Implications of the Alex Mack Offer Sheet

The only reason Mack got that contract was because Jacksonville was trying to make it so that the Browns wouldn't match it. I wouldn't trade Pouncey let it play out, I wouldn't give him a contract like Mack got either.

 

I'm shuddering slightly at all the recommendations we drop Pouncey because there's some kid in the draft we can get.

I can only think of one lineman we've drafted in recent years who turned up at camp NFL-ready, however good they looked on tape. And that guy was Pouncey.

 

So do we have enough money to pay pouncey big money or do we let him walk?

 

WHEN??

Exactly, over 4 years ago.

He's not done with the AAron connection trust me.

I loved the way our oline played last year.

without him

He's not needed and the baggage and the contract renewal will be the final straw.

It's really not a big loss, because it's been that way before.

 

I really liked Pouncey his rookie year, that was about it. What post season honors???? He has always been injured in the big games. As of recent he has shown to struggle against strong D Tackles too, plus Velascoe and Cody played just as good.

Bottom line to me is Pouncey is going to have to earn every penny of a new contract next season.

 

That's great, but it would be a mistake to give him a huge deal. Elite dollars should be reserved for elite players. Healthy elite players. We gave Willie Colon a big contract coming off a torn achilles a few years back, and $4.3 million of that is still on our cap this season. Let Pouncey play out his deal. Playing for a contract will motivate him to have a great year if he can stay healthy. Then he can sign a fat contract with another team, and we get a 3rd round compensatory pick.

And yeah, his association with Hernandez is an issue as far as I'm concerned.

 

Oh, for sure. Separate points, though: I was less talking about what deal we give Pouncey now, and more the assumption being made that some guy in the draft could take his place without any drop off. Even Decastro, who is the better player than Pouncey, had issues - injuries, confidence, adjustments, etc. And I think I'm still scarred by the memories of Justin Hartwig and Sean Mahan to be overly confident with the idea of signing a vet back up to be an interim solution.

Having said that, it's a real shame that Velasco got injured in a way that would put a question mark over his return to the Steelers. A healthy Velasco would solve an awful lot of problems here. Cody Wallace is a solid back up, but I don't think we should read too much into that.

In terms of what Pouncey is actually worth: he would be foolish to go into contract negotiations under the impressions he's an all-pro, essential part of the team, and I would be surprised if both sides didn't recognise that.

 

I think this is exactly how his side is going to approach it.

 

Seems like only yesterday this board and everyone like it was "Get Pouncey!"
It may have been the 1st time that just about everyone agreed.

Or was it yesterday?

 

The difference in skill between Pouncey and a healthy Velasco is not worth the difference in salaries that both would demand respectively next year. Keep Velasco at a moderate salary (if he is healthy of course), and use the extra money that would have been spent on Pouncey to help rebuild the D-Line or secondary.

Just because Pouncey is good doesn't mean he is worth a fat contract to this team taht is trying to re-tool to get back to the playoffs. We nearly were a playoff team last season, but the reason we didn't make it was NOT because of the center position. We can and will do fine without him.

Taking it a step further, I would look to possibly trading him (this tread may have talked about that but I didn't feel like reading the walls of text) before week 8 and getting some type of compensation. We could maybe get a third or second round pick for him, or maybe for a D-lineman. Who knows. I would still explore that option though.

 

pouncey has some value to us if healthy and his quickness is still there. we can't gauge this year from last year either. they want to go to the zone blocking as an offense. that requires guys that can move. can velasco play that role? we abandoned it after pouncey went down for the most part. that's why I'd say we grab one from the draft that has those capabilities. nobody is saying he would play above pouncey's level, but we haven't seen pouncey or any of them play in a heavily zone blocking system. velasco did, but was cut by this coach last year. I would welcome him back though when healthy but a rookie is not out of the question either with pouncey staying this year or not. we need some depth if we let him walk next year anyway. definitely some unknowns still to play out. so don't go by what this line did last year, it will be different.

 

I think we will have a very hard time
negotiating with him and will lose him
for nothing.Lets see if we can get something
for him.

 

Ahh but remember we are very fickle fans

Pouncey was a good choice and had the FO been able to predict the future I wonder if Pouncey would be in the Burgh. They way Velasco and Wallace have held up the line in the later part of the
season surely has everyone wondering what value does he have and at what price and cost of not having other talent at a cheaper price.

Bman

 

Wallace the Butt Pirate?
Sorry, couldn't stop

 

Here's what Ray Fittipaldo of the Post Gazette had to say, The Steelers have never been an organization that overreacts to what other organizations are doing with their contracts. They'll offer Pouncey what they feel he is worth, I totally agree with him if Pouncey doesn't like their offer then so be it.

 

I don't think there is ANY way the Steelers can tie up $8 million a season in a Center, not even Maurkice Pouncey.