Heyward Restructured, Ben Returning: Now What?

[Steeler Nation]

As the league waits to hear what the salary cap situation will be in the 2021 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have begun to re-work contracts of current players to clear room, including Cameron Heyward. They even started talks with Ben Roethlisberger about bringing him back. But they’re still over the cap. And 20 guys set to hit the free agent market come March 17th. And they have no idea how much additional space they’ll be gaining.

So, now what?

We wait.

But wait for what? Wait to see how a then-39 year old Roethlisberger will play? Wait for an upgrade on the offensive line? Wait for a fresh running back? Wait to see if Matt Canada can run the offense more efficiently?

Yes. We wait.

Is it even possible to get excited about a season when there are this many unknowns? For Steelers fans, the answer is always a resounding (and forceful) yes.

It doesn’t matter if our franchise quarterback is pushing 40 with a bionic arm. It doesn’t matter our offensive line was the human equivalent of a block of Swiss cheese last season. It doesn’t matter our run-game was invisible. It doesn’t matter we have yet to see what Canada is capable of. None of it matters – because we thrive on this. We come alive in uncertainty and under national scrutiny. No one believes in us, except us. The delusional few who have no reason to believe this team because they’ve given us every reason to doubt, we emerge from slumber induced by yet another embarrassing playoff exit and pronounce, “THIS is the Farewell Tour, THIS is the last hurrah, THIS is the season they win it all.”

We’re crazy.

But we know it. And we don’t mind it. Because this team, for all the distress they put us through, has given us a hell of a lot. From six championships to Sunday afternoon traditions to screaming at TV’s, they’ve granted us traditions and superstitions and moments spent among tens of thousands of like-minded maniacs screaming Styx songs at the top of our lungs.

Because, let’s be real – there’s a good chance Roethlisberger fails to get a third Super Bowl in what will likely be his last season in the NFL. There’s a good chance they won’t fix the offensive line, won’t find an answer to what else is plaguing the run game, won’t have the long-term hire at offensive coordinator they’re looking for.

There’s a good chance this team goes 10-7 or 11-6 and limps off quietly into the night like most of their seasons have ended as of late.

But for us, it doesn’t matter. We take good news for what it is – good news. Heyward restructured his contract to make more cap space. That’s all that matters. Roethlisberger is probably coming back. That’s all that matters. They know the issues they have to address. That’s all that matters. They replaced Randy Ficthner. All that matters.

You get the point.

The Steelers are classic heartbreakers. But we don’t care. We’ll keep coming back for more, because we know what more there can be and how much fun it is to win.

So, now what?

Now we wait.

#SteelerNation

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[slashsteel]

I think most fans have lowered expectations with so many questionmarks. Mix that in with habitual bad endings with questionable coaching. I think with Ben you have a shot even a declining Ben. But a shitload of right things have to happen on a salary strapped team. Ben will get us 3 /4 mil in the green. But if the team wants to sign some of their own mixed in with a few bring ins there is a lot of work to do.

 

[BLITZ]

The Steelers seem to do better when they have lowered expectations going into the season.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Jordan, you seem to describe the STEELER NATION fan quite well, thanks for write up !


Like she said, we welcome most all news as a positive. we find ways to keep ourselves enameled with our beloved STEELERS.

It seems this offseason has the longest wait ever but also the most to wait for. Add in the pandemic induced isolation of both the franchise and us fans and waiting becomes even more boring. ADD that up and you have instant gratification of news regardless of the impact or size.

I said this in another thread somewhere in steeler land

27-0 #7 by #7 and yes, because we got an official scheduled bye week the "rog" made us play extra games from the 27' schedule.




Salute the nation

 

[TDX27]

More restructures. A few players cut or let walk. Offers to a few (unfortunately a very few) of our own FA's. Maybe sign a couple FA's mostly for depth. Pray like hell we have a great draft. Pray even harder that our guys from last years draft make a huge 2nd-year leap.

 

[Coryea]

More restructures. A few players cut or let walk. Offers to a few (unfortunately a very few) of our own FA's. Maybe sign a couple FA's mostly for depth. Pray like hell we have a great draft. Pray even harder that our guys from last years draft make a huge 2nd-year leap.

Tuitt will probably be restructured, I can't see them keeping both Haden and Nelson, I'm guessing one may be let go and the other be extended to reduce their cap hit this season.

 

[TDX27]

Tuitt will probably be restructured, I can't see them keeping both Haden and Nelson, I'm guessing one may be let go and the other be extended to reduce their cap hit this season.

Have to agree on Haden and Nelson. Just can't see them keeping both. They will probably extend Nelson since he's younger and cut Haden. I'd hate to see Haden go but I don't see much chance of him staying. He's been so solid since we snagged him from the Clowns. I'd like to say he's earned the chance to retire as a Steeler but it's business. This is also why they will probably sign Sutton and let Hilton hit FA. Sutton can play outside and Hilton is a liability in coverage.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Haden is a no cost cut I believe. I like Joe a lot. but you have to keep Someone like Sutton who is younger and promising.

 

[slashsteel]

I would not get rid of Nelson. A solid pro that has played well overall. He is someone I would extend. I am all for resigning Sutton but I am not going to lock him into an outside positional start. In fact if you are getting rid of Haden I want a replacement brought in. WJ or someone of that caliber. If not you can give Haden another year even...

 

[F83]

vince cut, try restructuring both starting corners ask Ebron to take pay cut, vince is good but 7 mill is to high cap hit Spilliane can do the same job for a fraction of the cost, and then you draft a ILB like Mcgrone or Moses Stuard, meanwhile you draft a te like Yeabow, Eubanks or long or Farrell.

 

[F83]

Haden is a savvy vet good vs the run and can via technique cover speedsters, I think it's quite a drop-off from Haden to Sutton.
I with us mortgaging by refinancing so many players and big chunks of cash would rather prefer get a vet like Sherman to make this run for ring 7 and bens last, Yes Sherman has aged and been a lot of last year but I think the mentality and leadership qualities he has would if we axed Haden easily replace him.