Given the team's high profile and the fact the league is looking at adding a second NFL game overseas in 2010, some in the Steelers organization expect the Steelers to be picked for a regular season international game - if not in 2010, then in 2011.
Pittsburgh would lose a home game – something that could be made up if the league goes to a 17- or 18-game scheduled – and would have a big travel week in the middle of its schedule.
As for possible game locations, I would look no farther than the country for which team chairman is this country's ambassador.
The Steelers played the Chicago Bears in Dublin in the 1997 preseason and the game was a rousing success.
© NFL owners will meet this week in Fort Lauderdale and one of the big topics will be a rookie wage scale.
Even veteran players admit the rookie wage scale has gotten out of control. Look for the NFL to come up with something akin to what the NBA does with its rookie and slot the salaries.
17 comments:
Dale,
I think a rookie wage scale will be good for the game. No league can continue to give top 5 picks the kind of signing bonuses and guaranteed money over the veterans who have proved themselves and it not come back to bite them.
What I would like to know Dale is who are your sleepers for this training camp or players that could surprise and make the final 53?
I think J. Capizzi, J. Reffett, Mundy & Roy Lewis. Thoughts?
datruth, no offense and I hope you're right on one of them, but I honestly don't think any of those guys have a good chance. Maybe Munday and Lewis, becuase of lack of safety depth. But I highly doubt Keenan Lewis or Burnett don't make the roster.
Same for Urbik and last year's pick Hills. If theres any suprise guy on the line it will probably be Foster.
It's a longshot for all those guys in my opinion
I think Roy Lewis has a good chance. He is athletic and can play corner or safety. If he is good at special teams (im not sure) he has a good chance to earn a spot. Tyrone Carter is a year older and slower
Why would it automatically be the Steelers that lose the home game? Why not one of their road opponents?
Patrick, no offense taken. I'm a lot like Tomlin in believing that what happens between the white lines in training camp and the preseason (as well as on the salary cap) will sort a lot of this out.
Just think these guys have a shot because of the needs that exist on this roster. Let's see what happens.
Dale,
Why can't the NFL just make it so that two teams play on their away game?
This adds hardly any difficulty in scheduling...
Why would it automatically be a home game for us?
Why can't the NFL just make it so that two teams play on their away game?
This adds hardly any difficulty in scheduling...If two games both play away games, then that means that two other teams have to both play their home games on the same week. Guess that has to be the Giants and Jets!
I'm personally pulling for Carter to be bumped at safety. Rookie salaries need to be much lower to help out the parity correction of the draft.
I'm guessing if they take a game to Ireland, the Steelers will be the home team.
As for camp sleepers, it's waaay too early for that. Let's get through a couple of weeks of OTAs.
That said, Capizzi and Roy Lewis have their work cut out for them.
They like Foster. They don't know if he can play yet, but he's got pedigree.
Put it this way, they've brought back the same group of offensive linemen they had last year - minus Marvel Smith. Capizzi replaced Smith for the playoffs last year. But now they've added Urbik. Somebody's gotta go.
As for Lewis, yes, I think Carter is in trouble, but that may not be reality. I think they have to keep Mundy on the roster - but they opened a slot with the loss of Anthony Smith. That said, I think Townsend could make a move to CB/S this season. They have two young corners they may want to hold onto. And Anthony Madison is one of their better special teams players.
You're forgetting Kendall Simmons.
Anonymous, you hit it on the head. Marvel Smith and Kendall Simmons out, Urbik and Capizzi in. I think Foster and Shipley will probably be on the practice squad.
Dale,
Was the Dublin game a rousing success or arousing success? Just wondering.
And don't forget that G/T Jeremy Parquet occupied a spot on the game day roster this past year.
The only thing I know about this guy is that both he and Essex look pretty bad in a football uniform. So that's 3 OL slots that should be open for grabs this year versus the previous year.
Mike Bires has some news and notes on Inside Pittsburgh Sports from today's OTA workout.
Good piece on Ryan Mundy
Source: www.insidepittsburghsports.com
Mundy is working with the first team defense with both starting safeties missing the OTAs. Ty Carter is the other. Lewis is backing them up on the second team.
How do you know Lewis is backing up at safety, Dale? Were you there?
I'm all for a giants/jets home vs home game. Might as well just keep jobbing Buffalo too and giving them home games in Canada. Seattle is pretty close too.
It's ridiculous to take away home field advantage, and while it's biased to put the emphasis on a team that gets a great home field advantage...eh, I'm biased.
Personally I think New England should permanently have a home game in London. They're the closest in both name and location.
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