OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Steelers need a new ball thrower for the handball game thingy

[3074326]

There was some outrage by Browns fans over the Watson signing.

Especially within the ranks of female dawgs. Has that changed?

I'm probably going to give way too in-depth of an answer.

None of the Browns fans I know are excited about football right now. I think many are trying to figure out how they feel. It's not as simple as just dropping the team we've loved for years like many think (easier for me though because I'm not a life-long Browns fan). But the team made such a long commitment. I'm usually more excited for week 1 than I am during Christmas. Safe to say that's not the case this year, and it wouldn't be the case if Watson were starting.

Columbus (where I live) is definitely a Browns town. But the Bengals have a huge opportunity to steal many of those fans. Fans are definitely switching. It's a super easy transition for Browns fans to make. Obviously Columbus is Buckeye HQ and Joe Burrow would probably win mayor if he ran today. He's adored by everyone here.

I've seen 0 Watson jerseys, and the only Watson-backers I've seen have been on the internet. I feel like I should mention that I work at a casino and I'm in charge of audio/video. I'm around sports fans a lot. I have to set up the watch parties and whatnot for the local radio/TV stations during football season. Never seen so little excitement for the Browns. People love them, as dogshit as they are.

Also, I spent a couple days in Cleveland a few weeks ago for a Guardians game. I also didn't see a single Watson jersey there, or in Cleveland. Basically nobody talks about Deshaun Watson, aside from "f*** Deshaun Watson."

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I'm probably going to give way too in-depth of an answer.

None of the Browns fans I know are excited about football right now. I think many are trying to figure out how they feel. It's not as simple as just dropping the team we've loved for years like many think (easier for me though because I'm not a life-long Browns fan). But the team made such a long commitment. I'm usually more excited for week 1 than I am during Christmas. Safe to say that's not the case this year, and it wouldn't be the case if Watson were starting.

Columbus (where I live) is definitely a Browns town. But the Bengals have a huge opportunity to steal many of those fans. Fans are definitely switching. It's a super easy transition for Browns fans to make. Obviously Columbus is Buckeye HQ and Joe Burrow would probably win mayor if he ran today. He's adored by everyone here.

I've seen 0 Watson jerseys, and the only Watson-backers I've seen have been on the internet. I feel like I should mention that I work at a casino and I'm in charge of audio/video. I'm around sports fans a lot. I have to set up the watch parties and whatnot for the local radio/TV stations during football season. Never seen so little excitement for the Browns. People love them, as dogshit as they are.

Also, I spent a couple days in Cleveland a few weeks ago for a Guardians game. I also didn't see a single Watson jersey there, or in Cleveland. Basically nobody talks about Deshaun Watson, aside from "f*** Deshaun Watson."

I suspect the Watson trade will go down as one of the biggest colossal blunders in Brown’s history.

Not only the draft capital and huge contract, but alienating a huge segment of your fan base - not to mention the bad karma and ill will the org will feel from other fans.

I seriously don’t get what the org was thinking and their comical inability to read the room.

Would be bad enough if it was a FA signing, but they gave up three first rounders - three!

That isn’t shooting yourself in the foot, it’s shooting yourself in the face.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

I suspect the Watson trade will go down as one of the biggest colossal blunders in Brown’s history.

Not only the draft capital and huge contract, but alienating a huge segment of your fan base - not to mention the bad karma and ill will the org will feel from other fans.

I seriously don’t get what the org was thinking and their comical inability to read the room.

Would be bad enough if it was a FA signing, but they gave up three first rounders - three!

That isn’t shooting yourself in the foot, it’s shooting yourself in the face.

It depends if they get a SB then it was worth it. If they don’t win more then 1 playoff game while he is under contract it’s a failure.
3 1st aren’t the end of the world Lance went for that and it’s usually 2 1st to trade up for any rookie. Especially since you believe 2 of the 1sts will be late 20s

 

[xlm34]

The sad thing about Watson is that I feel most Cleveland fans won’t give a shit what he did as long he performs well. If he starts winning, a lot will just look past him being an absolute scumbag. Obviously not everyone, but usually the hate is louder online than it is in reality. What he did was unprecedented but we’ve seen a lot of terrible people be loved by fans because they were good at football.

The organization’s behavior from start to finish has been absolutely pathetic though. I hope it blows up in their face.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

It depends if they get a SB then it was worth it. If they don’t win more then 1 playoff game while he is under contract it’s a failure.
3 1st aren’t the end of the world Lance went for that and it’s usually 2 1st to trade up for any rookie. Especially since you believe 2 of the 1sts will be late 20s

I doubt the Browns win a SB with Watson, but Haslams have deluded themselves into winning at any cost - so it shows the depths they are willing to sink to, to win.

Lance is playing this season though, and he's not making $230 million dollars.

Three firsts is a big deal - it will eventually catch up to them in terms of talent and depth.

This season could very well be a lost season for the Browns - what if they are 3-8... 4-7 when Watson comes back?

Then you have a rusty Qb who hasn't played in almost 2 years coming in during the end of the season trying to "jump on a moving train." That smells like a top ten pick for the Texans.

Now the Browns will have given up a 13, a top 10 pick, and another first.

All the while, you are telling your massive contingent of female Browns fans "f*** you!!!!."

It's not like the Haslams were blindsided by all this either. That's what makes the trade even more bizarre and disturbing.

The Browns even structured Watson's contract to make like $1.5m this season knowing he would get suspended... so he wouldn't lose much money when the inevitable happened.

If that doesn't tell you the depths they sank to...

 

[Andy99]

This is from SI article predicting AFC North standings, Steelers at bottom, win total is my prediction too lol….

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: 6–11
Best Case: Unlike 2021, the defense is much more than just the T.J. Watt Show. With the revival on that side of the ball, and Pickett stepping in under center in October and thriving in a point-guard role, it’s a revival for the black and gold as they take back the AFC North crown.
Worst Case: The QB play is no better than it was with an aging Roethlisberger—Pickett doesn’t show coaches enough to get on the field, while Trubisky flashes ability but is erratic as usual. The run defense remains an issue, and the Steelers squander another year of Watt’s prime.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

This is from SI article predicting AFC North standings, Steelers at bottom, win total is my prediction too lol….

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: 6–11
Best Case: Unlike 2021, the defense is much more than just the T.J. Watt Show. With the revival on that side of the ball, and Pickett stepping in under center in October and thriving in a point-guard role, it’s a revival for the black and gold as they take back the AFC North crown.
Worst Case: The QB play is no better than it was with an aging Roethlisberger—Pickett doesn’t show coaches enough to get on the field, while Trubisky flashes ability but is erratic as usual. The run defense remains an issue, and the Steelers squander another year of Watt’s prime.

I don't have a W/L prediction, but I say we're under .500 and 4th place in the division. Us and Balt will be neck and neck for last place.

 

[Andy99]

I don't have a W/L prediction, but I say we're under .500 and 4th place in the division. Us and Balt will be neck and neck for last place.

IdK re Balt…I think they could be bounce back candidates and win the division potentially, as SI predicted, just because their entire RB crew, and CBs and top OT were all injured last season….if they get better health, I don’t think they’ll be sharing the bottom with the Steelers

 

[OnMyOwn]

Eh I feel like it’s us and Cleveland vying for 4th.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Eh I feel like it’s us and Cleveland vying for 4th.

It's possible, but they still boast a strong running game and good defense. They won 8 games with a very limited Mayfield.

To me, Jacoby Brisset is a step up from an injured Mayfield and that's worth a win or 2 in my book.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I suspect the Watson trade will go down as one of the biggest colossal blunders in Brown’s history.

 

[Peat]

Gotta say I feel really bad for the Browns fans that just don't know what to do with that latest mess. It's one thing to support a bad team, a stupid team, but that...?

The sad thing about Watson is that I feel most Cleveland fans won’t give a shit what he did as long he performs well. If he starts winning, a lot will just look past him being an absolute scumbag. Obviously not everyone, but usually the hate is louder online than it is in reality. What he did was unprecedented but we’ve seen a lot of terrible people be loved by fans because they were good at football.

The organization’s behavior from start to finish has been absolutely pathetic though. I hope it blows up in their face.

There's a big difference between continuing to support a scumbag once known, and choosing to support someone who's introduced to you as a known scumbag.

Not that you're wrong mind, and I bet there's not a shortage of Cleveland fans who truth told don't care already (that'd be the same everywhere, not just Cleveland). But this'll really test it. And you've got to wonder how many of them will still be Cleveland fans by the time he gets a chance to do that anyway.

 

[NewAgeOutlaw]

I'm a big believer in redemption and I normally take the stance that football is not a morality contest. That being said, it is amazing how the Browns went from likeable historical underdogs finally on the rise to being perceived as a terrible and cancerous organization.

Honestly, sticking with Baker for all of his flaws probably would have been the way to go. The dude helped them get out of the cellar and played last year through a bum shoulder yet they discarded him like trash the second Deshaun Cosby became available.

 

[Khelandros]

The Steelers won 9 games last year with Ben. Thinking they will take a step back now that they have a mobile QB is deluded. The defense is better. And with an unpredictable QB under center, it will make game planning for opposing coaches more difficult. It's not that hard to game plan for a QB that only operates out of the shotgun and isn't modile.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I'm a big believer in redemption and I normally take the stance that football is not a morality contest. That being said, it is amazing how the Browns went from likeable historical underdogs finally on the rise to being perceived as a terrible and cancerous organization.

Honestly, sticking with Baker for all of his flaws probably would have been the way to go. The dude helped them get out of the cellar and played last year through a bum shoulder yet they discarded him like trash the second Deshaun Cosby became available.

Eh I feel like Cincy carried the title of "likeable underdogs" with Burrow and his HC having something to do with it.

The Browns were bought by an owner who scammed truck drivers and that's how he amassed part of his fortune.
They signed a RB who likes to hit women.
Baker Mayfield was acting a fool in college. Before that it was Johnny Manziel.
They didn't condone Garret's helmet swing. And they surely didn't condone him going all Jussie Smollett.

Then they go ahead and top it off by hiring a known predator to be the face of their franchise.

Seriously, eff the Browns

The Steelers won 9 games last year with Ben. Thinking they will take a step back now that they have a mobile QB is deluded. The defense is better. And with an unpredictable QB under center, it will make game planning for opposing coaches more difficult. It's not that hard to game plan for a QB that only operates out of the shotgun and isn't modile.

Care to make an Avatar bet?

 

[Andy99]

The Steelers won 9 games last year with Ben. Thinking they will take a step back now that they have a mobile QB is deluded. The defense is better. And with an unpredictable QB under center, it will make game planning for opposing coaches more difficult. It's not that hard to game plan for a QB that only operates out of the shotgun and isn't modile.

yes, but you forgot to figure in Matt Canada, the new Oline coach and Tomlin doing the offensive game planning in place of a lot of Ben…should knock us back down a few pegs lol

 

[joestevens29]

The sad thing about Watson is that I feel most Cleveland fans won’t give a shit what he did as long he performs well. If he starts winning, a lot will just look past him being an absolute scumbag. Obviously not everyone, but usually the hate is louder online than it is in reality. What he did was unprecedented but we’ve seen a lot of terrible people be loved by fans because they were good at football.

The organization’s behavior from start to finish has been absolutely pathetic though. I hope it blows up in their face.

I wonder how things would've been from a perception side of things if the deal would've went down next season.

At least you could somewhat spin it that he's served his NFL punishment and had time to reflect, and has become a new man.

But to trade for him when this dark cloud was still hovering with uncertainty and then to go and give him such a joke of a contract that protected him financially is just such bad optics all around.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

View attachment 580808

 

[OnMyOwn]

I think we could absolutely surprise people. Tons of talent on the team, but if I’m being realistic I think we finish around .500 and in 3rd place.

 

[K Fleur]

I forgot Claypool is on this team.

 

[Pengwins]

 

[Goalie_Bob]

No chance that happens. Basing your data on one source that is involved in ticket resale is not an accurate way of prejudging attendance.

My thought is that it will be 60-70% Pitt and 30-40% WVU.

 

[xlm34]

No chance that happens. Basing your data on one source that is involved in ticket resale is not an accurate way of prejudging attendance.

My thought is that it will be 60-70% Pitt and 30-40% WVU.

Yeah it’s insane that people actually believe that graphic. Students and season ticket holders will make up probably at least 40,000 seats. So you’re probably right with your guess. I’m thinking around 15,000 WVU fans.

 

[Pens1566]

As a WVU alum ...

It won't be that high, no. But 60-40 isn't going to shock me. I know more than a handful that bought Pitt season tix once the single game prices went up higher. Either way, there will be enough WVU fans there that you'll wonder who is the home team. At least enough to hear the real version of "Sweet Caroline" come through on TV.

ESP

 

[Pengwins]

Gotta say I feel really bad for the Browns fans