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Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat: 03.11.25
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Ray Fittipaldo
11:51
Can any of you play QB?
Let's get the chat going.
Stairway to seventh seed
11:51
Ray: is the big take away from yesterday that the Steelers let the QB that they wanted get away for less per year than Dan Moore signed for?  Is this lunacy?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:54
It's certainly not ideal. But Mike Tomlin always says, "free agency is free for them, and it's free for us." It's quite possible the Steelers had a number in mind for Fields and they weren't going to overpay for him. I'm guessing $30 million in guarantees was a little rich for them. Or perhaps, Fields was turned off by his experience with Mike Tomlin and didn't have complete trust in him after he was benched in favor of Russell Wilson after he led the Steelers to a 4-2 start. I'm OK with Fields signing with the Jets at that price, but man they sure need to close the deal with Rodgers. If they don't they might have to turn back to Russell Wilson.
Mike from NY
11:54
Hi Ray. Did the Steelers believe that Fields was coming back and this miscalculation cost them as they really don't have a back up plan?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:55
The backup plan was Rodgers and Sam Darnold and maybe Wilson in the end. They wanted Fields to come back, but they could not force him to sign. I want to hear what Fields has to say when he meets with Jets reporters.
Sal
11:56
Hey Ray! Happy Thursday. Is it too early to panic at the qb situation ? Seems like the steelers do not have the control and we failed short of landing a great DL and CB in the first day. If Aaron Rodgers is signed may be we might see the worst team in 20 years...
Ray Fittipaldo
11:57
If they don't sign Rodgers we might see their worst team in 20 years. Rodgers would have them in contention for a playoff berth as long as he stays healthy. I think it can be a better marriage between him and Arthur Smith than it was for Smith and Russell Wilson.
Linebacker Lounge
11:58
Najee for Harbaugh is a perfect match. Middle school play caller (Canada), inexperienced O-line, and limited WR depth. Picking up his option or even the 9 mil is peanuts if divided by 17 games. Most RBs don’t play a full season. RB was not the problem. Thoughts?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
Harris was always available and played hard. But I wouldn't have paid him $9.5 million on a one-year deal. They're getting Jaylen Warren for half that. And I think Warren is a better fit for Arthur Smith's offense. Harris was the best RB in free agency and he couldn't get more than a one-year deal. That tells you something about this RB draft class. It's good.
Dave Moody
11:59
Chances of Aaron Rodgers vs. Kenny Pickett on opening day in Pittsburgh?
Ray Fittipaldo
11:59
Now that would be appointment viewing.
Linebacker Lounge
12:00
The ILB depth are head scratchers. Gonna ride the hopes of Holcomb returning healthy? E-Rob was a winner and their best run stuffer and they let him walk for 3 mil ??
Ray Fittipaldo
12:01
The Harrison was signing is a bit of a surprise because he is presumably the fourth ILB behind Queen, Wilson and Holcomb. Who knows? Maybe they don't have great confidence Holcomb can return to his previous form, and Harrison is insurance on that. That's a fairly expensive insurance policy though.
Terry
12:01
Do you think the Watt extension will get done soon? Feel like they should of got it done before Garre t an
Ray Fittipaldo
12:02
Too late now. No one is eclipsing Garrett's number now. The Steelers don't sign their own players this time of the year, but if they want to get ahead of some of the rising prices they might consider changing their approach.
Rob
12:02
By not overpaying Fields are Steelers going to end up actually over-paying even more out of desperation?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
I don't think so, but I always thought Rodgers would command more money than Fields.
PBVT
12:03
Hi Ray- QB aside, where is our DL help?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:03
In the draft.
Linebacker Lounge
12:03
Where did it go wrong with Najee? Was he to out spoken?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:04
He was a little plodding, didn't produce many big runs. Yes, his line did not do him any favors, but I'm not sure he has better or anticipation than Jaylen Warren.
62 Stack Monster
12:04
Good Morning Ray, I like the DK Metcalf pickup if we had a starting quarterback.  Regardless, the trade cost a number 2 draft pick this year.  Will Khan trade away Pickens or Minkah or Watt or someone for extra draft picks this year?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
Of those three I think Pickens is the most likely, but I'm not sure what they're thinking there.
Lou
12:05
Hi Ray.  Well, it looks like the Steelers mailed in this year's FA attempts.  No DL, QB, RB.  What are they waiting for with the QB?  It just seems crazy to get a guy like DK and think you're a better team and then have zero QBs on roster.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:05
They're waiting on Rodgers! The question is how long will they wait?
Linebacker Lounge
12:06
$pending $150 million on a WR, with no long term QB option is classic bailing out a boat full of water desperation move. Agree?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:07
I don't think so. $30 million a year is the going rate for a No. 1 receiver. And a couple of years down the line it will seem like a good deal if Metcalf plays well. The cap is going to keep going up and up and up.
Mr. Rooney
12:07
Wow!  $30M guaranteed for Fields!!!  Did I avoid burning a stack of my $$$ in a bonfire of desperation or what?  Is "da Jets is the Jets" our new mantra in the AFC?  Then again, the Browns scooped up Pickett to save their season?!?  Your thoughts sir?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:08
I can't imagine the Browns will trot Pickett out as their starter on opening day. They have to bring someone else in to compete with them. And yes, I agree with you on the Jets overpaying Fields. I wouldn't have matched the offer either.
Cap Ollie
12:08
Hi Ray, Sure seems like it’s gonna be Rodgers at QB. Why would we pay 35-40M for him vs 25M for Russell? Very similar at this point. That would take almost all of the cap space. With
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
Who says it's $35-40 per?
Tim
12:09
I wouldn’t mind taking a flyer on Rodgers but 90 million seems insane. Can that possibly be the number?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:09
I don't think that is the number at all.
Guest
12:09
Good morning Ray.  Why is there such an uproar over Fields signing elsewhere?  His career winning percentage, completion percentage, yards per game, and touchdowns per game are all lower than Pickett, Rudolph, and Trubisky.
Ray Fittipaldo
12:10
I'm not here to bash Fields. I think he would have been a decent bridge QB for the Steelers. I just would not have paid him $30 in guarantees.
Hammering Hank
12:10
Wow what a fiasco! Rodgers is a nightmare. Either sign Wilson or bring in Winston and Joe Flacco!
Ray Fittipaldo
12:11
Am I the only one who thinks Flacco might be the best of their options among the names you mentioned?
Guest
12:12
I've been saying for years that the way Tomlin misleads players in terms of using them will cause players to want to go elsewhere.  Has this practice finally caught up to him?
Ray Fittipaldo
12:12
Could be. Players talk. And like Fields sometimes experience it for themselves.
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