The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
SAM MIKHAIL FROM BETHESDA, MD: Have the Steelers ever led the NFL in sacks? If yes, in which season(s)? Lastly, has any Steelers player led the NFL in sacks?
ANSWER: First, let me explain that sacks were not recognized by the NFL as an official statistic until 1982, which means whatever totals the 1970s Steelers put up as a team or individually are not included in any of this. The Steelers as a team led the NFL in sacks in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. After they led the NFL in sacks in 2020, they became the first team in NFL history to accomplish that 4 times, and then when they led the league in 2021 they became the first team in NFL history to do it five times. T.J. Watt led the NFL in sacks in 2020, 2021, and 2023, and he's the only player in NFL history to do that 3 times. In 2021, Watt's 22.5 sacks became the single-season Steelers record, and that total tied him with Michael Strahan for the most sacks in a single season in NFL history.
RALPH CALDIN FROM CHEYENNE, WY: The jerseys the players are wearing at training camp this year are great, but I can't find them anywhere, not even the online store at Steelers.com. Are they exclusive to players?
ANSWER: Practice jerseys are not for sale to the general public.
ROD KEEFER FROM EDMOND, OK: From what you have seen so far, which wide receiver do you think has the best chance of complementing DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III as a legitimate threat?
ANSWER: I suggest you are making a mistake in limiting the potentially significant contributors to the Steelers passing attack this coming season to the wide receiver position. I would categorize both Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith as legitimate receiving threats to opponents in the upcoming season.
CHRIS HELFRICH FROM CALDWELL, ID: As a lifelong Steelers fan, I loved a running back we had in the early 1990s named Barry Foster. I know his career was cut short because of injuries, but whatever became of him? I loved how he ran with power and speed.
ANSWER: Yes, injuries were as factor in Barry Foster's NFL career coming to an end, but I also believe he did some things to self-sabotage himself. Foster set a single season franchise record with 1,690 yards rushing in 1992, but then he showed himself to be constantly unhappy with his contract. Foster was voted Steelers MVP in 1992, and he used the press conference called to announce that as a forum to threaten to not report in 1993 without a renegotiated contract. In 1994, the Steelers used a third-round pick to select Bam Morris from Texas Tech, and in the 1995 offseason they signed unrestricted free agent Erric Pegram. Foster was traded to Carolina, but he was cut in training camp after failing a physical, and then he abruptly announced his retirement. Later in 1995, Foster came out of retirement and had a brief flirtation with the Cincinnati Bengals, but after two days he returned his signing bonus and retired for good. In his career after football, Foster first served as the running backs coach at DeLay Middle School and then became an assistant principal at Crosswinds Accelerated High School in Grand Prairie, Texas.
GREG BRADLEY FROM HUBBARD, OH: With the Steelers trading Minkah Fitzpatrick and now having DeShon Elliott at strong safety and Juan Thornhill at free safety (with Miles Killebrew and Quindell Johnson as presumably backups) do you think there's any cause for concern at either safety position?
ANSWER: The players currently on the 90-man roster designated specifically as safeties are DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornhill, Miles Killebrew, and Sebastian Castro. As I mentioned in a response to a question about receiving threats, I think it's a mistake to assume specific players are going to serve specific, traditional roles on a consistent basis. Tight ends can be weapons in the passing attack, and a variety of defensive backs could end up doing the work of safeties. Plus, I happen to like the July 25 signing of veteran Chuck Clark, and this is what Coach Mike Tomlin said about him following a recent practice: "Been really impressed with his ability to digest schematics in a short period of time and execute the defense. But I'm not completely surprised by it, because we've competed against him over the years, and I just know he has a reputation of a really solid professional. I think he's displayed that in the short period of time he's been here."
HANS KOLLER FROM FREDONIA, PA: I'm pretty sure you are part of the committee that selects the Hall of Honor classes. I'm curious why Ben Roethlisberger was selected now? I always figured that would wait until he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Was the decision more let's spread out the things we do with Ben so things aren't done all at once, and how much of it had to do with putting him and Maurkice Pouncey in at the same time?
ANSWER: I don't believe it's proper for me to talk about the discussions that take place among the members of the Hall of Honor Selection Committee, but according to the rules for election, a player or contributor must be retired for 3 years before becoming eligible. Ben Roethlisberger has been retired for 3 years, and I dare you to give me a name of someone more deserving than him. Why wait? He is deserving, he is eligible, he gets elected. Simple.
LARRY LININGER FROM MESA, AZ: I can accept that Mason Rudolph's name is written in ink as the No. 2 QB behind Aaron Rodgers. What I wonder is what happens in the competition for the No. 3 spot? If Skylar Thompson outperforms Will Howard, what do the Steelers do with Howard? Is he exposed to waivers before being placed on the practice squad?
ANSWER: Why are you worrying about something that hasn't happened? If "such-and-such" happens, what are the Steelers going to do about that? Approaching things that way is a waste of your time. And just as a procedure clarification: All players must first be placed on waivers before they can be signed to the practice squad.
RILEY HAANN FROM TAMPA, FL: With the addition of DK Metcalf (No. 4), Jalen Ramsey (No. 5) this year, and Patrick Queen (No. 6) last year, it seems the Steelers have softened their stance on assigning single-digit numbers outside of the previous positional number assignments. Are these exceptions because they were marquee acquisitions, or is this a change that'll stick moving forward?
ANSWER: My guess is that moving forward "assigning single-digit numbers outside of the previous positional number assignments" will be done or not done on a case-by-case basis. And in my opinion, that's the way it should be.
MIKE ROBEY FROM TILTONSVILLE, OH: The offensive line seems to be set, but quite thin. Two unproven tackles, a banged up guard, and another who was serviceable and not much depth beyond these "starters." The team ignored the position in the draft and free agency. Am I missing something?
ANSWER: Are you missing something? Gee, maybe you're missing the possibility that players can improve and/or develop from one season to the next. The "unproven tackles" are both recent No. 1 picks, meaning the time is now to find out about them. They can only graduate from "unproven" to "proven" via playing time, and the reality of the NFL is that teams do not give up on No. 1 picks after a year or two. The only thing in your submission that makes any sense is the first sentence: "The offensive line seems to be set, but quite thin." Then again, that's a statement that can be made about the vast majority of teams' offensive lines all across the league.
JOSE JUVES FROM FORT MYERS, FL: Are NFL referees calling penalties during training camp, both as training for them and to accustom the players to what will be and what won't be called during the season? Also, why are passes not allowed to be batted down during camp? Thanks. The detail of your knowledge is extraordinary as is your ability to answer clearly.
ANSWER: NFL officials always make the rounds of training camps, and I believe they are due in Latrobe this weekend. I know anyone attending Friday Night Lights at Latrobe Stadium will see NFL officials on the field working that practice. And I can tell you definitively that defensive players are allowed to bat down passes during camp. Just a couple of days ago, DT Yahya Black batted down two.
JIM STIEFVATER FROM LEONARDTOWN, MD: On game days can you educate us on the basic nutrition of the players? Do they replenish at halftime with more than fluids?
ANSWER: The pre-game meal for NFL players consists of a variety of things, from breakfast-type foods to other choices, such as chicken, fish, pasta. Professional athletes are very conscious and knowledgeable about nutrition, and so if it's something players want/like, then accommodations will be made. As for halftime, in the NFL (except at the Super Bowl) halftime only lasts 12 minutes total, and so there is no time for eating anything more involved than a protein bar.
