The Jig Is Up: Steelers Offseason, Vol. 13, Let the Games Begin

Recently I was thinking about my time writing about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Throughout my career doing so, I’ve essentially done it all.

Commentary, news, breaking stories, features and even took a stab at simple film room breakdowns.

The one thing I’ve never done is work on just a random thought type format.

I can’t speak for you, the reader, but I am always thinking about writing and the Steelers. Thinking about different aspects of the team and game. Thanks to reading Myron Cope’s biography I decided to put a unique spin on this type of feature.

Now, for the name of the article, anyone who is familiar with the Styx song “Renegade” should know where it came from. If not, this is where it came from…

The jig is up, the news is out
They finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty
Nevermore to go astray
This’ll be the end today of the wanted man

The jig is up…time for some randomness.

Maybe things aren’t “peachy” with T.J.

While Aaron Rodgers has dominated the Steelers headlines this offseason, one narrative which hasn’t been discussed as much is the looming T.J. Watt contract negotiations.

That is until Watt took to Instagram to post the photo which was used as the cover of this article.

Watt throwing up the peace sign has people wondering if negotiations are not off to the best start. This from Mark Kaboly, who covers the Steelers for the Pat McAfee show:

After talking to people, I’d keep an eye on this #Steelers T.J. Watt contract situation moving forward a little more closely. It doesn’t appear that the IG picture (below) he posted yesterday was just by chance. I’d imagine an extension is still going to eventually get done, but… pic.twitter.com/OdPLn1H1jB

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) April 10, 2025

On the Steelers Preview podcast last night, which can be heard below, we talked exclusively about the situation in the first half of the show. I played Devil’s Advocate and talked about what a contract extension might look like, as well as what Watt would fetch for the Steelers if he was shockingly traded.

Ultimately, we all agreed Watt will likely be back in 2025, and beyond, but how much he garners on his next contract is certainly up for debate. Some people thought the Steelers and Watt would easily come to terms on a new deal, but that might not be as simple as once thought. Let’s not forget how the last contract negotiations went, which reportedly took Watt going into the front office, without his agent, and saying he wanted to get a deal done.

Expect this story to heat up over the course of the offseason, then again, maybe it will get done with little-to-no fanfare whatsoever. Let’s hope that’s the case…

Roster full before the NFL Draft?

Last week the Steelers signed offensive tackle Calvin Anderson to a two-year contract, and it has many fans wondering if the roster is full ahead of the draft.

Is it?

WR: Yes
OL: Yes
RB: Maybe
TE: Yes
QB: Maybe
DL: Yes (plenty of depth signings)
ILB: Yes
OLB: Yes
CB: Yes
S: Yes

I think it’s safe to say the RB, QB and DL positions will all be priorities in the upcoming draft, but the Steelers have done an admirable job completing the roster in free agency before the draft in under two weeks. Is it perfect? No, but have the moves made given them more freedom in the draft? Yes.

Smoke Screens Are Real

Pre-Draft visits will be wrapping up for NFL teams, and fans love to try and connect the dots between all the offseason visits/events.

• Did the Steelers meet with them at the Senior Bowl?
• Did they meet at the Combine?
• Did the front office brass attend the Pro Day?
• Were they invited for a pre-draft visit?

While you can do your history and find that if those above boxes were checked the Steelers are clearly interested, there is also plenty of reality to smoke screens in draft prep. If the Steelers make it look as if they could take a quarterback in Round 1 it might force another team’s hand in one way or another.

Yes, smoke screens are real.

Draft a QB, but when?

It is a safe bet the Steelers will be drafting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the who and when are the big question at this juncture. Earlier this week I wrote an article based off Ben Solak of ESPN’s rankings and predictions of when quarterbacks will be drafted.

Check that out here:

Projections have the #Steelers taking a QB in the upcoming draft, but not Round 1.

What would you think of this?

MORE: https://t.co/DWWteLDutU

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) April 9, 2025

The thing which gets me is the when of the aforementioned question. I’ll say it again, I’m fine with the Steelers taking a quarterback, but I really don’t have any interest of it being in Round 1, and since they don’t have a Round 2 pick the earliest would be Round 3. There is still at tremendous amount of talent in a Round 3 pick, so I even shy away from a quarterback at that point too.

To me, I’d be fine if a Will Howard fell to Round 4 and the Steelers selected him, while I feel that’s unlikely. This is a tricky situation for the Steelers if they are hell bent on drafting a signal caller in this year’s draft.

Big Night Aht? What was that?

Steelers fans everywhere were thinking Pat McAfee’s “Big Night Aht” was going to be when they would finally learn about the future of Aaron Rodgers.

As I expected, we didn’t see that.

In retrospect, I’m not sure what we saw. McAfee’s event was a mixture of stand-up comedy, rambling, celebrity sightings, athletes, and even a concert venue.

Where else can you go AHT and see under one roof:

*Jelly Roll
*Jey Uso
*Shane Gillis
* Michael Cole
*Legit Sumo wrestlers
* Oz the Mentalist
* Cody Sabol
* Ernest
*Wiz Khalifa
*Snoop Dogg
*Parker McCollum
*Ben Roethlisberger
*Sidney Crosby
*Kris Letang
*Geno Malkin
*Paul…

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) April 10, 2025

The first time someone does something like this it can be rough, and there were times it was rough, but I’m sure McAfee will improve…hopefully fans don’t think every year news will be broken in one way or another.

Never Forget

While scrolling Twitter I saw the NFL posted a highlight package of Troy Polamalu as the NFL Draft approaches. Many Steelers fans will love seeing these clips and remember all the great which came with Polamalu, but never forget what fans were saying in his rookie year of 2003.

That season, the same year the Steelers traded up to draft Polamalu, many called him a bust. Why? Because it took Polamalu a year to get acclimated to life in the NFL. He was a special teams player, and was called a wasted pick and a bust. After one year.

The rest, as they say, is history, but use this as a fair warning before labeling a player horrible after just one, and sometimes even two, seasons in the league.

NEVER forget some #Steelers fans called Troy a bust in 2003… https://t.co/bf2dTAnlXE

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) April 8, 2025

Who remembers this?

The other day I stumbled upon his video of the “Mud Bowl” between the Steelers and Dolphins on Monday Night Football. Final Score: Steelers 3, Dolphins 0.

Whether you watched it live or not, enjoy the trip down memory lane:

If you were alive to see this game, you’ll never forget it. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/JoY2kna08l

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) April 8, 2025

Player Spotlight

I wanted to start doing a spotlight segment every week during the offseason of a lesser known player who donned the black-and-gold for a time.

This week’s player: Eric Green

Green was drafted in the 1st Round (21st Overall) out of Liberty by the Steelers in 1990. After bein drafted he initially held out for 54 days, causing him to miss training camp, preseason, and the opening game of the 1990 NFL season. Initially Green had threatened to sit out the entire season, which would have made him eligible for the 1991 NFL Draft. It took a call from Liberty head coach Sam Rutigliano to the Steelers front office to tell them to keep pursuing Green and that a deal could be made. Green signed the day after the season opening game, but did not play until week five.

During his rookie season the Steelers offense did not score a touchdown until Green returned to the lineup. When he returned, he caught five of Bubby Brister’s seven touchdown passes. With Green’s return being noticed, defensive line coach Joe Greene commented, “Without Eric Green, we might not have scored a touchdown last year.” Green’s versatility was shown in his rookie season by having him play several different positions, including wide receiver, slotback, wingback, H-back, and even running back.

On November 9, 1992, Green received a six-game suspension for violating the National Football League’s drug policy. The league did not say which part of the policy that Green violated, but did confirm that it was not for steroids. At the time of the suspension, players who tested positive for steroids received a six-game suspension. Although the league would not confirm, this was the second time Green had violated the drug policy. A player receives treatment and counseling for a first offense and no announcement is made.

After a Pro Bowl season in 1993 season where Green achieved career highs in receptions (63), yards (942), and yards per reception (15.0), Green chose to hold out at the beginning of the 1994 season. “I want to be compensated for what I’ve done, but the Steelers weren’t prepared to do that,” said the 290-pound Green, the NFL’s biggest tight end. With the ultimatum of either signing with the Steelers or miss the opening weekend game against the Dallas Cowboys, Green signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract on September 1, 1994. Green had rejected the Steelers earlier offer of a $10 million contract and took the lower offer to ensure his right to free agency after the season. After back to back Pro Bowl seasons with the Steelers, Green became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 1994 NFL season.

Green signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, but lasted just one season before being released. He also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets before his career ended in 1999.

It is safe to say Green was a significant talent which most would agree was wasted due to many issues, both on-and-off the field. Green would be one of the players many wonder, “What could have been?”.

Check out the latest “Let’s Ride” podcast in the player below:

That does it…the jig is up, they’ve finally found me. This renegade is outta here…be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.