'Not a serious franchise': Will the Steelers get aggressive in free agency?
ESPN's Chris Canty, co-host of the show 'Unsportsmanlike,' recently said something about the Pittsburgh Steelers that caught my attention. Yes, it was inflammatory. But hear him out. Listen carefully. What he says about the Steelers is important because the organization, historically one of the best in all of sports, will be among the most watched teams when the tampering period for free agency begins at noon ET on Monday.
Canty isn't a flamethrower. If you watch the show regularly you know his takes are opinionated but also smart and measured. He also brings the perspective of a former NFL player. He's someone you should listen to.
The Steelers, by any measure of success, haven't struggled over the course of their existence. Obviously, it's been the opposite. There have been moments when the team's dominance was staggering.
But that has changed. Coach Mike Tomlin has lost six straight playoff games with another one-and-done postseason. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since January 2017.
Again, the Steelers make the playoffs a lot. It's that once they get there, they falter.
The Browns would love this type of futility.
But the Steelers? Nah, nope, no way. It's not who they are or, better put, it's not what the organization is supposed to be.
'The Pittsburgh Steelers, they're not a serious franchise…' 👀 https://t.co/SWr8r8sIXs
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) March 5, 2025
This was the point Canty was making.
"The Pittsburgh Steelers, it's been a decade and a half since they've been in a Super Bowl,' Canty said on the show. 'So the standard, the excellence that we've seen in that franchise, essentially excellence personified, that has now lost a little bit of its luster and it continues to do so with each passing year where they have early exit after early exit in the postseason.
'And so, I don't know what the move is, but clearly they need to be more aggressive than they have in years past because they're sitting on (their) hands, and doing business as usual hasn't gotten them to where the organization prides itself on being in terms of one of the teams that is constantly in the chase for championships."
He added, in part, one last thing: "They got a championship-level coach, but their roster is not championship caliber, and their quarterback play certainly has been anything but, post-Ben Roethlisberger. So yeah, it's hard for me, and I can't believe I'm saying this because the Pittsburgh Steelers seem like they are as buttoned up, as functional, as any franchise in the NFL. But the Pittsburgh Steelers, they're not a serious franchise. They're just not. I don't take them seriously."
Not a serious franchise.
Is that true? Maybe that's harsh. But Canty isn't alone thinking that.
If you want to say Canty said those things because he's a former Baltimore Raven and the two franchises hate each other, well, you'd be wrong. He also played for the Giants and Cowboys. Canty is simply stating things that some across the NFL are saying privately.
The Steelers have lost some of that air of greatness that has surrounded the organization for decades. It's still an outstanding franchise. It still has a great head coach in Tomlin.
But, for now at least, it's not those Steelers any longer.
The organization could change the direction of the franchise with a significant move. Go get wide receiver DK Metcalf. Be aggressive in the draft. Something.
At some point the Steelers will have to enter the 21st century when it comes to free agency and big moves. It's OK, Steelers. We got rocket ships. Flying cars are on the way.
Modern football isn't going to bite. Promise.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will the Pittsburgh Steelers get aggressive in free agency?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
19 minutes ago
- USA Today
5 standout Patriots players from first minicamp practice
5 standout Patriots players from first minicamp practice The New England Patriots opened mandatory minicamp on Monday to kick-start their final spring practice sessions. It was a similar setup to organized team activities (OTAs) with the players working through designed drills and a competitive period between the offense and defense. This setting generally favors the offensive players with the team not practicing in pads. The defense is limited in what they can do on the field in only helmets and shorts. That will obviously change later this summer when the pads come on at training camp. Then we'll get a real sense of where players are in their preparation for the regular season. Here were the five standout Patriots players on the first day of minicamp: QB Drake Maye Patriots quarterback Drake Maye picked up where he left off at OTAs last week. He looked sharp in the competitive period on the first day of minicamp, going 15-of-19 passing. That's obviously a combination of him growing into the role as a starting NFL quarterback and becoming more comfortable in Josh McDaniels' offense. He even admitted after practice that he feels like he's starting to hit his stride during the practice sessions. The Patriots can only hope that success extends into training camp and eventually the regular season. WR Kyle Williams Kyle Williams flashed some of his big-play potential with a play-of-the-day snag on a deep ball from backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs. The rookie third-round draft pick beat a linebacker, and Dobbs connected with him for 40-plus yards between two safeties. Williams' ability to find open space and make plays is starting to stand out in the early practices. He certainly looks more polished on the field than many of the past rookie receivers who have come through New England. CB Isaiah Bolden Isaiah Bolden's name doesn't get mentioned as much, but he had a couple of solid plays at the first minicamp practice, including an interception on Joshua Dobbs. The play came in the red zone and would have been a pick-six in a game situation. There is plenty of competition at the cornerback position, but Bolden's talent in the defensive backfield combined with his special teams versatility gives him a legit shot at sticking on the roster. QB Joshua Dobbs Yes, Joshua Dobbs threw one interception, but other than that play, it was actually a strong practice period for the veteran quarterback, who went 10-of-13 throwing on the day. He hit rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams on the play-of-the-day deep ball between two safeties for 40-plus yards, and he also laid out a nice touchdown throw to rookie running back Lan Larison on a wheel route. Those were two of the best throws of the entire practice. WR Stefon Diggs The boat talk already seems to be in the distant past when it comes to wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Even as a limited participant, the four-time Pro Bowler has looked exceptional running routes and completing assigned drills. It's crazy to think he's a 31-year-old player coming off an ACL injury from last October. Diggs is without question one of the hardest-working players in the NFL, and that effort shows in his recovery status. He has also quickly become a vocal leader in the Patriots' locker room. The combination of talent and a strong voice in the room could go a long way for the unit. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why Jameson Williams is no longer a boom-or-bust fantasy football option in 2025
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.) If you're looking for contenders who could break through another glass ceiling in fantasy football this coming season, Jameson Williams' name is likely floating around your draft board. But does the buzz match the reality for 2025? To answer that, let's turn to the keen insights from Matt Harmon and Scott Pianowski on the latest edition of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, where they dove into Williams' outlook with the kind of nuance and reality check this wideout deserves. Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. Advertisement Matt and Scott wasted no time calling out a key fantasy football narrative — the idea that Williams "might break out" in 2025 is already a little backward. In Matt's words: 'They're talking about [Williams] again this year like they were last year ... People are being like, 'Oh, yeah, they're hyping up Jameson Williams for a breakout year.' He had a breakout year last year. What are we talking about?" That's the crux of it: While many fantasy players and analysts are looking for Williams' leap this season, Harmon's view is that the leap already happened in 2024. After a slow start to his NFL career, Williams' growth last season was more than just flashes — he became a genuine threat in Detroit's offense. Advertisement That said, both Harmon and Pianowski do agree Williams is 'a maddening player' — not because he's unreliable, but because his multi-layered skill set gives Detroit so many options. He can 'take the top off the defense' but also house any short throw. That level of weaponry means opposing defenses have to account for him at all times, as Scott said: 'He could also catch any pass behind the line of scrimmage or any short little dig and take it to the house ... Just to have a guy like that, it changes how teams have to defend you because they're just petrified of him all the time.' The Lions are clearly aware of this. They've been vocal about Williams again this offseason, not as a hope-for breakout, but as a key piece they need playing at his best. It's about keeping him 'engaged,' as Matt put it. One of the overlooked angles from the Forecast's discussion was a potential shift in the Lions' playstyle in 2025. Frank Ragnow's retirement signals trouble for their previously dominant O-line, meaning Detroit might need to pass more simply to move the ball as efficiently as before. Advertisement Translation? More volume for Detroit's pass-catchers, and that includes Williams. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Williams isn't just a deep threat or a boom-bust flex. He's morphing into a true every-week piece, especially with the likely changes to Detroit's offense after the departure of their All-Pro center. So, if you're looking for upside, don't think of Williams as a guy with more to prove. He's already proved it — now, he's stepping into a bigger opportunity with a potentially higher target floor and established big-play upside. That's a compelling package for a receiver currently being drafted as WR24. Draft him for what he is, not what you hope he'll become — because Jameson Williams is already living his breakout. 2025 might just be where the rest of the world catches up.
USA Today
19 minutes ago
- USA Today
Former Georgia LB predicted to have breakout season with new school
Former Georgia LB predicted to have breakout season with new school Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Damon Wilson, who transferred to the Missouri Tigers this offseason, is expected to have a breakout season at Missouri. Wilson is ranked as the No. 3 transfer in the country and the No. 1 edge transfer. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound edge defender is just one of three players to be ranked as a five-star transfer, according to 247Sports. Wilson never had outstanding production at Georgia, but he was behind several NFL draft picks, like Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, in Georgia's front seven rotation. As a sophomore, Wilson recorded 22 tackles, three sacks and forced two fumbles. He was poised to have a big season with Georgia in 2025, but instead opted to transfer to Missouri. His transfer means that Georgia lost all six of their leading sack producers from the 2024 college football season. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY envisions Wilson having a breakout season with his new school. Wilson is a former five-star recruit in the class of 2023. "The 6-4, 245-pounder could be a cornerstone of a Missouri defense that lost its top edge threat in second team All-SEC pick Johnny Walker Jr., and more opportunities to flash his explosiveness could vault him up draft boards," said Middlehurst-Schwartz. Wilson could elect to enter the 2026 NFL draft after the 2025 college football season. He has the physical potential to play in the NFL and could further help his draft stock with a productive junior season at Missouri. Middlehurst-Schwartz named Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch as another player that is poised to rise in the 2026 NFL draft.
