gamers on Aug. 24, after which to 53 gamers on Aug. 31. After groups reduce to 53, after which following a 24-hour interval throughout which gamers with fewer than 4 seasons of NFL expertise should undergo the waiver system the place they may very well be claimed by any of the opposite 31 groups. As soon as the waiver interval expires after these 24 hours, all groups will probably be permitted to signal gamers to the follow squad. As of this writing, it is nonetheless undetermined what number of gamers could be on every staff’s follow squad in 2021, or what the process goes to be for gamers to have the ability to transfer back-and-forth from the follow squad to the lively roster, however I can inform you that each participant is eligible to be on a follow squad, no matter age and/or years of expertise within the league.

DAN ARMITAGE FROM RIVERVIEW, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA: I’m not a fan of Thursday evening video games (too quick every week). Has it ever been mentioned to have two Monday evening video games and remove the Thursday evening recreation? I consider the scores can be simply pretty much as good.
ANSWER: I consider the Thursday evening soccer bundle is right here to remain, as a result of it is too enticing and profitable to the NFL to have the ability to promote a further bundle of video games on a distinct evening of the week to a streaming service, for instance, as an alternative of a conventional community. And since that extra income is shared between the house owners and the gamers, I do not see both aspect being keen to surrender that cash.

TONY MODZ FROM SURFSIDE BEACH, SC: You have achieved a wonderful job of explaining how gamers receives a commission by means of the common season and playoffs, however how do they receives a commission for follow and exhibition video games?
ANSWER: NFL contracts solely pay gamers throughout the season, though there’s a stipend paid to gamers for preseason video games supplied they’re on an NFL roster, in accordance with phrases of the Collective Bargaining Settlement. Gamers aren’t paid for follow, but when they’re on a staff’s roster by means of Tuesday of a daily season week they do qualify to obtain that week’s recreation test.

JOSEPH SEMETKOSKEY FROM INDIANA, PA: Who do you suppose will probably be a shock participant this 12 months for the Steelers?
ANSWER: If I instructed you that, it would not be a shock, would it not?