Wait, the Steelers mistreat their players' families? The franchise that's forever preached having a family feel?
Eh, not so fast.
A fair amount of fuss emanated from the NFL Players Association's first-ever survey of their membership of how all 32 teams conduct themselves in commonalities that might be of interest to free agents. And our city wasn't an exception after this string of grades was assigned to the Steelers:
• Treatment of families: D-
• Nutrition: B+
• Weight room: C
• Strength staff: A-
• Training room: D-
• Training staff: B+
• Locker room: D+
• Travel: B
The one that leaped out -- and was pounced upon, unsurprisingly -- was that first one, and I'm betting that had a bunch to do with few realizing what the subject matter actually entailed. Which was this: Players on some NFL teams, as well as in the NHL or Major League Baseball, have lounges or other meeting areas for postgame interaction. In a couple of cases, such as the Cowboys' unparalleled palace in Arlington, Texas, it's lavish beyond words.
That's it. That's really it. I spoke this week with current and former Steelers, including our own Ramon Foster, who used to be the team's NFLPA rep, and all confirmed it was about this and nothing else.
Acrisure Stadium, which opened in 2001, is among the NFL's most modest facilities. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with it, beyond the unimaginative design and those god-awful white tents out on the riverfront, but it doesn't have a big footprint, and the space is what the space is. More pertinent here, when the games end, players' families congregate in a general lobby-looking space -- we reporters have to pass through there to get to the locker room -- and there isn't much in the way of hanging around. Most often, a player finds his family, they'll exchange a hug and a few words, and they're out of there.
Repeating for emphasis: That's it. That's really it.
There's no question the Steelers can do better in this category, as well as others mentioned in the survey, but the wording choice by the NFLPA that this is about 'treatment of families' was criminally over the top.
MORE STEELERS
• This will surprise no one, but Javon Hargrave would be more than open to a return to Pittsburgh. It couldn't be clearer that he'll be a free agent now that the Eagles have let it be known they won't be applying a franchise tag to their voluminous group in that category, just as it couldn't be clearer that he'll be among the top handful of players available on the open market. As such, he'll be expensive -- approaching $20 million annually -- with an equal ask in guaranteed cash. But bear in mind that the Steelers were known to have made the hardest push to keep him three years ago before he signed his three-year, $39 million contract with Philadelphia.
• On a similar front, I haven't heard back from Bud Dupree, but I've heard plenty more about the Steelers' interest now -- beyond what was reported exclusively in this space two weeks ago -- that he's being cast off in Nashville. They're asking questions about his health, obviously, but also his drive. The latter's understandable, in that athletes often take it hard when injuries keep them from doing what they've done their whole lives.
• No one would be more delighted by having Dupree back than T.J. Watt. Trust me on that. Unbreakable bond between the two.
• Management's most intensive interest in the NFL Draft remains in the defensive line, from everything I gather. Not sure that'll change. Feels resolute.
• One offensive lineman they do like, and quite a bit, is Tennessee's Darnell Wright, but it's more as a guard than at tackle, where he spent his collegiate career.
• In free agency, the most intensive interests are, in order, keeping Cam Sutton and Terrell Edmunds, and finding an inside linebacker.
• On a similar note, the palpable sentiment on the outside that adding to the offensive line -- meaning starters -- isn't shared on the inside. And that includes the participants. The feeling among all concerned is that the five they've got grew together and that, while the left side in particular has room to improve, there's no actual need beyond depth.
PENGUINS
• There's been no move toward any Jason Zucker extension, but the player who just might wind up as the team's MVP for the season is seen internally, I'm told, as plausible to get an extension. Meaning that the team could theoretically afford him even after the trade acquisition of Mikael Granlund, whose $5 million AAV runs for another two years beyond this one. That'd set off alarms on the outside about Zucker, but again, I'm told it shouldn't.
• On a semi-related note, I've heard not a peep regarding Tristan Jarry. Probably not an accident.
• What was the injury that had Jarry out a month earlier this season and might -- that's might -- still be nagging him, judging by his awkward movements again last night? Well, I've heard it's the back, I've heard it's the right hip, and I'll still insist that the source who told me it's a core muscle is the one who's most connected and has been the most accurate in the past. ... Though I'm also open to theories that it's not much at all.
• One reason Jeff Carter and Brian Dumoulin can seemingly do no wrong in management's eyes, I'm told, is that they're seen as key chemistry/leadership guys in the locker room. It's an explanation that'd make much more sense, of course, if what emerges from that room wouldn't doze off for 20-plus minutes against the NHL's worst team, but hey.
• I've heard from several season-ticket holders who are plenty peeved that their derisive chants aimed at Ron Hextall in two of the past three games were drowned out by in-game entertainment. I won't take the team's side on this -- telling your most committed customers to shut up isn't great business -- but I'll add to the conversation that this, in general, isn't a culture that has any clue how to react to this level of negativity. It's been forever. Expect more clumsiness if it gets worse.
• Ran into Butch Goring, a vital part of the Islanders' four-Cup dynasty in 1980-83, and asked him if he'd ever seen Pittsburgh go deathly silent like last night with the Islanders in town. He smiled and nodded. I could almost envision that rubber-looking helmet on him as he did.
• What a mess. Seriously. But I've seldom covered a scenario where it felt like so many different people could be fired/jettisoned ... and yet I'm 100% sure that it can't happen. Wish I had more on this front. But the ownership just isn't around.
PIRATES
• I'm unable to elaborate on this, so this'll have to do: The Pirates haven't exactly been banking big buck over the past three years. Not guessing at this.
• If anyone on the outside's concerned about the coming collision between two top catching prospects, Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis, rest assured management isn't. Like, at all. Although both are set to open the 2023 season with Class AAA Indianapolis, and both have a better-than-fair chance at arriving at PNC Park sometime this summer, the view at 115 Federal is that it'll all work itself out. That simple. There's no plan, much less any urgency, to have either trying new positions, in part because they view both as being athletic enough to make any adjustment seamlessly.
• The individual who seems the most changed from season to season, among players, has been Jack Suwinski. And there isn't a close second. He'd been so reserved as a rookie that, honestly ... I hardly recognize this gregarious, outgoing version. But among staff, it's Derek Shelton. And there isn't a close second there, either. He's walking and talking in a more authoritative way, saying stuff I'd never thought I'd hear him say, such as when I asked the other day if the veterans are wary of the youngsters coming to take their jobs, he flatly replied, "They'd better be." Whoa.
• Rotation's set, starting nine's set, and all that's really left are parts of the bullpen and bench. Neither of which comes with much drama. Maybe most intriguing will be a replacement for injured Jarlin Garcia, who'd been pegged as the main lefty. I heard while down there that there are hard concerns about his lack of command, though his stuff's electric. That was evident with the little of him I saw. Barring some upbeat news on Garcia in a big hurry, expect an addition from the outside later in the spring.
• Quinn Priester, sent back to minor-league camp yesterday, wowed no one. This isn't to bury the kid, but he's fallen far and hard since being the scouts' out-of-nowhere darling during the pandemic. The next person who tells me they're still envisioning big things will be the first in a while. Way more focus on that front on Luis Ortiz and Mike Burrows, in that order.
• Zippo new on the Bryan Reynolds front. Doesn't mean nothing's happening but, rather, that nothing's making it out. This does happen.
• Thanks for reading!