2012 Pittsburgh Steelers Offseason Thread. Gone Fishin

• BearBoy69

  

  That is all just speculation. The Steelers are quiet, and if there were any problems, as history has shown us, they have already been resolved. Tomlin is in Pittsburgh to stay.
• killer_ewok

  

  There are reports that the Steelers will not bring Hines Ward back next season.
• GoChiefs

  

  killer_ewok;1082658 wrote:There are reports that the Steelers will not bring Hines Ward back next season.

  
  http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=7564969
• thavoice

  I just hope it doesnt end up being a mess. For HW to come back he is gonna have to accept almost the minumun for a 10 year vet...around a million bucks. I dont know if he would accept that much of a cut. In years past the steelers have said, when some vets didnt resign, that they didnt even offer because they didnt want to insult the player.
  
  Lets be honest.....he is way down on the depth chart. Many of his catches were token tosses that any WR in college could come in and get for the steelers. I am a Ward fan. He has been my fav offensive player for the steelers in, well, a very long time but I just dont think the steelers can afford to keep him. If their cap wasnt so fucked up then yeah, but having to cut 26 million out of it I just dont see how he can stay. IF ward wants to play for the minimun....he should tell the steelers as I think that is the only way he stays.
• I Am Ahab

  Just to exhibit how delusional Steeler Nation is I wanted to pass along this gem of a comment I saw on another site. Dude said the Squeelers should keep Whines and move him to TE because he was such a good blocker and TE's aren't fast anyway. My only question is how is this guy not a coach somewhere yet with that kind of insight.
  
  Only prob with that theory is the D lineman will see Whines coming so he won't be able to blindside someone. Therefore his blocking/ cheap shotting technique is useless. That said I would LOVE to see Whines Hard moved to TE.
• LJ

  

  I Am Ahab;1084458 wrote:Just to exhibit how delusional Steeler Nation is I wanted to pass along this gem of a comment I saw on another site. Dude said the Squeelers should keep Whines and move him to TE because he was such a good blocker and TE's aren't fast anyway. My only question is how is this guy not a coach somewhere yet with that kind of insight.
  
  Only prob with that theory is the D lineman will see Whines coming so he won't be able to blindside someone. Therefore his blocking/ cheap shotting technique is useless. That said I would LOVE to see Whines Hard moved to TE.

  The use of "Squealers" once and "Whines" 3 times in a post. Solid trolling.
• Automatik

  

  I Am Ahab;1084458 wrote:Just to exhibit how delusional Steeler Nation is I wanted to pass along this gem of a comment I saw on another site. Dude said the Squeelers should keep Whines and move him to TE because he was such a good blocker and TE's aren't fast anyway. My only question is how is this guy not a coach somewhere yet with that kind of insight.
  
  Only prob with that theory is the D lineman will see Whines coming so he won't be able to blindside someone. Therefore his blocking/ cheap shotting technique is useless. That said I would LOVE to see Whines Hard moved to TE.

  link?
• Heretic

  

  Ah, one guy said something on a board about something...and so all of Steeler Nation is delusional. With that sort of great logic, you should team up with isadore on the threads he's "debating" points on.
• Automatik

  

  Heretic;1084596 wrote:Ah, one guy said something on a board about something...and so all of Steeler Nation is delusional. With that sort of great logic, you should team up with isadore on the threads he's "debating" points on.

  Yeah, who wouldn't what Hines to come back and play TE? Lets bring back an aging/past his prime WR to play a position that he's never played. I think its a great idea and I'm sure the rest of the fan base would agree. LOL :rolleyes:
• BearBoy69

  

  he offered to be paid in peanuts, the steelers still wont bring him back
• thavoice

  Ed Bouchette on ESPN today.....
  
  Said it is basically will be a battle of wills. The front office wants him back....and the coaches do not.
  
  He made a decent case to bring him back, probably used as a 4 WR. I can see that.....but can ya afford to pay a 4 a million bucks? ANd will he accept the min for a vet? He will restructure....but that doesnt mean playing for the min.
  
  
  I was all excited for arians to go....but I am getting a bit worried as it seems like Ben and Haley havent really even met and talked yet according to Ed...taht is a bit odd.
• killer_ewok

  

  There are reports that Rashard Mendenhall may miss the entire 2012 season.
• gerb131

  

  killer_ewok;1084970 wrote:There are reports that Rashard Mendenhall may miss the entire 2012 season.

  Yikes....may not be a good year in Pitt. Opens the door for my Bengals.
• LJ

  

  killer_ewok;1084970 wrote:There are reports that Rashard Mendenhall may miss the entire 2012 season.

  Is Fuamatu-Ma'afala available? :laugh:
• killer_ewok

  

  gerb131;1085107 wrote:Yikes....may not be a good year in Pitt. Opens the door for my Bengals.

  
  Or it opens the door for Isaac Redman to show what he can do as a feature back. I'm not ready to write the Steelers off just yet, but it is shaping up to be a lively offseason, one of change, in the 'Burgh.
• killer_ewok

  

  LJ;1085112 wrote:Is Fuamatu-Ma'afala available? :laugh:

  
  LOL. What about bringing back FWP to tandem with Redman as a change of pace back? Mewelde should remain the 3rd down back.
• GoPens

  

  Actually I'm anxious to see what Baron Batch brings to the table. Thought he was having a good camp until his ACL injury.
• killer_ewok

  

  GoPens;1085192 wrote:Actually I'm anxious to see what Baron Batch brings to the table. Thought he was having a good camp until his ACL injury.

  
  Good point. I forgot about Baron. Not sure how I did though seeing as I read his numerous tweets daily. LOL. I remember him having a good camp too. Can't wait to see what he's got this year.
• thavoice

  Was a little surprise that they expect him to miss the full season...but I can understand he probably wont be close to being ready.
  
  Could be a disaster year.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  [h=1]Starkey: Steelers' power struggle fascinates[/h]
  
  The Steelers' clumsy coordinator shuffle clearly was aimed at making one man a lot less comfortable.
  
  The quarterback.
  That is what makes this drama so compelling.
  How does Ben Roethlisberger respond to getting slapped around a little? The organization that granted him nearly unlimited power to play as he saw fit -- heck, to play when he saw fit after his ankle injury -- is trying to reclaim a portion of said power.
  And there is no delicate way to do that.
  So get your popcorn ready. It's either going to work to spectacular results or blow up in their faces.
  Applaud the high-risk, high-reward philosophy that has often served the Steelers well. Question their methods. Enjoy the cabaret.
  In hindsight, one can see the power-strip process beginning the day after the loss in Denver, when coach Mike Tomlin was asked how much say Roethlisberger would have in whether coordinator Bruce Arians was retained.
  "None," Tomlin said, sharply.
  Days later, team president Art Rooney II said he'd like to see Roethlisberger "tweak" his game.
  The Steelers then "shocked" Roethlisberger -- his word, which he has used repeatedly -- by firing his friend Arians in the most insulting way imaginable.
  They tried to pass off the move as a "retirement," but before Arians could collect his gold watch, he was working again -- now as the Indianapolis Colts' offensive coordinator.
  Kardashian-Humphries marriage: 72 days.
  Arians retirement: eight days.
  Steelers' silence: priceless.
  We still don't know for sure who orchestrated Arians' ouster. The Steelers have not seen fit to clear up the confusion.
  Maybe Rooney and Tomlin were more up front about it with Roethlisberger than they have been with the public. The way things are going, though, you have to wonder if they've even told him yet.
  Tomlin didn't exactly find a wallflower to replace Arians, either.
  Quite the opposite: He brought in Haley's comet.
  And you don't think this organization wanted to rock Ben's world?
  I like hard-core Todd Haley's resume. He has been successful using different approaches. Lots of pass. Lots of run. He also isn't afraid to get in players' faces, and elite ones such as Larry Fitzgerald swear by him (and often swore at him).
  But that doesn't mean this will be a slam dunk. There is no predicting the result when massive egos collide.
  For now, Roethlisberger and Haley will apparently spend some time marking their territory.
  Haley, for example, did not seek out Roethlisberger upon showing up at Steelers headquarters. Here's hoping they meet sometime before the season opener.
  Roethlisberger upstaged Haley's introductory news conference Thursday by choosing an hour earlier to give his first extended interview since the Arians firing.
  It really is great theatre.
  It's a tightrope walk for the Steelers, too, because we're talking about the meal ticket here.
  The Steelers need Roethlisberger way more than he needs them.
  Remember, Roethlisberger is the main reason this franchise snapped its quarter-century Super Bowl drought. It had gone 25 years without a championship-level quarterback.
  He also is the primary reason Tomlin has become a top-tier NFL coach making millions of dollars.
  Everybody knows it's a quarterbacks league. Without one, a coach is doomed. With a great one, he almost can't help but thrive. Just ask Ken Whisenhunt.
  And be sure of this: Roethlisberger will be the reason Haley does -- or does not -- become a head coach again.
  It all depends on how this marriage works out.
  I assume Haley is smart enough to be open to the ad-lib style that makes Roethlisberger unique. But the Steelers also believe Ben needs to play a tamer, smarter game. They want him to stay upright for the next several years (blockers, anyone?). They want him to get rid of the ball faster.
  That is understandable. Commendable, even.
  Was this the right way to go about it?
  Time will tell. It always does.
  Get your popcorn ready.
  [LEFT]
  Read more: Starkey: Steelers' power struggle fascinates - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_781267.html#ixzz1mSlQLFCc
  [/LEFT]
• thavoice

  I have a little diff take. WHat is BR supposed to say when BA was not retained? That he wasnt surprised?
  
  It will be intriguing. I posted early what Joe Greene said about Arians and the run and the offense. He used how the Pats actually ran the FB outta passing formations and such. Ed Bouchette said on ESPN on monday that it is the committment to a run taht the steelers need. It isnt the ratio. He was saying that BA offense put NO effort into the run. They didnt work on it in practice, they didnt practice it and such. Steelers fans know exactly what Greene and Bouchette is talking about. I think the BA offense put token effort on the run....it looked poorly so he would say "Oh well, we tried".
• killer_ewok

  

  I'll worry about it once there's a reason to worry as opposed to adopting the "sky is falling/we're doomed" attitude that some fans run with when there are changes made to the team/coaching staff.
• Automatik

  

  killer_ewok;1086628 wrote:I'll worry about it once there's a reason to worry as opposed to adopting the "sky is falling/we're doomed" attitude that some fans run with when there are changes made to the team/coaching staff.

  Yeah until I see anything that actually effects team performance then I'll be concerned. I rarely question the Rooney's decisions so I'll approach it with a "wait and see" attitude.
• thavoice

  A good sign......BR said he has started his offseason workout program earlier than before now that he is 30. He has been working out at the facility, looking to stay focused and will work with the receivers earlier than they did beforee.
  
  
  
  I have the same thought regarding the decisions.....The rooneys get it right more than what anyoen of use ever would and trust the moves they make, even if at times we dont see it at the time.
• BearBoy69

  

  Im excited, now is the time for change for our aging steelers team, so we don't have to go into a rebuilding team, instead we reload