Let's get to it:
LAYNE PENROD FROM RIVERDALE, CA: Knowing the high standards the Steelers organization has for its players, can you enlighten me with some of the higher profile players who were basically let go or traded just because of their poor work ethic and/or attitude in general? I for one appreciate the fact that the Steelers take a no-nonsense approach when dealing with prima donna players.
ANSWER: As is the case with any team's history, there are examples of the Steelers tolerating some players and actions and also moving on and cutting ties with some players. Sometimes a guy could start in one category and end up in the other. But I choose not to try to compile a list of players who might fall into this category, because oftentimes there's just an assumption about why a move might have been made. One apparent exception has to do with the 1970 trade of receiver Roy Jefferson to the Baltimore Colts, because that was reported by more than one outlet, and there were specifics about the objectional conduct.
A second-round pick (18th overall) in the 1965 NFL Draft from Utah, Jefferson played 5 season for the Steelers, during which he appeared in 65 regular season games, 56 of which were starts, and he had 199 catches for 3,671 yards (18.4 average) and 29 touchdowns. He was voted first-team All-Pro once and to two Pro Bowls, but following the 1969 season Jefferson began to test Coach Chuck Noll.
As reported in The Pittsburgh Press during training camp in 1970, "Jefferson's trade to the Colts was triggered by the veteran's attitude in training camp. The Utah graduate, who had expressed himself as dissatisfied with the settlement of the recent players' strike, had flouted the authority of Coach Chuck Noll on several occasions since reporting to camp. Noll's reaction was completely predictable … It became apparent two weeks ago that Jefferson and Noll were on a collision course in their player-coach relationship. Despite a Steelers rule that players wear helmets on the field, Jefferson showed up for at least two practices bare-headed. On several occasions he parked his personal car in an area banned to players' and coaches' vehicles."
In the Aug. 20, 1970, edition of The New York Times, William Wallace wrote: "Roy Jefferson, one of the best pass receivers in football, was traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday to the Baltimore Colts for Willie Richardson and a high future draft choice. Richardson also is a wide receiver … The coaches, Chuck Noll of the Steelers and Don McCafferty of the Colts thus exchanged brilliant players who had become problems. Richardson, 30 years old, had become so indifferent and casual about football that John Unitas, the quarterback, seldom sent a pass his way and Roy Perkins was promoted over him … Jefferson, 26, had irked Noll in little ways. He was sent home from Montreal before a preseason game against the Giants last summer after he had stayed out past the curfew hour … In training camp this summer he came to practice without a helmet and parked his car in a forbidden area. As the Steelers player representative, he also had expressed displeasure in the outcome of the recent players strike."
CHRIS BALMER FROM ALLENTOWN, PA: What has been the most significant difference in DeMarvin Leal's play on the defensive line this year that has people perking up? Is he in better shape, more acclimated to the role, or what?
ANSWER: There are a lot of differences in DeMarvin Leal in this, August of his third professional season, and I believe all of those differences can be traced to this: When Leal entered the NFL as a third-year junior from Texas A&M, he was 21 years old. This will be his third complete lap around the NFL, from offseason program to training camp to preseason games to the regular season. He has matured as a person and as a professional. Leal can see a path to a future in the NFL, and now he has a better idea of how to go about attaining that.
CHRIS CROSBY FROM SEATTLE, WA: I am tired of all the wide receiver trade rumors. Do you think the Steelers depth chart at that position warrant so much concern?
ANSWER: I also am tired of all the wide receiver trade rumors, too, and how that unit performs once the regular season starts will tell all of us whether "much concern" was warranted.
JOHN PUHALA FROM SPRINGFIELD, VA: After watching the first two preseason games, fans need to understand what preseason is truly for. Evaluation. As a local high school football coach, our team is going through the same process. Through the first two preseason games, though, is Payton Wilson the steal of this year's draft?
ANSWER: I don't have any in-depth understanding of how all of the players selected during the 2024 NFL Draft are faring in their rookie training camps, and so I cannot even attempt an answer to your question. But I do believe Payton Wilson has shown some of the skills and mind-set and understanding of a quality NFL inside linebacker, and we'll just have to see where that takes him over the next few years.
RICH HUGHES FROM CONNEAUTVILLE, PA: What kind of money do players gets when they are released with injury settlements?
ANSWER: Injury settlements are negotiated by the player's representative and the team, and the amount usually depends upon factors such as the player's contract and the estimated length of recovery from the injury. Those are a couple of the guidelines, and then as I mentioned it becomes a negotiation.
NICHOLAS MOSES FROM SIMI VALLEY, CA: Did Payton Wilson get concussed in the Bills game? I know he was being evaluated for a concussion, but I never heard if he actually sustained one.
ANSWER: The NFL's rules for reporting injuries are different in the preseason than they are in the regular season. During the game vs. Buffalo, an announcement was made that Payton Wilson was being evaluated for a concussion because that removed him from participation. But no follow-up announcement is required during the preseason, and so there wasn't one.
PATRICK BRIGHT FROM SAN RAFAEL, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA: Based on the Steelers quarterback play thus far, would you agree it was a huge mistake to not re-sign Mason Rudolph? And two, if you reply mockingly to me, will you then post an apology after Mason leads his team far into the playoffs and the Steelers don't reach .500?
ANSWER: Two-part answer:
1. No
2. Here's the reality of the Mason Rudolph situation: It was just not going to work out for him with the Steelers in terms of being a starting quarterback. I honestly cannot tell you what went wrong for Rudolph, but whatever it was it was seen as a deal-breaker. There just wasn't going to be a long-term relationship. Rudolph had been allowed to test unrestricted free agency in March 2023, but he got no offers, or at least none that he liked, and he resigned with the Steelers in May for one year at $1.35 million. Whatever the Steelers didn't like about Rudolph must have been what the rest of the league saw as well. To the many who carry the torch for Mason Rudolph, my advice would be to let it go. Rudolph currently is winning the job to be the backup to Will Levis in Tennessee, and I hope he makes it. I hope he can put together a nice career. Throughout Steelers history, I will acknowledge there is a list of quarterbacks the team has had and then traded/released who went on to greatness, but I don't know that Rudolph belongs on that list just yet.
DAVE CLARK FROM TOANO, VA: How was the decision to cap a squad at 53, and has there been discussion to increase the number?
ANSWER: Roster size is something that is collectively bargained between the NFL and the NFLPA. The outcome of that Collective Bargaining Agreement was how rosters came to be limited to 53, and if there was going to be a change, that would be the process again.
RONNIE SHAW FROM LOGANVILLE, GA: With the new kickoff rule. How can teams do an onside kick.
ANSWER: Onside kicks are still permitted, but only in the fourth quarter of games. Here are the rest of the new rules pertaining to onside kicks:
• Trailing team must declare onside kick attempt to officials.
• If the attempt goes past setup zone (defined as the area between the receiving team's 30-35-yard lines) untouched, the kicking team is assessed 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and receiving team gets the ball at the kicking team's 20-yard line.
• Outside of those changes, the previous years' rules for onside kicks apply.
