Will Steelers be disciplined for talking to Lemon

Blast Furnace · May 7, 2026

Eichburgh said: ↑

Won't draft a player that they can't talk to first ON DRAFT DAY?, MINUTES BEFORE DRAFTING HIM? That makes no sense to me whatsoever. None. Surely, if they intend to draft a guy, they've already spoken with him BEFORE the draft? If it's public knowledge that this guy won't draft someone he can't speak to minutes before being on the clock, I'd sure be tempted to call the guy too. Just to mess up Howie's stupid "rule".
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I dont know, thats what he has said though and seeing is reaction there, seems thats how he feels about it.

Now would he have stuck to his rule, seems unlikely but you can tell he definitely prefers to talk to them. He was a little panicky there.

Blast Furnace · May 7, 2026

NorthernBlitz said: ↑

They could in fact get him on the phone.

And they did.

While they were still on the clock.

It did not stop them from making the pick. A pick they were obviously going to make becuase they traded up to take him.

Do we know the actual sequence of events here re: Philly?

With the time delay between when things actually happen in draft rooms and what we see on TV, I wonder if this call happened before PHI decided to make the trade.

If they use information from these calls to make decisions about who to draft, then it would be silly of them to make the trade and then call the player they traded up to draft.
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They did in fact have trouble reaching him though, enough so that Howie commented on it and had several people calling alternate numbers to get him on the phone.

The problem with the Steelers being on the phone with him is Lemon thinks Steelers are drafting him, hes not going to hang up on them or put the on hold, thats why he was like whys Philly calling me, he thinks its a done deal with Pittsburgh.

If you watch closely, it was the big dude that came up to him holding a phone saying Philly traded for you, I looks like that guy was on the phone with Philly and he went and got Lemon.

Im not arguing anything is going to happen to the Steelers, Im just countering the idea that it wasnt interfering with a team on the clock, intentional or not, they got in the way.

CK 13 · May 7, 2026

Eichburgh · May 7, 2026

Blast Furnace said: ↑

They did in fact have trouble reaching him though, enough so that Howie commented on it and had several people calling alternate numbers to get him on the phone.

The problem with the Steelers being on the phone with him is Lemon thinks Steelers are drafting him, hes not going to hang up on them or put the on hold, thats why he was like whys Philly calling me, he thinks its a done deal with Pittsburgh.

If you watch closely, it was the big dude that came up to him holding a phone saying Philly traded for you, I looks like that guy was on the phone with Philly and he went and got Lemon.

Im not arguing anything is going to happen to the Steelers, Im just countering the idea that it wasnt interfering with a team on the clock, intentional or not, they got in the way.
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I agree with what you're saying. At the same time, I don't see it as interference. Just draft the guy - whether you can reach him by phone or not. Why do you have to talk to him in the moment to make the pick? What could the player POSSIBLY say at that on-the-clock MOMENT, that would change your mind one way or the other? Even if in that moment, the player says, "I hate Philly", what are you going to do after already trading up?

If they determine that the Steelers did interfere and they get some kind of penalty, then the rule needs to change to NO TALKING WITH ANY PLAYER during the draft, until you're on the clock.

Blast Furnace · May 7, 2026

Eichburgh said: ↑

I agree with what you're saying. At the same time, I don't see it as interference. Just draft the guy - whether you can reach him by phone or not. Why do you have to talk to him in the moment to make the pick? What could the player POSSIBLY say at that on-the-clock MOMENT, that would change your mind one way or the other? Even if in that moment, the player says, "I hate Philly", what are you going to do after already trading up?

If they determine that the Steelers did interfere and they get some kind of penalty, then the rule needs to change to NO TALKING WITH ANY PLAYER during the draft, until you're on the clock.
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Yeah I think that rule will be addressed one way or the other now that it became a spectacle on draft night.

NorthernBlitz · May 7, 2026

Blast Furnace said: ↑

They did in fact have trouble reaching him though, enough so that Howie commented on it and had several people calling alternate numbers to get him on the phone.

The problem with the Steelers being on the phone with him is Lemon thinks Steelers are drafting him, hes not going to hang up on them or put the on hold, thats why he was like whys Philly calling me, he thinks its a done deal with Pittsburgh.

If you watch closely, it was the big dude that came up to him holding a phone saying Philly traded for you, I looks like that guy was on the phone with Philly and he went and got Lemon.

Im not arguing anything is going to happen to the Steelers, Im just countering the idea that it wasnt interfering with a team on the clock, intentional or not, they got in the way.
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I agree with all of this.

And I think it shows that what they did wasn't against the rules.

But as we've said many times here, we don't really know what the rule means. We just have different interpretations...both of which are reasonable IMO, I just think mine makes more sense.

Bubbahotep · Jun 16, 2026 at 5:55 AM

I guess your answer is "no"....

jeh1856 · Jun 16, 2026 at 5:27 PM

Bubbahotep said: ↑

I guess your answer is "no"....
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Talking to anyone in particular

Bubbahotep · Jun 17, 2026 at 7:03 AM

jeh1856 said: ↑

Talking to anyone in particular
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The OP

NorthernBlitz · Jun 17, 2026 at 7:19 AM

Bubbahotep said: ↑

I guess your answer is "no"....
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Yep.

Seems pretty clear that this was nothing to get worked up over.

Karl · Jun 17, 2026 at 7:58 AM

I had no clue they did this. It is talked about the war rooms a lot, so I can't imagine they didn't know it.
Way to throw away a pick.

I have no idea what they might have been thinking or what was happening at the time.
Maybe it was just a mistake, one that comes with a price.

mac daddyo · Jun 17, 2026 at 8:11 AM

let's have some lemonade.

bleednblackngold · Jun 17, 2026 at 8:18 AM

Bubbahotep said: ↑

Yea, the rule is a little odd. What if you were talking to a guy that wasn't projected going until a round later and some team decides to reach for him? The rule should be no contact until you are on the clock. Period.
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This tracks for the NFL. Vaguely written rules seem to be their specialty.

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Will Steelers be disciplined for talking to Lemon

Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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CK 13 Well-Known Member

Eichburgh Well-Known Member

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NorthernBlitz Well-Known Member

Bubbahotep Well-Known Member

jeh1856 I’ll eat turds in the field but not a fresh pea TSF Supporter

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