Are the Steelers destined to be bigger players in free agency this year?

It really is a shame the Pittsburgh Steelers 2016 season ended the way it did. Getting embarrassed by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in New England, again, was difficult to watch. It also had the team’s winning streak come to a screeching halt on the AFC’s biggest stage.

However, is it possible what transpired shortly after the carnage in Foxborough changed the course of the team’s offseason mindset?

The event I am speaking of is Ben Roethlisberger going on his weekly radio show stating he isn’t sure there would be a next season. We’ve all heard the sound bytes and read the articles, but the Steelers certainly heard him loud and clear as well. Which begs the question: Will this ultimately change the way they approach their offseason moves?

Typically the Steelers are a team which sits back and watches other teams spend the money, then they grab a handful of free agents who they can plug in at necessary areas on the team. However, this season, they seem to be more focused on some bigger name free agents. Their name has been linked with Terrelle Pryor, Dre Kirkpatrick and some have even hinted regarding their interest in Darrelle Revis.

Quite the difference from where the team usually resides this time of year. Nonetheless, if the team decides to break out the checkbook and bring in a big-name free agent, think Brandon Marshall, it would send a clear message to the team and their global fan base.

The time to win is NOW.

I’m not suggesting this will happen, I’m actually on the other side of the fence in assuming this probably won’t happen, but if it does, and the pay off is in the form of a 7th Super Bowl championship, we could all possibly look back at Roethlisberger’s shot fired across the front office’s bow as a turning point for the team.

I discuss this more in the latest BTSC podcast “Steelers Hangout” above. Give it a listen in the player above, and follow all of the BTSC podcasts on iTunes by searching "The Standard is the Standard", as well as on several podcast apps for Android users.

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