"Najee Harris ain't it". NAJEE 3.0 It's time to go, yo....

[Drink IRON City]

I seen the guy work at Latrobe he put the work in. Just not overly explosive and not a great fit for an offense that needed exactly that an explosive back.

He would be a fine number 2. I even like him as a third down back or an end of the game control the clock type of back when you are up significantly.

I like the guy just like the Steelers I think we need an upgrade.

I seen the guy work at Latrobe he put the work in. Just not overly explosive and not a great fit for an offense that needed exactly that an explosive back.

He would be a fine number 2. I even like him as a third down back or an end of the game control the clock type of back when you are up significantly.

I like the guy just like the Steelers I think we need an upgrade.

Both excellent post(s) thank you.

When “MAD” Najee was playing, he would fit that ultimate RB we desire, unfortunately that was but 2 -3 times a season.

we shall see where he ends up under different system / scheme / coaching.

He is NOT a Steelers player any more so I won’t follow him to closely, just once in awhile to see what he’s doing.



Salute the nation

 

[Aussie_Steeler]

Cost wise Harris might have been the way to go. His base salary is $5.2 mill. Warren's is $5.3 mill. We also signed Eagles backup RB....he got $1.8 mill from us. Patterson is still here at the moment for I believe for $1 mill. We will be drafting someone most likely. Will Warren even be the feature back? Guess we will see soon enough.

You're assuming Harris would have been willing to take a 1 year deal for $5.2m to stay with the Steelers. I suspect not, as I think he probably sees the opportunity to prove he can be more productive in a different system, with a much better passing game, and better use of the running back (i.e. not so many tosses half a mile behind the line of scrimmage so that he has to stand still waiting for the ball instead of running onto it, which allows the defence to get to him before he has built up speed and momentum).

 

[stillwright]

You're assuming Harris would have been willing to take a 1 year deal for $5.2m to stay with the Steelers. I suspect not, as I think he probably sees the opportunity to prove he can be more productive in a different system, with a much better passing game, and better use of the running back (i.e. not so many tosses half a mile behind the line of scrimmage so that he has to stand still waiting for the ball instead of running onto it, which allows the defence to get to him before he has built up speed and momentum).

We could have given him his fifth year option for $6.7 mill as an option. Flip side is we probably don't retain Warren though in either case. Or we tender Warren the lower tier option. I am sure it all works out in the end.

 

[insaniti]

You're assuming Harris would have been willing to take a 1 year deal for $5.2m to stay with the Steelers. I suspect not, as I think he probably sees the opportunity to prove he can be more productive in a different system, with a much better passing game, and better use of the running back (i.e. not so many tosses half a mile behind the line of scrimmage so that he has to stand still waiting for the ball instead of running onto it, which allows the defence to get to him before he has built up speed and momentum).

Considering the Steelers didn't pick up his fifth year, and he signed so quickly in FA, I'm thinking both parties realized that it was the wrong system for his skillset. Najee basically said just that at his introductory press conference in LA. And that is the fault of the Steelers. They drafted him in the first round, and then tried to make him play in a zone blocking scheme, and that's just not what he is. It's no coincidence that his best games were the ones where we got him between the tackles consistently and got him running downhill immediately. He'll get more of that in LA.

 

[WindyCitySteel]

Considering the Steelers didn't pick up his fifth year, and he signed so quickly in FA, I'm thinking both parties realized that it was the wrong system for his skillset. Najee basically said just that at his introductory press conference in LA. And that is the fault of the Steelers. They drafted him in the first round, and then tried to make him play in a zone blocking scheme, and that's just not what he is. It's no coincidence that his best games were the ones where we got him between the tackles consistently and got him running downhill immediately. He'll get more of that in LA.

Square peg/round hole is a common theme lately, agree he’ll be better off in LA.

Man, if they had just held onto James Conner and paired him with Warren they would have been better off. Still SMH that they thought the way to rebuild the run game was to start with the back, and a plodding power back at that.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Square peg/round hole is a common theme lately, agree he’ll be better off in LA.

Man, if they had just held onto James Conner and paired him with Warren they would have been better off. Still SMH that they thought the way to rebuild the run game was to start with the back, and a plodding power back at that.

The making of the “cart in front of the horse” syndrome.

No OL, not much at QB, pass twice on a C who has made the Pro-Bowl from day one………………

Not sure James Conner would have prospered here either.

No dissrespect5 to James or Najee.


Salute the nation

 

[insaniti]

Square peg/round hole is a common theme lately, agree he’ll be better off in LA.

Man, if they had just held onto James Conner and paired him with Warren they would have been better off. Still SMH that they thought the way to rebuild the run game was to start with the back, and a plodding power back at that.

Hindsight with Conner, as he just couldn't stay healthy with us (or with Az for that matter). He has never played a full season. And unfortunately that was the reason we moved on from him.

 

[stillwright]

Hindsight with Conner, as he just couldn't stay healthy with us (or with Az for that matter). He has never played a full season. And unfortunately that was the reason we moved on from him.

And then we get a durable Harris who never missed a game. Played in quite a few far from 100%.....and we move on from him now also.

 

[Drink IRON City]

And then we get a durable Harris who never missed a game. Played in quite a few far from 100%.....and we move on from him now also.

I wonder just what the excuse is with the HC ?

Maybee the non-losing seasons is the criteria for longevity....... ?



Salute the nation

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Cost wise Harris might have been the way to go. His base salary is $5.2 mill. Warren's is $5.3 mill. We also signed Eagles backup RB....he got $1.8 mill from us. Patterson is still here at the moment for I believe for $1 mill. We will be drafting someone most likely. Will Warren even be the feature back? Guess we will see soon enough.

Sadly I think Patterson is at 3.75 (950k as bonus/2.8 salary per spotrac)…a high number for what he brings to the table. Hopefully he is displaced by a draftee or UDFA.

Don’t sleep on Gainwell, dude is pretty solid in his limited chances thus far. He’s a good add if he can improve his ball security.

Expecting we’ll have three backs at a minimum that are more explosive than Najee to start the season, maybe 4?

As much as I appreciate the good teammate Najee appeared to be and solid citizen he was I’m more looking forward to a more explosive backfield this year. He was just another square peg in the wheel of this covered wagon of an offense stuck in a muddy rut.

 

[insaniti]

So here's an interesting tidbit, and could be why Patterson hasn't been cut yet...Warren has yet to sign his tender. Meaning, as of right now, Gainwell and Patterson are the only RB's

 

[Confluence]

So here's an interesting tidbit, and could be why Patterson hasn't been cut yet...Warren has yet to sign his tender. Meaning, as of right now, Gainwell and Patterson are the only RB's

He is looking for a longer term deal.....maybe the Steelers are too?

 

[Fiji Mariner]

He is looking for a longer term deal.....maybe the Steelers are too?

Bingo…likely quietly beginning negotiations.

The Steelers would obviously want to stall a bit until the draft plays out to have a clearer picture of his value to them. Any talks in earnest won’t really begin until May.

Nothing to see here.

 

[insaniti]

Bingo…likely quietly beginning negotiations.

The Steelers would obviously want to stall a bit until the draft plays out to have a clearer picture of his value to them. Any talks in earnest won’t really begin until May.

Nothing to see here.

Oh there's smoke there. It's a tender offer, and a guaranteed salary at that. He may want a long term deal, but by not signing the tender, he's not even on the team. Waiting until the draft is a horrible strategy for him. He was an UDFA, they could easily fill his roster spot with a draft pick and an UDFA and pull his tender. The Steelers hold all the cards here. If they were to pull the offer, considering what Najee got, and who is left in FA, he'd be lucky to see a vet min contract offer.

 

[Superman]

Oh there's smoke there. It's a tender offer, and a guaranteed salary at that. He may want a long term deal, but by not signing the tender, he's not even on the team. Waiting until the draft is a horrible strategy for him. He was an UDFA, they could easily fill his roster spot with a draft pick and an UDFA and pull his tender. The Steelers hold all the cards here. If they were to pull the offer, considering what Najee got, and who is left in FA, he'd be lucky to see a vet min contract offer.

especially when you consider that there's not really a team out there in dire need of a RB. Most either have an established starter, a rookie coming into his second year or a guy with similar skillset as Warren.

 

[Drink IRON City]

especially when you consider that there's not really a team out there in dire need of a RB. Most either have an established starter, a rookie coming into his second year or a guy with similar skillset as Warren.

Add in that Warren hasn’t established himself as a feature back. Remembering that a RB such as Warren is easily replaced via FA or mid - later draft pick.

Fast Willie Parker was an anomaly with GREAT mentorship, Warren not so much.



Salute the nation

 

[Confluence]

Oh there's smoke there. It's a tender offer, and a guaranteed salary at that. He may want a long term deal, but by not signing the tender, he's not even on the team. Waiting until the draft is a horrible strategy for him. He was an UDFA, they could easily fill his roster spot with a draft pick and an UDFA and pull his tender. The Steelers hold all the cards here. If they were to pull the offer, considering what Najee got, and who is left in FA, he'd be lucky to see a vet min contract offer.

Or the team could be negotiating a deal towards TC and would prefer it not be signed given the saga of A-aron and the need to have cap space.

It's hard to imagine him not signing it if it was in his best interests, so it feels like something else is in play.

 

[insaniti]

We don't need cap space, have plenty of it. Even tho is hasn't signed the tender, as long as it's out there, it counts against the cap. Rodgers, even if he does sign, is only asking $10m, that's straight from his mouth. Any extensions for Watt, Pickens, or anyone else isn't going to eat up much of the $30m we have, unless they front load them. Maybe Warren wants assurances that he's going to be the man, and with the RB's they have brought in for visits, it doesn't look like that's the case.

I just did some digging as well. The signing period for RFA's was March 12 - April 18th. Warren can no longer negotiate with any team other than Pittsburgh at this point. Even if the offer is pulled, because the signing period has passed, the Steelers retain his rights. If he doesn't sign by week 10, they would retain his rights for the following year as well. He literally has NO leverage at all.

We have $31.4m in cap space, there is no reason what so ever to delay any signings due to cap space reasonings.