Let's get to it:
RICK MARSH FROM WHEELING, WV: What is the NFL's process when it comes to determining who plays on Christmas Day?
ANSWER: Being that the NFL now seems committed to playing on Christmas Day for the ratings those games deliver, and because networks and/or streaming services are willing to pay significant fees to broadcast games that deliver such ratings, my own opinion is that this particular snippet of the schedule will be set up to maximize the number of eyeballs watching. To that end, the choices of Kansas City-Pittsburgh and Baltimore-Houston seem to fit the bill.
- Download and listen to the Ask & Answered Podcast here: Apple Podcast | Spotify
CHRISTOPHER GIBSON FROM MANALAPAN, NJ: I was surprised to read Gov. Josh Shapiro's statement (with reference to Pittsburgh hosting the 2026 NFL Draft): "Today, Pittsburgh has established itself as one of the most dynamic cities in the country – and as the birthplace of professional football, it is the best choice to host the Draft." Isn't Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of professional football?
ANSWER: Canton, Ohio, was chosen by the NFL to be the site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but there is some argument for Pittsburgh being the birthplace of professional football. I refer you to the Hall of Fame's official website – profootballhof.com – where the following can be found: "The story of William 'Pudge' Heffelfinger and the birth of professional football 120-plus years ago is now fairly well known. Heffelfinger was paid $500 to play one game for the Allegheny Athletic Association (AAA) on Nov. 12, 1892. He helped Allegheny defeat its archrival, the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, 4-0, and became the first known pro football player. However, not too many people know additional details about who Heffelfinger was as a person." Since Heffelfinger is acknowledged as the first person ever paid to play a football game, and because that game was played in Pittsburgh, I could see how Mr. Shapiro would choose to frame the issue that way when commenting on Pittsburgh receiving the 2026 NFL Draft.
ED FOISTER FROM LANCASTER, OH: I'm a lifetime fan of the Steelers and my older brother is a fan of the Cowboys. I see the teams are playing this year in Pittsburgh. How would I get tickets for this game?
ANSWER: Go to the Steelers.com homepage at your earliest convenience, and on the right side of the top nav bar is "TICKETS." Click on that and you will be directed to a page with icons for each of the 10 home games in 2024 (2 preseason and 8 regular season). Find the one for the Sunday, Oct. 6 game vs. Dallas, and click on that. You will be directed to a page operated by Ticketmaster, which is one of the NFL's partners. There you will be able to view the areas of the stadium with available tickets, and then choose a price that meets your budget. Good luck.
JEFF DANIELS FROM ALLYN, WA: Do you remember Jack Deloplaine, a running back drafted by the Steelers in the mid-1970s? Whatever became of him?
ANSWER: Jack Deloplaine played his college football at Salem, and he came to the Steelers as a 6th-round pick (182nd overall) in the 1976 NFL Draft. His best game came in his rookie season when he rushed for 64 yards and scored 2 touchdowns in a 45-0 blowout of a Kansas City team that finished 5-9 that season. His Steelers career included appearances in 33 games in which he rushed for 147 yards on 30 attempts (4.9 average) and two touchdowns. After getting on with "his life's work" as Chuck Noll referred to life after football, Deloplaine became an athletic director at a prison in Pittsburgh. He also was in charge of a strength and conditioning program at North Catholic High School, and coached running backs at Pine-Richland High School. Deloplaine and wife, Kathy, had two daughters. Jack Deloplaine died on Aug. 2, 2022. He was 68.
BENTELY NEWLAND FROM BELLAIRE, OH: Do you think that Roman Wilson should be starting ahead of Van Jefferson?
ANSWER: At wide receiver, the starter's designation in the NFL isn't necessarily as significant as playing time in situations that determine the outcomes of games. There often are many different personnel packages involving groups of eligibles, and so I'll be watching for things such as snap counts, targets, catches, first downs, and touchdowns more than games started. And in the end, that job will be earned, not awarded.
LAURA FLORES FROM MIDDLETOWN, CT: When will the 2024 training camp schedule be released?
ANSWER: I cannot provide a specific date for you at this time, but my advice would be to watch for that kind of announcement to come from the team's PR Department right around July 4.
TL CORNWELL FROM OAKTON, VA: Did Joe Greene actually toss the game ball into the upper deck at Philadelphia in his rookie season? I've heard the story as told by Andy Russell and Ray Mansfield. Has anyone ever gotten Joe to confirm this?
ANSWER: This is what Joe Greene wrote in the Foreword in Jim Rooney's book: "A Different Way To Win; Dan Rooney's Story From the Super Bowl to the Rooney Rule:"
"I was a pretty bad actor on the field (as a rookie in 1969). I got thrown out of a few games, got into fights, and once against the Eagles, I grabbed a game ball before Philadelphia could snap it, heaved it into the stands, and stormed off the field. I was being held and the officials weren't calling it, so I was pretty mad. The officials were shocked. Flash forward 13 years: I'm back in Dan Rooney's office, telling him that I want to retire after so many great seasons with the Steelers. And he sits back and says, 'Joe, remember that game in your rookie year when you threw the ball into the stands?' And I thought, 'Oh, my goodness. Thirteen years have gone by and he never said a word about this.' And then he said, 'Joe, I felt the same way you did.'"
MIKE FOSTER FROM EWA BEACH, HI: A lot of Steelers fans are interested in the new offense and the associated new additions to that side of the ball. I'm more curious about the new kickoff rules and how it will actually work. Not a lot of practice time is devoted to special teams. Will that change much with the new kickoff rule?
ANSWER: When it comes to time allotted, Coach Mike Tomlin has 2-3 special teams periods during every practice, and there also is time specifically allocated to special teams during every walk-through. I don't believe even the 32 special teams coaches/coordinators know how the new kickoff rules are going to impact games this year, and I also don't believe they are certain how to attack the play within those new rules to make it successful for their teams. This alone could make the upcoming preseason especially interesting as we all watch it unfold.
GUILHERME VALÉRIO MERTENS FROM FLORIANÓPOLIS, SC, BRAZIL: As happened with wide receiver DeVante Parker, who signed a contract, and then some months later decided to retire, is the team still responsible for the player's contract and does that count towards the salary cap?
ANSWER: It depends on the language in the specific contract, but in most cases a team would not have to pay any remaining annual salaries left on the retiring player's contract, but there could be some dead money charged to the salary cap if the signing bonus had been spread out over future seasons to reduce the cap hit when the contract was first signed.
JIM ANDERSON FROM TOLEDO, OH: The Steelers start training camp with 90 players. During training camp, the NFL requires that all teams get down to a certain number of players. What are these dates and numbers?
ANSWER: The NFL has gone to just one cut-down date heading into the regular season, and so teams will be cutting from 90 players to 53 players at once. I haven't seen a specific date for that yet, but it will have to be on a day that falls between the end of the preseason schedule, which is Sunday, Aug. 25, and Labor Day, which is Monday, Sept. 2.
KEVIN McDEVITT FROM WHITEHALL, PA: I really like the Steelers practice jerseys, which I believe they started using last year. Will they be made available for purchase?
ANSWER: I am not aware of any plans to sell Steelers practice jerseys to the general public.
