Pittsburgh Steelers team president Art Rooney II had his annual end-of-the-season talk with the media Wednesday morning and below are the talking points and answers that he covered with several members of the Pittsburgh media.
As usual, we didn’t learn anything worthy of stopping the presses, but at least we all will have something to write about for the next few days.
Steelers pres Art Rooney met with several of us. He does not know if report is true about DeflateGate but if so Pats will be disciplined
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 21, 2015
This Deflate-Gate stuff should make Super Bowl media day very entertaining.
24 minutes w/ @Steelers President Art Rooney II: “We didn’t achieve R ultimate goal, but it was a positive season in a lot of ways.”
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) January 21, 2015
It was a positive season when you consider that they won 11 games after two back-to-back seasons. However, we all know that the defense needs a lot of work and that the offense has to get better inside the red zone.
Rooney: Steelers will stick with 3-4 defense under new coordinator Keith Butler
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 21, 2015
Keith Butler pretty much already addressed this. He threw the 4-3 thing out there as that is the sub package front they have used for years.
Steelers owner Art Rooney told a small group of reporters this AM that he saw season as a success but team needs to improve, especially on D
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) January 21, 2015
Per the tweet above, we all know that this defense has to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and also has to improve quite a bit on first downs.
Rooney doesn’t see re-signing Roethlisberger as issue, allows it’s going likely cost more $$$ than it would have a year ago.
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) January 21, 2015
No, this shouldnt be an issue at all. He will cost a lot and the sooner this deal gets done the better.
AJR II on defense: ‘We need to continue to develop R young players on def – Heyward, Timmons. Think there’s a core to build around.’
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) January 21, 2015
Cameron Heyward really had an amazing season and while the rest of the defense wasn’t great, at least several of the younger players were able to get valuable playing experience.
Rooney: No decisions yet on personnel but will be talking with James Harrison, Polamalu, Ike, Keisel over net few weeks about their futures
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 21, 2015
This has been beaten to death already. Troy Polamalu and Brett Keisel are both currently under contract for 2015 while James Harrison is set to become an unrestricted free agent once again. There’s a good chance that all three have played their final games in Pittsburgh. we should know more about Polamalu and Keisel come early March.
AJR II on Ben: ‘Like to get (extension) done this offseason. Fair to say sooner rather than later, but won’t put timetable on it’
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) January 21, 2015
Ideally they would like to have Ben Roethlisberger wrapped up by the start of the new league year in March. One could easily speculate that this won’t be a talking point by the time training camp rolls around.
Rooney on possible Le’Veon Bell suspension in 2015 for marijuana DUI: “He’ll have to go through that disciplinary process”
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 21, 2015
Let’s continue to hope that Le’Veon Bell only gets one game and that the Steelers open up at home against a weak opponent.
Rooney isn’t sure about cap situation, says team expects it to go up modestly. Added he would like to keep Worilds but may depend on price
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) January 21, 2015
If no deal gets done by March, Jason Worilds will be able to test free agency as an unrestricted free agent. I just can’t see him wearing another tag in 2015 even though they could be desperate.
Rooney said he “personally would have liked to see Dick [LeBeau} stay but “things happen in this business” and noted LeBeau say he resigned
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 21, 2015
TRANSLATION: In other words, we will just go with what Dick LeBeau has told the media and that is he resigned. We are never going to admit to telling him that he had to go.
AJR II said using a tag once again on Jason Worilds is a possibility. ‘We would like to have Jason back.’
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) January 21, 2015
I will believe the tag when I see it.
Rooney on Steelers D: “We have some good young players we can build around” but secondary will be a focus in the offseason
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 21, 2015
Only two ways to do this and that’s via free agency or the draft. Good corners are expensive if they are free agents and if you want one in the draft you better select one in the first three rounds.
Rooney said they will approach free agency as usual and “if the opportunity to sign” a starter comes up, they will try to do it
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 21, 2015
Don’t expect the same amount of moves as last offseason, but they could be in good enough cap shape come March to make a run at one or two defensive players.
Rooney on LeGarrette Blount’s release: “It was a disappointment the way that turned out . . . For us, it was the right decision.”
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 21, 2015
I agree with him here. They addressed the backup position last offseason and could once again this offseason. They knew LeGarrette Blount’s history when they signed him so they shouldn’t be surprised that things went the way they did with him in Pittsburgh.
Rooney: Not sure why teams all can’t use same ball in the game and nothave each side use their own. “It seems like that would be easy answer
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) January 21, 2015
Teams like to scuff up their own footballs so I doubt one team will want to use ones prepared by the other team. Sounds good in theory, I just don’t think it will happen. How about just hire a few people to keep control of them all on the sidelines? Or put a chip in them that will go off if they lose too much air.
