Do the young Steelers want to be great?

[Shawn]

I think you are making a case, one that I don't necessarily agree with. McCullers is the classic underachiever, but I think it is unfair to lump everyone else in there. Everything you say is true. However, I'm unwilling to say these guys don't take their job seriously. Take Bell. Every game I've ever seen of him, he plays hard and doesn't back down. Same with Martavis. Remember when Ben challenged him to step his game up last year, he did. Shazier, for as much as I knock the guy's physical toughness, I still think he has a good mindset in knowing what it takes to be a Steeler.

All those you mentioned (besides McCullers), I'm still fairly confident will continue to mature. I'm interested in seeing how Gilbert matures the rest of this year. I imagine the staff has a role for him today against his old team.

I see where you are going and don't completely disagree. What I will say is that smoking pot hurts the team. It also sends a message to younger players that you can put your desires above the teams needs. This kind of toxic thinking can permeate a locker room. It doesn't take much to turn a 11-5 team into a 5-11 team.

[Slapstick]

Many of these guys have been entitled since high school.

[feltdizz]

I must agree with this especially about cutting a few underachievers. As good as Bryant is and as much potential McCullers has I think the team should have moved on both. Bryant is one positive drug test from smoking himself out of the league. McCullers allowed a rookie NT to beat him out. If starting for the Steelers can't light a fire nothing will. Those two cuts would send a message...no one is above the team.

Wasn't McCullers a 6th rounder?

Sometimes a a guy is who he is and a rookie is better. McCullers is from Tennessee right? They have a knack for underachieving and didn't live up to expectations this year. I think it's one of those college programs who coddle their players. I went there for a year and they are treated like rock stars.

[NorthCoast]

Many of these guys have been entitled since high school.

Yep. It's the age of 'participation trophies'.... yoi...

[Slapstick]

Yep. It's the age of 'participation trophies'.... yoi...

Oh no, I mean legit entitlement. At certain high schools in certain places in the country, high school football players are treated like they are above everyone else...it continues into college...

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Many of these guys have been entitled since high school.

Steelers need to do a better job of finding players with team-first attitudes.

[Mr.wizard]

When the Steelers string together a couple of wins, all the ridiculous psychoanalysis will stop.

[Shawn]

Wasn't McCullers a 6th rounder?

Sometimes a a guy is who he is and a rookie is better. McCullers is from Tennessee right? They have a knack for underachieving and didn't live up to expectations this year. I think it's one of those college programs who coddle their players. I went there for a year and they are treated like rock stars.

I get that he was a 6th rounder. It doesn't invalidate the argument. Drafting slugs without a motivation to play isn't acceptable in any round.

[Shawn]

When the Steelers string together a couple of wins, all the ridiculous psychoanalysis will stop.

Yeah, I wouldn't count on that.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Yeah, I wouldn't count on that.

Yeah, the ridiculous psychoanalysis will forever remain regardless of outcome...it's just a different kind of ridiculous psychoanalysis when we win compared to the ridiculous psychoanalysis when we lose. Ridiculous psychoanalysis is what we do best here!