Alex Franke

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Steelers mailbag: Russell Wilson's future, George Pickens' contract, Nick Herbig and Hard Knocks Mark Kaboly / Steelers Correspondent For The @PatMcAfeeShow PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers could be the best story in the NFL. They are 9-3, threatening to run away with the AFC North title, featured on Hard Knocks, and even the dreaded, “You don’t want to play the Steelers in the playoffs” people are starting to come alive. Life is good, right? Yet, when a call for questions went out for a Steelers Mailbag, my DMs were flooded with questions about everything except this year. My recommendation for all those Steelers fans is to worry about next year …, um, next year. Your passion for the organization's long-term success is understandable and is duly noted (and answered), but maybe we should focus on the here and now. Just a suggestion. OK, so here we go anyway. I picked out the best 20 questions and answered them. So, without further delay, I present to you the ‘Kaboly Steelers Mailbag’ brought to you by the Pat McAfee Show. 1. @NateStoor: Do you think there’s a good chance the Steelers sign Tee Higgins in the offseason? Keenan Allen? Amari Cooper? Kaboly: I’ve learned to never say never when it comes to roster building and Omar Khan, but framing the question as a “good chance” to sign any of the mentioned receivers would be premature. Higgins would cost too much, and Allen and Cooper are on the backside of their careers. At this point, I’d say no to all of them. You have George Pickens as the No. 1, Calvin Austin III rounding into a nice receiver, and Roman Wilson still at your disposal in 2025. I’d imagine they’d go the route of a second-day pick over a free agent. 2. @Chrismc_says: With the continued success of Nick Herbig, will the Steelers become a victim of their own success … at what point is the contract investment going to be too much to hold Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig on the roster? Kaboly: Watt will be re-signed in the offseason, Highsmith is signed through the 2027 season at a reasonable rate and Herbig is still on his rookie deal for two more years. This is something you wouldn’t have to worry about for a couple of seasons, but you are right, if Herbig continues to progress, you can’t keep all three. If you forced me to pick two right now, I’d stay with Watt and Highsmith. By the way, these are first-world problems that tend to work themselves out over time. 3. @dsiler98: What are the chances we sign George Pickens to an extension this offseason? Kaboly: I would think there’s a good chance. He’s young, he’s talented and , believe it or not, I’ve seen him mature a lot over his two years even though he falls victim to a brain fart from time to time. I do believe that it would be in the best interest of everybody to trade him this offseason if they decide they aren’t going to pursue him long-term. 4. @SteelersFrenzy: Does Joey Porter Jr. have a penalty problem? When does it outweigh his talent? Kaboly: He’s had a hell of a penalty problem as of late, that’s for sure. Porter has been flagged 10 times over the last four games including six times against the Bengals. Eight of those were either pass interference or holding. It’s been a big problem and needs to be rectified. But a couple of bad games shouldn’t have anybody questioning his talent. He is the best corner they have, and he’s barely started a full year of games since being drafted. Porter needs to adjust and clean up some technique things. It’s nothing that he can’t fix quickly. 5. @joshselk: Is Hard Knocks the best or worst thing to ever happen to Mike Tomlin? Kaboly: From my point of view, it’s the same thing I’ve seen from Tomlin for nearly 20 years. It may be a surprise to the folks who don’t see him work every day but that’s who he is and always been. I think it will change many people’s views that only know him from his Tuesday press conferences. As for him, I am sure he doesn’t give a rat ass if it is good or bad for his brand. 6. @HideAndGo_Zeke: Herbig seems to be playing at the same level we have seen from Alex Highsmith. When Highsmith returns, what does the playing time look like for each of these guys? Kaboly: The job is still Highsmith’s (and rightfully so) with Herbig getting 25-30% of the snaps spelling either Highsmith or Watt. He will get his opportunities, trust me. 7. @ChayLytle: Would you franchise tag Russell Wilson or offer him a two-year deal? Kaboly: No chance I would tag him. First, when you tag him, you are responsible for the full $40 million in this case at the start of the new league year in March. That could complicate how they would approach free agency so that one reason why I 'd say no. I’d give him 3 for $110 million with a final year set up in a way to give the Steelers an out if they choose. If the Steelers offer him a fair deal, there is no way he’s leaving to go seek more money. 8. @BTofficial434: Mike Tomlin always speaks highly of Tee Higgins. Could the Steelers pursue him even if they sign Pickens? Kaboly: Najee Harris, T.J. Watt, Dan Moore Jr., Justin Fields, Jaylen Warren (RFA), Wilson, and Pickens are either free agents or would be due for an extension. You can’t pay everybody and surely you can’t add a $20 million per year free agent from the outside. 9. @chrisjlarue: Can you see Justin Fields signing an extension to be the backup to Russell Wilson for the next two years? Kaboly: Let me ask you a question. If you were Fields, would you come back to play behind Wilson or would you seek an opportunity to be a starter somewhere else likely for decent money? I know what I’d do. There are always another side of a story like this that we tend not to take into consideration. 10. @cmay43: Do you think Najee Harris has played well enough to be too expensive now to re-sign? I’m worried that we need him and won't be able to pay him when we should've just picked up his 5th-year option. Kaboly: You never know how much money a guy could get on the open market, but you would figure that it would be around $8 million per year, if not a tad more. Harris has earned to hit free agency and he’d be crazy not to see his market value. I think it’s going to be difficult for him to return. 11. @reconn88: Do you think this is a decline in Minkah Fitzpatrick’s play? I know his contract is up in 2026 so do you think the Steelers resign him? Kaboly: Absolutely I would re-sign him. Even though he has lacked splash plays over the past year, there is more to it than interceptions. Some players mean more to the team than just stats and that’s Fitzpatrick. You can’t imagine what he means to this defense as a whole. He’s a lifer just like Heyward, Watt, and, on the other side of the ball, Pat Freiermuth. 12. @STLRS: Mr. Kaboly, how much influence do the Steelers have on what is shown or not shown on Hard Knocks? Kaboly: How I understand it is that the Steelers do have a say in what is shown but they do not have full control. I do not believe that Tomlin/Rooney/Khan look at it before the organization signs off on it. What was interesting to me was on the first episode when they were showing the hatred between the teams over the years that the Myles Garrett helmet swing was left out. They showed Joey Porter fighting William Green but not that. Skeptical am I! 13. @danieljosephV2: Who are the top free agents next year we should be keeping an eye on? Kaboly: I am assuming you are talking about the Steelers’ free agents. You start with Wilson then move to keeping your own a year before they hit free agency – Pickens and Watt. Outside free agents? Wow, I’d look at defensive tackle. Maybe Javon Kinlaw or B.J. Hill but I am just spit balling here. 14. @smooveballer30: What is the status of Cole Holcomb and Roman Wilson’s return? Kaboly: No real update but I’d be shocked to see either one of them this year. By the way, I am stunned how many times people ask about Holcomb. I think their ILB position is pretty solid without him, no? 15. @Andrew_Lwowski: As much as I’d love to ask a million questions on the fate of the Steelers, I’ll ask a different one: What is most gratifying about your work as a Steelers beat reporter? Kaboly: Being able to go to work every day and it doesn’t feel like work. It might be a cliché but it’s true. I am an old newspaper guy so to be able to go and talk to people and get them to tell you something that they might not tell somebody else still gives me a rush. It’s the best job in the world and I am aware of it. 16. @unknown?: The Broncos and Steelers will meet in the first round at Acrisure. The real Russ revenge game. Your thoughts? Kaboly: Maybe Russ will get a real game ball instead of a petty game ball? I do like how you think. 17. @mjfSteeler: Do you have any updates on injured rookies Troy Fautanu and Roman Wilson? Can they return for the playoffs? Kaboly: Fautanu is on IR and hypothetically could come back for the playoffs. But why would you do that with a rookie who has very few practice snaps under his belt let alone game snaps? Wilson looks good to me, but I find it hard to believe he will come off the IR this year. It’s just too much missed time for a rookie receiver to overcome. 18. @metakost: Is there any possibility that we resign Corliss Waitman and cut Cam Johnston in the off-season? Kaboly: I guess if they deem Johnston’s knee injury to be so serious that his career would be in jeopardy it could happen. It’s more likely that they both come back and go to camp to battle it out. Johnston's rehab is going well. Remember, Johnston is an elite punter. They’ve been fortunate that Waitman has kicked as well as he has. 19. @AJCNY: Is Mike Williams one and done? One target one TD? Kaboly: No way. He will come up with a big play here soon. He might not be a guy who is targeted 6 or 7 times a game but he’s going to contribute more moving forward. When you have Wilson spreading the ball around as much as he does, it’s inevitable 20. @metakost: What have you heard, if anything about Andy Weidl possibly leaving for a GM role this off-season? Kaboly: You know, I haven’t heard but I also haven’t asked either. My gut tells me he is committed to this team for at least a few more years. You never know, but Weidl is in a good situation right now and it would have to be a perfect job for him to consider it, IMO. --30--

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The Nikola Jokic tour continues 😂🔥 (h/t @ClutchPoints )

The Ohio State synchronized swimming team won its 34th national title on Saturday and coach Holly Vargo-Brown won her sixth career U.S. Collegiate Coach of the Year Award. 11w.rs/3JIuVgd