It has been a one-of-a-kind offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. Unable to attend most player pro days and participating in the NFL’s first virtual draft, the Steelers keep pushing forward toward a return to football activities. Just because the NFL has cancelled the 2020 Hall of Fame Game and cut the preseason games down to two 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 the report of teams cutting down rosters before training camp begins.
Let’s get to the news:
- The NFLPA is working through a variety of issues pertaining to 2020 training camp
Sources: NFL camps likely to have fewer players
By: Adam Schefter, ESPN
In an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus, NFL teams are likely to bring fewer than the regular 90 players they ordinarily bring to training camp whenever it begins, per league sources.
One source said he believed it’s likely that teams will go to camp with 80-man rosters, and another source said it’s “definitely not 90.” A third league source said he has “heard lots of discussion about 75 players potentially instead of 90,” especially with the reduction in preseason games and teams not needing as many players for camp as normal.
There also are increasing questions from league sources about whether camp can start on time with the number of coronavirus cases around the country spiking.
The NFL also is considering expanding its practice squads to 16-20 players in the event of a coronavirus outbreak; if there were one, teams would have a deeper stash of players to activate to play games.
But the league and NFLPA are trying to figure out the right number of players each team can bring to camp, and that appears to be between 75 and 80. One plan being further discussed is splitting the roster into two groups and having each practice at a different time, no matter how many players are allowed to report to camp.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis feels for those missing out on enshrinement this year
Bettis: ‘That is the time we are living in’
By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com
Just like much of Steelers Nation, Jerome Bettis was planning on heading to Canton, Ohio next month for the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony. He was excited and fired up to have his former coach, Bill Cowher, and teammate, Troy Polamalu, as well as Donnie Shell, enshrined as members of the Class of 2020.
But as we all know, those plans have changed after the ceremony was postponed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Hall of Fame game between the Steelers and Cowboys won’t take place until next preseason as well.
Bettis, who spoke during a call for the American Century Championship that will take place in Lake Tahoe next weekend, said while he feels bad for this year’s Hall of Fame class, he also understands why the decision was made.
“There are quite a few guys I am close to that are going into the Hall,” said Bettis. “With the change and the postponement to next year, I feel sorry for those guys that don’t get the moment that they have been waiting for. They have to wait another year. They have already been waiting five. And they have to wait another year. To be recognized and have their moment when they are being received in the Hall of Fame, with the teammates and class and all of the pageantry that goes along with it, they aren’t going to be able to have that moment this year and have to share it with the next class next year.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- The Steelers are in line for 2 compensatory picks next year, and they also have some wiggle room to where a repeat of 2019 is unlikely
Calculations show Steelers getting two compensatory picks
By: Jeff Hartman, DK Pittsburgh Sports
In the NFL, there are teams who thrive in the free-agent market, and there are those that would rather sit back and watch the free-agent frenzy pass them by. If teams choose to let their players walk, they typically are rewarded with a compensatory draft pick.
But it isn’t that simple.
For an extremely detailed look at how the equation works for compensatory picks, OverTheCap has that for you, but the basics of the formula are much more than players lost vs. players gained. Steelers fans should remember how the team had to release Donte Moncrief before a deadline to get a pick for the loss of Le’Veon Bell, a decision based on that formula.
It also has to do with players lost, players gained and the payments received on both sides.
All of this is how the league dishes out those compensatory draft picks to help bolster draft classes.
Without getting into the intricacies of the equation, here is what the Steelers are looking at, as it pertains to players lost, gained and what they made.
PLAYERS LOST:
Javon Hargrave / $13,000,000
Sean Davis / $4,000,000
B.J. Finney / $4,000,000
Tyler Matakevich / $3,575,000
Nick Vannett / $2,850,000PLAYERS GAINED:
Eric Ebron / $6,000,000
Derek Watt / $3,250,000
Stefen Wisniewski / $1,45,0002
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- BTSC articles you may have missed
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How will fans react if T.J. Watt has a down season?
The Steelers right tackle job will come down to ability, not popularity
The Steelers have yet to sign any of their 2020 draft picks
Some of the best Steelers to wear the number 56
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