The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
DEAN FLORIO FROM ALLENTOWN, PA: Along the lines of a previous question, I would like to ask who are your top 5 players at the cornerback position in Steelers history? I can see Mel Blount being No. 1, but how would you rank No. 2 through No. 5?
ANSWER: The Steelers have three cornerbacks enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Jack Butler, Mel Blount, and Rod Woodson – and so right there are 3 of the top 5. I believe Ike Taylor deserves to be on this list, because while he was not the interceptor of those 3 aforementioned cornerbacks, he did play a lot of games (174, with 140 starts) and had 636 solo tackles and 134 passes defensed in those games, which indicates he was physical vs. the run and combative with the ball in the air. Taylor also had 47 tackles and 11 passes defensed in 14 playoff games, and was a starter on two Steelers teams that won Super Bowls. My No. 5 cornerback would be Howard Hartley, who finished his Steelers career with 28 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries in 57 games for the team from 1948-52.
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SEAN VOYLES FROM LOUISVILLE, KY: My wife and I are planning a trip to training camp on Sunday, and it's looking like the weather may not be the greatest. Will the team practice in the rain? How do we find out the status of practice?
ANSWER: According to the National Weather Service website, Sunday's forecast for Latrobe is as follows: "Showers likely before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent." The Steelers do practice in the rain, but lightning is a no-go. If practice is cancelled, that information will be on Steelers.com and all of the team's media platforms.
ALEX HATCHWELL FROM ALDERGROVE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA: I recently saw that Rod Woodson returned 12 interceptions for touchdowns and 1 more in the playoffs. Did he ever return 2 in the same game?
ANSWER: Rod Woodson returned 5 interceptions for touchdowns with the Steelers, 5 more with the Ravens, and 2 with the Raiders, with all of those in the regular season. Woodson never returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns in the same game.
TIM GAREY FROM PORTLAND, OR: Do you see Jack Sawyer as being a strong contributor this year? As an Oregon Ducks fan it's hard to shift to someone from Ohio State, but I love the Steelers.
ANSWER: If things go according to plan, I would see rookie Jack Sawyer serving as the No. 4 outside linebacker, behind T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig. But being the No. 4 outside linebacker for the Steelers can yield a decent amount of playing time, because they like to try to keep Watt and Highsmith fresh for the significant plays and/or the fourth quarters of games. I also imagine Sawyer would be a core special teams player, especially in the areas of "find the football, get the guy with the football on the ground."
COBE CERNUTO FROM SOUTHINGTON, OH: Whatever happened to Chris Kemoeatu? Growing up during the Steelers' late-2000s Super Bowl runs, I always remembered him playing left guard and being a very physical run blocker, but then it was like he kind of vanished after Super Bowl XLV.
ANSWER: A sixth-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft from Utah, Chris Kemeatu played in 75 regular season games, with 53 starts, for the Steelers from 2006-11. He was released in March 2012, and on Aug. 27, 2014, he received a kidney transplant from Ma'ake Kemoeatu, who is one of his two older brothers. On Dec. 5, 2024, Kemoeatu was named to the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.
GARY SEIB FROM EVANSVILLLE, IN: With the passing of Craig Wolfley will the "In the Locker Room" show continue? I would think Craig would have wanted Max to continue. I loved the banter between them and how either could get the other to totally lose focus. That made it so much fun and educational to listen to. Also, who will replace Craig on game day as color commentator and murderer of the English language?
ANSWER: Rob King and Max Starks will be the co-hosts of In the Locker Room, which will air from noon-2 p.m. on Steelers Nation Radio. Starks will move into the booth alongside King and serve as the color commentator for the broadcasts on the Steelers Audio Network.
JAY BISHOP FROM ENID, OK: Did Aaron Rodgers have a falling out with Green Bay before he left for the New York Jets, or did the Packers show no more interest in him due to performance or contract issues?
ANSWER: Jordan Love was drafted by the Packers in the first round (26th overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he took over for Aaron Rodgers as the full-time starter in Green Bay in 2023, which was his fourth season in the NFL. As a No. 1 pick, Love signed a 4-year contract with a fifth-year option, and by 2023 the Packers had to decide whether to exercise that option or risk losing a No. 1 pick without ever really having a chance to see him play. Remember, the Packers had done something similar when they drafted Aaron Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft and moved on from Brett Favre with a similar timetable. Rather than a "falling out," I would characterize those moves as Green Bay's business model for quarterback succession.
GLENN CLEMONS FROM PATERSON, NJ: With the salary cap space we have are we going to add a receiver? Amari Cooper maybe, or are we set with who we have?
ANSWER: The key to being a savvy shopper is to get value without overpaying, and I believe it's fair to characterize General Manager Omar Khan as a savvy shopper.
JUAN M. AGUILAR FROM ATIZAPAN, MEXICO: After the recent roster moves, who do you think will be our first-team tight end? A lot of talent at that position from my point of view.
ANSWER: It's important to remember that tight end is not a position where there is only 1 on the field at a time, But keeping that in mind, I would characterize Pat Freiermuth as the Steelers No. 1 tight end.
RAY MARSHALL FROM LANCASTER, PA: Love all the T.J. Watt stats in the article about his new contract, and yet it is just wins and losses that really matter. Kindly remind us of the Steelers won/loss record with and without T.J. during his playing career?
ANSWER: In the regular season, the Steelers are 79-44-2 with T.J. Watt in the lineup, and 1-11 without him in the lineup.
DENNIS SLEEGER FROM YORK, PA: I just saw on the Steelers app that T.J. Watt signed a four-year contract. I thought it was just three years. What is going on?
ANSWER: Relax, there is no conspiracy or intent to confuse. Some outlets have reported T.J. Watt's new deal as a 3-year contract extension, and the Steelers have reported it as a 4-year contract. Either way, Watt is bound to the team through the 2028 season.
STEVE MASSARO FROM MARTINSBURG, PA: While the team is at Saint Vincent College for training camp do the players have to remain on campus or can they go out in the evenings to local establishments?
ANSWER: Once the day's requirements have concluded, players have free time until curfew. How they spend that free time is up to them.
JAMIE EWEN FROM BOURNE, UK: We look to have a strong group of inside linebackers. Is there much buzz around Cole Holcomb returning from injury?
ANSWER: Maybe there will be buzz about Cole Holcomb returning from injury once the on-field work at training camp begins, especially after that on-field work involves the players wearing pads. That's when the buzz might have some significance.
