LATROBE, Pa. – Let's get to it:
DICK VOCHEK FROM PORTAGE, PA: In answering a question in the July 30 segment of Asked and Answered regarding Maurkice Pouncey's Hall of Fame candidacy, you referenced the phenomenon of "Steelers fatigue." Would you be willing to venture a guess why this occurs? In thinking about the other major sports Halls of Fame, I don't ever recall hearing anyone say, "Yankees fatigue."
ANSWER: I'm not going to get too into the weeds on this, but a simple explanation has to do with the number of voters on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee vs. the number of voters for the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
This is from the Pro Football Hall of Fame's website: "The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, which can be up to 50 persons, is charged with the vital task of continuing to be sure that new enshrinees are the finest the game has produced. The Committee consists of one media representative from each pro football city — with two from New York and two from Los Angeles, as those cities each have two teams in the National Football League. There are 17 at-large Selectors, who are active members of the media or persons intricately involved in professional football, and one representative of the Pro Football Writers of America … Every candidate (for induction) is carefully scrutinized and must receive at least 80 percent approval of the Selection Committee at the annual meeting before he can be elected."
The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) votes for Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame class each year, and there are currently more than 700 active members of the BBWAA. From the Baseball Writers Association of America's website, "BBWAA (the Baseball Writers' Association of America) members earn a Hall of Fame vote from its organization, which is independent of the Hall of Fame, by maintaining 10 consecutive years on a baseball beat. Those Hall of Fame eligible voters are required to complete a registration form and sign a code of conduct. Potential Hall of Fame voters must meet requirements as active members covering the game, with a 10-year grace period for those no longer active … Any candidate (for the Hall of Fame) receiving votes on 75 percent of the ballots cast shall be elected to membership in the National Baseball Hall of Fame."
As you can see, it's a simple case of arithmetic. If someone requires 80 percent of the votes cast by up to 50 voters to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and someone requires 75 percent of the votes cast by up to 700 members to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it's much easier to scuttle a candidacy in professional football than it is to scuttle a candidacy in Major League Baseball. Five voters with a case of "Steelers fatigue" can have a significant impact, where it would take a much higher number of voters with "Yankees fatigue" to have that same impact.
KELLY CARNEY FROM DALLAS, TX: A touchback last year on a kickoff was put at the 25-yard line of the receiving team. The new rule puts it at the 30-yard line. Is there any evidence that 5 yards makes enough of a difference to not simply continue to kick the ball into the end zone as opposed to kicking to a threat who could run the ball back?
ANSWER: Theoretically, you may be correct in that the risk-reward analysis might reveal that it's worth conceding 5 yards as opposed to risking a big return by the opponent, but right now that's just a theory because this is the first year the rule has been in effect. There are a whole bunch of theories, but nobody knows yet. Not the coaches. Not the players. Not the on-field game officials. Not the higher-ups in the NFL office. I believe there are 30 NFL teams taking part in joint practices this summer – the Steelers and the Bills are scheduled for one on Aug. 15 – and because those joint practices are expected to contain live special teams drills, the NFL office will gather and study the videos from those joint practices to try to get some idea of what to expect once the regular season starts so as to prepare its game officials for how to legislate it. This is TOTALLY new territory, and right now, everybody's guess/prediction could be as correct/incorrect as anyone else's. But there is one factor for fans to consider right off the bat: Teams that play in cold-weather venues can be expected to have a tougher time generating consistent touchbacks than the teams playing in warmer or domed environments.
JOHN FINN FROM LOCK HAVEN, PA: Don't the rules on players to be suspended at the beginning of the regular season allow them to participate in training camp and the preseason? I know Cam Sutton is suspended for 8 games, but doesn't he get to work with the team before the season begins?
ANSWER: Players who have been suspended for a number of games at the beginning of a regular season are permitted to practice with the team during training camp and participate in all preseason games. Cam Sutton has been in uniform for Steelers practices at Saint Vincent College, and he intercepted a pass during Friday Night Lights that would've been a pick-six if it had happened in a game. Because the Steelers have a good idea of what they have in Sutton as a defensive back, they have been giving more on-field reps to some of the newer/younger candidates to better be able to make roster decisions come Aug. 27.
RICH FIORI FROM CAVE CREEK, AZ: This is a question about Steelers merchandise. Is there any chance that the Steelers practice jersey could be available, since most of us are still just practicing our trade?
ANSWER: There are no current plans to sell Steelers practice jerseys to the general public.
ANNETTE ROYAL FROM ORLANDO, FL: I am an avid UGA and Steelers fan, and I love it when we get players from Georgia. We signed Daijun Edwards as an undrafted rookie. What are the chances he makes the 53 -man roster?
ANSWER: Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are 1-2 on the depth chart, and I would put Daijun Edwards in the battle for a roster spot along with (in no particular order) Jonathan Ward, La'Mical Perine, Jack Colletto, and Cordarelle Patterson. Special teams is going to be a significant factor in constructing the original 53-man roster, and so it will behoove candidates to make themselves valuable in that aspect of the game. Colletto has been working as a lead-blocking fullback, and it remains to be seen how coordinator Arthur Smith will want to utilize a lead-blocking fullback in the offense. "Got a shot but not a lock" is a label that applies to Edwards and a lot of other guys right now who are trying to make this team.
MARK RICE FROM LAS VEGAS, NV: I've never been to Saint Vincent College for Steelers training camp. And while I wouldn't think it would be allowed because of injury, but do the quarterbacks ever get tackled in practices?
ANSWER: No. And not only is it never permissible to tackle the quarterback during practice, it's also strictly verboten to hit the quarterback ever during practice, either at training camp or during the regular season. Coach Mike Tomlin has absolutely no tolerance for that.
JOE ASHER FROM TAMPA, FL: You've stated many times that you don't get a vote for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but if you had to bet, which Steelers are the next three enshrined?
ANSWER: NFL employees are strictly forbidden from betting on football, and so I do not bet. I also have absolutely no interest in playing any version of this "what-if" game, and I will not.
DAVID DEOM FROM KATY, TX: I saw where the Green Bay Packers have adopted a white helmet. Do you think the Steelers will do the same?
ANSWER: I hope not. The Packers' white alternate helmets include a solid white face mask, a white shell with the traditional Packers logo on the sides and dark green stripes down the middle. I cannot understand why one of the NFL's flagship franchises and the owner of one of the most iconic uniforms in the sport would choose a marketing/merchandising ploy to mess with that tradition. The Steelers once wore gold helmets as part of a throwback uniform, but that version of their helmet is part of franchise history. A white helmet would not fall into that category.
