STEELERS CHAT
Highlights from Ray Fittipaldo’s Tuesday Steelers chat, which you can join weekly at post-gazette.com. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity:
• BB: Are we all just holding onto false hopes? I get the move to Heinz Field and what it offers in the way of more locker rooms and better social distancing opportunities. But, at some point, you do actually have to block or tackle someone. When and how is that going to happen?
Ray Fittipaldo: They are adhering to NFL/NFLPA guidelines that were jointly agreed upon. It’s something they have to do, if only for appearances sake. They won’t be changing their practices all that much. Like you said, it’s football.
A-town Steeler: Could you imagine a healthy Ryan Shazier added to this defense? So heartbreaking for him.
Ray Fittipaldo: Yes it’s a shame, but the most important thing is Shazier is healthy and walking on his own.
Steelerfanin AL: Of all the big time players with expiring contracts next year, who do you think they sign?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think [Cam] Heyward and [T.J.] Watt have the best chance to remain with the Steelers.
Buster: Ranking the Steelers’ greatest linemen would seem heavy on centers and guards. Who would you rate as the best left and right tackles?
Ray Fittipaldo: The Steelers just put Larry Brown in their Hall of Honor last year. He was the left tackle on the Super Bowl XIV team. Jon Kolb was a mainstay on those Super Bowl teams as well. Tunch Ilkin never played in a Super Bowl, but he was very good on some bad teams in the 1980s. Leon Searcy was very solid for a stretch in the 1990s.
Tom in Dallas: Have you found your job easier, harder or about the same since COVID changed our lives?
Ray Fittipaldo: We’re doing the best we can. It’s not ideal, but nothing is ideal during this pandemic. For reporters, having open locker room access is extremely important. It’s how we get information and produce news, fun stories and features on players and coaches. The Steelers have been doing some Zoom calls with players, but everyone is getting the same answers to the same questions, so there is no variety. Hopefully, by training camp, our access improves. Heinz Field is perfectly set up to handle media. There is a huge press box to social distance and watch practice and plenty of space in the suites to conduct socially distanced interviews with players and coaches. There is no reason for the NFL to restrict media from covering practices especially as they plan for fans to be in the stands at their games.
Buzz: There are quite a few Steelers contracts coming to a close. What do they do?
Ray Fittipaldo: I think they keep Watt and Heyward and maybe [JuJu] Smith Schuster. Probably not [Bud] Dupree and [James] Conner.
Steeltown: Ray, any chance that Al Villanueva is around beyond this year?
Ray Fittipaldo: I doubt it. They drafted Chuks Okorafor in the third round in 2018. I think they’d like to have him step up and earn that job.
Sammy the Bull: Other than no crowd noise, do you see the actual TV telecast change much? Same number of announcers, TV cameras, etc.?
Ray Fittipaldo: It might be the only way to provide their product to the masses so I don’t think they’ll cut corners.
Dave: How many years does Joe Haden have left on his deal? If he does not get extended, who is the heir apparent?
Ray Fittipaldo: Haden’s contract expires after the 2021 season. They drafted Justin Layne in the third round last year, but he didn’t play much and it’s impossible to say now if he’s the heir apparent.