The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
TODD GOODING FROM PORTAGE, MI: Ironic that the Jets gave another lucrative contract to a Steelers unrestricted free agent quarterback (Justin Fields in 2025 and Neil O'Donnell in 1996). Since the modern era, would you put both Bubby Brister and O'Donnell in your top 5 QBs the Steelers have had? I might be the minority, but I feel both were capable starters and I'm not going to let one throw (game) define O'Donnell.
ANSWER: While I understand you specified "the modern era," I'm going to expand the search to the T-formation era in Steelers history. The Steelers were the last team in the NFL to switch from the single-wing offense to the T-formation, and that happened in 1953. Since then I would list the best quarterbacks in franchise history – in chronological order – as Jim Finks, Bobby Layne, Terry Bradshaw, and Ben Roethlisberger.
In different seasons over the course of his 7-year career in Pittsburgh, Finks led the NFL in touchdown passes, attempts, completions, and yards. Layne began his career with the Detroit Lions, and he led that franchise to 2 NFL Championships, but after being traded to the Steelers he provided the team with the leadership and swagger – in addition to winning play – that an NFL franchise needs from the quarterback position. And of course, Layne and Terry Bradshaw are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and it's only a matter of time before Ben Roethlisberger joins them in Canton. That makes 4, and for me personally, the fifth quarterback I would put on the list is Bubby Brister, with Kordell Stewart being No. 6.
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SCOTT RANDALL FROM CONWAY, SC: Can the team roll over any unused cap money towards next year? Can they use the cap money to extend other players like T.J. Watt?
ANSWER: A team's unused salary cap space can be rolled over from one season to the next, but that kind of thing only happens after a season is over. And whatever salary cap space a team rolls over can be used however the team might choose, including contract extensions for players on its roster.
MARK RICE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV: This question is about player contracts. I read about players who sign contracts worth $20 million with a portion of the money guaranteed, but then also how the deal could be worth $40 million with added incentives. Are the incentives counted towards the salary cap? Are the incentives owed to the player straight from the organization, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement? Why aren't more contracts based this way? Making the player earn his money.
ANSWER: The website Operations.Nfl.com explains incentives this way:
"Player incentives are considered 'likely to be earned' (LTBE) or 'not likely to be earned' (NLTBE) based on the player or team's prior-year performance.
"For example, if a player has a $500,000 incentive for accumulating 1,000-plus rush yards in the upcoming season and he had 1,000-plus rush yards the previous season, the incentive is considered LTBE. If he did not record 1,000-plus rush yards in the previous season, the incentive is considered NLTBE.
"Except in certain circumstances, LTBE incentives count against the team's salary cap in the current season, and NLTBE incentives do not count against a team's current year's cap. Except in rare cases, unearned LTBE incentives are credited to the following season's salary cap, while earned NLTBE incentives are charged against the following season's salary cap.
"Example: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley signed a 3-year contract in 2024 free agency with multiple incentives, that all hit in 2024: $500,000 for 1st-Team All-Pro, $250,000 for 1,500-plus scrimmage yards, $250,000 for 2,000-plus scrimmage yards, $250,000 for Conference Championship win and $250,000 for Super Bowl LIX win."
The reason more contracts are not loaded with incentives to "make the player earn his money" is because players and their agents are looking for more certainty when it comes to compensation since the vast majority of NFL contracts are not fully guaranteed.
JON HOOD FROM RICHMOND, VA: So many people are talking about the Steelers "end of the season collapse" and put most of it on QB Russell Wilson and Coach Mike Tomlin. Do you agree that it was a collapse, or just getting beat by better teams? We lost all five games against teams with eventual winning records. Two of them came against the two teams that qualified for the Super Bowl, two against the AFC North Division champion, and the fifth to a team that was on a 5-game winning streak. And not to mention having to play three of those games in a 10-day span. I just don't see it as a collapse.
ANSWER: Regardless of how it might be described, what is inarguable is that it was a 5-game losing streak that included a one-and-done in the playoffs, and when that happens in the NFL the two people most likely to bear the brunt of the blame are the quarterback and the head coach. Fair or not, that's the way it works in the court of public opinion in terms of the blame game.
RONNIE CAP FROM YANKTON, SD: When a player has been cut and there is dead money against the cap, is any money paid to the NFL, or is that money just gone and can't be used but is not awarded to anything? How do the players' paychecks work? Does Art Rooney II cut a check to the NFL for the overall amount, and then the NFL hands out the weekly game checks?
ANSWER: When it comes to the salary cap, that money is handled "on paper" in the scenario you describe. If there is dead money to be assessed to a team's salary cap following the release of a player, that number is deducted from the cap but not physically paid from one entity to the other. As for players' paychecks, each team pays its own players.
BEAU McCAULEY FROM DANVILLE, VA: Do you know what kind of criteria the Steelers look at to decide who goes in to the franchise's Hall of Honor? I love all of the selections so far, and with such a rich team history I always wondered how the selections are ultimately made.
ANSWER: The standard by which the members of the Hall of Honor are selected is based on the following criteria:
Former Players: Retired for at least three seasons; must have played for the Steelers for a minimum of three seasons; and should possess noteworthy career highlights, records, and achievements. For Former Coaches and Contributors: Significant contributions to the team and community. And you are correct in that the Steelers rich history provides a long list of people who are deserving of such recognition.
WES PLANTHABER FROM HUNTINGDON, PA: I am sure you are getting tired of the draft questions, but I have one that is a philosophy type question. Hindsight tells us the Steelers do not mortgage the future for the current very often and without very good cause (the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade) even though many people hope/wish for them to trade up into the top of the first round for a particular player at a specific position. This year do you even see a chance of the Steelers using a future No. 1 pick to trade up in the first round? I have to assume the chances would be even slimmer than most other years since next year the NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh.
ANSWER: There was a period in franchise history when trading away future draft picks was the preferred way of doing business. Coach Buddy Parker's belief was that veteran players won games and rookies were a liability. During his 8 seasons as the Steelers' coach (1957-64), the team traded away its No. 1 pick 3 times, its No. 2 pick 5 times, and its No. 3 pick 5 times. In 1963, the Steelers traded away their first 7 picks of that draft, and in each of the 1962, 1961, and 1960 drafts they traded away 5 of their first 6 picks. That ended in 1965 when Dan Rooney was given more control over football operations by his father, Art Rooney Sr., and from the time Chuck Noll was hired in 1969 to the present day the only time the Steelers ever traded away a future No. 1 pick came in the 2019 deal that brought Minkah Fitzpatrick to Pittsburgh. I don't see that happening this year, and I also don't believe where the draft is being held has anything to do with their philosophy on this issue.
