If I were Ben I wouldn't come back

[The Riddle of Steel]

to this shitstorm.

Ravens are set up to dominate the AFCN (and probably the AFC) for the next decade. Browns are absolutely loaded with talent. Steelers are close to being peers with the Bengals who are in full rebuild mode.

I predict Ben hangs it up after this year, Tomlin and KC follow shortly thereafter (or maybe a year later) and we are in full rebuild mode for the next 5-6 years.

Sucks that our defense finally becomes decent while our offense looks like a D3 team. It's going to be many dark years with Mason at the helm throwing to JuJu and Samuels.

[Obviously]

Guys, I think we need to put Riddle on suicide watch.

[Jizz Mop]

If we can keep this D together for next year

Add one good skill position player

Ben returns

I’m thinking playoffs (in Jim Mora’s voice)

[The Riddle of Steel]

Guys, I think we need to put Riddle on suicide watch.

Nah. But it's not going to be fun to watch the Steelers battle for 3rd place in the AFC for the next few years.

[The Riddle of Steel]

If we can keep this D together for next year

Add one good skill position player

Ben returns

I’m thinking playoffs (in Jim Mora’s voice)

I think we are needing 3 skill position players on offense WR1, RB1, TE1 in addition to Ben coming back to reaching just an average offense.

[BethlehemSteel]

If we can keep this D together for next year

Add one good skill position player

Ben returns

I’m thinking playoffs (in Jim Mora’s voice)

I think we are needing 3 skill position players on offense WR1, RB1, TE1 in addition to Ben coming back to reaching just an average offense.

Let me guess, you never saw the 26 years of QB futility before Ben R? Ben can come back and give us 2-3 more years if need be, you have to be on board for that. Look at the quagmire of the current QB position outside the top 5 guys today.

[Ice]

What Beth said. I'll put off the 40 years in the desert for as long as possible.

[The Riddle of Steel]

If we can keep this D together for next year

Add one good skill position player

Ben returns

I’m thinking playoffs (in Jim Mora’s voice)

I think we are needing 3 skill position players on offense WR1, RB1, TE1 in addition to Ben coming back to reaching just an average offense.

Let me guess, you never saw the 26 years of QB futility before Ben R? Ben can come back and give us 2-3 more years if need be, you have to be on board for that. Look at the quagmire of the current QB position outside the top 5 guys today.

What do we do with Rudolph then? I think this season effectively zapped any possible trade value he has.

[R_S]

to this shitstorm.

Ravens are set up to dominate the AFCN (and probably the AFC) for the next decade. Browns are absolutely loaded with talent. Steelers are close to being peers with the Bengals who are in full rebuild mode.

I predict Ben hangs it up after this year, Tomlin and KC follow shortly thereafter (or maybe a year later) and we are in full rebuild mode for the next 5-6 years.

Sucks that our defense finally becomes decent while our offense looks like a D3 team. It's going to be many dark years with Mason at the helm throwing to JuJu and Samuels.

Why would it take 5-6 years to rebuild? This isn't 1990

[Kodiak]

Why would it take 5-6 years to rebuild? This isn't 1990

But what if they replace Tomlin by promoting Danny Smith?

[Texas Black & Gold]

I am glad you are not Ben.

[punum123]

We should sign Zach Collaros after he wins the Gray Cup on Sunday. Kid has a cannon for an arm....extremely mobile....

[955876]

Why would it take 5-6 years to rebuild? This isn't 1990

But what if they replace Tomlin by promoting Danny Smith?

I’ve been a strong proponent of replacing Jibba Jabba.

However, I also lack confidence that Dunce will make a quality hire. He doesn’t have the track record that gramps and his father had.

Cowher and Tomlin were both quality hires. Tomlin (IMO) has rested on his early success and has not evolved to what he could have been.

So with that being said, I could see him doing something really dumb. Making a hire based more on where someone was born, where they went to school, or if their father has been to a Rooney house for dinner. Or go out if their way to satisfy the Rooney Rule.

I want the most qualified. Not the one with the deepest Pittsburgh roots or checks a box.

Tomlin might be the lesser evil.

[StillMadAtSlobber]

Guys, I think we need to put Riddle on suicide watch.

I think it's too late.

[SteelBeach]

No suicide watch. Riddle of Steel is a Ravens fan.

[The Riddle of Steel]

No suicide watch. Riddle of Steel is a Ravens fan.

You got me. I am having a wonderful season.

[Steelperch]

Here’s another way to look at it. The AFC absolutely sucks. You have the Patriots, but Brady looks shot and might retire. You have the Ravens who the Steelers had beat without Ben. The rest of the teams are mediocre, save the KC offense. Steelers D is an elite unit, and any O with Ben is dangerous.

Keep Dupree and get a receiver & RB in the draft, plus get Ben back... instant SB contender. If the franchise is smart, and I have my doubts, they should go all in on the next two years. Restructure deals, kick cap hits out into 2022. Free up room to get as much talent as you can for the next two years. Then sucks in 2022 and look to draft the next QB. I 100% guarantee Mason Rudolph isn’t it.

[Baltostiller]

I think that Ben has around 65 million reasons to come back, including some that he would have to pay back. He'll be back.

[Texas Black & Gold]

Frankly, I highly doubt if Ben does come back. I think this year off is gonna make him question: What's the point?

That is a possibility. If Ben chooses not to return I just hope he does not pull an Andrew Luck last minute announcement. Be professional and give the organization and team some time to adjust. It would be nice for Ben and the fans to have a farewell tour if it is in the cards.

[fractalsteel]

I think that Ben has around 65 million reasons to come back, including some that he would have to pay back. He'll be back.

Where I'm at. Too much $$ to let slip through your fingers.
That, and I believe he wants to go out slinging, not broken.
I'm looking forward to him having 2 more great seasons.

[COR-TEN]

I think that Ben has around 65 million reasons to come back, including some that he would have to pay back. He'll be back.

Where I'm at. Too much $$ to let slip through your fingers.
That, and I believe he wants to go out slinging, not broken.
I'm looking forward to him having 2 more great seasons.

What's unfortunate is that he hasn't had an entire season to get comfortable with the skill position players they have now after the departure of the idiot "B's."

[955876]

Here’s another way to look at it. The AFC absolutely sucks. You have the Patriots, but Brady looks shot and might retire. You have the Ravens who the Steelers had beat without Ben. The rest of the teams are mediocre, save the KC offense. Steelers D is an elite unit, and any O with Ben is dangerous.

Keep Dupree and get a receiver & RB in the draft, plus get Ben back... instant SB contender. If the franchise is smart, and I have my doubts, they should go all in on the next two years. Restructure deals, kick cap hits out into 2022. Free up room to get as much talent as you can for the next two years. Then sucks in 2022 and look to draft the next QB. I 100% guarantee Mason Rudolph isn’t it.

This...

[BethlehemSteel]

I think we are needing 3 skill position players on offense WR1, RB1, TE1 in addition to Ben coming back to reaching just an average offense.

Let me guess, you never saw the 26 years of QB futility before Ben R? Ben can come back and give us 2-3 more years if need be, you have to be on board for that. Look at the quagmire of the current QB position outside the top 5 guys today.

What do we do with Rudolph then? I think this season effectively zapped any possible trade value he has.

How bout some proper answer first. Always answering a question with another question.

[Jizz Mop]

Riddle me this

[El Kabong]

As others pointed out, we finally have a strong defense again. With that, Ben coming back suddenly makes the Steelers strong contenders again. Why WOULDN'T Ben want to come back for that?

I would bet that Ben has a much more positive outlook than our intrepid OP does.

[El Kabong]

Frankly, I highly doubt if Ben does come back. I think this year off is gonna make him question: What's the point?

Fans, I notice, talk about whether Ben should return or not based on how good they think the team will be. I bet Ben doesn't think of it that way. For one thing, I bet he has a positive attitude and thinks any team he's on will be a contender. Also, prior to the season, Ben said he was having fun playing football again. What's the point of Ben coming back? Because it's genuinely fun for him and he genuinely wants to do it for as long as he can?

[El Kabong]

Frankly, I highly doubt if Ben does come back. I think this year off is gonna make him question: What's the point?

That is a possibility. If Ben chooses not to return I just hope he does not pull an Andrew Luck last minute announcement. Be professional and give the organization and team some time to adjust. It would be nice for Ben and the fans to have a farewell tour if it is in the cards.

Ben said he is going to return for two more years after this one. I take him at his word.

[El Kabong]

Guys, I think we need to put Riddle on suicide watch.

Nah. But it's not going to be fun to watch the Steelers battle for 3rd place in the AFC for the next few years.

There is no reason that needs to be the case. Enough of the doom and gloom.

[Lynch]

Frankly, I highly doubt if Ben does come back. I think this year off is gonna make him question: What's the point?

Fans, I notice, talk about whether Ben should return or not based on how good they think the team will be. I bet Ben doesn't think of it that way. For one thing, I bet he has a positive attitude and thinks any team he's on will be a contender. Also, prior to the season, Ben said he was having fun playing football again. What's the point of Ben coming back? Because it's genuinely fun for him and he genuinely wants to do it for as long as he can?

Do you think he would say: "I'm only playing nowadays to make sure my children's grandchildren are set for life, but Frankly, I'm sick of this shit?"

[Lynch]

The truck stop porn patron raises a very valid point here.