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True Dough

(20,141 posts)
Mon Dec 26, 2022, 06:35 AM Dec 2022

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has a chance to avoid his first losing season

He's in his 16th NFL campaign. Worst he's done is 8-8 (three times).

For a while, this season looked like it would surely be Tomlin's first with a sub-.500 record. Pittsburgh was 3-7 at one point.

But they're now sitting at 7-8 and they close out the year in Baltimore and at home to Cleveland. Two winnable games.

Things have become trickier for Tomlin to maintain his streak because finishing .500 is no longer a possibility with the expansion to a 17-game season.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has a chance to avoid his first losing season (Original Post) True Dough Dec 2022 OP
What are the chances Baker Mayfield ends up in Pittsburgh ... Auggie Dec 2022 #1
Would you be willing to take that gamble? True Dough Dec 2022 #2
Good thought Auggie Dec 2022 #4
You know who else is a free agent at the end of this season? True Dough Dec 2022 #5
Yeah. And add Derek Carr to the available list. Auggie Dec 2022 #6
The difference with Derek Carr True Dough Dec 2022 #7
Carr's money was only guaranteed if he played out the season Auggie Dec 2022 #8
Ah, interesting True Dough Dec 2022 #9
I love Baker and am so happy for his success with the Rams Better Days Ahoy Dec 2022 #3
The dream is still alive! True Dough Jan 2023 #10

True Dough

(20,141 posts)
2. Would you be willing to take that gamble?
Mon Dec 26, 2022, 07:54 AM
Dec 2022

If you were Tomlin or the Steelers' front office, do you figure Baker would be a worthwhile investment? I'd prefer to find an alternative, but if I felt Mayfield was the only option, I'd want a one-year deal, nothing long-term until he finally proves he can play consistently.

Auggie

(31,775 posts)
4. Good thought
Mon Dec 26, 2022, 08:20 AM
Dec 2022

One-year deal, if at all.

IMO, and having watched Mayfield play, I think he does best in a Bill Walsh-style offense -- short passes complimented by a solid running game. It's a different offense than the Ben Roethlisberger years but still plays into a perennial Steeler strength (albeit not necessarily this year).

True Dough

(20,141 posts)
5. You know who else is a free agent at the end of this season?
Thu Dec 29, 2022, 08:59 AM
Dec 2022

Gardner Minshew. Not sure if he's any better bet than Baker, but he too is looking good as a late-season backup this year.

True Dough

(20,141 posts)
7. The difference with Derek Carr
Thu Dec 29, 2022, 11:20 PM
Dec 2022

is that he's owed A LOT of money! $34.9 million cap hit next season, $43.9 the season after that and $43.2 million in 2025.

Yikes!

Auggie

(31,775 posts)
8. Carr's money was only guaranteed if he played out the season
Fri Dec 30, 2022, 06:23 AM
Dec 2022

That's why Mark Davis shut him down.

Had Carr been injured in the remaining games vs the 49ers or Chiefs or been on the roster up until the Super Bowl he would be due $40+ million. By dropping him now the dead salary-cap hit on Carr is only $5.625 million. This was reported in the S.F. Chronicle on 12-29 below:

The organization has clearly decided to jettison Carr after the season and does not want to risk the three-time Pro Bowl selection suffering an injury that could leave Davis on the hook for more than $40 million of future salary. The Raiders will carry a relatively low “dead”salary-cap number of $5.625 million if Carr is cut or traded within three days of Super Bowl LVII.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/michaelsilver/article/Congratulate-Raiders-Mark-Davis-on-latest-weak-17682165.php


Carr will be looking for a new team in 2023.

Meanwhile, it's logical to assume the Raiders will lose their final two games, finish 6-11, and possibly move up in the draft.

Win-win for Mark Davis.

True Dough

(20,141 posts)
9. Ah, interesting
Fri Dec 30, 2022, 07:20 AM
Dec 2022

Thanks for that info, Auggie. Safe to say then that Carr will surely be looking at a pay decrease in the future.

Better Days Ahoy

(701 posts)
3. I love Baker and am so happy for his success with the Rams
Mon Dec 26, 2022, 08:11 AM
Dec 2022

I want him to have a starting job again. He's a good guy. But hey, I'm also just happy that rapist Big Ben is retired. Pittsburgh immediately rose in my opinion and in the opinion of my women friends when that dog went away.

True Dough

(20,141 posts)
10. The dream is still alive!
Sun Jan 1, 2023, 11:22 PM
Jan 2023

Pittsburgh with the late comeback to knock off Baltimore tonight. Puts the Steelers at 8-8. The final regular season game next weekend at home to Cleveland is now make or break.

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