Let's get to it:
MIKE KIRK FROM POKY, ID:
I was watching Steelers Live last week, and you said that Morgan Burnett and Jon Bostic both wore the green dot. Now that they are on the same team, can two players wear the green dot on the field?
ANSWER: During games, a team may only have one player wearing a radio receiver in his helmet at a time, which translates into one on offense and one on defense. In that situation it could be either Bostic or Burnett, but not both.
JOSEPH SKARUPA FROM HUNTSVILLE, AL:
If the Steelers had the first overall pick in the draft, who would you select?
ANSWER: I will answer this question, but I'm warning you that my answer is not an informed one. Among the handful of players I was considering, I had only seen one of them play even one game in college. I don't DVR college games and study them, and when I watch college football I do so for entertainment, not as some wannabe NFL scout. My "research" for this question involved reading some draft reports on these guys that I found on the Internet.
That said, my choice came down to Tremaine Edmunds, the linebacker from Virginia Tech, and Derwin James, the safety from Florida State. My pick would be James.
BOB PURAT FROM NEWTOWN, CT:
Do you believe it's more important for the Steelers to use their first-round pick on an inside linebacker or a safety? I understand there are a lot of variables, but all things being equal if their first choice at each position is available, which do you think they should chose?
ANSWER: The reality of the situation is that when all of the team's evaluations are completed, all things won't be equal. All of the players will be ranked, and even if there are some with the exact same grade, they also will be ranked based on something. So that decision is one that will be made days before the actual draft begins, and I think they should choose the one they have ranked higher.
KRISTOFER FAIRBANKS FROM MUNCIE, IN:
Do you think the news that Ryan Shazier will miss the 2018 season surprised anyone?
ANSWER: Not anyone who was paying attention.
STEVE TRAUTMAN FROM SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA:
Beside coaches, who makes up the NFL Competition Committee?
ANSWER: The NFL Commissioner selects the members of the Competition Committee, which currently consists of two owners, two club presidents, two general managers and two head coaches. Those individuals are:
Rich McKay (chairman) – president, Atlanta Falcons
John Mara – owner, New York Giants
Stephen Jones – owner, Dallas Cowboys
Mark Murphy – president, Green Bay Packers
Ozzie Newsome – general manager, Baltimore Ravens
Mike Tomlin – head coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
John Elway – general manager, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton – head coach, New Orleans Saints
KEVIN DOYLE FROM SALINAS, CA:
Any idea how far into the future teams looks when they draft? I wonder if they are looking at next year's draft class or even 2020's draft class already when they make plans for who they'll draft this year.
ANSWER: Doubtful. Very, very doubtful. First of all, there is enough work to do simply to get the class of 2018 graded and ranked in the proper order. And as for looking ahead, who's to say that a player who may look like a top candidate for 2019 doesn't turn out not to be that when 2019 rolls around. An injury, for example, could really change things for an individual, and then whatever "advance" work was done on him, or on the position he plays, would turn out to be a waste of time.
PHILIP KARAGEORGE FROM DUCK, NC:
Is Terry Bradshaw the last No. 1 overall pick by the Steelers ?
ANSWER: Yes.
ROBBIE KERR FROM STEUBENVILLE, OH:
Why have the Steelers not signed Chris Boswell to a long-term contract in your opinion?
ANSWER: While I believe there would be interest from the Steelers in doing just that, there is no real urgency at this time. As a restricted free agent, Boswell received a second-round tender from the Steelers, which means he will play 2018 for around $2.9 million, unless a team signs him to an offer sheet the Steelers decline to match, in which case the Steelers would get a second-round pick in the upcoming draft as compensation. As good as Boswell is, I cannot see a team being willing to part with a No. 2 pick for a kicker. If a long-term deal is going to happen, I would believe it would happen after the draft, after the offseason program, in that dead time before the start of training camp.
RON SHIDERLY FROM DELMAR, MD:
Love Asked and Answered. Even the ones that give you gray hair and an ulcer. Although they do show that there are way more Steeler fans who don't quite get football than I care to admit. If there was one position on each defense and offense that you could wave a magic wand over and they would become a non-negative for next season, which would they be?
ANSWER: Since I would consider injuries to be something that could turn a position from a positive to a negative, on offense I would pick quarterback (keep Ben healthy), and on defense it would be safety. And speaking of Steelers fans "who don't quite get football," please read on …
NATHAN REYNOLDS FROM ASHLAND, KY:
Why are we not trying to improve our backup quarterbacks? Joshua Dobbs is interesting, and maybe he has upside, but why not get guys with starting experience like Colin Kaepernick or Johnny Manziel? I understand Manziel has limited experience, but he still has game experience.
ANSWER: Say a prayer for me, Ron. Thanks.
BOB STEINER FROM SIOUX CITY, IA:
If a team offered No. 1 and No. 3 picks for Le'Veon Bell – take it or not?
ANSWER: Stop bothering me with things that have no chance of happening.
DAVE COSTELLO FROM ROSCOE, PA:
What if the Steelers traded Le'Veon Bell for Odell Beckham Jr. and then drafted Derrius Guice in the first round? Then the Steelers could line up Antonio Brown, Beckham, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant with Guice in the backfield. Unstoppable.
ANSWER: Please look both ways before crossing the street.
