Steelers: Where Do We Go From Here?

[mr_smith02]

Another season of falling way short of expectations/hype.

Multiple free agents. Who stays? Who goes?

Tomlin and Ben both have one year left on their contracts. Ride it out or make a change now with both or one of them?

Will/should changes be made to the coaching staff?

 

[Mooch]

Another season of falling way short of expectations/hype.

Multiple free agents. Who stays? Who goes?

Tomlin and Ben both have one year left on their contracts. Ride it out or make a change now with both or one of them?

Will/should changes be made to the coaching staff?

Man, it could be some tough sledding in Steel Town. Big Ben holds a $41M cap number next year and the team projects to be WAY over the limit unless they do some major contract restructures and cuts in addition to losing key free agents that they can't afford. 2021 might be a total rebuild season.

 

[Cotillion]

I doubt the Rooney's leave Tomlin hanging out there with only the year on his contract, but maybe I haven't paid attention to them before since they have such few coaching changes. Did they let Cowher go year to year at the end?

 

[MuzzyField]

I doubt the Rooney's leave Tomlin hanging out there with only the year on his contract, but maybe I haven't paid attention to them before since they have such few coaching changes. Did they let Cowher go year to year at the end?

Yes, I believe it was Cowher who wanted the year-to-year.

 

[jaytftwofive]

They tanked the last regular season game against the Browns and figured......We're still playing the Browns at home win or lose. We'll have Ben back....no problem. Be careful what you wish for. I love it!!!

 

[MuzzyField]

They tanked the last regular season game against the Browns and figured......We're still playing the Browns at home win or lose. We'll have Ben back....no problem. Be careful what you wish for. I love it!!!

They didn't tank... they tried to MASH. There is a difference.

 

[RG33]

It feels like it is past time to move on from Ben and Tomlin.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

There is open speculation that Pouncey is retiring. I’ve thought for a while that he and Roethlisberger would retire together. In order for them to return, they both would need to agree to another contract that lowered their cap figure.

If BR and Pouncey do walk, it would begin the total overhaul of the roster with additional offensive lineman either retiring or being cut. As it stands, I’m under the impression that Bud Dupree, James Conner and JuJu will leave via free agency. I’m dubious Joe Haden or Steve Nelson will return.

 

[BigJimEd]

Ben is due only $19M in new money this year so any cap maneuvering for this year will likely just be pushing the hit to future years.

 

[Trlicek's Whip]

Didn't follow the NFL this year very closely but saw some snippets. Is Ben just cooked as a first tier QB? Saw some ignominious performances in the 2nd half of the season from him and wonder if it's all the mileage and a cliff of high-performance he's falling from.

 

[mr_smith02]

Didn't follow the NFL this year very closely but saw some snippets. Is Ben just cooked as a first tier QB? Saw some ignominious performances in the 2nd half of the season from him and wonder if it's all the mileage and a cliff of high-performance he's falling from.

I saw every game this season and I would say this is a pretty fair assessment of Ben. He is certainly not a top-tier QB in the NFL any longer...but he's certainly not one of the worst QBs out there either. Is he worth the $41 million due him next season? Nope...but, if the Steelers cut him they're left with nearly $20 million in dead money with the cap.

My guess is they try to find a successor via the draft or trade and bring Ben back for his retirement tour. I'm not a fan of this option because even if he has a great season, I think they'll be looking at the same results we just saw. Maybe he will retire and do them a favor. I do not believe Mason Rudolph will be the answer.

 

[mr_smith02]

 

[Vinho Tinto]

Steelers have a weird allergy to firing staff. It's always retirement or not having their contract renewed.

 

[mr_smith02]

Steelers have a weird allergy to firing staff. It's always retirement or not having their contract renewed.

Totally agree...if ever a coordinator was worthy of a firing it was Fichtner.

I do wonder if this is being done because they know Ben is retiring or to entice him to do so. Fichtner was Ben's man.

 

[mr_smith02]

 

[OurF'ingCity]

More evidence that Ben may be retiring, although at this point it's hard to see Haskins as much more than a backup.

 

[mr_smith02]

More evidence that Ben may be retiring, although at this point it's hard to see Haskins as much more than a backup.

This is a big roll of the dice for the Steelers...this cannot be their plan to replace Ben. I really think Ben comes back next year.

 

[Super Nomario]

More evidence that Ben may be retiring, although at this point it's hard to see Haskins as much more than a backup.

This is a big roll of the dice for the Steelers...this cannot be their plan to replace Ben. I really think Ben comes back next year.

We shouldn't read much into this at all. It's a futures contract. Haskins is going to be one of their 90 in camp. Projecting a 53-man role for him is way premature at this point. The Patriots signed Jake Dolegala to a futures deal, too.

 

[tims4wins]

View: https://twitter.com/SteelersPRBurt/status/1364582272800878592

 

[mr_smith02]

View: https://twitter.com/SteelersPRBurt/status/1364582272800878592

Basically kicking the can down the road one more season before finding an actual replacement for Ben.

 

[tims4wins]

Ben is still fat

View: https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1417947622766256131