Let's get to it:
JIM MADORMA FROM FT LAUDERDALE, FL: I know the NFL didn't recognize sack statistics until 1982, but is there any way for someone to be able to view films from those games to determine how many sacks L.C. Greenwood had in his career?
ANSWER: Once upon a time, the Steelers did a research project on sack totals prior to 1982, and it revealed that L.C. Greenwood had 73.5 sacks, which still has him fifth on the franchise's all-time list in that category. Joe Greene, with 66.0 sacks, ranks sixth on the franchise's all-time list. Greene holds the franchise record for sacks in a game with 5.0, which came in Houston against the Oilers on Dec. 10, 1972; and Greenwood's 4.5 against Cleveland on Nov. 25, 1979, has him tied for second in franchise history with Chad Brown, who did it against the Bengals on Oct. 13, 1996.
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DAN CLIFF FROM NORTH CHILI, NY: Going into the offseason with a team that clearly needs help along the defensive line and at wide receiver, as well as starters at running back and quarterback for next season, how do the Steelers stand with salary cap space?
ANSWER: I cannot give you an exact number when it comes to salary cap space, and apparently neither can a couple of the websites that track such things across the NFL. Spotrac.com currently lists the Steelers as having $43.3 million in cap space; OverTheCap.com lists the team as having $40.5 million in salary cap space, but having $37.3 million in "Effective Cap Space," which is the cap space a team will have after signing at least 51 players and its projected rookie class to its roster.
CHRIS LIPPART FROM ST. ROBERT, MO: Been reading all these articles about George Pickens and his maturity being an issue. Do you think it would help if he could talk to somebody like Larry Fitzgerald? I always thought it was so classy that after a touchdown Fitzgerald just handed the official the ball, no theatrics.
ANSWER: Immaturity issues with wide receivers throughout the NFL go beyond simple touchdown celebrations, and I believe any positive development in that area has to come from within the individual player. Having someone talk to a player may end up working, but I think that only has a chance to work if the individual already has accepted the fact there is a problem and has decided to do something to correct it.
THOMAS WARD FROM LADSON, SC: Thank you for pointing out that Mark Andrews dropping the 2-point conversion wasn't the real problem in the Divisional Round Game between the Ravens and the Bills. Coach John Harbaugh's decision to go for a 2-point conversion the first time he did in that game was totally off base. The score would have been 21-20 with the extra point. If Buffalo then scores a touchdown and kicks the extra point it's an 8-point lead and not a 9-point lead. There was still a full quarter of football to be played. Why don't coaches throw out the analytics garbage and just use common sense and plain old math?
ANSWER: I don't have the answer to that, and there is a growing faction within the NFL that has fallen in love with analytics at the expense of – to use your words – common sense and plain old math. I also found it surprising after Bills Coach Sean McDermott saw firsthand how that strategy blew up in Harbaugh's face, he then did the exact same thing in the AFC Championship Game loss the next week in Kansas City.
TREVON SMITH FROM GAINESVILLE, VA: Would the Steelers look into picking up another high caliber player on defense in free agency, someone like Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, etc.?
ANSWER: My sense is that if there is a commitment of salary cap dollars to add a player on defense, the position that individual would most likely be a cornerback or a defensive lineman, not another edge rusher.
JIM SIANIS FROM GREENSBORO, NC: I just read that T.J. Watt has withdrawn from the Pro Bowl due to a lingering ankle injury that he was dealing with during the last few games. So that raises two questions for me. The first is that I don't remember seeing him on the weekly injury report. Did I miss something? The other question I have is what counts as a Pro Bowl on someone's resume? Is being selected all that matters even if the player declines to play?
ANSWER: Healthy enough to practice and play down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs is a world away from healthy enough for a meaningless flag football game that's essentially a made-for-TV event. Players voted to the Pro Bowl initially as well as those who become injury replacements are considered Pro Bowl players for that particular season.
LARRY HEMINGER FROM SAN DIEGO, CA: Steelers President Art Rooney II said he would prefer to sign one of our current quarterbacks. Seems to me, we would need to know the answer to that prior to free agency and the draft. What are teams able to do between now and free agency in terms of signing players who are set to become free agents?
ANSWER: Teams are allowed to negotiate with and re-sign any of their own players who are scheduled to become free agents on March 12 at any time between now and then. After March 12, players who qualify to be unrestricted free agents can sign with any team.
HENRY STURCKEN FROM FAIRPORT, OH: Specifically with Justin Fields in mind, what does the contract process look like? Do all meetings include both the player and his agent? What representatives from the Steelers are there? How many meetings can it take?
ANSWER: As a general rule, contract negotiations are conducted over the phone between the player's agent and General Manager Omar Khan. The agent keeps the player apprised of developments, and Khan does the same with President Art Rooney II. And there's no way of predicting how long a negotiation will take before a deal is reached.
RICK CHABOREK FROM WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA: When offensive coordinators or defensive coordinators are offered jobs as happened with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn of the Lions, will the team let them go even if they're still under contract?
ANSWER: Yes. Teams are not permitted to prevent someone from accepting a head coaching position, even if that individual is still under contract.
JEFF BANKOVICH FROM ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, PA: For the playoffs, what kind of money do the players receive? And for the Pro Bowl, are they compensated?
ANSWER: This from BetMGM.com: "For the 2024-25 NFL playoffs, players are paid either $49,500 (Wild Card teams) or $54,500 (division winners) for Wild Card Round games; $54,500 for the divisional round; and $77,000 for conference championships. Players on first-round bye teams receive $49,500 for the Wild Card Round despite not playing in a game." As for the Pro Bowl, last year players on the winning conference received $88,000 apiece and the players on the losing conference were paid $44,000 apiece.
MICHAEL WILLIAMS FROM CINCINNATI, OH: I've heard friends say that the team wearing white in the Super Bowl usually wins – 16-4 in past 20 Super Bowl matchups. What is the Steelers record in the Super Bowl – white jerseys vs black jerseys?
ANSWER: The Steelers wore white jerseys in Super Bowl IX, black in Super Bowl X, black in Super Bowl XIII, black in Super Bowl XIV, black in Super Bowl XXX, white in Super Bowl XL, white in Super Bowl XLIII, and white in Super Bowl XLV. That makes them 3-1 in white jerseys and 3-1 in black jerseys.
KEITH MILLER FROM CANTON, NC: It's never too early for fans to start preparing for the draft. Please explain how compensatory picks are awarded for lost free agents?
ANSWER: This is from a story in The New York Times:
"Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents ("CFA") than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks, according to the NFL policy. Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time, and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula. Clubs that suffer a net loss of CFAs during the prior free agent signing period are eligible to receive a corresponding number of compensatory selections. In addition, the formula factors in the value of the free agents lost."
