LATROBE, Pa. – Let's get to it:
SCOTT SHILEY FROM BRICK, NJ: What is your opinion of Maurkice Pouncey's chances to be elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame? Obviously a top center in the NFL for 11 seasons, but we all know that offensive lineman are tough to evaluate with the lack of statistics. Do you believe 11 seasons is enough for him to be a great candidate?
ANSWER: I will begin with a belief of mine that is important to consider in every example of an individual's chances to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame: There is the issue of worthiness, and then there's the more important issue of can/will he get the votes.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame lists 48 offensive linemen as having been enshrined, but by my assessment, there are only 9 pure centers who played post-World War II. And centers historically have to wait, because none of those 9 was elected in his first year of eligibility, not even Jim Otto, whose name is synonymous with the position. Just as an aside to Steelers fans as examples of waiting: Dermontti Dawson's career ended in 2000, and he was a part of the Class of 2012; and Mike Webster's career ended in 1990, and he was a part of the Class of 1997.
Another real issue is what I will refer to as "Steelers fatigue." An example: there are currently 9 pure centers enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Pouncey would make it 10 – and so when it comes time to vote I am convinced there will be some people who will weigh the issue of whether 30 percent of the Hall of Fame centers should be Steelers.
Pouncey was voted first-team Associated Press All-Pro twice, and his selection as one of two centers on the Hall of Fame's All-2010s Team is something that typically carries weight among the voters. But he won't be able to count on championships to weigh in his favor, and having won championships undoubtedly helps a candidacy.
Another factor comes down to pure luck. If a candidate finds himself in a bad cycle in terms of the guys who come eligible for election at the same time in terms of popularity, record-setting, high profile positions played, etc., it could end up being a long wait and then maybe his star becomes dimmed in the minds of the voters.
I believe Maurkice Pouncey is Hall of Fame-caliber, and that he was victimized by some bad luck during his playing career. There was a high ankle sprain that prevented him from playing in Super Bowl XLV; a season-ending injury a few offensive snaps into the 2013 regular season opener; and another season-ending injury in a preseason game that cost him the entire 2015 season. Those two season-ending injuries happened when he was 24 and 26 years old, respectively, to rob him of two seasons in his physical prime, two seasons where he could have been expected to add to his collection of All-Pro selections. Another Hall of Fame-worth quality Pouncey possessed was his presence as a teammate, both in his own locker room and as a deterrent/enforcer on the field for any defensive opponent who might've thought about taking liberties. I would vote for him, but I don't have a vote.
ANDREW CLAY FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: I hear about re-signing Cam Heyward, Najee Harris, and quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to new long-term new deals, but what about Pat Freiermuth? Any word on the Steelers giving him a new deal to keep him here after this year?
ANSWER: General Manager Omar Khan met the media on July 25 at Saint Vincent College, and one of the things he said during his opening remarks was: "You guys will probably ask about some contracts, and I won't talk about any specific negotiation. But as you are aware, this is usually an active time for us, but there's nothing to report right now. But if something comes together, we'll make sure you are aware." In an answer to a subsequent question on the issue of contract extensions for current players, Khan added, "I wouldn't say there's anything necessarily specifically ongoing as we stand here today. But you know, this is the time historically when we've engaged in some conversations, and deals get done sometimes. Sometimes they don't."
My sense is the Steelers would be interested in an extension for Freiermuth, who is due to be paid $1.48 million on the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie in 2021, but they would be interested in an extension only at a cost they deem reasonable. I don't know what the number is, but for a deal to get done the compensation then would have to be acceptable to Freiermuth. Maybe Freiermuth decides to gamble on himself and try to put together a great season in which he's a big part of a successful new offense that contributes to a team that gets into the playoffs and wins a postseason game or two. In conclusion, I would imagine the Steelers will explore the issue of getting a contract extension negotiated with Freiermuth. But if that exploration ends up with signatures on documents would be a guess at this point.
KEN MAULDIN FROM CLYDE, OH: I noticed when Hakeem Butler was with the Steelers in 2023, he was involved in an injury settlement. It seems like in my mind once a player leaves a team on an injury settlement he never plays for that team again, or it is very unlikely. Is that the case? is there some kind of sour attitude towards players who receive an injury settlement?
ANSWER: When a team reaches an injury settlement to end a relationship with a player, the determination has been made that the player will not be able to make the team once he is healthy enough to return to practice. Hence the injury settlement. Hakeem Butler did not show the Steelers enough during his time with the team when he was healthy enough to practice to lead them to believe he could earn a spot on the 53-man roster. It was really about their evaluation of him as a player. The injury just accelerated things.
GARY BUTLER FROM SANFORD, FL: In the 1974 postseason, did the Steelers defense hold all opponents to less than 100 yards rushing?
ANSWER: In the 32-14 win over Buffalo in the Divisional Round, the Bills rushed for 100 yards on 21 attempts; O.J. Simpson finished with 49 yards on 15 carries, and fullback Jim Braxton added 58 yards on 5 carries. In the 24-13 win over Oakland in the AFC Championship Game, the Raiders rushed for 29 yards on 21 attempts (1.4 average) but Ken Stabler passed for 271 yards. In the 16-6 win over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX, the Vikings rushed for 17 yards on 21 carries (.8 average) and finished with 119 total net yards and no offensive touchdowns.
THOMAS SPADAFORE FROM PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL: With all the talent the Steelers have on defense, why don't we see more blitzing like when we were Blitzburgh? In the NFL today, especially the AFC that has so many great quarterbacks, pressure would seem to be the best defensive way to go.
ANSWER: Yes, pressure is critical to being able to contain the great quarterbacks currently working in the AFC, but if you have to blitz to get that pressure, those same quarterbacks will eat you alive. Good defense in today's NFL is having the ability to generate pressure without blitzing, because offenses have ways to get the ball out quickly. For example, if a team has to blitz Patrick Mahomes to generate pressure on him, it will have no chance.
ROD KEEFER FROM EDMOND, OK: The Steelers have made several roster moves that appear to be emphasizing kickoff coverage and returns. What do you think will be the biggest changes in terms of how the new kickoff rules affect the flow of the game?
ANSWER: I have no idea how to answer your question, and I don't believe that anyone at this stage can do anything but offer an uneducated guess. When Coach Mike Tomlin was asked after practice on July 25 about the potential impact of the new kickoff rules, he said, "I think anybody who's saying they've got a handle on (the new kickoff rules) is probably lying, or naive. There's no video. All we have are words on a page. There's gonna be some anxiety among my peers regarding these concepts until we get some video on it. I'd imagine there are a lot of guys in my position who are gonna be watching the Hall of Fame Game to see what some of it looks like." The Hall of Fame Game will match Chicago vs. Houston at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1. It will air on ABC and ESPN.
SAM CALENDA FROM ELIZABETHTOWN, PA: If the players stay in Rooney Hall at Saint Vincent College, where do the coaches and staff stay during camp?
ANSWER: Coach Mike Tomlin is in Rooney Hall with the players. The other coaches and staff stay in Saint Benedict Hall, which is less than 100 yards away from Rooney Hall.
