Colbert (1/16)

[NorthCoast]

D@mn those are fairly harsh words directed at the running backs on this team. I don't know where you go from there, you can't release them all, but which of them do you keep if you believe their talent level is that bad?

Interesting stuff right there.

Pappy

The Steelers RBs were a relative bargain. Sum total they contributed to about 25% of the offensive yardage, but accounted for only about 5% of the total salary cap. You could almost say the Steelers got their money's worth.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Just not very realistic. Why would they weaken their team to benefit us? Turbin will be a starting caliber RB that can sub in for an injured Beast.

How about Jones-Drew from the Jaguars if he is healthy?

Draft picks....trade a backup at one position where the starter is a very good player to gain a draft pick to address a real weakness. Was just an idea. I think we can get a good RB in the mid rounds if we pick the right one.

[supersteeler]

Looks like the Steelers are going to clean house on the deadwood and underperforming players. Like they said 8-8 is unacceptable so why should they keep the same players.
The only question I would have is why would they let a consistent player like Starks leave when they were having issues with the offensive line?
I could see Foster and Colon leaving but they are making a mistake letting Starks go.

We could get by maybe, but what if the line hits the injury bug again? I guess they are going to draft some more linemen, I really don't know but it makes no sense to weaken that line and hope everything will work out without Starks.

[Chadman]

The only question I would have is why would they let a consistent player like Starks leave when they were having issues with the offensive line?

2 words- Salary Cap.

The Steelers are supposedly $16m over the cap right now- not even factoring in the $7m it will take to keep the RFA's & ERFA's. $23m.....

Who is more important- Keenan Lewis or Max Starks? That'll likely be the question the Steelers face.

[Oviedo]

Khan isn't indispensable. Khan is a good cap guy and has probably learned personnel, but he isn't a devastating loss.

Khan got us into the salary cap mess we are in now. Not saying he was incompetent but his following oreders to hold together a fading defense and retain defensive players who are underperforming has created a mess for us.

I love that Colbert has put everyone on notice because this is the year to "blow it up" and take two years to get a roster that can make a nice three year run to close out Ben's career.

[papillon]

Khan got us into the salary cap mess we are in now. Not saying he was incompetent but his following oreders to hold together a fading defense and retain defensive players who are underperforming has created a mess for us.

I love that Colbert has put everyone on notice because this is the year to "blow it up" and take two years to get a roster that can make a nice three year run to close out Ben's career.

I wouldn't blame Khan exclusively, it's my feeling that Art II, Colbert, Khan and Tomlin sat down and asked themselves can we make a run with Ben, Troy, Harrison, Taylor, Clark and Woodley as the core and if we believe we can how do we make that happen. They made it happen, unfortunately, injuries to every one of them over the past two years derailed the plan and now the Steelers are in cap Hades and are going to have to make some tough, but necessary decisions.

One of them is one that I hate to see, but probably necessary, and that is Harrison, this guy is a mean SOB and brought attitude and 110% effort every down he was on the field, regardless of health. It's tough to cut a guy like that, but they probably have to.

Pappy

[Shawn]

Letting Lewis go would be just plain ignorant. Ike is not a spring chicken and we need to keep an eye toward the future. I hope we keep Foster as well.

[Oviedo]

Letting Lewis go would be just plain ignorant. Ike is not a spring chicken and we need to keep an eye toward the future. I hope we keep Foster as well.

Yes to Lewis. Prefer keeping Starks over Foster, but if Foster is the only consolation prize then we need to keep so we don't weaken our OL too much.

[Shawn]

Yes to Lewis. Prefer keeping Starks over Foster, but if Foster is the only consolation prize then we need to keep so we don't weaken our OL too much.

Agree, forgot about Starks...would love to keep him as well.

[NW Steeler]

Yes to Lewis. Prefer keeping Starks over Foster, but if Foster is the only consolation prize then we need to keep so we don't weaken our OL too much.

Absolutely. Lewis should be a priority and I dont know why they are so eager to get rid of Starks. I think we may see a surprise cut ala Kirkland way back when.

[steelz09]

What about Chris Ivory from the Saints? He's a RFA that is underutilized and has played very well with limited opportunities.

He's basically #4 on the Saints depth chart but was bumped up due to injuries. The Saints are loaded at RB with Sproles, Ingram, Pierre Thomas (extended contract last year), and Chris Ivory.

This would be a very good signing.

[Slapstick]

What about Chris Ivory from the Saints? He's a RFA that is underutilized and has played very well with limited opportunities.

He's basically #4 on the Saints depth chart but was bumped up due to injuries. The Saints are loaded at RB with Sproles, Ingram, Pierre Thomas (extended contract last year), and Chris Ivory.

This would be a very good signing.

Ivory was an UDFA...he'll be tendered some kind of offer, but will not require draft pick compensation unless they give him a high tender...

Will they do so considering that they gave him only 40 carries this year?

[steelz09]

I don't know what the tender is but I think the Steelers should take a very close look at him. I would look at replacing Mendenhall with Ivory. I think he is starter material. Ivory was opening up some eyes when he got the opportunity to play. They were even talking about Ivory getting bumped up the depth chart at the expense of Ingram's carries.

[Slapstick]

I don't know what the tender is but I think the Steelers should take a very close look at him. I would look at replacing Mendenhall with Ivory. I think he is starter material. Ivory was opening up some eyes when he got the opportunity to play. They were even talking about Ivory getting bumped up the depth chart at the expense of Ingram's carries.

True, but that didn't happen...

The Steelers need to get cap compliant first...then, I'd love to see them get a couple of young, cheap free agents was something to prove...give them incentive laden contracts and put them on the field...

Chris Ivory for one and Ramses Barden for another...

[steelz09]

True, but that didn't happen...

It didn't happen because #1 Sproles got healthy. No matter what, you can't take Sproles out of the NO lineup especially with his big play ability in the passing game.

#2 - Ingram started playing because he knew his job was in jeopardy.

That's good for the Steelers. If he took Ingram's job and Ivory continued his success, we likely couldn't afford him right now. Now, he should be affordable and is a good fit for the Steelers IMO.