Let's get to it:
MARK BARBUSTIAK FROM ATCO, NJ: Have the Steelers ever had a backup quarterback go 3-0 or better in his first season with the team?
ANSWER: How many times that might have happened over 90-plus seasons of Steelers football I cannot say, but I know it happened in 1976 when rookie Mike Kruczek started 6 games in 1976 after Cleveland's Joe "Turkey" Jones cheap-shotted Terry Bradshaw by flipping him over and spiking him into the ground head-first. And in those 6 starts, the Steelers went 6-0. Not to minimize what Kruczek contributed, but here are his passing statistics for that season: he completed 51-of-85 (60 percent) for 758 yards, with no touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and a rating of 74.5. For Kruczek, it was mostly about handing the ball to the team's pair of 1,000-yard rushers (Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier) and then allowing the defense to do its thing. In Kruczek's 6 starts, the Steelers defense allowed 25 total points (with three shutouts), and the offense averaged 51.5 rushes for 202.2 yards and 2.5 rushing touchdowns per game.
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ROB JAMES FROM AFFTON, MO: Not suggesting that this will or should happen, but what are the rules about reinstating a player like Markus Golden off the reserved/retired list should that player change his mind about retirement?
ANSWER: If Markus Golden wanted to "un-retire" and play for the Steelers, and if the team wanted him, it could simply create a spot on the 53-man roster or on its practice squad and move Golden into the spot it had created. But in my opinion, that's a slim-to-none possibility, because as Chuck Noll believed, "If you're thinking about retiring, you already have."
JIM MILLER FROM BROKEN ARROW, OK: I recognize that killing the clock is the top priority at the end of the game, but why wouldn't the Steelers run a play to try to score after the two kneel downs, keeping in mind that point differential vs. conference opponents is one of the playoff tiebreakers. What if we need another 6 points come playoff seeding time?
ANSWER: It's more about sportsmanship than worrying about the "best net points in conference games" tiebreaker, which is No. 8 on the list if the tie is between 2 teams and No. 9 on the list if the tie is among 3 or more teams.
ROD KEEFER FROM EDMOND, OK: We heard the Steelers brought in officials to work practice last week, and it seemed to have paid off. How does that arrangement work? Were they NFL officials or college or what?
ANSWER: The officials who work Steelers practices at the behest of Coach Mike Tomlin are local high school football officials. It's usually done whenever Tomlin believes it can be beneficial to the team.
ESTHER MILLER FROM ASHEVILLE, NC: Why didn't the coaching staff allow Najee Harris to score at the end of the fourth quarter vs. the Chargers?
ANSWER: Because even though there is intense competition in the NFL, there also is the concept of sportsmanship. The Steelers had a two-score lead, and the Chargers had no chance to make that up with only seconds on a running clock, no timeouts, and the ball at their 1-yard line.
BRIAN FIORE FROM GREEN BAY, WI: Over the first 3 weeks of football, there have been a lot of illegal formation penalties, specifically the number of men on the line of scrimmage. Has something changed with the requirement for the number of men on the line of scrimmage that teams are struggling to adapt to, or is this just sloppy fundamental football?
ANSWER: Here is the applicable portion of an interview I recently did with Coach Mike Tomlin that addresses your question:
Q. A penalty we saw more of during Kickoff Weekend was illegal formation when an offensive tackle was ruled to have lined up in the backfield. What is the standard there, between what's legal and what will draw a penalty flag?
A. You have to break the waistline of the center. If you're an offensive lineman, that's the general standard. Your helmet has to break the waistline of the center. They challenge that from time to time, particularly in one-dimensional passing moments. A tackle who's facing a premier edge rusher will try to get an advantage, and usually that's where the discussion lies. Very rarely do you see that penalty being called on first or second downs. Generally, it's a one-dimensional passing circumstance, and a guy is facing a premier rusher, and he's trying to gain an edge. And his helmet might not be breaking the waistline of the center. That's the general discussion.
Q. Is that a new point of emphasis for the officials, because I don't remember that being called very much, if at all?
A. Certain things go down at the early portions of the season in the NFL. I'm not going to call it an agenda, then that would make me a conspiracy theorist. But certain things go down at the beginning of the season that kind of gets everyone's attention and everyone falls in line. I'll leave it at that.
GEORGE TAYLOR FROM IRWIN, PA: When the Steelers have a home game does the team stay in a local hotel the night before the game?
ANSWER: Yes.
MIKE DETWILER FROM ALIQUIPPA, PA: A couple weeks ago you answered a question about previous Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winners, some of whom won during the 1970s that was before Walter's career. What was the award called then?
ANSWER: In 1969, it was called The Gladiator Award. Then starting in 1970 it was known as the NFL Man of the Year Award. Shortly after Walter Payton died on Nov. 1, 1999, his name was attached to the award.
DENNIS ELLENBERGER FROM ENOLA, PA: Did The Steelers lose anyone to free agency last year?
ANSWER: The Steelers began the offseason with 13 unrestricted free agents. They re-signed Montravius Adams, and Miles Killebrew. Markus Golden re-signed with the team during training camp and then announced his retirement. James Pierre signed with Washington in March but now is back with the Steelers. Players either "lost" or not re-signed include Kwon Alexander, Miles Boykin, Blake Martinez, Elijah Riley, Mason Rudolph, Chandon Sullivan, Mykal Walker, Levi Wallace, and Armon Watts.
EMILIO AGUILERA FROM LAS VEGAS, NV: I've been a Steelers fan for approximately 54 years while living in California and now in Las Vegas. As such I have experienced the increase in ticket prices over the years where it is now concerning to have to pay up to $500 for a ticket. Do the players' salaries greatly impact the price at the gate?
ANSWER: Actually it's the other way around. The NFL pools all ticket revenue and divides it equally among all 32 teams. That ticket revenue becomes a part of designated gross revenue pool along with broadcast fees and other things, which is split between the owners and players according to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and determines the amount of the annual salary cap per team. So it's the ticket revenue that helps raise the salary cap per team, which then serves to raise players' salaries.
JASON PRASTER FROM SAN ANTONIO, TX: Through three games into the 2024 season and a 3-0 start led by QB Justin Fields, it appears that our offense is improving each week. If the Steelers offense continues to improve and the future looks even brighter by season's end, is there any language within Arthur Smith's contract that could allow him to leave the Steelers prior to it expiring?
ANSWER: If Arthur Smith were to be offered a job as a head coach before his contract with the Steelers expired, the team most likely would allow him to leave for that job.
RA PEGHER FROM STATE COLLEGE, PA: Who is responsible for the content of Steelers.com? The morning after each game I eagerly await reading all of the bylines and content. You, Dale, and Teresa do an incredible job of covering the team. I also always go to our opponents' websites for their take on the game as well. By comparison, well, there is no comparison. Steeler fans should take notice how fortunate we are. Win or lose, the coverage is honest, insightful, and always entertaining.
ANSWER: Speaking for Dale and Teresa, we are glad to know you enjoy reading the content on Steelers.com, and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know that.
