Steelers News: Expanded playoffs would have helped the Steelers, but does it really matter?

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season is officially over. After finishing the year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, has another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how if the NFL had implemented their expanded playoffs years ago, the Steelers would have made it 4 additional times. But who cares...

Let’s get to the news:

• Sure, it is fun to go back and say “what if”, but that doesn’t do anything for the present.

Expanded NFL playoffs would have benefited Steelers over past decade

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Despite losing their final three games of the season to finish with an 8-8 record, the Pittsburgh Steelers earned the AFC’s No. 7 playoff seed and faced the second-seeded Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the wild-card round.

Imagine the quarterback matchup: Duck Hodges against Patrick Mahomes with a chance for the Steelers to advance for a second game in Baltimore in a three-week span.

Of course, that’s not what transpired for the Steelers in 2019 — their season ended in Week 17 in Baltimore — but it’s a scenario that would have happened if the proposed expanded playoff schedule had been on the books.

According to an ESPN report, the NFL is exploring the addition of a seventh playoff team in each conference as part of a new collective bargaining agreement that would include a 17th game in the regular season and a reduction of preseason games from four to three.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Kevin Colbert has a ton of work to do this offseason...

Tim Benz: Steelers’ honey-do lists should keep Kevin Colbert busy

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

ESPN.com’s Bill Barnwell took on the heavy task of outlining the top five needs for every NFL team.

Essentially, a team-by-team to-do list.

It’s a good post. Some worthwhile suggestions. Especially for all the clubs in the AFC North. Definitely worth a read.

We’ll take a look at his ideas for the Steelers shortly.

“But, Tim, what would you put on the to-do list?”

Oh, well, since you asked …

1. Figure out the Bud Dupree situation: Try to lowball him into a team-friendly, long-term deal. Don’t count on it. But try.

Short of that, hit him with the franchise tag. If the Steelers don’t want to do that, then I would suggest tabling any plans to address their many offensive needs and figure out how to draft or sign a different Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher.

Good luck with that.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Antonio Brown is in the headlines again...

Report: Antonio Brown’s grievance vs. Raiders scheduled for May

By: Charean Williams, ProFootballTalk

Antonio Brown never played a game for the Raiders. Still, he wants them to pay him.

The unemployed receiver filed a grievance against the Raiders over lost wages, including $30 million in guarantees, during the 2019 season.

An arbitrator will hear that grievance in May, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

Brown’s grievance against the Patriots over his $9 million signing bonus has yet to be scheduled, Fowler adds.

Brown could have a hard time collecting from the Raiders.

Not only did he send text messages to Raiders owner Mark Davis asking for his release, but before that, and perhaps even more damning to his case, Brown left training camp during his helmet fuss.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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