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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat transcript: 3.9.16

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat transcript: 3.9.16

Gerry Dulac: OK, let's get our chat started. Fire away with questions....

MarkFromBonnietahn: How's that one year "Prove It" deal working out with Beachum? Is is possible he could still go to Baltimore?

Gerry Dulac: Anything is possible. But the player and team agree on a 1-year deal to see how everything works out, especially if the player is coming off an injury or something like that. It benefits the player because if he returns his health, it will increase his market value. It benefits the team because if they realize the player hasn't or can't return to 100 percent after his injury, they can release him.

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M: If they do sign Ladarius Green, will he be asked to block? Can he block?

San Diego Chargers tight end Ladarius Green.
Ed Bouchette and Ray Fittipaldo
Steelers reportedly have deal with former San Diego tight end

Gerry Dulac: Of course he will be asked to block. And, yes, he's not bad.

El Salvador: Gerry do you think the Steelers will at least make a move for Weedle?

Gerry Dulac: All I can tell you is Tomlin really likes him. And the Steelers have always liked Ladarius Green since he visited them before his draft. Get it?

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SteelerMatt: Ladarius Green is signing according to Schefter... Most athletic Steelers tight end since Eric Green?

Gerry Dulac: He is athletic. As I said, they've always liked him since college

Gene: Sign Mike Wallace & Trade Wheaton ?

Gerry Dulac: Why would anyone want Mike Wallace?

Ray Fittipaldo
Steelers go all-out to get free-agent TE Ladarius Green from Chargers

Ron from SoCal: Is there money for TE Green AND a starting quality free agent DB? Do you believe they are actively pursuing such a DB?

Gerry Dulac: Yes there is. And, trust me, they're looking at it.

Jimmy: Breaking news at this moment involves TE Ladarius Green signing w/ Steelers - what do you hear?

SteelByDesign: Never thought I'd see the day the team signs WR posing as a TE!

Gerry Dulac: That's your opinion.

MarkFromBonnietahn: Is there any money yet for Sean Smith? Any idea what he's asking for (or market value)?

Gerry Dulac: His price will be way too high I believe.

M: Steelers have seemed very active signing their own guys the last few days, how do you think they did?

Gerry Dulac: I think signing Ramon Foster was big, something they didn't expect. Give Foster credit for wanting to stay here. That was the key to the deal.

SteelerMatt: Gerry, why the dismissal by many that AV can't be a starter again in '16? It's almost like the Steelers need Beach back.

Gerry Dulac: No, he's proved he can be a starter. But don't forget, even though he played in tough stadiums such as Denver and Seattle and did well, the Steelers also had to do things to help him, things they wouldn't have to do with Beachum. Could they start the season with Al as the starting left tackle? Sure. Is that the ideal situation for them? No.

TD: Are the Steelers now bound to below average cornerbacks? J. Jenkins is getting $62 Mill over 5 years now Steelers are out of the market for years. Was it a mistake putting money into the line where difference between talent is smaller compared to talent at CB?

Gerry Dulac: No.

Guest: Gerry, you tweeted about a recent honor Ed Bouchette received. Can you give some more detail about that?

Gerry Dulac: He is one of the winners for the 2016 Art Rooney Youth Catholic Association award, given to a long-time member of the community for professional achievement. I just taped a video testimonial for him this morning for the award. Congrats to him

Jimmy: Is Kevin Colbert in Alabama today?

Gerry Dulac: I don't know

Touchdown Joey: Gerry, is Ladarius Green an upgrade on Health?

Gerry Dulac: No. Hard to find an upgrade on Heath. Anywhere

GjSteel: Hi Gerry, how surpised are you they resigned Foster...any idea of the full terms..and do you think this will impact the signing of Decastro

Gerry Dulac: No, it won't affect what they do with DeCastro, not at all. And I'm a little surprised, and so are the Steelers to an extent because they believed he would probably test the market and be gone. That's a big signing for them because it erases the problem of finding a starting-capable guard. There is no one in reserve waiting to step in

Guest: Are contracts such as Oakand's to Osemele going to ruin football? How can you build a team when guards are making $11 million a year. Salary cap hasn't gone up that much has it?

Gerry Dulac: Yes they have and yes it will

Guest: Are you surprised you haven't heard any rumors of Weddle looking anywhere in the past couple days, considering he's one of the top safetys?

Gerry Dulac: Give it a little more time....

Guest: whats your thoughts on dept with bjorn werner? Good pair with jarvis since they both dont get many sacks lol

Gerry Dulac: Funny. The Steelers kinda liked Werner when he was coming out. But he has done nothing in Indy and was a health scratch for most of the second half of the 2015 season.

Greg: Does the Green move push all the draft pick towards being defensive picks?

Gerry Dulac: No, not all of them. I think you'll still see them take a tight end and a guard, but the urgency to do so is gone, especially tight end. By that I mean, I don't think you'll see them take a tight end on the first two rounds. After that....

Guest: The Steelers got screwed when the Browns gave Center A. Mack a HUGE contract over top rate because it set the market for Pouncey. Has Oakland just screwed us with the Osemele contract? How can we build a team if we have to pay our line $10mil each?

Gerry Dulac: I've said it for years, all it takes is just one GM or one owner to overpay and knock everything out of kilter

Guest: I understand the need at CB but I feel like ROLB should be a high priority. They can't plan to keep JJ can they? Plus, a good ROLB can make a CB better, better the converse is not true wouldn't you say?

Gerry Dulac: Well, hate to tell you, it's not. They've tried the our-rush-will-make-the-coverage-better route. It's time to reverse it and try the-coverage-will-make-our-rush-better approach

Fort Worth Mike: Should we start a Greeeeeeeeeeeen chant when ladarius green catches the ball?

Gerry Dulac: No.....Heeeeaaaaattthhhh!!! Out of respect and tradition

GjSteel: Gerry, are you surprised what is going on in Denver in regards to Ostweiler..Is the market for QB's the most difficult a team deals with..I mean Joe Flacco..highest paid in the league by all ways...what a joke...

Gerry Dulac: That's the problem for the Broncos. They're not sure Osweiler is the long-term answer so they don't want to give him too big a contract. But they would at least like to keep him as a safeguard for now until the right guy comes along

SteelerMatt: Gerry- the Steelers have a way to fill their own needs before the draft to allow for flexibility. They aren't loaded at corner but they don't have to reach... Agree?

Gerry Dulac: I don't think they have to reach, that might be too strong a word. But they definitely have to stretch to make sure they get one. Or two

Freddy_The_Yeti: Assuming the Green signing occurs, do you expect any outside FA's being signed by the Steelers today?

Gerry Dulac: There could be one more....

MarkFromBonnietahn: So if they sign DeCastro to a long term deal now, it affects this year cap because of the signing bonus?

Gerry Dulac: It affects the 2016 cap, yes

MarkFromBonnietahn: You indicated that Packers DE/LB Mike Neal might make a nice fit with the Steelers. Do you think he would move between DE and OLB? Would he just be a rotational guy?

Gerry Dulac: Rotational guy who can move, especially in sub packages

NaplesDave: Hi GD, What is time frame for extending DeCastro? Will it impact free agency $? Thanks

Gerry Dulac: I think you will see it right before training camp.

Greg: What do you make of DWill's recent twitter rant?

Gerry Dulac: Childish. Unnecessary. Selfish. All I know is if someone said that about him, he'd be the first and loudest firing back on Twitter. It's bad when your own coach tells you to stop acting like a fool. .

Jim from Houston: Back up QB in FA? #2 or #3? Is Gradkowski gone?

Gerry Dulac: I wouldn't go that far. But if he's back, probably will be as No. 3. And that would be a good No. 3

Guest: Gerry can you give me a couple of late round CB prospects who i can study up on for my Draft prep work

Gerry Dulac: My man, I have a hard time getting past the third round with prospects.

MarkFromBonnietahn: With the LB group coming into its own with Jones/Harrison, Timmons, Shazier, Dupree...what role do you see someone like Spence and Moats playing in '16?

Gerry Dulac: Solid backups with lots of playing experience.

Guest: How do teams like the Raiders, Browns, and Bills give out huge contracts in FA but always be tens of millions UNDER the cap? Don't they have tons of dead money?

Gerry Dulac: Look at the teams you mentioned. Whatever they're doing, it is definitely the wrong approach.

JTT: I saw a tweet you did recently about Ed B getting an award or something. What is that about?

Gerry Dulac: See earlier answer.

Guest: Do you think Tomlin too frequently lets speed and athletic ability (athleticism is not a word), cloud his judgment? Dri Archer, Mike Vick for example?

Gerry Dulac: Yes, sometimes I do. Speed and athleticism is great if you know what you're doing. If not, well.........

Jim from Houston: Lad Green makes O Better, do they go after SS or CB now?

Gerry Dulac: One or the other. Better off with corner and taking corner and safety in the draft

Guest: Hi Gerry, with all the free agent deals plus the possible L. Green signing, can the Steelers still clear a path for Weddle?

Gerry Dulac: Yes

MarkFromBonnietahn: Great prediction on TE Green being a good fit for the Steelers! AT 6'6", he seems like he can get up and grab the ball. How is his blocking? Do you see Green and Spaeth more in two TE sets or Spaeth and James?

Gerry Dulac: Thanks. You will see more Green and James in two tight sets.

Guest: thoughts on the Ladarius Green signing?

Gerry Dulac: Based on what I knew and what I know about him, very good signing. Takes the pressure off finding a contributor, if not immediate starter, in the draft

Guest: Are you baffled as much as I am by FA each year? For example, Mario Williams gets a record deal with the Bills and he doesn't make them better or help get them to playoffs once. So the Dolphins give him an equally huge contract? Am I missing something here?

Gerry Dulac: You're missing nothing, my friend, other than it's just further proof that you or I could be an NFL GM.

Jon from Bloomsburg: Thanks for taking the time GD! If Steelers sign one more name for the secondary, how much does that open up the draft board for best available?

Gerry Dulac: I don't think it will change a whole lot. I think their interest and intent will still be CB, S, TE and DE. But it might help elevate that DE into the second or third round

GjSteel: Do you think the Steelers will add another rb this year..just in case L. Bell has a set back?

Gerry Dulac: No

BOTW: Steelers have focused alot of picks on their front 7. Def time to strengthen the secondary

Gerry Dulac: Bingo

SteelByDesign: ONE more? Gerry, are you alluding to one in particular?

Gerry Dulac: Yes

Joe: Special Teams have not been very good, outside the kicker. Why hasn't coaching changes been made or is this another talent issue?

Gerry Dulac: Pay the man

GjSteel: Gerry,..do you think both Mike Adams and Cortez Allen will not be on the roster when they regular season starts?

Gerry Dulac: Mike Adams yes if his back is healthy. Cortez Allen no. Makes no sense to keep him around at his price.

TomlinJr: Did Illoka's deal price Weddle out of our range?

Gerry Dulac: That's always a possibility

Guest: I consider the L Green signing as a big name FA. He had to be coveted by a decent number of teams right, especially after Dwayne Allen resigned with INDY?

Gerry Dulac: You are correct. Good signing on their part.

Kody: Who is more likely to return... McClendon or Boykin?

Gerry Dulac: McLendon

GjSteel: Gerry, haven't the Rooney's showed that if you want to remain a Steeler they bend over backwards to make it work (ie..Foster) If on the other hand you are uncompromising and really only looking to squeeze them...they turn away (ie..Faneca , Wallace)

Gerry Dulac: Good observation

Gerry Dulac: OK, kids, I'm out of time. I tried to go OT and squeeze in as many as I could, even with short answers. And still so many questions left. Watch me on Twitter @gerrydulac when I open it up to your questions. I'm on vacation next week so see you in 2 weeks from the NFL owners meetings.

First Published: March 9, 2016, 7:08 p.m.

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