Steelers News: Roethlisberger, Thomas, Harrison
By Kim Myers
The Steelers offseason which includes everything from free agency to draft prep and anything in between is in full swing.
Steelers season never truly ends for Steeler Nation so while the offseason starts to heat up we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Tuesday, Apr. 19th.
Five point plan
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has developed a five point plan to maximize what should be Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s prime years left to win more Super Bowls. Ben Roethlisberger is one of the very few quarterbacks in the league with multiple Super Bowl wins and it’s important to maximize the potential to get back to the Promised Land.
In order to do that Fowler suggests some ideas for Kevin Colbert and Co. First off he suggests fewer Cortez Allen’s and more Cameron Heyward’s. Simple enough, also he suggests keeping bloated contracts for aging players to a minimum.
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The Steelers love to play fast and loose with the salary cap each season and keep moving money to the final years of contracts and that practice will eventually burn them.
The other suggestions include solidifying the No. 2 receiver, keeping the coaching staff in tact (sorry Haley-haters) and duplicating the offensive line draft plan at other positions. That last part may be tough to do as the offensive line draft plan took place over several years and we don’t have that kind of time anymore with other positions (like the secondary).
He just wanted to quit
Steelers safety Shamarko Thomas hasn’t had the easiest NFL career so far since being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Syracuse. Teresa Varley explains that Thomas’ life has never been easy and he’s been able to shine through adversity anyway.
Thomas was recently honored by the Young, Gifted & Black Program for the difference he makes in his community. Thomas helps raise his younger siblings along with his own children after losing both his step father and mother at a young age. His story is heart-wrenching and a very good read.
Go on then, retire
Tim Benz of The Steelers Wire is growing tired of Steelers linebacker James Harrison’s threats to retire. After seeing the 2016 NFL schedule come out last week to reveal the Steelers are playing on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Harrison hinted at the thought of retirement rather than playing during the holidays on social media.
Benz suggests that the “will he or won’t he retire” game with Harrison so far this offseason is growing old and only exposes how thin the depth at outside linebacker is behind Harrison.
Next: Steelers release of Allen means cornerback in draft for sure?
As much as Steeler Nation loves them some Deebo we know how this goes and if Jarvis Jones had come in and played like an outside linebacker for the Steelers is supposed to play we’d be ready to say goodbye to Harrison by now.