Let's get to it:
ERIC CIMINI FROM TAMPA, FL: Do you feel it's surprising that the Steelers organization has not retired Joe Greene's jersey number?
ANSWER: Um, the Steelers retired Joe Greene's No. 75 at halftime of a game against the Ravens at Heinz Field on Nov. 2, 2014, which is almost 10 years ago. What I find surprising is that information managed to escape you for almost a full decade.
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PERCEVAL SONDAG FROM FLEMINGTON, NJ: On the last drive against the Colts, Justin Fields took a snapped ball in the face, which led to a sack and the end of the team's hopes for a win or tie. It seemed to me he wasn't even looking in front of him then. Any idea how something like that happens at such a crucial time? Simple miscommunication between center and quarterback, or something more complex that I'm not seeing?
ANSWER: Justin Fields was asked about that play when he met the media following the 27-24 loss to the Colts in Indianapolis. Here is the text of that answer:
"Yeah, it was my fault. We were running the first leg kick and Zach (Frazier) was ID'ing and stuff. I felt the DBs rotating and changing the back end picture, so he was ID'ing stuff telling the O-line where to go, I was just trying to get that final picture before the snap came. So, at the end of the day, the snap was on the first leg kick. So, after I kicked my leg up, I've got to be ready for the ball, no matter when it's going to come or not. So yeah, it's on me."
JON WHITE FROM LANCASTER, LANCASHIRE, UK: No doubt you'll have an inbox full of doom and gloom after the loss to the Colts. How much should be placed on the offense and the inability to threaten the Colts downfield?
ANSWER: I'm sure there are many different opinions on where the blame should be placed for the loss to the Colts, and after a game like that there is enough to go around. Just to address the concept of "threatening the Colts downfield," Justin Fields passed for 312 yards, and his 9.2 yards-per-attempt from that game is higher than the season numbers in that category for any of the top 16 quarterbacks in last week's NFL statistics package. Plus Fields had 5 completions of 20-plus yards against the Colts, and this is an offense that is being built around a persistent running attack.
ISRAEL PICKHOLTZ FROM ASHKELON, ISRAEL: Frequently Rob King will say on the radio broadcast of the game that the quarterback stamps his foot before a play. I have not heard that in play-by-play before. What is the significance of the quarterback stamping his foot?
ANSWER: That's a signal to the rest of the offensive unit that the silent count "clock" has started. It's done to combat crowd noise in an effort to minimize false start penalties.
JIM ANDERSON FROM TOLEDO, OH: What do you think of the first offensive play being a long pass down the field? It seems like the Steelers did this when Terry Bradshaw was the quarterback.
ANSWER: Not that I'm going to comb through the game play-by-plays to check, but my sense is you're remembering something that didn't happen nearly as often as you now believe it did. Those Steelers teams of the 1970s under Coach Chuck Noll very much believed in the value of running the football. Even in the 1978 season when the perception of the Steelers offense became one that was propelled by a dynamic passing attack and QB Terry Bradshaw was voted the Bert Bell Award as the NFL's Player of the Year, the Steelers ran the ball 641 times and attempted 380 passes.
JAMES HEDSPETH FROM CITY TERRACE, CA: Why doesn't the game clock stop when a player runs out of bounds after catching a pass or a runner runs out of bounds? The clock was still running wasting two or three minutes. Is there a new rule I haven't heard about?
ANSWER: It's not a new rule and actually has been on the books for a while. On plays when the player with the football – a run or a reception – goes out of bounds, the clock only stops on such plays during the final 2 minutes of the second quarter and the final 5 minutes of the fourth quarter.
BOB CALHOUN FROM MT. PLEASANT, OH: When the Steelers sign a player to the practice squad during the season do they provide or help him with housing?
ANSWER: Players on the practice squad who have accrued 2 or fewer NFL seasons are paid weekly at a fixed rate, and in 2024 that rate is $12,500 per week. For practice squad players with 4 or more NFL seasons, the salary can be negotiated with the range being between $16,800 and $21,300 per week. These players might get some guidance about where to live, but paying for that is their responsibility, and those numbers indicate a wherewithal to do that.
FRANK OLIVER FROM MARTINS FERRY, OH: In your last Asked and Answered, a question was asked about time devoted to classroom work and field work, and your response was that there are rules in the Collective Bargaining Agreement governing such things. If a player or players decide to do some work on their own, such as staying after practice or studying film, are they permitted to do that?
ANSWER: Yes. The Collective Bargaining Agreement doesn't restrict how much work the players can do on their own.
ALEXANDER EICHENMILLER FROM SALISBURY, MD: Over the past weeks I have heard us referred to as having the No. 1 scoring defense. What are the criteria for this ranking?
ANSWER: It's based on how many points a team's opponents score per game. The team averaging the fewest points per game allowed is ranked No. 1.
MELDON BRINDLEY FROM XENIA, OH: The start to Justin Fields' year reminds of when Ben Roethlisberger took over for Tommy Maddox in 2004. Are the stats comparable? Seems like the same plan: run the ball, play good defense, and do not turn the ball over.
ANSWER: In the first four games Ben Roethlisberger started after taking over for Tommy Maddox had him complete 12-of-22 for 163 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception; complete 17-of-25 for 274 yards, with 1 touchdown and no interceptions; complete 16-of-21 for 231 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception; and complete 21-of-25 for 193 yards, with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Also in those games, the Steelers rushed for 153, 165, 170, and 125 yards, respectively. In the first four games Justin Fields started in 2024, he completed 17-of-23 for 156 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions; he completed 13-of-20 for 117 yards, with 1 touchdown and no interceptions; he completed 25-of-32 for 245 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception; and he completed 22-of-34 for 321 yards, with 1 touchdown and no interceptions. Also in those games, the Steelers rushed for 137, 141, 114, and 122 yards.
