Rooney Brown meeting

[papillon]

The Steelers are in a tough spot, they need veteran players to take advantage of Ben's final few years, however getting those players is nearly impossible. The Steelers may get draft picks for AB, unfortunately, as we have seen it takes 2-3 years to become an impact player by then Ben will be done and the Steelers will be moving on with Dobbs or Rudolph. They should have won more playoff games over the past three years, I fear the window is nearly shut unless they can pick up a couple veteran players on defense in particular. Tough situation to end Ben's career.

Pappy

[fordfixer]

The Steelers are in a tough spot, they need veteran players to take advantage of Ben's final few years, however getting those players is nearly impossible. The Steelers may get draft picks for AB, unfortunately, as we have seen it takes 2-3 years to become an impact player by then Ben will be done and the Steelers will be moving on with Dobbs or Rudolph. They should have won more playoff games over the past three years, I fear the window is nearly shut unless they can pick up a couple veteran players on defense in particular. Tough situation to end Ben's career.

Pappy

Getting veteran players isn’t that hard. I heard that there’s a team with such a toxic team chemistry that their #1WR and their #1 RB both want out of there..........Oh wait

[SteelBucks]

Getting veteran players isn’t that hard. I heard that there’s a team with such a toxic team chemistry that their #1WR and their #1 RB both want out of there..........Oh wait

With Bell it was all about $$$, not really chemistry. AB is as toxic as they come.

[Mick'sTeam]

One thing I've been pondering since the Rooney - AB meeting is the mention that AB & Rosenhaus are not allowed to engage in talks with other teams. I get why PGH wants to control that. However, my concern is that potential trade partners will only be operating on what they've seen from AB on social media, which we all agree is a total train wreck. His antics, in my opinion, have been geared at hurting the Steelers. If he were given the green light to have discussions with potential landing spots, is it possible that he and his agent would be able to repair some of his current image, and in turn improve what the Steelers may be able to get in return? He's been acting in a way to hurt us. But in front of another team, I'm sure he'd become quite the salesman for himself.

[pittpete]

I doubt it because they would talk with teams that would give him the biggest $$$$$
He's also shown that he cant be trusted in his current state of mind.
I wouldnt trust Rosenhaus as far as i could throw him either.

[Ernie]

Getting veteran players isn’t that hard. I heard that there’s a team with such a toxic team chemistry that their #1WR and their #1 RB both want out of there..........Oh wait

not only were they #1s on their team... but they were arguably #1 at their respective positions in the entire NFL.

When you think about it... it's really quite depressing that we weren't able to go further with that crew (the killer B's) while we had them. Definitely one of the most underachieving teams in the league the last 5-6 years.

[Steel Maniac]

not only were they #1s on their team... but they were arguably #1 at their respective positions in the entire NFL.

When you think about it... it's really quite depressing that we weren't able to go further with that crew (the killer B's) while we had them. Definitely one of the most underachieving teams in the league the last 5-6 years.

Thus, we have 3 playoff wins in the last 8 years.

[steeler_george]

not only were they #1s on their team... but they were arguably #1 at their respective positions in the entire NFL.

When you think about it... it's really quite depressing that we weren't able to go further with that crew (the killer B's) while we had them. Definitely one of the most underachieving teams in the league the last 5-6 years.

$$$

I am kinda ok with how this is shaking out, most likely losing AB and Bell, we were always so close, but choking somewhere along the way that ended our season. Maybe a new nucleus can do wonders, just look at KC prior to Smith gone. OK bad example they choked too this year but you understand.

I think the front office might have to go all in this year, or set up next for next year 202o for all Ben's walk off season.

[Steel Maniac]

Rooney says Ben can criticize who he wants; he’s the unquestioned leader

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26041219/steelers-gm-ben-roethlisberger-unquestioned-leader-locker-room

[Oviedo]

With Bell it was all about $$$, not really chemistry. AB is as toxic as they come.

This!!!! In both cases it is squarely on the players

[Oviedo]

not only were they #1s on their team... but they were arguably #1 at their respective positions in the entire NFL.

When you think about it... it's really quite depressing that we weren't able to go further with that crew (the killer B's) while we had them. Definitely one of the most underachieving teams in the league the last 5-6 years.

You are describing one side of the ball. Unfortunately you have to play offense and defense.

[Northern_Blitz]

You are describing one side of the ball. Unfortunately you have to play offense and defense.

This year (at least) made it seem like the best way to challenge for the SB was to have an elite O and an average D.

[hawaiiansteel]

Dumping Distractions Doesn’t Mean Steelers Will Get Back To Winning Ways

By Alex Kozora
Posted on February 25, 2019

Le’Veon Bell is gone. Or as he puts it, “free at last” because yes, 2019 is just as stupid as all the other years. Antonio Brown will almost certainly join him as departed superstars. And that should, in theory, bring a calm to the locker room. No holdouts. No subtweets. No…whatever message Brown was attempting to convey while running on his treadmill.

It’s clear those issues played some role in the locker room. Probably smaller than the media believes, distractions usually are the mole hill, not the mountain, but still, the environment in the locker room was heading in the wrong direction. No doubt about it.

But is getting rid of 26 and 84 the cure all? That the ship will be righted and the Steelers Super Bowl bound again? Not a chance.

And you might already know this. I hope you do. But given all the coverage about distractions in the locker room, we’ve nearly forgotten the very real issues with this Steelers’ team we talked about all season. Unless those get addressed, Pittsburgh will be in the same boat come 2019. Just minus the locker room excuses.

This is a team that will have the monumental task of replacing Brown. It’ll be the hardest thing Mike Tomlin has ever had to do as head coach of the Steelers and the second toughest job of Kevin Colbert’s tenure, second only to finding a franchise quarterback that became Ben Roethlisberger. Whatever benefit you get of no longer dealing with Brown’s antics will still massively be outweighed by his on-field reward. The offense will have a totally different feel, just like it did against Cincinnati in the finale. The defensive conundrum of “double AB, single up everyone else” no longer exists.

There’s still loads of talent offensively but Randy Fichtner will have to be as creative as ever to gameplan without a player of Brown’s caliber.

Defensively? So many questions. We’ve repeatedly discussed the lack of playmakers. How a team with 108 sacks the last two years can somehow be ranked 26th in takeaways, a stat so absurd you’d think it was a glitch in Madden. A team still searching for a defined, three-down player at inside linebacker instead of the “throw it at the wall, see what sticks” approach. A secondary that needs more playmakers than the Steelers can reasonably fill in one summer with short and long-term questions about its ROLB spot and defensive line depth.

Special teams are still on shaky ground. Chris Boswell is a dart throw and Jordan Berry’s spot shouldn’t feel secure. Penalties killed this team the first half of the year though to their credit, made a U-turn the rest of the way.

I know we’re all consumed by the drama, Brown’s future, and what it all means for the Steelers’ culture. Fine questions to ask. Just don’t miss out on the biggest picture. Because once Bell and Brown are officially in their new uniforms, all the Steelers will be able to do is look at themselves. And be confronted, with no other storyline to dominate the headlines, the real issues this roster has.

https://steelersdepot.com/2019/02/dumping-distractions-doesnt-mean-steelers-will-get-back-to-winning-ways/

[Eich]

The offense will have a totally different feel, just like it did against Cincinnati in the finale. The defensive conundrum of “double AB, single up everyone else” no longer exists.

I've seen the end-of-season Bungles game mentioned multiple times with regard to how we'll look without AB. I don't think you can take anything from that game as an example of what will happen. Mr. Big Chest not being in that game was a total shock. The team wasn't prepared for it at all.

We had a decent offense in 2005, where we featured Cedric Wilson along side Hines Ward.

I'm not saying that MBC won't be missed. The number of splash plays might go down. But we can certainly win without him. We just need Washington to improve, and the attack with Juju, Rogers, Vance and Conner has enough fire power IMO. Removing MBC might just make us a more balanced team with fewer turnovers. Especially if all these guys gel together and play with heart.

[Sword]

Agree. I can't believe the Steelers' careers of these two clowns has ended this way. I would have NEVER thought this would be possible a few years ago. They were both team heros. And now most fans are done with them.

Hard to believe.....I blame Rooney and Tomlin on most of this......