Brandon Aiyuk

[.Kodiak]

CLE will be in cap hell next year and going for broke this year. My guess is Aiyuk turned them down because he probably can't extract as much $$$ from them as PIT, and because it's possible they'd be shopping him in a year to get under the cap.

[tbsteel]

Pure speculation, but I think Aiyuk wants to play for a black head coach. Or just really loves Tomlin for other reasons.

[jebrick]

https://x.com/49ersSportsTalk/status/18 ... 1563913700

WR Brandon Aiyuk wants San Francisco to match the contract the #Steelers are willing to pay him or just trade him to Pittsburgh, per sources.

Aiyuk informed the #49ers that he will “absolutely not” play on the 5th yr option, source continued. #FTTB

[bradshaw2ben]

Pure speculation, but I think Aiyuk wants to play for a black head coach. Or just really loves Tomlin for other reasons.

If I were an NFL WR, I'd primarily want to play in an offensive system that schemes opportunities beyond 1-on-1 matchups... like a HC and or OC who are the kind of offensive minds Dick Lebeau had for defense. And I'd want to play with a QB who sees the field, makes good reads, and delivers a catchable ball. I think those two things would be worth more than a couple million bucks extra on top of my hundred million plus.

There's nothing worse as a WR than playing with a bad QB, and it's also no fun to run the same routes over and over into the teeth of coverage because your coaching is high school.

Anyway, I predict all of this is Aiyuk trying to get a bigger contract than SF thinks they can afford beyond this year. They are going to lose a lot of talent to FA next year.

[Stillchest]

Pure speculation, but I think Aiyuk wants to play for a black head coach. Or just really loves Tomlin for other reasons.

If I were an NFL WR, I'd primarily want to play in an offensive system that schemes opportunities beyond 1-on-1 matchups... like a HC and or OC who are the kind of offensive minds Dick Lebeau had for defense. And I'd want to play with a QB who sees the field, makes good reads, and delivers a catchable ball. I think those two things would be worth more than a couple million bucks extra on top of my hundred million plus.

There's nothing worse as a WR than playing with a bad QB, and it's also no fun to run the same routes over and over into the teeth of coverage because your coaching is high school.

Anyway, I predict all of this is Aiyuk trying to get a bigger contract than SF thinks they can afford beyond this year. They are going to lose a lot of talent to FA next year.

THIS!

Nothing worse for a WR, who has elite talent, playing in an offense that wants to pound the rock 80% of the time, while requiring the skill players to continually win their matchups.

[Orangesteel]

Yet Aiyuk has made it abundantly clear he wants to play for the Steelers.

[bradshaw2ben]

Yet Aiyuk has made it abundantly clear he wants to play for the Steelers.

I'm not sure what he sees in them but love is blind AF

[lifelongsteel]

Yet Aiyuk has made it abundantly clear he wants to play for the Steelers.

I'm not sure what he sees in them but love is blind AF

The opportunity to #neverhavealosingseason(tm)

[Orangesteel]

Yet Aiyuk has made it abundantly clear he wants to play for the Steelers.

I'm not sure what he sees in them but love is blind AF

Well the $$$ is real; reports are the Steelers would be in the ballpark of 28-29 million and sounds like SF doesn’t want to budge over 26M. Just speculation but Aiyuk has been an important part of two wildly successful runs the last two years in SF. If Purdy doesn’t have his arm bent backwards it could have been back to back SB appearances for them.

To go all that way and not reach the mountaintop, then have the franchise scoff at a long term deal based on the player’s perceived value makes sense to me as to why he wants a change of scenery. But why the Steelers? I dunno. The outside world views Tomlin way different than we do, that is a fact. Only a few pundits have flipped to the side that we are at. Aiyuk could go from one storied franchise to another, in a new city, 29M a year and is locked up at that price for his prime years. Not a bad deal and the Steelers are obviously knocking.

I still think it would be possible to lock him and Pickens up. Then we devote all energy, capital and efforts to finding the next QB with the first round pick next season.

[Stillchest]

Yet Aiyuk has made it abundantly clear he wants to play for the Steelers.

I'm not sure what he sees in them but love is blind AF

Well the $$$ is real; reports are the Steelers would be in the ballpark of 28-29 million and sounds like SF doesn’t want to budge over 26M. Just speculation but Aiyuk has been an important part of two wildly successful runs the last two years in SF. If Purdy doesn’t have his arm bent backwards it could have been back to back SB appearances for them.

To go all that way and not reach the mountaintop, then have the franchise scoff at a long term deal based on the player’s perceived value makes sense to me as to why he wants a change of scenery. But why the Steelers? I dunno. The outside world views Tomlin way different than we do, that is a fact. Only a few pundits have flipped to the side that we are at. Aiyuk could go from one storied franchise to another, in a new city, 29M a year and is locked up at that price for his prime years. Not a bad deal and the Steelers are obviously knocking.

I still think it would be possible to lock him and Pickens up. Then we devote all energy, capital and efforts to finding the next QB with the first round pick next season.

What difference would finding the next franchise QB make, if Tomlin remains as HC?

Tomlin still prefers to run his ultra-conservative, get to 3rd down, shorten the game offense.

Until there is a change in football philosophy, I don't see how finding a franchise QB makes much difference.

[Orangesteel]

I’m generally in agreement with you. But you get a guy like Mahomes or Allen or the next star that just oozes talent, wins at all costs, sometimes that can overcome the neandertthal ball that the coach wants to run.

I don’t think Andy Reid was ever as dumb or conservative as Tomlin but before Andy was blessed with Mahomes how many rings did he have? Tomlin has value, but a football strategist and gonna out duel you from the sidelines he is not. You get the next guy though on a rookie deal and you have Aiyuk and Pickens on the outside? I’d like to watch that even with Cool Shades out there.

[DP39]

Yet Aiyuk has made it abundantly clear he wants to play for the Steelers.

I'm not sure what he sees in them but love is blind AF

He blindly loves Tomlin, that's why.

Just watch Tomlin on The Pivot Podcast, hosted by former NFL Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor & Ryan Clark. Other than Clark (who will always have a shameless loyalty to Cool Shades), they're not what you would call a roomful of the smartest individuals. Those guys/players, and most like them, see MT as a coaching god. Ask yourself this, though: if Tomlin had zero ability to dazzle folks with BS would he been seen in the same light by those who so desperately follow/worship him? Any person with above average intellect who follows MT has a reason (usually financial) in doing so.

Blind leading the blind, my friend.

[Stillchest]

Yet Aiyuk has made it abundantly clear he wants to play for the Steelers.

I'm not sure what he sees in them but love is blind AF

He blindly loves Tomlin, that's why.

Just watch Tomlin on The Pivot Podcast, hosted by former NFL Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor & Ryan Clark. Other than Clark (who will always have a shameless loyalty to Cool Shades), they're not what you would call a roomful of the smartest individuals. Those guys/players, and most like them, see MT as a coaching god. Ask yourself this, though: if Tomlin had zero ability to dazzle folks with BS would he been seen in the same light by those who so desperately follow/worship him? Any person with above average intellect who follows MT has a reason (usually financial) in doing so.

Blind leading the blind, my friend.

Also, in this period in society, many people enjoy virtue signaling.

I wonder, how long Tomlin would've had his gig in Philly or Chicago, had he continually been a playoff failure, while wallowing in mediocrity?

[DP39]

I'm not sure what he sees in them but love is blind AF

He blindly loves Tomlin, that's why.

Just watch Tomlin on The Pivot Podcast, hosted by former NFL Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor & Ryan Clark. Other than Clark (who will always have a shameless loyalty to Cool Shades), they're not what you would call a roomful of the smartest individuals. Those guys/players, and most like them, see MT as a coaching god. Ask yourself this, though: if Tomlin had zero ability to dazzle folks with BS would he been seen in the same light by those who so desperately follow/worship him? Any person with above average intellect who follows MT has a reason (usually financial) in doing so.

Blind leading the blind, my friend.

Also, in this period in society, many people enjoy virtue signaling.

I wonder, how long Tomlin would've had his gig in Philly or Chicago, had he continually been a playoff failure, while wallowing in mediocrity?

I'm sure there's that as well, but didn't want/feel the need to include it.

[tbsteel]

Pure speculation, but I think Aiyuk wants to play for a black head coach. Or just really loves Tomlin for other reasons.

If I were an NFL WR, I'd primarily want to play in an offensive system that schemes opportunities beyond 1-on-1 matchups... like a HC and or OC who are the kind of offensive minds Dick Lebeau had for defense. And I'd want to play with a QB who sees the field, makes good reads, and delivers a catchable ball. I think those two things would be worth more than a couple million bucks extra on top of my hundred million plus.

There's nothing worse as a WR than playing with a bad QB, and it's also no fun to run the same routes over and over into the teeth of coverage because your coaching is high school.

Anyway, I predict all of this is Aiyuk trying to get a bigger contract than SF thinks they can afford beyond this year. They are going to lose a lot of talent to FA next year.

Good stuff. Yeah, I think it's most likely at this point that Aiyuk gets a deal from the 49ers. His fascination with the Steelers still doesn't make much sense to me. It's a shame as I think he and Pickens perfectly compliment each other.

[bradshaw2ben]

Yet Aiyuk has made it abundantly clear he wants to play for the Steelers.

I'm not sure what he sees in them but love is blind AF

The opportunity to #neverhavealosingseason(tm)

He's currently on a team with the second-best odds to win the Lombardi. Is that not an opportunity?

[bradshaw2ben]

I'm not sure what he sees in them but love is blind AF

Well the $$$ is real; reports are the Steelers would be in the ballpark of 28-29 million and sounds like SF doesn’t want to budge over 26M. Just speculation but Aiyuk has been an important part of two wildly successful runs the last two years in SF. If Purdy doesn’t have his arm bent backwards it could have been back to back SB appearances for them.

To go all that way and not reach the mountaintop, then have the franchise scoff at a long term deal based on the player’s perceived value makes sense to me as to why he wants a change of scenery. But why the Steelers? I dunno. The outside world views Tomlin way different than we do, that is a fact. Only a few pundits have flipped to the side that we are at. Aiyuk could go from one storied franchise to another, in a new city, 29M a year and is locked up at that price for his prime years. Not a bad deal and the Steelers are obviously knocking.

I still think it would be possible to lock him and Pickens up. Then we devote all energy, capital and efforts to finding the next QB with the first round pick next season.

What difference would finding the next franchise QB make, if Tomlin remains as HC?

Tomlin still prefers to run his ultra-conservative, get to 3rd down, shorten the game offense.

Until there is a change in football philosophy, I don't see how finding a franchise QB makes much difference.

You've got to try something! At least there'd be some pressure to be more aggressive with a QB who's champing at the bit.

[jebrick]

From another site:

Sifting through this stuff of reports sounds like Russini and Pallesario are getting a lot of information from the Niners, Schefter and Garfalio from Aiyuk himself, and Rapapport somehow from us. Just based on how their words are constructed Russini and Pallesario keep talking about how the Niners are trying but it's Aiyuk, Shefty and Garifalio are saying how the Niners need to come up, and Rapapport keeps saying how we think we're right there on a deal but SF keeps changing the ask.

[Thrillsseeker]

I’m very interested to see how this unfolds heard we offered 28. I heard San Fran offer 26 but between the tax markets, San Francisco would have to offer 31 mil to make it equal to the steelers 28 million offer.

Guess we’ll see what happens.

[Pabst]

I’m very interested to see how this unfolds heard we offered 28. I heard San Fran offer 26 but between the tax markets, San Francisco would have to offer 31 mil to make it equal to the steelers 28 million offer.

Guess we’ll see what happens.

This is a complete side note, but it's always been strange to me why this never comes up.

Hockey seems to be the only sport that has figured this out (it's why Tampa was able to keep their core together so long and it's why Canadian teams have trouble attracting talent).

[Pabst]

CLE will be in cap hell for the next several years and going for broke this year. My guess is Aiyuk turned them down because he probably can't extract as much $$$ from them as PIT, and because it's possible they'd be shopping him in a year to get under the cap.

FTFY. I mean, seriously....look at this:

[Thrillsseeker]

I’m very interested to see how this unfolds heard we offered 28. I heard San Fran offer 26 but between the tax markets, San Francisco would have to offer 31 mil to make it equal to the steelers 28 million offer.

Guess we’ll see what happens.

This is a complete side note, but it's always been strange to me why this never comes up.

Hockey seems to be the only sport that has figured this out (it's why Tampa was able to keep their core together so long and it's why Canadian teams have trouble attracting talent).

I know nothing about hockey but listening to Pat Kirwan on the radio and him explaining his days with the Jets and how much harder it was to offer players $ vs say like a Florida team, could be 100’s of thousands and even millions more with the more lenient state tax %’s. Its mind boggling that with the league wanting so much parity, this glaring hole is an advantage to some.

[jebrick]

I’m very interested to see how this unfolds heard we offered 28. I heard San Fran offer 26 but between the tax markets, San Francisco would have to offer 31 mil to make it equal to the steelers 28 million offer.

Guess we’ll see what happens.

That is what Aiyuk is saying.

[Deebo]

CLE will be in cap hell for the next several years and going for broke this year. My guess is Aiyuk turned them down because he probably can't extract as much $$$ from them as PIT, and because it's possible they'd be shopping him in a year to get under the cap.

FTFY. I mean, seriously....look at this:

Not gonna lie, this graphic gave me a semi

[Pabst]

I know nothing about hockey but listening to Pat Kirwan on the radio and him explaining his days with the Jets and how much harder it was to offer players $ vs say like a Florida team, could be 100’s of thousands and even millions more with the more lenient state tax %’s. Its mind boggling that with the league wanting so much parity, this glaring hole is an advantage to some.

This became a big topic of conversation when Steven Stamkos was a UFA during the Pens cup runs.

He signed in Tampa for $8.5m/year. Toronto (his home town) would have needed to pay him right around $10m/year to offset the difference in taxes.

I know NFL players are paid based on the location of the game, but I'm not sure how exactly it works in the NHL.

This is all without getting into COL either. $1m gets you a 1000 sqft bungalow in Santa Clara, but you can by an entire estate for that in Pittsburgh.

[Orangesteel]

I know nothing about hockey but listening to Pat Kirwan on the radio and him explaining his days with the Jets and how much harder it was to offer players $ vs say like a Florida team, could be 100’s of thousands and even millions more with the more lenient state tax %’s. Its mind boggling that with the league wanting so much parity, this glaring hole is an advantage to some.

This became a big topic of conversation when Steven Stamkos was a UFA during the Pens cup runs.

He signed in Tampa for $8.5m/year. Toronto (his home town) would have needed to pay him right around $10m/year to offset the difference in taxes.

I know NFL players are paid based on the location of the game, but I'm not sure how exactly it works in the NHL.

This is all without getting into COL either. $1m gets you a 1000 sqft bungalow in Santa Clara, but you can by an entire estate for that in Pittsburgh.

Yep. If curious just go on Zillow and start typing in zip codes around the Bay Area to see what gets you what. And that’s with interest rates the highest they have been in decades.

I live in a VHCOL area and the housing prices in that area of California makes my head spin. Aiyuk is from Rocklin so he’s a NorCal dude.

[Orangesteel]

https://www.redfin.com/CA/Palo-Alto/56 ... me/1196995

Just to provide an example. Only a measly $1900ish a square foot haha

[Jizz Mop]

https://x.com/rapsheet/status/1823412682281668750?s=42

[jebrick]

https://x.com/rapsheet/status/1823412682281668750?s=42

Remember that Rappaport is very Steelers biased in this so grain of salt...

[DP39]

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the 49ers are nearing a trade with the Steelers.

In a wild turn of events, Aiyuk may be headed to Pittsburgh after all. The 49ers and Steelers have agreed to a deal and the latter is in a good place on a contract with Aiyuk. Rapoport also says that the 49ers have made another offer to Aiyuk, but he has yet to accept. If San Francisco signs off, then Aiyuk will finally be a Pittsburgh Steeler, stay tuned.

30m ago
Source: Ian Rapoport