Let's get to it:
MEL THOMAS FROM WINCHESTER, VA: Of the 30-plus pre-draft visits by the Steelers, how many were either drafted or invited to try-out at Rookie Minicamp? Who were they?
ANSWER: During the Pre-Draft visit period, the Steelers brought in 34 players, including guys from programs designated as "local." The players who either were drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent were offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, guard Mason McCormick, center Zach Frazier, defensive end Logan Lee, inside linebacker Payton Wilson, and cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr.
LARRY HAWKINS FROM BROWNSTOWN, IN: If the Steelers had signed Russell Wilson for more money, would that have reduced the amount Denver owes?
ANSWER: Yes. According to the terms of Russell Wilson's contract with the Broncos, Denver owed him a guaranteed $39 million in 2024. Whatever the Steelers would have paid Wilson would have been subtracted from that $39 million.
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BOBBY STICKEL FROM ITHACA, NY: Now that teams are starting to plan for the new kickoff rules, and the Steelers signed Cordarrelle Patterson, the thinking is that this new rule allows for more "designed" return plays to bring offensive opportunity back to this play. While I don't buy into the idea of having Justin Fields return kicks (as rumors have suggested), my question is: If the Steelers use 2 returners on the field at the same time and one is Patterson, what other kick returner currently on the roster do you think would be a good fit for the second returner?
ANSWER: I have no idea. Calvin Austin III has some of the speed/short-area quickness helpful for returners, but his experience and expertise, even going back to his college career at Memphis, has been as a punt returner. I believe one of the reasons the Steelers made the effort to sign Cordarelle Patterson was because they realized they didn't have any kickoff returners on their roster, and there was no reason to look for those kinds of players recently because the vast majority of kickoffs went for touchbacks. Maybe a second kickoff returner is something the Steelers will investigate once practice begins at training camp and then into the preseason, but there is nothing that mandates all "designed" return plays cannot be handled by Patterson.
CRAIG TSCHAPPAT FROM BETHESDA, OH: I vaguely recall a couple of Steelers defensive backs named Clendon Thomas and Jim Bradshaw. I also think I remember Bradshaw intercepting three passes in one game. Am I correct ? Any background on these two players?
ANSWER: Clendon Thomas came into the NFL as a No. 2 pick (19th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1958 NFL Draft. After 4 seasons in Los Angeles, Thomas spent 7 seasons with the Steelers as a safety, and in 96 games (72 starts) he recorded 23 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries. Jim Bradshaw entered the NFL as an 18th-round pick (248th overall) of the Steelers in the 1963 NFL Draft. In 62 regular season games (35 starts) Bradshaw recorded 11 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and 2 fumble recoveries, both of which he returned for touchdowns. On Oct. 24, 1965, in a 20-14 win in Philadelphia, Bradshaw intercepted 3 passes, one of which he returned 82 yards for a touchdown.
FRANK FOGGIA FROM SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO, CANADA: You brought to light that teams will go from 90 players to 53 with one cut at one time. How many players can be signed to the practice squad? Does that happen immediately? And are those players free to join any other team at that point?
ANSWER: Teams are permitted to put together their practice squads starting 24 hours after the deadline for teams to get down to the mandatory 53-man roster limit. And that 24-hour period coincides with the time it would take for players who are covered by the waiver system to clear waivers. Once players either clear waivers or who are unrestricted free agents, they are able to join the practice squad of any team interested in having them. In 2024, teams are permitted to carry 16 players on the practice squad, with a 17th spot available only for a player who is part of the International Pathway Program.
FABIAN KOBALD FROM INNSBRUCK, TIROL, AUSTRIA: I just saw a story about T.J. Watt being on vacation here in Tirol (Austria). Does that mean he's missing the OTAs, or is this just a short trip?
ANSWER: I have no direct knowledge of the story to which you refer, or about T.J. Watt's vacation plans or destination, but on Steelers.com right now there is a photo gallery from the first week of OTAs, and the first photo in that gallery shows T.J. Watt participating in drills during OTAs.
TONY FRONZAGLIA FROM LYNCHBURG, VA: This is an Acrisure Stadium question. Does Row A in Section 511 have an unobstructed view of the field?
ANSWER: Unless you are sitting behind someone with the physical dimensions of Shaquille O'Neal, there are no seats with obstructed views inside Acrisure Stadium.
JOHN VINCENT FROM CONNEAUT, OH: Are players given a uniform allowance or do they pay for the uniforms and equipment they'll need?
ANSWER: This is the NFL. Players are not required to pay for their uniforms.
BILL FERRUCCI FROM GREENSBORO, NC: Not a question but a correction. In the May 23 edition of Asked and Answered, you answered a question about Jack Deloplaine, and wrote that he and his wife Kathy had two daughters. Kathy is my sister, and they had two sons, Todd and Ryan.
ANSWER: That was my mistake. I regret the error.
