Let's get to it:
STEVE JENKINS FROM FAYETTEVILLE, NC:
With the end of the bumblebee era, can a team use a color rush option from a season as a uniform option in later seasons? Those Christmas Day uniforms were nice! Can those be purchased, or could you sneak in the locker room and grab one for me? It doesn't have to be signed.
ANSWER: There is a difference between color rush uniforms and throwbacks, in terms of when they are permitted to be worn, and teams cannot use them interchangeably. The Steelers color rush jerseys are available to purchase directly from the team. Simply visit shop.steelers.com, then click on the "Jersey" category at the top of the page, and that will take you to the selection of color rush jerseys available for purchase.
ANDRE BURRELL FROM BALTIMORE, MD:
What is the average points per game scored by the Pittsburgh Steelers offense this season?
ANSWER: The Steelers scored 399 points in 2016, which works out to an average of 24.9 per game. Those 399 points is the fifth-most in franchise history for a 16-game regular season. The top four scoring seasons, in order, in Steelers history for a 16-game season are 2014 (436 points), 2015 (423 points), 1979 (416 points), and 1995 (407 points).
GIL TROUTMAN FROM EDINBORO, PA:
The NFL rules have created so much confusion. After a few years struggling to understanding the reception rules, I get it, maybe. This season has left me bewildered with the inconsistency of calls/non-calls for holding, grabbing the facemask, and pass interference. Has the NFL ever considered fulltime officials or other methods to improve the craft of officiating the game? I may need a hug.
ANSWER: A variety of things have been proposed and maybe even more things talked about, but so far nothing has been deemed to be an economical/competitive alternative to the system currently in use. Personally, I have come to simply accept the fact the officiating in the NFL stinks. I still complain about it, but I no longer have any hopes/expectations for it to crawl above the line.
JACK BECK FROM PLANTSVILLE, CT:
Was good to see a nice finish by Landry Jones against the Browns. Do you see the Steelers retaining him, or moving on to develop another quarterback for the post-Ben era?
ANSWER: For the millionth time: Landry Jones wasn't drafted to be the successor to Ben Roethlisberger, he is not the heir apparent. He was drafted to be a backup, to be a backup the Steelers could groom and develop into a quarterback who would become familiar enough with the offense and the personnel to be able to help the team win. And from we saw yesterday, I would say the plan has been a success.
ROB PERKINS FROM MENDHAM, NJ:
A few weeks ago you detailed very nicely the 'bonus' payment system for players on teams making the playoffs. How does an NFL franchise itself generate additional revenue from the playoff season? Are broadcast revenues shared? Is it from ticket sales (for teams with home games), merchandise sales and other indirect monies associated with growing a fan base, or some combination of all of these?
ANSWER: There really isn't much opportunity for teams in the playoffs to generate more revenue for themselves as a result of being in the playoffs. All broadcast revenues are shared by all 32 NFL teams, so there is no extra money to be made there. Ticket sale revenue also is shared. As for what's sold at the stadium, the home team is assessed an amount by the NFL, which must be paid to the league office, and then the excess revenue can be kept by the home team. But rest assured the amount left after the assessment isn't a big number.
BRAD ADAMS FROM HOUMA, LA:
What assistant coaches on staff could be in line for coordinator spots for another team this offseason? Does Mike Munchak have a desire to be a coordinator?
ANSWER: I cannot speak for Mike Munchak, but if I were to guess, I would say that a man who already has been a head coach and is now coaching a position might be interested if the right head coaching position opened up but wouldn't look to chase a coordinator job. One of the reasons Munchak was interested in the Steelers was because it brought him closer to family living in Pennsylvania. Would he want to move to Denver, as an example, to be a coordinator? My guess would be no.
ROB SWAGERT FROM BIRMINGHAM, AL:
After all is said and done with Antonio Brown's career, who do you see as the best Steeler receiver of all time?
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ANSWER: Wait until all is said and done with Antonio Brown's career, and then ask me again.**
GENE BERGL FROM WARNER ROBINS, GA:
When another team signs a Steelers practice squad player and puts him on its own practice squad, can the Steelers re-sign him?
ANSWER: If a team signs another team's practice squad player, it must put him on its 53-man roster and keep him there for three weeks.
ERNIE GOFFI FROM LONGBOAT KEY, FL:
Have the Steelers ever had an NFL Most Valuable Player?
ANSWER: Yes. Terry Bradshaw won it in 1978.
JOSH VANTASSEL FROM LEESBURG, VA:
I'm surprised you haven't had any questions lately about moving Ryan Shazier to safety and bringing back Troy Polamalu to play inside linebacker. Perhaps the readers are learning?
ANSWER: I hope not. Somebody has to be sacrificed in the interest of comic relief.
