Good Thursday to you Steelers fans.
I come to you this day from St. Louis, Missouri. The Arch was pretty cool but I can’t say I’m overly impressed yet. I’ll have to try the BBQ… Anyway, while I’m sweating my “you know what” off watching my son play soccer, the Pittsburgh Steelers went ahead and made Minkah Fitzpatrick the highest paid safety in pro football. That title won’t last for long with Derwin James and Jessie Bates due for deals but for now it’s fitting. The deal calls for Fitzpatrick to get a four-year extension. He’ll make over $18 million per season and $36 million of the $72 million total is guaranteed. Since arriving via trade, Fitzpatrick has been excellent. While the turnovers he created earlier in his Steelers’ career weren’t there last season, he can hardly be blamed. He spent most of 2021 as a de facto linebacker often making touchdown-saving stops on running backs who had gashed the Steelers’ front seven. It is certainly our hope, and I’m sure his as well, that he won’t have to be that guy again. Fitzpatrick makes other guys better and when they are better his own performance can rise. This was the right move by the Steelers and a clear sign that Omar Khan is doing things differently already than his predecessor Kevin Colbert. While there’s no way to say for certain, it’s unlikely this type of deal gets done in June under Colbert. It just wasn’t how he operated. Be that as it may, the attention now turns to Diontae Johnson but that one is far less certain. The Steelers just don’t give out many second contracts to wide receivers. This one will be very intriguing as Training Camp nears and I leave you with one question. Is Diontae Johnson worth more than Minkah Fitzpatrick? WRs are getting paid big time right now.
Tweet of the Day… I have always liked and appreciated Vince Williams, the former Steelers’ LB, but this is a really bad tweet. I would not call this a “steal” or a “team friendly” deal.
The Steelers got Mink for a steal.He took a team friendly deal. Unselfish, team player.
— Vince Williams (@VinnyVidiVici98) June 15, 2022
Pickleball
I’m guessing you’ve seen the story by now of the woman who ended up playing pickleball with three guys she’s never met before. In fact she didn’t even know who they were. T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Minkah Fitzpatrick decided to try out pickleball at a Pittsburgh Area park where they encountered a grandmother who offered to be their fourth so one wouldn’t have to sit. This is terrific stuff we need more of.
Meg was serving the HEAT. We had trouble all day. https://t.co/iemtZDRbuW
— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) June 12, 2022
The QB Battle
First and foremost we are way ahead of ourselves in deciding who the starter is. If the season began today, which it does not, it would be Mitchell Trubisky. What I am most concerned about in our 24/7/365/social media-driven lives is that fans are going to immediately jump on the Steelers and/or Kenny Pickett if he isn’t the starter. Some will deem it a bad pick or a bust and that’s just silly. Ben Roethlisberger was the number three QB heading into his rookie camp. It took two injuries for him to become the starter. Terry Bradshaw, the number one overall selection in the draft, battled Terry Hanratty and Joe Gilliam early in his career. My point is this; let things play out before casting your declarations.
Celebrating 50 years of “Immaculate”
We’ve got a brand new shirt/hoodie in our online store with DC4L Custom Tees celebrating the 50th anniversary of the “Immaculate Reception!” Get yours right here.
FOCO
The great people at FOCO have released their brand new Steelers Spring Collection and I’ve got it right here for you. We get a small percentage back on anything that you buy so please consider it! AND…. Check out their selection of reusable bags too! There are tons of great Steelers item on their site outside of the Spring collection too!
Our Online Store
Please visit our online store! We have been so fortunate to work with DC4L Custom Tees! They are wonderful to work with and are willing to work with you on just about any design you can come up with!
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