Rooney Is Cheap

.... as suspected:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/65...enewsletter&campaign=14863784&userId=16661255

In case you don't have access, chart below with Steelers highlighted

 

Wow....Last in the NFL

 

They are too cheap on the coaching staff too.Too cheap to fire a bad assistant coach and hire a great one...Tomlin has a lot of heat on that and maybe he deserves it but maybe it's not his fault...

 

Fans can criticize a lot of things about the Steelers, but managing the cap should be at the bottom of the list. Developing players is the issue. If more players deserved a 2nd contract, the Steelers cap concerns would be different.

 

AJR II isn't as strong/good as his dad, Dan Rooney, but he still has the best front office in the NFL, the best GM, the most respected HC, the most loyal former players, and the best fan base in the NFL.
But AJR II is a net weakness.

 

Dan Rooney was the genius behind the great team of the 1970s. In fact, when they built Three Rivers somebody asked him why did they not add more seats to to the relatively small stadium to generate a higher gate? Rooney replied that in good times they could easily guarantee a sellout of a large stadium which had a lot to do with television broadcasting rights in local markets at the time, but in lean times the game could get blacked out if they did not sell out. In addition, they could guarantee full employment regardless of the economy.

It's a business too.

 

Well he paid bags Tomlin 50 mill. And Bags hires the assistant coaching staff. So the fault lies at his feet when an assistant faulters.

Yes they hang on to the assistant coaches even if they need to be terminated and are a liability. But they make them finish the contract. Canada was an exception to that rule. Its wrong but that's how they handle business unfortunately.

I'm not giving a pass to Art II here but the Steelers are the business for the Rooney family. They have no other businesses to fall back on like other owners. The Steelers are it. Not an excuse for keeping certain coaches or players, they make plenty of money.

 

Just a note that the OP is about cap spending. Spending on coaches is outside of the cap.

And full disclosure;

#1 - sarcasm alert on the OP

#2 - in the previous 5 yr period they were middle of the pack

I would also note the number of teams that are now spending beyond the cap. Even the worst teams in the NFL. The cap is an accounting threshold that is very easily
manipulated. The chart shows that every team but the Steelers are willing to manipulate cash spending against the cap and it's hard to understand their reluctance to this.

But maybe the writer was correct; why spend the money if you know you're not going all the way to the SB? Or are the Steelers trying to prove that there are other ways to get there??

 

Rooney is just following in Nutting's footsteps. He sees the Pirates suck year after year yet fans fork over their hard earned dollars too watch the sh!t show. Rooney knows a crap Steeler team will still have the fans paying to see them.

This is a fantasy that would never happen. Let's be real here. At the start of every season every sport fans know if their team is going to be a contender or not. Example: Pirates will suck in 2026. I'd love for fans to say F U and stop supporting their team with dollars. Never ever gonna happen but I bet it would shake up the sporting world.

 

Look who's leading that graphic.

 

Of course, it's also important to spend money wisely....when you do both, just look at the current Eagles team!

 

Noted. Just went off script which i'm good at.

The reality is they are in most cases very close to the cap every year and need restructures to get into compliance and also tend to take care of their own for better or for worse.

 

Why would I do that? I just want to make fun of the Browns.

 

I'm so sick of the money these guys are making, I can live with it.

 

Is it? The data shows no direct correlation between higher spending increasing and a team's weighted win total. In the 2020-'24 period, of the 12 teams who spent 10% or more above their cap, the Steelers' weighted win total was equal to, or greater, than seven of them. And in total wins straight up, the Steelers are only two behind the Eagles (20.3% over their cap), obviously though, the Eagles have had better postseason success.

I'd also point to the impact a franchise QB has on spending. When you've got one, not only will they directly impact spending, but it also makes it a much better play to add pieces around them.

 

Somebody lend this poor boy some green ink.

 

To sat they are cheap on the CAP is simply not true, there was a period near the end of Ben's career they were in cap hell, the reduction in cap money due to covid put them in a deep hole. Every team has their own CAP strategy, the Eagles have used dead cap system and with great development create a winning product, but that CAP will hit. Perhaps the continue escalation of the yearly cap will allow them to work this out, but the increases in salary will still eventually make their decisions more difficult. The Packers paid an outlandish amount for Parsons, but developed players that are producing high quality work before getting paid. The CAP money is set, its the players guaranteed money, team owners have no advantage not spending it, in fact can be fined and lose draft picks for not following the league and players unions agreement.

Is Art cheap on the amount paid and the number of staff available, seems that way, but the spending on CAP is not about cheap, it is now you spend that money and it looks more like chasing good money after bad under achieving individuals.

 

This is how I see it also, of course I really don't understand this side of things 100%, but from what I do, I agree

 

There is no argument there, but it comes with an organization that drafts well, develops well, is not afraid to move on because they have cheaper replacements in place. The count against that dead money will hit, the yearly player signings will increase as well as the CAP, their system has created a productive and successful operation, the extended opportunities were and are more than just the money spent, it's in continuing to draft and develop and move on from players they simply decide not to pay.

 

Completely agree. This more or less is Exhibit A on how poorly we drafted since 2019.

 

Best Front Office in the NFL?! Pittsburgh?! Baltimore, Philadelphia, Kansas City, both of the Los Angeles teams in the Rams and Chargers (Rams have been killing it with their mid to late draft additions circa 2022), Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota, Seattle and Buffalo all would like to have a word.


As for GM?! Very much the same of what I said regarding the Front Office. Omar Khan has done very good things but the fact of the matter is that the Steelers still don't have a Playoff Win under him. Now, what he was given isn't all on him; Kevin Colbert being one of the culprits here. That said, since 2023, while Pittsburgh has been to the Playoffs three straight times, they have been blown out three straight times as well.


Until that changes and the Steelers start stacking wins in the Playoffs?! Khan is on the outside of Top 10 GMs looking inward. Playoff wins and deep playoff runs are what separate good GMs from the great ones.

 

I hope this is the reason...If this is not the case,the steelers are in trouble

 

Finding the one isn't easy. Once you do however, boy oh boy does it become exponentially easier to acquire the pieces that are needed both through Free Agency and the Draft; doubly so the latter. Teams that select in the late 20s to early 30s don't need to panic and simply have to let the board dictate the BPA for them.


Howie Roseman seems to understand this to the tee; Eric DeCosta doubly so. Brett Veach can also be added to the equation. Brandon Beane as well.

 

This is very true, with Kahn I saw what he was left with, the progression of drafts and felt quite good. What they did this year was very unusual in Steeler history and perhaps it works, but when you start the cycle of re-treads the amount we have done this year it rarely works. The amount of new names on this roster reveals how inept they have been in getting things right, as I said he may work (is working getting one PO win?), but if its the same results you have to look at the deeper issues and not sure they themselves (Art on down) and willing to make the changies.