Serious Question: If this season goes seriously sideways, do the Rooney's blow it up?

[NorthCoast]

I don't think they will blow things up, but you may be seeing the end of the LeBeau regime... (which should make some of you happy)

[BURGH86STEEL]

blowing things up would mean starting over. seems like the organisation never blows things up. thye find ways to retool to remain competitive.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

I keep reading that blowing things up isn't the Steelers style, but neither is signing players over 30 to new contracts. We used to have the ability to draft & groom young players to take over when a veterans contract was up. Under Tomlin we have had to re-sign Clark, Ike, Casey due to having nobody ready.

We signed Harrison to a new deal because he was coming off defensive player of the year honors. Tough to let that go but still not the Rooney way.

Then to top it off we had to bring back Foote because of having no ILB groomed. When was the last time you saw us bring someone back after they left to chase the money. We also did the same with McFadden who sucked.

[BigRob]

Let me be clear. I am not giving up on this season. All these injuries to the elder Steelers just got me thinking a little.

If we struggle this year and end up with a losing season, do the Rooneys blow up the roster to recover cap space and go "young"?

Could we see the last of Troy, Harrison, Hampton, Clark, Foote, Keisel, and others this year? What do you think?

I am beginning to think more and more that this is going to be a huge change in the off-season for this team. With the flat cap and lots of money tied up in under performing contracts, I see big changes coming. I.e....

Lebeau gone, serious cap cuts, etc..

What say you?

[Oviedo]

I keep reading that blowing things up isn't the Steelers style, but neither is signing players over 30 to new contracts. We used to have the ability to draft & groom young players to take over when a veterans contract was up. Under Tomlin we have had to re-sign Clark, Ike, Casey due to having nobody ready.

We signed Harrison to a new deal because he was coming off defensive player of the year honors. Tough to let that go but still not the Rooney way.

Then to top it off we had to bring back Foote because of having no ILB groomed. When was the last time you saw us bring someone back after they left to chase the money. We also did the same with McFadden who sucked.

I think it is time to make a clean break from the last decade and and set us up for the remainder of this decade. We have some good pieces in place, especially on offense, but we have to get the cap right and give ourselves flexibility.

As I see it:

Likely gone: Hampton, Foote, Will Allen, and Harrison. IMO Harrison has to go unless he has a sensational season coming back from this knee injury. If he stays it will have to be at a reduced rate.

Possibly gone: Kiesel, Colon, Mendenhall, Keenan Lewis

Probably should be gone but no replacement so will likely stay: Ryan Clark, Max Starks, Ike Taylor

Get rid of half of the players listed and maybe we can resign Wallace )if he returns to the Land of the Reasonable), keep Sanders and extend Pouncey.

The real quandry is with Troy P. Will he want to keep playing? Can he still be the special player he was before? We are essentially screwed at Safety so we have to hope both Polamalu and Clark have one more great season in them.

That gets us to coaches: Anyone still think that LeBeau should have the freedom to stay as long as he wants? We need a leadership change on defense. It did wonders on offense so far this season.

[BigRob]

I think it is time to make a clean break from the last decade and and set us up for the remainder of this decade. We have some good pieces in place, especially on offense, but we have to get the cap right and give ourselves flexibility.

As I see it:

Likely gone: Hampton, Foote, Will Allen, and Harrison. IMO Harrison has to go unless he has a sensational season coming back from this knee injury. If he stays it will have to be at a reduced rate.

Possibly gone: Kiesel, Colon, Mendenhall, Keenan Lewis

Probably should be gone but no replacement so will likely stay: Ryan Clark, Max Starks, Ike Taylor

Get rid of half of the players listed and maybe we can resign Wallace )if he returns to the Land of the Reasonable), keep Sanders and extend Pouncey.

The real quandry is with Troy P. Will he want to keep playing? Can he still be the special player he was before? We are essentially screwed at Safety so we have to hope both Polamalu and Clark have one more great season in them.

That gets us to coaches: Anyone still think that LeBeau should have the freedom to stay as long as he wants? We need a leadership change on defense. It did wonders on offense so far this season.

I agree with your assessment of players and I would add that I think Troy could possibly hang it up after this year.

[D Rock]

I don't think Keith Butler is the answer if Lebeau goes...what would be any different, really?


This team needs new brains from the outside. Someone willing to focus on the pass rush and bring the heat with guys who can do it own their own without fancy schemes and blitzes.

[BigRob]

I don't think Keith Butler is the answer if Lebeau goes...what would be any different, really?


This team needs new brains from the outside. Someone willing to focus on the pass rush and bring the heat with guys who can do it own their own without fancy schemes and blitzes.

What makes you think he's just a Lebeau clone? Was Rex Ryan the same guy as Mike Nolan when he took over? Nope. There's a reason why everyone and their momma has been trying to hire Butler away from Pittsburgh.

[D Rock]

What makes you think he's just a Lebeau clone? Was Rex Ryan the same guy as Mike Nolan when he took over? Nope. There's a reason why everyone and their momma has been trying to hire Butler away from Pittsburgh.

I figure that has a lot to do with him being Lebeau's #2 man, and how successful the Steelers D has been over the years.

It would seem that the odds are better that he is more like Lebeau than he is different from him.

[BigRob]

You know what they say about ASSumptions right? Butler is a different guy and would likely have his own opinion on how things should be defended.