Pittsburgh Steelers Fact or Fiction: Eating Crow Edition

There’s always so much to talk about when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the inquiries surrounding the black-and-gold are definitely ever-evolving, especially this week with David DeCastro’s departure, Trai Turner’s arrival and St. Vincent College on hold. It seems like the musical selection that best fits this week’s Fact or Fiction could be the Boyz II Men’s End of the Road.

Here’s a sample...

We belong together

And you know that I’m right

Why do you play with my heart?

Why do you play with my mind?

Said we’d be forever

Said it’d never die

How could you love me and leave me

And never say goodbye?

When I can’t sleep at night without holding you tight

Girl, each time I try I just break down and cry

Pain in my head, oh, I’d rather be dead

Spinning around and around

Although we’ve come

To the end of the road

Still I can’t let go

It’s unnatural

You belong to me

I belong to you

You can ponder the significance or wonder whether these lyrics are really related here. Or maybe I just wanted an excuse to listen to some smooth jams. But anyhow, there is surely a lot to wonder about. BTSC tries to answer some of the poignant wonderings ahead of time. Take a listen to some bold statements on this and more as we label them as fact or fiction.

Are we on point? Only time will tell.

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Sometimes the author is wrong/David DeCastro is done with the Steelers

Fact

Boy, did I pull the ultimate boner last week? I made the claim that there was absolutely no problem with David DeCastro and the Steelers. I asked fans and my fellow contributors at BTSC to take a step back relax and examine facts. I even quoted an Annette Funicello song and subtitled the article Don’t Jump to Conclusions. Well, Doordash me an order of Crow Nuggets and I’ll eat it up whole. David DeCastro couldn’t be more done with the Pittsburgh Steelers, In fact, their could be grievances filed with the team. The bottom line remains that there was an inferno to go along with the smoke from mandatory minicamp and my wife is right again in the assessment that I’m wrong...AGAIN.

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Signing Trai Turner was the best move that the Steelers could have made

Fact

There are a load of fans and media that feel that the Steelers panicked and made a rash move in signing Trai Turner so quickly. There is also a narrative that Turner is terrible, especially against the run because of PFF rankings. Here’s the deal, Pro football Focus is not the end all and be all, Patrick Mahomes just denounced PFF this week. But most crucial, the Steelers had more than a week to assess Trai Turner’s value to the team. DeCastro was lost to the Steelers with a third ankle surgery on the horizon. The younger five-time Pro Bowl selection that is being brought into the Steel City is the best possible replacement for DeCastro at a bargain price of $3 million. In late June, what do you expect is out there. BTSC Senior Editor Jeff Hartman put out an article this week listing the other available guards. Trai Turner may not work out, but he is overwhelmingly the best opportunity for the Steelers to move on from the great David DeCastro.

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Kendrick Green could start the season at the guard position

Fiction

The question was raised the other evening on The Steelers Preview on whether the Steelers would take Kendrick Green, the Steelers’ third-round pick at center, and move him to guard as a backup plan should Trai Turner falter. This would be not ideal. The Steelers got better play out of B.J. Finney the first time around in Pittsburgh and if Green is starter ready, he would be best-served playing the position he was drafted to play.

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The Steelers free agency shopping will heat back up

Fiction

So, the Steelers have found themselves with more salary cap cash after the whole David DeCastro/Trai Turner situation was factored in. According to BTSC Senior Editor Dave Schofield, GM Kevin Colbert has approximately $13.1 million to work with under the cap. The Steelers still have depth needs in certain areas such as the defensive backfield and at the EDGE linebacker spots. Significant name players such as Justin Houston, Brian Poole and Malik Hooker have been bandied about and still are not affiliated with another team. Do I expect the Steelers to be like my daughter who is in constant need of purchasing something or anything to relieve the burning from birthday money in her pocket? No, I don’t. The Steelers will do due diligence to vet these players and see if they indeed fit their program. As fans, we find out that these guys are available and we want to sign them immediately with out careful consideration of why they are on the market. Ultimately, I think that the the Steelers will pass on these guys and be content with the Cassius Marsh’s and Arthur Maulet’s of the world.

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Not training at St. Vincent College will not affect the success of the team

Fact

I went to St. Vincent College numerous times as a kid in the 1980s. My father has gone quite a bit in the past decade. It is a great fan experience. It is also an economy boon for the businesses of Latrobe. For that, I am saddened that the Steelers will not be holding training camp there for the second consecutive year and second instance since 1967. But I can’t ignore the fact that this is actually a welcome decision for the players. They don’t have to be away from the comforts of family and home for nearly a month and sleep in the discomfort of dorm life. The Steelers front office doesn’t have to worry about the logistics of sending them there, when they have the facilities that they own right there in Pittsburgh. Players on social media were elated upon hearing the news. Even though this is against the traditions of the Rooneys and the team, the performance of the 2021 Steelers will not be hindered one bit.

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