Asked and Answered: Aug. 3

LATROBE, Pa. – Let’s get to it: DONALD BELCASTRO FROM WILKES-BARRE, PA: I've been trying to find out if Steelers Nation will be able to purchase Daniel M. Rooney patches to honor a great and humble man, not only the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland but an Ambassador of the NFL. ANSWER: You literally are one of hundreds of fans who have sent me versions of this question. There are a variety of options being considered, but all I can tell you at this point is that when a decision is made, I’ll pass along the information. Be patient, and keep checking Asked and Answered because when I know then you’ll know, and I’ll include it in an “Editor’s Note” right at the top of the installment.BRIAN MCGUIRE FROM TORRINGTON, WY: How did William Gay get the nickname, “Deebo?” ANSWER: My understanding is that it’s based on the fictional character played by Tom Lister Jr. in the movies “Friday” and “Next Friday.” The character was described this way on Friday.wikia.com: “Deebo is the secondary antagonist in the ‘Friday’ film series. He is known as the neighborhood bully and usually takes other peoples personal belongings by force. He is played by Tom Lister Jr.” STEPHEN WEYANT FROM SHREWSBURY, PA: I want to congratulate you on being inducted into the Hall of Honor. Your contribution to the team is greatly appreciated. ANSWER: Whoa, whoa, whoa. I was not inducted into the Hall of Honor. I was asked by Steelers President Art Rooney II to serve on the Selection Committee. I’m not making fun of your question, but that error is something I want to correct quickly and definitively. BOB CAROTHERS FROM MOON, PA: Congratulations on being named a part of the Steelers Hall of Honor selection committee. How many members to you envision being honored initially, and then annually? ANSWER: The Inaugural Class is to be announced on Aug. 29, and there also should be some other details made public at that time as well. I don’t want to jump the gun on that announcement. BRIAN LIPIEC FROM ERIE, PA: Congratulation on being involved with the selection committee for the new Hall of Honor. I'm just curious on what the minimum or maximum number of enshrinees per year will be. ANSWER: I don’t believe that it’s going to be as rigid a framework as it is, say, for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. JOSEPH SCOTT FROM CENTRAL SQAURE, NY Can the Steelers cut Senquez Golson now, and if so what are the salary cap ramifications? ANSWER: Yes, the Steelers could cut Senquez Golson now, but it wouldn’t be cheap. There would be dead money involved in the amount of $584,924 – based on his original signing bonus. There also would have to be some kind of an injury settlement, because you cannot cut a guy because/when he’s injured. The Steelers also would have to pay at least $465,000 to fill his roster spot, because that amount is the 2017 minimum for a rookie, and it would be more if they chose to replace him with a player with more experience. So, the tab is at least $1.05 million plus the injury settlement. IAN HAMILTON FROM ELYRIA, OH: Is there competition for the backup quarterback between Josh Dobbs, and Landry Jones; or is it automatically Landry Jones? ANSWER: Barring injury, Landry Jones is going to be the Steelers backup quarterback in 2017.DAVID NELMES FROM MONMOUTHSHIRE, WALES: Has Heinz Field hosted any other sports besides American football? ANSWER: Yes, hockey and soccer. Listed chronologically: Heinz Field hosted the 2011 NHL Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals on Jan. 1, 2011; on July 27, 2014, it hosted a soccer match between A.C. Milan and Manchester City which was part of the 2014 International Champions Cup; and in 2017 it hosted another NHL game – the Coors Light Stadium Series game between the Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. DENNIS NEVINSKY FROM ERIE, PA: I heard that James Connor is wearing a sling. Is there specific information about what is wrong with his shoulder and how long he may be out? ANSWER: There is not. At least not yet. PAUL GRANZEIER FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: Which new player do you see having the biggest impact for the Steelers? ANSWER: Based on what I perceive to be a need to improve the pass defense (rush and coverage, both), the case can be made that the best-case scenario would be for the answer to your question to end up a tie between T.J. Watt and Cam Sutton. Right now though, this early in the process, that’s still largely a guess. CHARLES WEILER FROM OSGOOD, IN: Do the players who don't make the team get to keep their helmet and jerseys? ANSWER: No. KEVIN MADDOX FROM HOUSTON, TX: Do you feel the job of the quarterback of the future lies in the hands of Josh Dobbs due to Landry Jones’ inability to win on a consistent basis? ANSWER: I’m not at all even convinced that the “quarterback of the future” is currently on the roster. LOU BOLOGNIA FROM HERMITAGE, PA: Among the plethora of Le’Veon Bell questions, I saw that you mentioned that if Bell sits out the season that he still will "owe" a season to the Steelers. In this unlikely scenario would the tender offer be recalculated? ANSWER: Yes. CORY BROWN FROM LOS ANGELES, CA: How do you put up with some of these ridiculous questions? Is Le’Veon Bell greedy because he's trying to take care of what could possibly be his only big contract of his NFL career? Sigh. ANSWER: I just don’t understand the animosity toward Le’Veon Bell. Jack Lambert held out. Mel Blount held out. Joe Greene missed some training camp as a rookie holdout, before Art Rooney Sr. intervened. Dan Rooney cut Franco Harris during a holdout in the summer of 1984 and then regretted that decision for the rest of his life. Rod Woodson held out into November as a rookie. All of those guys were great Steelers and now are in the Hall of Fame. And since all of those Hall of Famers were looking for more money, that would make them greedy based on the standard being applied in this case.CHERIE MOORE FROM WALKER, MI: Will Ben Roethlisberger retire before the beginning of the season? I heard that may be a real possibility. ANSWER: Sheesh. GARY CLARK FROM EMPORIUM, PA: Do you think that Le’Veon Bell should be given some kind of punishment for NOT participating in training camp? If it were up to me, I would bring DeAngelo Williams back and make Bell sit out a regular season game for every week he misses in training camp. ANSWER: What I think is that this is a ridiculous suggestion on many levels. Mostly though, I’m just glad it’s not up to you. ZEKE ZUCCO FROM GARDEN GROVE, CA: Still living in your fears, Bob? ANSWER: Did you read the previous two questions?