Ask Ed: Maybe NFL Should Deflate all Footballs?

Good morning,

In today’s Ask Ed, questions continue to pour in on Deflategate:

--- YOU: Overlooked in all the theories on why the Patriots may have deflated footballs - Isn't it easier for a running back to grip a less inflated ball? Belichick talked yesterday about his obsession with ball security. Don't you think they also figured that this may reduce fumbles?

ED: From what I’ve learned over the past week that never even crossed my mind until then is that having a deflated football means all kinds of advantages to an offense. I’m surprised the NFL rulesmakers did not figure this out as another way to help increase scoring and mandate that all footballs have less air pressure in them.

--- YOU: I'm not much of a skeptic so I tend to believe what Bellacheat said at his conference and didn't think anything would come of it. But then I realized that I also believed Tomlin when he said he didn't step into the field on purpose on that Raven's kickoff return. It seemed he would be stupid to do it on purpose because of the trouble/penalty he would get into. However, there were many people who seriously believed he did that on purpose. He was fined and draft picks threatened even though they couldn't prove that he had done it on purpose. Not sure that they can prove that Bellicheat had those balls deflated but don't you think from past precedence they will still fine and take a pick or two away since it has the appearance of skullduggery?

ED: Who knows what Roger Goodell will do? Someone did it, since all 12 of the New England footballs were underinflated and all 12 of the Indianapolis footballs were properly inflated (even though some Patriots apologists continue to say the “cold” weather might have had an affect on the air pressure when it wasn’t even “cold” in Mass., that day). If they can not pin it on any one individual – and even if they could – I would think the organization as a whole will take the hit via fines and draft picks.

--- YOU: But, most of us lose our edge, at some point in our lives/careers.

When is that moment obvious in the career of a GM? How many bad drafts or excuse ridden drafts--lately--does a guy need before someone says "he's losing it and needs replaced?"

ED: I’m not sure what you mean by “losing it” and “bad drafts.’’ I don’t think the Steelers have received a bad grade on a draft from some of the so-called draft experts in quite awhile. You want to Monday morning quarterback it because both Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier ran into injuries that reduced their effectiveness as young players? What about Le’Veon Bell? Antonio Brown? Kelvin Beachum in the seventh round? Maurkice Pouncey? Stephon Tuitt? Martavis Bryant? David DeCastro? Marcus Gilbert? Cam Heyward?

Sorry, I’m not one to cry to about the Steelers so-called bad drafting because I don’t think they have. They have missed on a few and a few I thought were terrible picks such as Dri Archer and Landry Jones, but go look at how others draft. I guarantee on most teams you will find terrible picks.

--- YOU: Opposite the Oscars there are the Razzie awards for worst this or that. What hope do we have that a bunch of sports journalists will create an award to run opposite the new Art Rooney sportsmanship award, and call it the Belichick Award for Worst Sportsmanship?

ED: I like that idea.

--- YOU: When a player like Roethlisberger is voted to the Pro Bowl but declines to participate in the game. Is he still credited with making the team? Will his career resume show he was voted to 3 pro bowls? Vice versa, if a player is a replacement is he credited with a pro bowl on his resume?

ED: A player voted to the Pro Bowl is given credit whether he attends or not. A player who is not voted to it but as an alternate is later selected to play and he does, he gets credit. A player not voted but as an alternate is later selected to play but he declines does not receive credit.

--- YOU: I see that Bell and Brown were named co-offensive AFC players of the year. To your knowledge, does Ben Roethlisberger ever get frustrated with the lack of recognition? He gets overlooked by his own team for MVP and he gets overlooked for player of the year by the media. I think we all know that neither Bell nor Brown have the kind of years they had with Bruce Gradkowski or Landry Jones at QB.

ED: You can say that about every wide receiver, that without a good quarterback he would not have had a great year. I don’t think you can say that about running backs, otherwise Jerome Bettis would not be a Hall of Fame finalist for the fifth year in a row because he played with some mediocre quarterbacks throughout his career. I don'’ know if Roethlisberger gets frustrated at not winning his team's MVP every year.

--- YOU: Either a coach from the past or present, from a media standpoint. Someone who doesn't communicate in coach speak, is opinionated,unfiltered and who can blow up at a presser. I'm thinking guys like Ditka, Mora, and Buddy and Rex Ryan.

ED: I’d rather just cover a bland coach who does not go off running to the media with great quotes and outlandish comments. I don’t need that to write or report. As I look back, Chuck Noll was the perfect coach to cover; he had no agenda, he treated all reporters alike and did not slip information to the national media over the expense of the local reporters who covered him. He did not often have a lot to say, but usually when he said it, it meant something. And he hardly ever reacted to what you wrote or said.

--- YOU: I am wildly curious, as trivial as it may be, if there are any liabilities for the Steelers to allow players not under contract to work out at their facility in the off season? Liable in terms of injury or contact with the coaching staff. James Harrison posts a lot of Instagram videos of his work outs at the Steelers facility and since he is currently not under contract just got me wondering.

ED: Players can work out, just not under the supervision of anyone from the team until the time in April when that is permitted. If a player is hurt, say, lifting weights, even at the team’s facility, that would be considered a non-football injury and could be treated as such if not healed by the time he is required to attended (for example, he could open training camp on the physically unable to perform list). The team also would not be required to pay him if he were hurt in that manner and could not play and they cut him.

--- YOU: You mentioned in your slog a coming NFL draft well-stocked with running backs. If a very good one is available in say the 2nd or 3rd round, might the Steelers go for him and try to set up a 1/1a type backfield, ala Harris and Blier? Maybe they could trade Archer for someone’s 3rd rounder this year (ha, ha) Thank you!

ED: I would be surprised if they drafted a back in the first or second round, but not surprised if they did so in the third, where it seems they will go for nearly anything after drafting Dri Archer that high. They also will need a back to play one or two games to open next season when Le’Veon Bell may be suspended for that DUI.

--- YOU: I've heard or dreamed up three scenarios to explain LeBeau's departure: 1) Steelers didn't want him back. 2) Steelers wanted him back, but under conditions that he wouldn't accept. 3) He left entirely of his own accord. How likely do you consider each?

ED: No. 2.

--- YOU: In your opinion do you feel either McCain or Blake could be considered as long term additions to this secondary? Obviously not stars of the league, but dependable enough to warrant significant playing time? Also, I've seen numerous readers asking about Shazier as a sefety. Although I don't totally dismiss that idea, isn't there a way he could essentially play troy's old "rover" style position in nickel packages, while still being a MLB?

ED: Art Rooney II praised the play of Antwon Blake during our interview with him on Thursday. I don’t think they are long-term solutions but I do think they can be smaller parts of the engine.