You be the GM

[SS Laser]

AB works out like JH but for his position. No it is not as impressive or talked about. But he is a hard worker at his craft. Just like Jerry Rice. So I think AB can be great as long as Ben is here. As long as the big contract is structured right I see no problem paying him. AB still has room to grow also and I think like Ward is self motivated so the big contract will not cause a dip in his production like some players.

[feltdizz]

AB works out like JH but for his position. No it is not as impressive or talked about. But he is a hard worker at his craft. Just like Jerry Rice. So I think AB can be great as long as Ben is here. As long as the big contract is structured right I see no problem paying him. AB still has room to grow also and I think like Ward is self motivated so the big contract will not cause a dip in his production like some players.

A lot lot of people though AB didn't deserve his last contract and lucked up because Wallace refused our offer. AB outplayed his contract. Why would anyone think he wouldn't do the same on this next contract?

[SS Laser]

A lot lot of people though AB didn't deserve his last contract and lucked up because Wallace refused our offer. AB outplayed his contract. Why would anyone think he wouldn't do the same on this next contract?

Wow excellent post! Did not even think of that. Because at the time I thought the contract was fine. I think he will outplay this contract also as long as he keeps staying healthy. And as others have said every year every position contract avg/top money goes up and the cap does also. And at some point a FO will over pay a good player to really screw up the avg/top WR contract. That will make AB's deal look not as big either. I think this gets done rather easy. But will eat crow if I am wrong. Just seems to point that way with Rooney's statements. And how AB and the FO has handled his contract so far.
I don't think the same can be said for Bell and his contract. He raps about big money and being the best in the NFL. Which he is top 5 for sure on the field. But injuries and longevity of RB's have to come into pay IMO. I still want him around even if franchised for 2 seasons.

[williar]

As the GM - My thought process would be, I will do whatever I have to do to sure-up my defense and let the chips fall where they may! Intimidating defense is the backbone of successful, super bowl winning, steeler teams. The FO knows that more than anybody because they built those teams. If you noticed this past season, the steelers were going nowhere, fast. The turnaround did not come until the defense started playing better and after the dallas game, the defense led tightened up and led the charge. I think we have enough offensive weapons to get it done. And let's be real, our team has never had a high scoring offense under Ben Roethlisberger. He might score enough points to win, but rarely has he ever won in "shootout" high scoring games. That is not his "M O." This team is built to win now. So I think there should be a little urgency involved here.

Starting with Free Agency, I know we rarely make the big splash, so I would be looking for some solid defensive contributors, preferrably a pass rusher and/or a productive DB. As far as the draft goes, unless there is an offensive player on the board the FO feels they just have to have, I am look for defensive Impact players with my first three picks. Do a little "tweeking" on offense with a back up running back (that they will probably never use) unless LB goes down. Keep my OL intact. Expect further development out of my young receivers. Pray that Ladarius Green's issues were just an aberration. Pray for some good team health and here we come super bowl Lll!!!!!!

[Oviedo]

As the GM - My thought process would be, I will do whatever I have to do to sure-up my defense and let the chips fall where they may! Intimidating defense is the backbone of successful, super bowl winning, steeler teams. The FO knows that more than anybody because they built those teams. If you noticed this past season, the steelers were going nowhere, fast. The turnaround did not come until the defense started playing better and after the dallas game, the defense led tightened up and led the charge. I think we have enough offensive weapons to get it done. And let's be real, our team has never had a high scoring offense under Ben Roethlisberger. He might score enough points to win, but rarely has he ever won in "shootout" high scoring games. That is not his "M O." This team is built to win now. So I think there should be a little urgency involved here.

Starting with Free Agency, I know we rarely make the big splash, so I would be looking for some solid defensive contributors, preferrably a pass rusher and/or a productive DB. As far as the draft goes, unless there is an offensive player on the board the FO feels they just have to have, I am look for defensive Impact players with my first three picks. Do a little "tweeking" on offense with a back up running back (that they will probably never use) unless LB goes down. Keep my OL intact. Expect further development out of my young receivers. Pray that Ladarius Green's issues were just an aberration. Pray for some good team health and here we come super bowl Lll!!!!!!

I'll do whatever I have to in order to keep the most important player on the team happy and healthy...Ben. Keeping AB makes Ben happier than losing him. We win or lose based on Ben not defense. This is not 1985

[feltdizz]

I'll do whatever I have to in order to keep the most important player on the team happy and healthy...Ben. Keeping AB makes Ben happier than losing him. We win or lose based on Ben not defense. This is not 1985

at one point and time this was true. With Bell and a great defense we could win 10 to 11 games. We used to routinely field playoff teams with pedestrian QB play. Defenses that can force turnovers and short fields make life much easier for a QB.

We used to win or lose with Ben, lately we have been able to do it mostly with a running game and a D who sacked the QB and forced timely turnovers.

IMO this is why you keep AB. I think Ben leaves before AB if he signs with us so let's keep some talent for the next QB who won't be as good as Ben but may be more efficient due to the team around him.

[williar]

I'll do whatever I have to in order to keep the most important player on the team happy and healthy...Ben. Keeping AB makes Ben happier than losing him. We win or lose based on Ben not defense. This is not 1985

Dear Sir, Ben is not winning ANYTHING, in terms of superbowls without a GREAT - Defense! You ever wonder why we have not gotten close to the super bowl (until this year) in the past 6 years? Defense was down. Do you really not understand how we made it to and won 2 superbowls - Defense, my friend..... Who do you think Ben is? Aaron Rogers? Tom Brady? Ben is getting older, not better!!! And his BEST efforts are not good enough to win it all without a GREAT supporting cast. Ben loses as many games as he wins and YOU know it!!!! We have been living this (Ben) fantasy for too many years. Time to wake up, now!

[squidkid]

Dear Sir, Ben is not winning ANYTHING, in terms of superbowls without a GREAT - Defense! You ever wonder why we have not gotten close to the super bowl (until this year) in the past 6 years? Defense was down. Do you really not understand how we made it to and won 2 superbowls - Defense, my friend..... Who do you think Ben is? Aaron Rogers? Tom Brady? Ben is getting older, not better!!! And his BEST efforts are not good enough to win it all without a GREAT supporting cast. Ben loses as many games as he wins and YOU know it!!!! We have been living this (Ben) fantasy for too many years. Time to wake up, now!

i agree with this. the talk of drafting more offense is ignorant. no team in the nfl has had more weapons than us on offense. how has that worked out? when ben leaves, a good/great defense will be the only thing that makes us competitive.

[pittpete]

We win or lose based on Ben not defense. This is not 1985

Folks, this is why you cant take anything said on these forums seriously..
We just got blown the hell out by New England because our defense sucked and then a statement like this is made.....
I mean holy crap..Really?
Did you grow up under power lines?
OMG

[Mr.wizard]

You need offense and defense to win, Texans have had the number 1 defense in the league do you think they are winning a Superbowl with Osweiler under center? The Patriots and Falcons are in the Superbowl they don't have great defenses, out of the four teams in the conference championship games who had a great defense?

[NorthCoast]

AB works out like JH but for his position. No it is not as impressive or talked about. But he is a hard worker at his craft. Just like Jerry Rice. So I think AB can be great as long as Ben is here. As long as the big contract is structured right I see no problem paying him. AB still has room to grow also and I think like Ward is self motivated so the big contract will not cause a dip in his production like some players.

Is this really true? With LJones throwing him the ball, AB hung over 100 yds on NE. If it had been a 'normal' AB game (with say 10 catches) he could have hung 150 yds on them with LJones.

[williar]

T

You need offense and defense to win, Texans have had the number 1 defense in the league do you think they are winning a Superbowl with Osweiler under center? The Patriots and Falcons are in the Superbowl they don't have great defenses, out of the four teams in the conference championship games who had a great defense?

This is true. You must have some balance. But weren't we already deemed to have a great offense! I mean, you have a franchise QB, arguably the best running back and receiver in the league. What else do you need on offense? The defense is what is broken.

[Slapstick]

TThis is true. You must have some balance. But weren't we already deemed to have a great offense! I mean, you have a franchise QB, arguably the best running back and receiver in the league. What else do you need on offense? The defense is what is broken.

We won a game by kicking only FGs. The fact that we could do that is a testament to the defense. The fact that we HAD to do that is an indictment of the offense...

[Real Deal Steel]

Dear Sir, Ben is not winning ANYTHING, in terms of superbowls without a GREAT - Defense! You ever wonder why we have not gotten close to the super bowl (until this year) in the past 6 years? Defense was down. Do you really not understand how we made it to and won 2 superbowls - Defense, my friend..... Who do you think Ben is? Aaron Rogers? Tom Brady? Ben is getting older, not better!!! And his BEST efforts are not good enough to win it all without a GREAT supporting cast. Ben loses as many games as he wins and YOU know it!!!! We have been living this (Ben) fantasy for too many years. Time to wake up, now!

I agree with this also. It's not the offense per say which is holding us back. Our lack of proper scheme, pass rush and decent man on man coverage is what needs to be addressed more then anything else. Yeah we could use another veteran wide receiver and depth at running back but those two needs are not a priority over getting that D-line/linebacker positions along with another player in the secondary up to par.

[Real Deal Steel]

We won a game by kicking only FGs. The fact that we could do that is a testament to the defense. The fact that we HAD to do that is an indictment of the offense...

Disagree..that is a testament to how the Chiefs don't have a real Quarterback. That is what that is.