$60 Mill on the sidelines

[Northern_Blitz]

I wasn't in favor of signing Watt to the contract for this very reason. 0-6 without him though. Would having 3 regular players have them at 3-3? Anyone's guess. But one thing I will say, when the Steelers play BAL Watt is worth every penny. He's LJ's kryptonite.

I will understand not wanting to sign him to a 3rd contract. And might be arguing it myself.

But letting elite players walk in their prime is foolish IMO.

You aren't going to get anything back that substitutes for elite guys.

Signing guys to huge deals that you are pretending are elite is foolish. But guys that are genuinely in the top 10% of league starters is a no brainer IMO (while they are still in their primes).

[WindyCitySteel]

The defense isn't the same without Watt. Just like Steelers teams in the past were not the same without great players. This can be said for every team in the history of the NFL.

In the late 70's the D was starting to get older and guys were getting banged up and missing games, even missing Super Bowls. The offense opened up and overcame those injuries.

Good thing Noll didn't just say Next Man Up and jut out his jaw in defiance.

[Captain Lemming]

I would suggest the teams futility without Watt makes the case that it is money well spent.

Same thing used to happen when Troy or Deebo got hurt. Team tanked every time.

I don't see the same effect when losing players at say runningback.

As long as our oline was good WHOEVER PLAYED THERE went to the pro-bowl and we made the playoffs.

As long as Ben was elite, receivers did not matter either. We went through a SLEW of them.

Here is the fact. Watt has not lost a game this season, the Steelers have yet to win without Watt... EVER.

Pay the man his money.
He is worth every penny.

[Captain Lemming]

I will understand not wanting to sign him to a 3rd contract. And might be arguing it myself.

But letting elite players walk in their prime is foolish IMO.

You aren't going to get anything back that substitutes for elite guys.

I agree based on position. I would suggest you ABSOLUTELY let some elite players walk.

What do you get back?

The ability to sign ELITE players at more valuable positions.

Watts value is clear in that we are trash without him from the day he was drafted.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Trust me, this post has NOTHING to do with Mitch. No idea why he brought him up.

We have enough threads on MT and KP.

i'm guessing he read "sitting on the sidelines" as the thread subject, saw who posted it, then made an assumption - lol

[Northern_Blitz]

In the late 70's the D was starting to get older and guys were getting banged up and missing games, even missing Super Bowls. The offense opened up and overcame those injuries.

Good thing Noll didn't just say Next Man Up and jut out his jaw in defiance.

Roster construction is so much different today that I don't think you can really compare the 70s teams with any team that has UFA and a cap.

[Northern_Blitz]

I agree based on position. I would suggest you ABSOLUTELY let some elite players walk.

What do you get back?

The ability to sign ELITE players at more valuable positions.

Watts value is clear in that we are trash without him from the day he was drafted.

My guess is that the positions you wouldn't want to sign are the ones where the guy in his 5th year isn't elite anymore because decline starts early. OR at least that's how I feel about RB. Very little chance a guy stays in the top 10% of backs for years 5-9 IMO.

But at WR...I'd probably pay market value for a guy that was a top 3-6 WR in the league. Especially if I wasn't paying a QB. Miami might be an interesting case study for this kind of decision.

But ultimately, you keep elite guys because they are so few and far between that you don't honestly have the option of signing another elite guy with that money. Because elite guys generally don't make it to UFA. And I think in most cases I'd rather have an elite guy than two to three above average guys.

[Northern_Blitz]

My guess is that the positions you wouldn't want to sign are the ones where the guy in his 5th year isn't elite anymore because decline starts early. OR at least that's how I feel about RB. Very little chance a guy stays in the top 10% of backs for years 5-9 IMO.

But at WR...I'd probably pay market value for a guy that was a top 3-6 WR in the league. Especially if I wasn't paying a QB. Miami might be an interesting case study for this kind of decision.

But ultimately, you keep elite guys because they are so few and far between that you don't honestly have the option of signing another elite guy with that money. And I think in most cases I'd rather have an elite guy than two to three above average guys.

OT: I don't know how many watched the Buffalo vs. Miami game. But I think Miami should have had a safety there. He was in the pocket in the end zone. Had no one to throw to. Threw it to ground behind the Los. Even though there was technically a guy in the area (who the pass was clearly not intended for)...I thought if it was behind the line, it was a S. The D got hosed on that play because they made it so there was nothing the QB could do.