Colbert, Steelers FO Allude to Changes on the Way

[wwhickok]

Originally Posted by OX1947

True on Fitz, but man, if you can get Tyrann for a late rounder, its worth it, you have too. There is too much talent there not to give a shot and if he pans out, he is a perennial all pro type and we NEED that guy in this league of passing. Im just sayin...

When you put it that way, I can't disagree, the reward is bigger than the risk.

[Atlanta Dan]

It appears Colbert has concluded attempting to apply patches will no longer work and that it is time for a rebuild

Ben might have to hope he can stay healthy and be around to be the grand old man of the team (such as Elway in the last few years of his career) after the Steelers take time time to retool for a few years

70s Steelers recognized it was time to say goodbye to a lot of players in 1980-81 after their run that started in 1972 ended - this group's run since 2004 is on the same trajectory (with the hopeful difference that Ben does not get a career ending injury like Bradshaw did that leads to an early termination of his career)

[OX1947]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

It appears Colbert has concluded attempting to apply patches will no longer work and that it is time for a rebuild

Ben might have to hope he can stay healthy and be around to be the grand old man of the team (such as Elway in the last few years of his career) after the Steelers take time time to retool for a few years

70s Steelers recognized it was time to say goodbye to a lot of players in 1980-81 after their run that started in 1972 ended - this group's run since 2004 is on the same trajectory (with the hopeful difference that Ben does not get a career ending injury like Bradshaw did that leads to an early termination of his career)

Not drafting Dan Marino in 1983 cost the Steelers, more then likely, a few super bowls too.

[GoFor7]

Quite a contrast from what Artie said last week and what Colbert said today. Artie tried to sugar coat a lot of things, Colbert was blunt and to the point: 8-8. A lot of things about this Steelers team sucked and he acknowledged it. Artie tried to convince the media the Steelers are up there with the other playoff teams while Colbert bluntly put it that the Steelers aren't anywhere near that good.

Memo to Artie: Let Kevin Colbert handle football operations as you aren't very good at it.

[OX1947]

Might as well do a complete overhaul. Keep Troy and Harrison and let all the other old timers go. Start the youth movement now and get a receiver in a trade or free agency.

With the league being the way it is now, you do not need seasoned vets, hell even a seasoned QB not names Brady to have chance at going to the bowl. Go young, go hard. Too many damn injuries, need young guys who dont get hurt.

[Atlanta Dan]

Originally Posted by OX1947

Not drafting Dan Marino in 1983 cost the Steelers, more then likely, a few super bowls too.

Agreed - supposedly The Chief wanted to draft Marino but Noll was scared away by the drug rumors that scared off a lot of teams

[teegre]

Originally Posted by GoFor7

Quite a contrast from what Artie said last week and what Colbert said today. Artie tried to sugar coat a lot of things, Colbert was blunt and to the point: 8-8. A lot of things about this Steelers team sucked and he acknowledged it. Artie tried to convince the media the Steelers are up there with the other playoff teams while Colbert bluntly put it that the Steelers aren't anywhere near that good.

Memo to Artie: Let Kevin Colbert handle football operations as you aren't very good at it.

I feel that both were correct.

This team was 6-3 and arguably one of the best in the league (many sources had them as the top team in their power-rankings...not that power-ranking mean much), and Las Vegas had them as the third or fourth best odds to win it all.

And then... injuries galore.

Furthermore, this team is young at several key positions: WR, CB, ILB, DE, O-line.

BUT, there is also dead weight and/or a need for change (or cuts or whatever).

[pete74]

Originally Posted by OX1947

Not drafting Dan Marino in 1983 cost the Steelers, more then likely, a few super bowls too.

He is my all time favorite playe . Met him at his restaurant Anthony south of the city a few times and had my little boy go ask him to sign his rookie card for him. He's a very nice man and I still regret not drafting him. We would probably be have 3 more rings

[teegre]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

Agreed - supposedly The Chief wanted to draft Marino but Noll was scared away by the drug rumors that scared off a lot of teams

Argh... The Chief was such a meddlesome owner. Argh... what does an owner ever know. Argh!!!

[Darkstorm05]

Originally Posted by teegre

Yes & no.

Omar Khan is a genius at pushing money around.

Furthermore, they take the player's huge contract, and push the larger paycheck to the end of the contract... and then, they cut that player (eg Hines Ward & James Farrior), or, at other times, the player sees the writing on the wall & takes a pay cut (Bettis).

I think that Troy restructures his deal to take less this year, and then he retires. I see Keisel simply taking a pay cut (he saw what happened with Aaron Smith AND Cameron Heyward is waiting behind him, for 1/16 the cost). James Harrison is interesting because:

They only have 2 years left on their contracts. We're at the end, and there's really nowhere left to push the money to. Both are due like 12 mil next season, and 13ish the next. Both performed on about a 4.5 mil level this season. If we ask them to push back even 5 mil a piece, then we would have 36 million hanging on the 2014 season between 2 guys.

They would be retarded to agree to that, because it raises their chances of getting screwed next year to 100%. That "Restructured" money would be money they let walk, and there's no way that goes down, because we would cut them for sure. That leaves them to other get cut this offseason and sign a cheaper contract, get cut and go elsewhere, or else we keep them on and get bent over the table on salaries that won't see a return on the field.