The Pittsburgh Steelers is preparing to plunge into a season of uncertainty, and one of those difficult decisions will be a decision that is out of the organization’s hands.
Clearly, I am referring to the decision-making process of players who are considering retiring.
There are several players who are thinking of retiring in this off-season, and these players:
QB Ben Roethlisberger
C Maurkice Pouncey
OT Alejandro Villanueva
There has even been talk of David DeCastro considering moving away from the game, considering his attachment to the core of the offensive line that has essentially gone from the team. However, this is all speculation at the moment, even considering that there were rumors of Pouncey already making his retirement decision last week.
During Mike Tomlin’s end-of-season press conference on Wednesday, he was asked whether there was a deadline for players to notify him of his retirement or return. Tomlin said there is no such timetable.
“I don’t know what the timeline is for that kind of decision, to be honest.” Said Tomlin. “As I mentioned, I’m still evaluating what happened and just starting the process of evaluating what happened and collecting information in an effort to design a course in terms of moving forward. These roads generally converge in the next few weeks or so, and I imagine so. I don’t know if I have any level of anticipation specifically while I’m sitting here when it will happen. “
Tomlin said there is no timetable, but Steelers does not have the financial flexibility for players to meditate on the decision throughout the off-season. When you think of players like Roethlisberger and Pouncey, who carry significant wages in 2021, the Steelers will have to make some tough decisions if they have to replace those players.
If these players waited until long after the NFL Free Agency, or even the NFL Scouting Combine, the Steelers would be after the proverbial 8-ball when it comes to preparing to replace these players if they give up.
Mike Tomlin said there is no timetable and I certainly don’t always buy what he is selling at a press conference, but Steelers would have to have some kind of deadline for players to inform them of their plans. Otherwise, it would hurt the organization even more than its heavy salary cap for the 2021 season.
Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes about the Steelers as they prepare for the 2021 season for the free agency and the next NFL Draft.