Let's get to it:
MIKE KERR FROM HOUSTON, TX:
My question is something that has been bothering me for some time. Looking over the NFL draft in 1983, why did the Steelers pass on Dan Marino? The defense was in good shape, and Terry Bradshaw was retired. The Steelers really needed a quarterback at that time, and they knew Dan from the workouts at Pitt. With Dan Marino the Steelers could possibly have won a couple of more Super Bowls.
**
ANSWER: Your facts are all wrong. At the time of the 1983 draft, Terry Bradshaw was not retired, and the Steelers defense was coming off a playoff loss to the San Diego Chargers in which it allowed 479 yards of offense in a 31-28 loss. In that game, San Diego averaged 5.0 yards per rush, Dan Fouts passed for 333 yards, and the Chargers converted 64 percent on third down.**
With that cleared up, there were two basic reasons behind the decision to spend 1983's No. 1 pick on Gabe Rivera instead of Dan Marino. The first was that Chuck Noll perceived the time had come to rebuild the Steelers following the decade of the 1970s that included four Lombardis over a six-season span, and since the first time he had built the Steelers into a championship team it was done with defense first, Noll believed that was the way to go about the task the second time.
The other issue at play was that the Steelers didn't believe Bradshaw was at the end of his career. Yes, he was going to be 35 at the start of the 1983 season, but in the seven seasons between 1976 when he was spiked into the Cleveland Stadium turf by Joe "Turkey" Jones and the 1982 strike-shortened season, Bradshaw had missed only three starts. In 1982 – again, a nine-game season because of the players' strike – he led the league with 17 touchdown passes, his 1,768 yards would've projected to 3,143 yards over a full season, which would have represented the third-highest total of his career, and his 52.9 completion percentage was the sixth-highest of his career.
During the offseason following 1982, Bradshaw opted to have surgery on his throwing elbow, he decided to have it done in Shreveport, La., and the Steelers were neither consulted nor notified. Maybe a more accomplished surgeon with more experience in sports orthopedics changes the course a little bit, or even if the surgery was done perfectly but with the Steelers' knowledge of what was entailed and the prognosis for recovery, maybe picking Marino would've taken on a higher priority. But that didn't happen, and so the Steelers drafted Rivera, a 6-foot-2, 293-pound nose tackle with uncommon pass rushing ability. Rivera had two sacks through the first six games of his rookie season and was coming on before being involved in a car accident that left him in a wheelchair.
Certainly in retrospect, not drafting a quarterback who would go on to first-ballot election to the Hall of Fame deserves to be considered a huge mistake, but I am simply clearing up some of your incorrect facts and explaining what was Noll's thinking at the time.
REDD MAHONEY FROM ROOSEVELT, NY:
Do you have a gut feeling that the Steelers have an idea of know who they would like to draft in the first round, or do you think they're still undecided? Depending on who's available when they pick, of course.
ANSWER: What I can assure you is that come Thursday, April 27, the Steelers will have their draft board in order, and by in order I mean the players will be listed, best to worst, in order of the grades assigned to them as a result of this entire evaluation process. Because they have the 30th overall pick, there will be 30 players they would feel comfortable taking on the first round, and then when the time comes they will pick their board. I'm sure there are some guys they hope will fall to them at No. 30, but I don't know who those players are, and if anyone tells you they know who those players are, they either are guessing or lying.
A photo gallery of images spanning the life and career of Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
A portrait of Dan Rooney during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 14th, 2003.
A portrait of Art Rooney II and Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney hugs Jerome Bettis after a Division Round win against the New York Jets January, 15 2005.
Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II sit down to talk with newly drafted QB Ben Roethlisberger after he first arrived to the Steelers facilities in 2004.
Dan Rooney shakes hands with the 2004 1st Round Draft pick Ben Roethlisberger at a press conference presenting him his jersey.
A portrait of Dan Rooney during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 24th, 2005.
A portrait of Dan Rooney during a game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on September 18th, 2005.
Dan Rooney shakes hands with CB Ike Taylor during the 2005 Training Camp at Saint Vincent College.
Dan Rooney talks with Commissioner Roger Goodell during the 2006 home opener against the Miami Dolphins.
Dan Rooney talks with RB Merril Hoge.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with Jerome Bettis during the Super Bowl XL ring ceremony at Heinz Field.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with his wife Patricia and son Art Rooney II during the Super Bowl XL ring ceremony at Heinz Field.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with General Manager Kevin Colbert during the Super Bowl XL ring ceremony at Heinz Field.
Dan Rooney shakes hands with President George W. Bush during the team's visit to the White House after winning Super Bowl XL.
Dan Rooney along with James Rohr present Cardinal Wuerl with the American Ireland Fund honor.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney speaks with Head Coach Mike Tomlin on the practice field during the 2007 Rookie Mini-Camp.
Dan Rooney talks with NT Casey Hampton during the 2007 Training Camp at Saint Vincent College.
Dan Rooney talks with General Manager Kevin Colbert and Head Coach Mike Tomlin during a 2007 Training Camp at Saint Vincent College.
Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II pose for a photo with Mike and Kiya Tomlin after signing Mike Tomlin to the Steelers as Head Coach.
Dan Rooney shows Head Coach Mike Tomlin some historical photographs after signing him to the Head Coaching position.
Dan Rooney talks with Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Kevin Colbert at FedEx Field prior to a preseason game against the Redskins.
Art Rooney II, Head Coach Bill Cowher, General Manager Kevin Colbert and Dan Rooney on a practice field at Training Camp.
Dan Rooney along with David Morehouse present Sidney Crosby with the American Ireland Fund honor.
Dan Rooney watches as QB Ben Roethlisberger raises the Lombardi trophy after winning Super Bowl XLIII.
Dan Rooney stands with President George W. Bush during the Steelers White House visit after winning Super Bowl XL.
Dan Rooney talks with James Harrison, James Farrior and Larry Foote.
A portrait of Dan Rooney on the field prior to Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium on February 1st, 2009.
A portrait of Dan Rooney as he walks onto the field prior to Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium on February 1st, 2009.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes during the Steelers parade through downtown Pittsburgh after the Super Bowl XLIII win.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with Art Rooney II, Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Kevin Colbert after winning Super Bowl XLIII.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin puts his arm around Dan Rooney on the podium after winning Super Bowl XLIII.
Dan Rooney shakes hands with Head Coach Mike Tomlin in the Steelers locker room after a Divisional Round win against the San Diego Chargers January 11, 2009.
Lynn Swann, Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Joe Greene, Dan Rooney, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount and Dermontti Dawson.
Dan Rooney and his wife Patricia are photographed with President Jimmy Carter during the Steelers visit to the White House.
The Chief and Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney, Chuck Noll and Art Rooney each hold a Lombardi trophy in 1979.
Dan Rooney speaks with Joe Greene in his office.
A young Dan Rooney appears in the front row of the 1940 team photo.
A news clipping shows a young Dan Rooney carrying a tackling dummy at Training Camp 1946.
A portrait of Dan Rooney on the field prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 16th, 2012.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with John Stallworth, Joe Greene, Art Rooney II, Franco Harris and Lynn Swann during an Alumni dinner at Heinz Field.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with Santonio Holmes during an Alumni dinner at Heinz Field.
Dan Rooney talks with Deshea Townsend and Larry Foote during a practice before Super Bowl XL.
Art Rooney and Dan Rooney stand at a chalk board discussing the Draft.
Dan Rooney holds the ball for his father Art Rooney to kick during the 1968 groundbreaking ceremony for Three Rivers Stadium.
Dan Rooney and his son Art Rooney II pose for photographs during a groundbreaking ceremony for Heinz Field.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with his father Art Rooney.
Dan Rooney stands with Art Rooney II and Ben Roethlisberger as they receive the Larmar Hunt trophy after winning the AFC Championship on January 22, 2006.
A portrait of Dan Rooney during a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 15, 2005.
Dan Rooney shakes hands with QB Ben Roethlisberger during practice Thursday, January 19, 2006.
A portrait of Dan Rooney during Steelers practice in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, January 14, 2009.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
Peter Rozelle, presents the Super Bowl trophy to Pittsburgh Steelers president Dan Rooney, center, and coach Chuck Noll after Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys, 21-17, to win Super Bowl X in the Orange Bowl in Miami, January 18, 1976.
A young Dan Rooney with a broken arm.
Cardinal Wuerl blesses Heinz Field before its opening.
Dan Rooney sits with Chuck Noll during a press conference announcing his retirement from the NFL.
A portrait of Dan Rooney with a statue of his father, Art Rooney behind him.
Dan Rooney stands with his Hall of Fame bust and presenter Joe Greene, during the induction ceremonies.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with his brother Art Rooney Jr.
Dan Rooney as a baby with his mother and father.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with CB Ike Taylor.
A portrait of Dan Rooney during his time as Ambassador to Ireland.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney holds the Lombardi trophy with his father Art Rooney and Chuck Noll after winning Super Bowl XIV.
A portrait of Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II.
Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II review plans together for the construction of Heinz Field.
Ambassador Dan Rooney and his wife Patricia at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Ambassador Dan Rooney and his wife Patricia Rooney are joined by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with Bill Cowher after signing him to the Steelers head coaching position.
A portrait of Dan Rooney during his years at North Catholic.
A portrait of Dan Rooney during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
A portrait of Dan Rooney during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
Dan Rooney stands in the oval office with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Dan Rooney stands in the oval office with President Barack Obama.
A portrait of Dan Rooney prior to the Steelers 1000th game.
A portrait of Dan Rooney with his father Art Rooney.
Dan Rooney stands in the rubble of Three Rivers Stadium after it was demolished.
Dan Rooney, No. 33, kneels for prayer in the locker room with his North Catholic team.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with Commissioner Roger Goodell.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney shakes hands with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney and Pope Benedict XVI
A portrait of Dan Rooney during a press conference.
Dan Rooney, top left, pictured with his class mates and Patricia Rooney, front row third from the right.
Dan Rooney poses with five Lombardi trophies behind him.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with his airplane.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with his airplane.
Dan Rooney holding a Terrible Towel with servicemen aboard a Navy vessel.
Rod Woodson hands Dan Rooney the Lamar Hunt trophy after the Steelers won the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens on January 18th, 2009.
Dan Rooney and the Steelers honor PGA legend Arnold Palmer at Heinz Field on November 10th, 2002.
Dan Rooney stands in the locker room with the Lombardi trophy after winning Super Bowl XL.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with his son Art Rooney II in the locker room with the Lombardi trophy after winning Super Bowl XL.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
Ashley Roethlisberger, Ben Roethlisberger, Patricia Rooney and Dan Rooney stand in front of the Ambassador residence.
Dan Rooney attends a memorial unveiling, honoring the Tuskegee Airmen.
Dan Rooney and Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson.
Dan Rooney and his wife Patricia Rooney pose for a photo with the American Bowl trophy.
A portrait of Dan and Patricia Rooney.
Dan and Patricia Rooney ride in a car during the Steelers parade following their Super Bowl XL victory.
Dan Rooney stands with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a flag ceremony in 2013.
Dan Rooney stands on stage behind his father Art Rooney following a parade celebrating their victory in Super Bowl XIV.
Dan Rooney and his father, Art Rooney.
Dan Rooney and his father, Art Rooney.
Dan Rooney with his father Art Rooney and brother Art Rooney Jr.
Art Rooney Jr., John Rooney, Art Rooney (The Chief), Tim Rooney, Pat Rooney and Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney during a press conference announcing the release of his autobiography.
Dan Rooney shakes hands with a group of Navy Seals before a game against the Baltimore Ravens, November 6, 2011.
Dan Rooney stands with Dermontti Dawson, Jack Butler and Art Rooney II during a locker unveiling for the newest members to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Joe Greene gives Dan Rooney a hug during his jersey retirement at Heinz Field.
Dan Rooney Shakes hands with Hines Ward.
Dan Rooney stands along side Chuck Noll and his bust during the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in 1993.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with his grandson Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney stands with his bust during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Dan Rooney with his four brothers, his father Art Rooney and mother Kathleen Rooney.
Dan Rooney takes a picture with his family and his Hall of Fame bust.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with Chuck Noll after signing him to the Steelers head coaching position.
Dan Rooney, pictured far right, sits on the bench as a ball boy.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with Coach Mike Tomlin.
A portrait of Dan Rooney.
Dan Rooney talks with Senator Barack Obama.
Dan Rooney stands with Ernie Stautner during a jersey retirement ceremony.
Dan Rooney holds up the Lombardi trophy after winning Super Bowl XL.
Dan Rooney waves to fans as he walks off the field after Super Bowl XL.
Dan Rooney shakes hands with Alan Faneca in the locker room after winning Super Bowl XL.
Art Rooney, Chuck Noll and Dan Rooney sitting on the team plane heading for Super Bowl IX.
Candid shot of Steelers owner Dan Rooney sitting with Steelers head coach Chuck Noll in the locker room after the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Steelers.
Dan Rooney introduces Vice President Al Gore to Coach Bill Cowher.
Dan Rooney shakes hands with Coach Bill Cowher after winning the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts on January 14th, 1996.
Dan Rooney and Kevin Colbert during a press conference in 2000.
A photograph of Dan Rooney and Kevin Colbert.
Dan Rooney talks with Coach Bill Cowher, Tom Modrak and Tom Donahoe in the Draft Room.
Dan Rooney, Art Rooney, Chuck Noll and Art Rooney Jr. pose for a photo with four Lombardi trophies.
Dan Rooney and his son Art Rooney II and grandson Dan Rooney pose for photographs during a groundbreaking ceremony for Heinz Field.
Dan Rooney poses for a photo with Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue prior to Super Bowl XXX.
Dan Rooney receiveds the Lamar Hunt trophy from Coach Bill Cowher after winning the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts on January 14th, 1996.
Dan Rooney, Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell.
Dan Rooney is sworn into office as Ambassador to Ireland by Hillary Clinton.
Dan Rooney is sworn into office as Ambassador to Ireland by Hillary Clinton.
Dan Rooney talks with John Stallworth.
Dan Rooney, pictured top right No. 64, with his North Catholic team.
Dan Rooney with Steelers head coach Chuck Noll as they receive the Lombardi Trophy from NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle following their victory in Super Bowl XIII, where the Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 35-31.
Dan Rooney holds the American Bowl trophy with Coach Bill Cowher following their victory over the Chicago Bears in Ireland.
Dan Rooney waves to fans prior to Super Bowl XLIII.
Dan Rooney stands on the field with Coach Bill Cowher.
MIKE KAEL FROM CLEVELAND, OH:
No question, just a heartfelt thanks for including all those stories about Dan Rooney. Condolences to you and the entire organization for the loss of such a legend. Being transplanted to Cleveland and listening to all the people around here extolling the virtues of Mr. Rooney and how they all respect him tells of just how amazing a person he was.
PAM LEUPOLD FROM DICKSONBURG, PA:
Should the Steelers draft Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman? He seems to be Jon Gruden's favorite quarterback in the draft, and who can argue with Chucky?
ANSWER: Chucky, as you refer to him, is now in the entertainment business, and the ESPN series that Jon Gruden does every year at draft time in which he goes one-on-one with the eligible quarterback prospects is very entertaining. But I'm going to give you a list of names of the quarterbacks Gruden had at Tampa Bay, which was his final NFL coaching job, and rest assured that when Gruden worked for the Buccaneers, he was in complete charge of the quarterback personnel: Brad Johnson, Brian Griese, Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski, Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, and Tim Rattay. Those names, to me, are a strong argument that Gruden talks a better quarterback game now than he was able to execute as an actual NFL head coach. And one more thing: the only reason for the Steelers to draft Nathan Peterman would be if they were looking for a backup to succeed Landry Jones.
SID ELINE FROM LOUISVILLE, KY:
A cool Mr. Rooney story: About 18 years ago I was able to get field passes for a day at training camp. My family was sent to an office by the security guard to pick up our passes, and when we walked in the office, to my surprise, Mr. Rooney was sitting in a chair and invited us to come in. He asked us several questions about our kids, spent several minutes with us, and thanked us for coming. He let my kids sit on his lap and take a few pictures. He offered to walk us down to the field. It was a great experience, and I will never forget his hospitality.
CLARENCE TUNSTALL FROM REISTERSTOWN, MD:
In a recent Asked and Answered, there was a question about trading back-end picks for a higher pick in a future draft. It sounded silly if we tried to get a top pick, but what if we traded a No. 5 and a No. 6 in this draft for a fourth-round pick in next year's draft? Then, with compensatory picks available to be traded, traded two No. 4s for a third-round pick in the following year's draft? Kind of like creep up the scale of drafts until one year we found ourselves with multiple third-round picks. It sounds weird, but if a team likes a kid in a spot, and we could give that up for a future pick in a higher round, why not? Today, without the draft, we have a Super Bowl team. Why not use the draft in our favor to stockpile picks in the future?
ANSWER: I disagree that this Steelers team is a Super Bowl team in its current configuration, without the benefit of adding talent and/or depth via the 2017 draft. And here's something I was told by Dan Rooney, "The problem with scouts sometimes is that they're trying to win the draft, when the whole idea is to win the Super Bowl." You are trying to win the draft.
FIELDING FOWLER FROM DETROIT, MI:
The man who saved the franchise: That's Dan Rooney. So often we hear how the Steelers have had only three coaches since 1969, and 1969 is when Dan Rooney hired Chuck Noll. The hire was important, but it came with a change in philosophy. Noll was given an opportunity to build a team, and that opportunity came from an ownership willing to let it happen. Seeing how stability impacted the team then made it easier to be patient with future coaches.
The man who saved the franchise, Part II came when Dan Rooney hired Bill Nunn. And like the Noll hire, that triggered a change in philosophy as well. Scouting the historically black colleges was about more than finding athletes. As a kid growing up in the 1970s, racism was still everywhere. I heard friends and neighbors use the N-word, and maybe they didn't know what they were saying, but many probably grew into it. I wasn't raised that way in my house, but I was exposed to it certainly.
Growing up in Michigan, the Detroit Lions of that era didn't offer much hope for a 5-year old. I adopted the Steelers then and never looked back. Because Dan Rooney hired Bill Nunn, many of my heroes were black. Growing up wanting to be Joe Greene or John Stallworth makes an impact on a kid when he later becomes an adult, and it's natural to him to say hello to a man in a checkout line, or help a homeless guy on the street, even if he is a different race.
CRAIG BRYAN FROM CABOT, PA:
Would you find it a good idea if the Steelers attempted to trade to get Brock Osweiler from the Browns as a potential replacement when Ben Roethlisberger retires?
ANSWER: In fact, the only thing that prevents this from being the worst idea I've heard in the last month is the one presented in the next question.
ALBERT JOHNSTON FROM DOVER, NH:
We've been talking a lot about the heir to Ben Roethlisberger, but there does not appear to be any legitimate candidates in this draft. Why not sign Johnny Manziel? He has the talent. Maybe his head is on straight. Why not give him a chance?
ANSWER: Please be careful crossing the street. And remember, don't run with scissors.
