Don’t care

That is all we needed is one play. Would have changed the game completely.

 

I wouldn't pay Russ with the way he has been playing. Maybe his girl needs to give him some to make him a man so he can play great again ----but right this minute he<SUCKS>REALLY BAD-- 2+ GAMES TO GO ---SHOW US SOMETHING Russ--- .BESIDES FUMBLES AND PICKS and that F-ING Raven WHO made the pick 6 needs fined for taunting--- where was the flag F-THE RAVENS.

 

That's foolish. What was top QB money when Mahomes signed that deal? And I'm only taking your word on his contract.

 

I think it depends entirely on the contract he wants. At his age and ability, there is literally zero reason to pay him more than 25-30 million a year. If he wants to be paid like Cousins was, then he can go end his career elsewhere... simple as that. I think the FO balks at a massive deal without playoff success. That isn't to say I would be against having him back - I would be fine having him back. But it has to be at the right price.

He's been fine, but an overall rollercoaster. He has had high highs, and really low lows. He has been far more turnover prone than I expected as well. 8 Turnovers in 9 games is not terrible for sure, but it is also not what we are looking for out of a veteran player like him. We don't have to commit anything until after the season is over, so until we see how we fare the rest of the way its pointless to speculate.

 

The frustration is that good coaches can find a way to scheme a win every once in a while. Good coaches don't repeatedly make wrong punt/go-for-it decisions on 4th down. It isn't that we lost (I would normally consider a split with Baltimore a fine season series against them), it is just how we do so. We didn't have a plan without Pickens. We make too many in game decisions on a whim (without analytical thought), and for all the good decisions that Tomlin has made... he makes an equal number of horrible/wrong ones.

We have a good team but with an aging QB and the stars of our defense in the twilight of their career, we are running out of time. As a fan base we've gotten so used to making the "we're not an elite team" excuse for not winning in the post-season. In 2005 we were not an "elite" team. We barely scraped into the playoffs but found a way to win it all anyways. The 2011 9-7 Giants were not an "elite" team, yet they won it all. You CAN win playoff games without being "elite", I'm not saying we have to win it all every year with a decent team.. but to say that our team isn't good enough to win in the post season is wrong. 2017 we were elite. 2018 and 2020 we were more than good enough to win multiple games in the postseason. 2021 was probably the only season that we weren't good enough to beat our opponent. 2023 was a longer shot, but it was still very winnable.

We have a good enough team to win in the playoffs. The expectation is that we should win a playoff game this year. There will be multiple teams that have a worse squad than us that will win a playoff game in the 2024 season. One of those playoff winning teams needs to be us.

 

I think Blast just misread his contract. 16.5 million is Mahomes' guaranteed salary. He still gets over 18 million in prorated signing bonus, nearly 8 million for a roster bonus, and 1 million for a workout bonus. His cap hit is over 37 million for the year.

And yes, it was a top contract at the time. It was signed in 2020 and is essentially a 10 year/450 million dollar contract. The overall cash varies year to year, but the cap hit that Fields would see at 15 million a year (on a multi year deal) would be like a quarter of what Mahomes is counting this year. Also, I think a 15 million dollar contract for Fields is not far off what he will get (I think he might get closer to 20, but not guaranteed). Darnold and Minshew were on "compete for the job" deals at 10 and 12.5 million respectively, but Geno Smith is at 25 million and that was after a Pro Bowl season in a year similar to Fields' with us. I'd expect Justin to get something inbetween those numbers.

 

I think that 2005 was elite, they went 15-1 the year before and only slipped to 7-5 because Ben missed a few games in the middle of the season. When Ben came back healthy they went on a run from 7-5 right through the Superbowl win.

 

No worries, been there myself lol

Agree on Wilson though. 30 maybe, but he'd have to play well in the playoffs and have us win a game or two for that. I'm leaning in the 25ish million range. Seems fair, and it allows Russ to finish his career on a capable team that will build a team to try to win around him. He can go chase money, but who wants to end their career getting benched mid season on the 3-9 Giants. There aren't any quality rosters that are lacking a QB right now... It would be a terrible decision for Russ to go this route, unless of course all he cares about is the money, then "you do you" as they say.

 

Ben came back when we were 7-3, but you make at least a decent argument. Ben was 9-3 as a starter that year and we went 1-2 with our back ups. We were the 6th seed though, and I am not sure that we were injured enough to go from elite to last team to get in. Its close either way.

The point still remains that you don't have to be an elite team to win it all. You definitely don't have to be elite to win playoff games.

 

Fields, Wilson, Shiner, Hanratty, Stoudt, Malone, Woodley, Brister, Tomczak, Miller, O'Donnell, Korky, Maddox, Tribumski, etc...they're all the same f***ing dude! Average to below-average qb's who wear the black & gold, yet who were in the past (or are now) being put on a pedestal because they're in the black & gold.

Never saw a fan base blindly support & admire such POS qb's in the last 60 years more than Steelers fans. You just can't create a dynasty with scrub qb's at this level of play. Like I've often said, we're wasting years of our lives supporting bum coaches and bum qb's...I'm starting to think Artie II doesn't want to hoist a Trophy, either! Dumblin loves these NFL scrap heap qb's, that's for damn sure...

 

Typical. We run into a little adversity and dumb Tim shows up.

 

although Tomlin did blame the right people for the loss... <Russ>and the defense that's a good sign...

 

how can anyone support a QB who loses the games. We want to win not lose. How is that dumb.YAA having a bad game might be ok.But for it to trend into more is not. I like Russ to.... but I can't support him if he is costing us critical games. We need a home playoff game and what do they do SQUANDER the opportunities. I liked Kenny to but where is he now?They didn't even give him any chance or FIELDS FOR THAT MATTER I like him to. We want to win it's that simple. Nothing else----- not be average----- or accept losses ----we are theFans.Our team should be ELITE not pathetic. injuries don't matter NEXT man up

 

Looking around the league, there's no upcoming Free Agent QB's that are anything but backups.
Russell Wilson is probably the best option.
His market seems to be ~20mil/year... with some suggesting a 2 year, $40mil contract.
Looking at the Draft, this is not a great year for QB with probably the best showing up around 16-20 on the Big Board.
That also impacts teams like New Orleans, moving on from Carr and drafting a QB for example. (Meaning this limits those type options, not necessarily Carr)

So, load up on the other spots. This draft has running back, tight end and offensive tackle (this draft seems seem to be the deepest and strongest on the offensive side of the ball.)
On defense, the edge defender group is as deep as we’ve seen in several years, dominating the projected top 50. There are also more impact defensive backs this year than a year ago, with plenty of options on all three days of the draft, specifically on Days 2 and 3.
This might be a good year to trade some players and grab draft picks.

I don't like the harp on this but "Kenny Pickett."
He did a decent job for the fraudulent Eagle team. The DB's suck and Jayden lit them up. If the front 7 get no pressure (and they are decent) the back 4 are a liability.
Pickett did a decent job despite the rib injury and drove them to a potential winning FG after dropped passes, one for a TD..
Not pining for Pickett, but it is as obvious as anyone's nose is, that coaching makes a difference. (Pickett can stay in Philly)
Matt Canada blows.. that's a no-brainer as well.
But I still don't think we have the coaching to bring on a development QB. I even worry about a Jayden Daniels or Bo Nix here, their careers might be on skids.
So, I still think this off season needs to look at the staff some more.

Speaking of staff.
Loading this team with talent is going to be a standout issue at season's end.
#1 on the list is, if we have to stick with Wilson then we need receivers who can play ball. We need to get him weapons.
I am disappointed in all receivers not named Pickett (even he has some character issues I could do without)
Omar and company need to take a long look in the mirror.
Yes, I think they can do it. and yes, I think they got schooled this season - when they realized this team had a shot, they blew it by not grabbing some help.
Lessons learned, move on.

 

they will get a fair market value on him, nothing too flashy or pricey.

With:

1) an improved OLINE (more maturity, Fautanu in the mix), another add for depth, FA or draft
2) an improved A Smith
3) a better running game (Warren + a NEW BACK)
4) another go to WR or 2 (who knows how this WR rooms is re-vamped....)

he can be MUCH better / THEY can be much better on O than this year.

 

mostly agree, but come on - give C Austin some kudo's - kid has made plays when called on....

Running game has SUCKED and that was SUPPOSED to be the backbone of this offense.

 

And if they offered him that much they would probably have to settle for re-signing Fields.

 

Khan won't screw this up - Tomlin and Wilson are a match made in heaven. It is what it is.

 

Next year at WR they will have Pickens, Austin, and Roman, they need to find a #2 WR in the draft.

 

Rodgers is like 4 years older than Wilson and he was coming off a serious injury.

 

Austin is not the worst by any means.
And you he gets a few points for quality players (depth)
But he's still far from the best.
I could live with him, but 'Big Games' scare me with him.
But don't get me wrong, he's not the blame here... I just have those concerns.

The offense has not been able to force their will when it counts.
Most of the problem is the lack of respect from opposing defenses for any one of our WalMart special Receivers stretching the field.
Austin made some fine catches, but he's a backup (specialist) on most teams.
Teams are just standing near the LOS and stopping the run.

 

I don't disagree with the depth, I think that is exactly how it should be.
But I would challenge them, there will be some WR's in camp.
And yes, we have to find a legit #2 and maybe a more dependable #1 (I have no issues challegning Pickens.)