OT: Haskins off to the Steelers

Submitted by Gentleman Squirrels on January 21st, 2021 at 2:34 PM
https://twitter.com/sinow/status/1352335423385837568?s=21

abertain

January 21st, 2021 at 5:45 PM ^

I have gradually shed sports as I've gotten older, but I was a huge Steelers fan for much of my life. This take is correct. Tomlin is a great coach, but he hasn't held guys accountable. Fans can point to moments when personal fouls etc. don't really seem to result in any problem for the player. It's odd. He's a great coach, but he really needs a locker room that holds itself accountable to be at his best. 

befuggled

January 21st, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^

I don't think it's a bad move. Roethlisberger is 38 and may be approaching the end of his career. Haskins on the other hand has just been released by the team that drafted him. It may be enough of an ego hit to make him more coachable, although I'm inclined to doubt it. 

They're also unlikely to be paying him a lot; I'm sure there are performance bonuses in the contract, but he's not going to hit them unless Roethlisberger goes out. I would be surprised if he sticks in Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh is not losing much if he fails.

Pittsburgh could also draft a quarterback, which would make Haskins even more expendable.

ESNY

January 21st, 2021 at 6:01 PM ^

Throws pretty well?  Thats pretty much a no. Guy can barely arm punt it more than 5 yards down the field. 

I doubt the Haskins deal will move the needle much but guessing its a very low salary and not much down side to a one-year deal, esp being they have starting QB already, even if he is mediocre himself

bamf_16

January 21st, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^

Speculation in Pittsburgh from some has been they might look at a quarterback at the end of the first round, someone like Jones or Trask. But so many holes elsewhere on the roster. Then speculation shifted towards maybe a former pick who still has potential, someone like Rosen or Darnold, or even Wentz.

 

The couple times I saw Haskins name show up in writing, that was apparently where the Steeler fan base drew the line! Not many people excited about this signing!

clarkiefromcanada

January 21st, 2021 at 6:38 PM ^

Pittsburgh is so deep in salary cap hell that Darnold/Wentz would not be options given the monies they will expect (even as plan B options). Rosen, possibly, though he has really not demonstrated any NFL ability in his career. While they will have some cap freedom in 22/23 they will need to extend TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Post Roethlisberger (whenever that is) they will need to gut that team and start over (which will kill Pittsburgh fans but will be necessary).

Haskins is clearly an idiot (not shocking) but signing him to a futures deal is probably not unreasonable. 

WeimyWoodson

January 21st, 2021 at 4:52 PM ^

"Roethlisberger is 38 and may be approaching the end of his career"

 

May?  He is, it's not like he takes care of himself like Brady.  That dude looks like a middle-aged huge dude, who pounds a couple of cases of brews each weekend.  I cannot imagine he holds the whole pro athlete thing for much longer. 

WeimyWoodson

January 21st, 2021 at 4:52 PM ^

"Roethlisberger is 38 and may be approaching the end of his career"

 

May?  He is, it's not like he takes care of himself like Brady.  That dude looks like a middle-aged huge dude, who pounds a couple of cases of brews each weekend.  I cannot imagine he holds the whole pro athlete thing for much longer. 

BoFlex

January 21st, 2021 at 3:00 PM ^

Another Buckeye just failing upwards somehow... going from one of the most dysfunctional franchises to one of the best in the league.

Offensively, the Steelers are a pretty good fit for Haskins’s skill sets and play style, and Big Ben is on the very tail-end of his career now.

So either this move gets the Steelers a very cheap, future replacement or they draft one after the experiment fails.

Hensons Mobile…

January 21st, 2021 at 3:54 PM ^

As someone who has been had by misleading OP titles (e.g. Washington DC), I don’t see how anyone could have thought a college player could go straight to a pro team without first doing the whole draft thing.

 

Perkis-Size Me

January 21st, 2021 at 5:03 PM ^

Might not be that bad of a move. I'm sure they can get him for dirt cheap since Haskins has no real leverage to work with. They can try to groom him behind Rothlisberger for a year or two (presuming Rothlisberger doesn't retire), hope he learns well enough to take over, and then if not, they cut him loose and not really lose anything of value. 

Its pretty clear that the Steeler's future does NOT run through Mason Rudolph, so seeing what other options they might have makes sense. Roll the dice on a kid drafted in the first round, give him a fresh start and hope that a change of scenery in a stable, proud organization will be exactly what he needs. 

KennyHiggins

January 21st, 2021 at 5:10 PM ^

As a Washingtonian, who saw D Haskins play in high school, college, and fo WFT....he's great if he only needs to see 1/3 of the field and his receivers are wide open.  All other circumstances, he's a frustrating QB to back.