Let's get to it:
DAVID ROONEY FROM MARION, IA: I apologize for my question last week about Joey Porter Jr. Public humiliation accepted.
ANSWER: No apology necessary. It is important to understand that young players are still learning their craft and are prone to mistakes as that process continues. Joey Porter Jr. is going to be a very good player for the Steelers for a long time. Be patient with him and enjoy the ride.
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KURT CARMEL FROM BALTIMORE, MD: I'm not getting the obsession with seeing a "package" for Justin Fields. He is serviceable and arguably part of a massive upgrade to the 2023 depth chart at quarterback. But Fields said it himself – if he had played better, we wouldn't be talking about him as a backup. Could he start in the NFL? Probably. Can he beat out a 9-time Pro Bowl Super Bowl winning quarterback? Evidently he could not. So why is he any different than any other player who lost the starting job? I don't see other teams or pundits hollering for any other team to put together a package for their backup quarterback. Why should the Steelers?
ANSWER: I'm not in the "obsessive" camp when it comes to finding ways to take advantage of Justin Fields' skill-set, but I also believe the Steelers shouldn't squander what he might be able to do for an offense that is not yet prolific. Getting Fields into games should be done thoughtfully and in proper doses, but he is a hard-worker and a teammate, and so there's nothing to lose by allowing him to contribute and feel a part of what the team is trying to achieve in 2024. Fields already has stepped up and made contributions as the scout team quarterback to help prepare the defense for players such as Jayden Daniels and Lamar Jackson, and so I'm in favor – again if done thoughtfully and in doses. And since Fields has shown himself to be extremely coachable, I would remind him that in a 2-point game when running for a first down to maintain possession of the ball it's most important you don't slide until you know absolutely that you're past the line to gain.
MATTHEW BERGER FROM COLUMBUS, OH: Did the Steelers make a mistake in not exercising Najee Harris' fifth-year option in the offseason? Seems like his price tag has gone way up since he is having a strong year, and he is a leader in the locker room. Do you see them working out a long-term deal with Najee?
ANSWER: One of the elements of this that I believe is significant but rarely considered by fans is the track the NFL running back market is going to take? Is the trend of teams showing a reluctance to extend big-money second contracts to running backs going to continue, or might the pendulum start to swing back the other way? What will the market value of running backs be in March 2025?
PAT FLYNN FROM OAKDALE, PA: Can you give a list of the best authors/books written about the Steelers organization and history? What is on your "must read" list?
ANSWER: There is a lot out there on this subject, but here are a few that I enjoyed:
• "Polamalu: The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Strong Safety Troy Polamalu" by Jim Wexell. Also, Wexell's "Pittsburgh Steelers: An Illustrated Timeline" looks to be something that would be a nice gift, because it's made up of brief nuggets with a lot of photos in a coffee-table style format
• "Chuck Noll: His Life's Work by Michael MacCambridge
• "Dan Rooney: My 75 Years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL" by Dan Rooney
• "Myron Cope: Double Yoi!" by Myron Cope
• "Legendary: The 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers Defense, The Zone Blitz, and My Six Decades in the NFL" by Dick LeBeau
• "Their Life's Work: The Brotherhood of the 1970s Steelers" by Gary M. Pomerantz
An additional bit of information: MacCambridge's book on Noll; LeBeau's book on the 2008 Steelers; and both of Wexell's books are available on shop.steelers.com.
ISRAEL PICKHOLTZ FROM ASHKELON, ISRAEL: Why is Minkah Fitzpatrick part of the victory formation?
ANSWER: As a last line of defense vs. an unlikely disaster. If there would be any issue with ball security that would end up with a player on defense in possession of the ball, Minkah Fitzpatrick is the one who could best locate that player and get him on the ground.
PAUL SOMERVILLE FROM HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA: During the Ravens game, I didn't notice Mike Williams get too many snaps on offense. Usually, how long does it take a player to get used to an offensive system, or is Mike Williams not as good as the other players at that position?
ANSWER: Steelers vs. Ravens on Sunday just didn't turn out to be a wide receiver kind of game. George Pickens played 69 offensive snaps (88 percent) to lead all Steelers WRs. Van Jefferson was next with 43 snaps (55 percent), then Calvin Austin III with 26 snaps (33 percent), and Mike Williams with 25 snaps (32 percent). Williams' snap count was not appreciably less than anyone's not named Pickens. Also, Pickens was targeted the most of any Steelers eligible receiver with 12, and then no other WR had more than 1 target. Williams had none. So, I wouldn't jump to any conclusions.
CRYSTAL JAMES FROM WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY: Was Mike Williams active for the game today? I was hoping to see him open the game up more for Pickens or himself, but I did not see him much. Did he play any snaps?
ANSWER: See the above answer for Mike Williams' snaps and the relation to other players at his position. But I think you're getting way ahead of yourself – or allowing the hype to influence your perspective – based on 1 catch for 32 yards and a touchdown against Washington. Expecting him to be a focal point of the offense or an instant weapon/decoy is just not realistic.
ERIC CIMINI FROM TAMPA, FL: Let's say an offense commits a penalty on third-and-short and on the play the offense doesn't gain enough for the first down. The opposing coach declines the penalty to make it fourth-and-short. If the coach of the team that was on offense surprisingly decides to go for it on this fourth down, can the opposing coach change his decision and accept the penalty?
ANSWER: The procedure is that the on-field referee will consult with the "opposing coach" about the penalty, explain the options involved in accepting or declining the penalty, and then ask for his decision. Once that decision is given to the on-field referee, that's the end of it. No backsies.
THOMAS WARD FROM LADSON, SC: Would it be out of the question to go ahead and get the team to vote for Chris Boswell as Steelers MVP for 2024?
ANSWER: Far be it from me to stand in the way of a campaign.
CHRISTOPHER GIBSON FROM MANALAPAN, NJ: If a two-point conversion attempt ends with a sack, does the sacking player get credit for it?
ANSWER: The only statistics awarded as part of a two-point conversion attempt are for points scored to the player who scores. No rushing yardage, no passing yardage, no tackles, no sacks, no interceptions, no fumble recoveries. Just the points.
AVRY BEN-DOV FROM SCRANTON, PA: This may be my nervous side talking, but do we ever win "normal" games? I feel like are always hanging on by a thread, even in games that we play well in. It seems like our games always come down to a play in the fourth quarter.
ANSWER: That's just the way the NFL wants it, and not just for Steelers game but for all games. Building suspense over a couple hours to a dramatic conclusion at the end makes for good television, and the NFL is in the business of TV ratings and all of the things that come along with lucrative broadcasting arrangements with a variety of different entities kicking money into the pot. This I can tell you: Mike Tomlin became the Steelers coach in 2007, and since then no team has played in more one-score games than the Steelers and no team has won more one-score games than the Steelers.
