Good morning,
We turn things over entirely to your questions in Ask Ed this morning:
--- YOU: I was surprised to read the assertion in your chat today that Larry Foote was released for "reduced performance." Is that really accurate? As I recall he played well in 2012, and the one game he played in 2013 he seemed fine. I could understand he might be viewed as now too injured to return, or there might simply be an expectation that his age implies impending problems. But did he really ever under-perform? Indeed, I wonder if the Steelers didn't do him a favor forcing him out at a time when he can still look back and say his play never did drop off.
ED: What you’re asking is, did I write that as the reason and now I’m going to tell you it was inaccurate? That is what I was told. It does not mean I necessarily believe it, but that is why they released him. They certainly did not do it to save the $1.5 million in his salary; they also did not ask him to take less as they did with Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu. If they thought his age, 33, predicted impending problems then they should have thought similarly about Polamalu, 32, and Taylor, 33.
--- YOU: Is it against the league rules to enter into a contract to be held in escrow until cap space frees up in June?
ED: You mean, post-date a contract? Yes. Do teams do it? Yes. There was suspicion that New England did so with Emmanuel Sanders last year when he was a restricted free agent.
--- YOU: Seems like the Steelers’ 3rd down efficiency in short yardage situations has been down ever since the Bus departed. Blount could help solve that problem. Do you agree that even in a pass happy league the Steelers offense would be very well served by a RB that could be relied on for those 3rd and two situations?
ED: Not to sound wishy-washy, but yes and no. You also must have an offensive line that can create some movement in those situations. Many regard Jerome Bettis as a pile-driver because he was so big, but he knew how to hit a hole, had the quickest feet of any big man I ever saw and knew how to run. Big and powerful will at times push a pile, but those guys on the other side are big and powerful too.
--- YOU: Is the average productive life of an NFL RB declining at a faster pace than most other positions? If yes, why so in your view given the game is much more pass oriented?
ED: I have seen no studies on that recently. While the game may be more pass oriented, there are not enough good quarterbacks to do what Drew Brees and Peyton Manning do all day. They break the records while many more quarterbacks struggle to get it done. It’s why Matt Shaub was the talk of the NFL one day and traded for a sixth-round draft pick the next.
--- YOU: MJD's agent is doing a fine job in masterminding a path to unemployment...what with all of those apparent false stories about various team's interest in signing him. What's the chance that his value rises between now and the start of the season?
ED: The history of free agency will show that almost always the longer you wait, the less you get.
--- YOU: When Munchak is available to the press, it would be interesting to know if he has any plans to change work-out/training methods to reduce the injury rate of the O line. Was there any O line that had more quarters lost due to injury than the Steelers in 2013?
ME: I have no idea if other teams lost more linemen to injuries than the Steelers, but I am looking forward to hearing Mike Munchak talk. I assume he can, but since Mike Tomlin hired him, I have not heard a word because Tomlin muzzles his assistants in the off-season, even his high-profile hires.
--- YOU: Has everyone forgotten that LaGarrette Blount went into free fall before the 2010 draft because of character issues and was not drafted? Poor team meeting attendance, weight issues and sucker punching opponents after the game are generally considered incompatible with employment by the Steelers. Has his rehabilitation been that complete?
ED: Blount has been relatively free-fall free as a pro. It’s not as though he committed any crimes, he punched an opponent or two. At least he didn’t do it on the streets. Even prisoners are allowed to be rehabilitated.
--- YOU: What are L.C. Greenwood's Pro Football Hall of Fame chances? Can't believe he's not in...
ED: I’m afraid his chances were hurt by the fact so many others from that team were elected. He is the one player from that team who still deserves to be in the Hall. He made the final 15 any number of times and now he is regarded as a seniors candidate. He will have to go through the seniors committee, who nominate two players every year (including a punter, who made it in somehow this year). The Steel Curtain four-man line may be the most famous and best in NFL history, yet only one, Joe Greene, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
--- YOU: The Steelers signed Moat very quickly, but have postponed LeGarrete Blount visit to Friday. Is it possible that the OTHER reason (obviously Tomlin and Colbert are out of town) would be to give Omar Kahn time to restructure another contract so they have more money work with ? Wouldn't that give them more flexibility with Blount and /or Drew ?
ED: Blount was scheduled to visit Pittsburgh Monday. Then the Steelers thought it might be better if both Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert, who are in Florida for the NFL meetings, could be there to meet him so they rescheduled for Friday. It’s that simple. The Steelers have a little over $2 million in cap room and could create nearly $4 million more with the swipe of a pen on Lawrence Timmons’ contract.
--- YOU: It is well known that it takes time to learn Coach Lebeau's system. The Steelers have signed three free agents ( Mitchell, Thomas, Moats) who will be expected to contribute this year. How do you think Coach Lebeau feels about having to incorporate free agents at all three areas of his defense who aren't familiar with his system? Does the front office consult with him before signing these players?
ME: Before the Steelers sign a player, they do lean on their coaches and their pro scouts for evaluations of them. LeBeau’s system may be difficult for some young players at certain positions to learn, but not normally for four-year veterans. See James Farrior, Ryan Clark.
--- FOOTNOTE: The Steelers on Tuesday officially signed Arthur Moats and Lance Moore and those transactions were finally recorded by the NFL.
First Published: April 6, 2016, 4:12 p.m.