MasterStrategist

There is zero chance Beane moves him--- if put any amount of $$$ down on that. Its a strategy from his agent, heading into preseason week 1. No reason for Cook to play a single snap in preseason, from his perspective. Thats the reason. Cook is also a super competitive individual, and completely about the team. He won't miss regular season games. This is the way for him and his agent to nudge Beane along with contract.

Cook sees the injury bug hitting and I dont blame him. Cooks demands are not 100% known, contrary to what some think with his prior social media posts. He is a super competitor, id be genuinely shocked if this drags into regular season. He's beyond deserving of a "fair" extension, holding out hope Beane can find a way to make that happen before season.

I might be wrong - but fairly certain Shakir suffered a high ankle sprain against the Ravens LY (week 4) to the same right ankle. Concerning if same ankle, but also severity not 100% known. LY, he only missed 1 week but was playing thru it for 4-5 weeks.

Ugh, ankles can be tricky. Well silver lining is he should be ready week 1, and he/Josh already have a great rapport. Palmer is missing time with a groin, hes more important to get reps IMO.

Exactly this. Just posted something similar. He will be behind the competition for CB3, hopefully hes back in the 3 week ish time frame, to get necessary reps. Way too early to predict the 53/position composition- but best case we stay healthy at CB thru rest of preseason and either Dorian/Dane step up at CB3- can give us flexibility with how to handle Max roster spot if needed (make 53/IR could be an option).

💯...keep Tre and Benford healthy. Dorian and Dane can show what they have for CB3 in meantime - Ingram, Hardy (who is more a nickle IMO) as well. Not too unlike the Bishop situation LY, I think Max is going to need time once hes back too (injury aside, to get reps). Hoping he can be back in the 3 week window. Otherwise, I see a make the 53/put on IR to start the year possibility.

The quote from Benford isnt promising....prayers up for Max!

Bump - hope Max injury isnt serious. But if it is, curious if Beane looks to sign Rasul for depth. Rasul looked washed LY, but im more confident in him than Dane if battling for #3.

Yeah hoping for minimal tearing/damage. Could be a hyperextension, and some people (like myself), have natural laxity in my knee. Im holding out hope

So you saw it "live"/in person at camp? Just to be clear. Or just videos? I will say its very uncommon to have a player walk off with a torn ligament, if he suspected something serious. And while walking, having him test stability, very strange he'd put any strain like that.

Low ankle as I heard for Shavers, good news

Sucks for Shavers. He was a long shot to make the team, but was is in the hunt at #6/ST gunner. Hope its just a low ankle sprain, and 5-10 days he will be back. Shakir, Keon, Palmer, Samuel, and Moore will be the top 5 barring injury. Might give the Maryland rookie an outside shot now, with more reps.

BUMP.....some thought he was going to pull a "hold in", as said above that just isnt in Cooks DNA. He's a competitor through and.through, and is more of a team player than people give him credit for. Im sticking to my post about contract. Gtd money is where they need to make this deal get done.

Elam lost confidence and his game became inconsistent, thats why hes gone. We came into the Chiefs playoff game with a mostly man to man defensive gameplan, which should favor Elams skillset once he stepped in for Benford. Somehow Elam cant play man, or this supposed complex zone defense. Elam just flat out lost whatever confidence he had. Hamlin is what he is...a mid rounder drafted to be a backup, which hes held onto the starting job because we lacked any competition LY. But yes, safety is much more complex in our system to pick up. Bishop will be ready this year to take over a starting role.

Dawson was in the photos of camp arrivals...sleeve on leg/maybe a knee if I had to guess. Edit: I wouldn't take this as bad news, he seemed his normal upbeat self. Hopefully a minor issue. He had some sort of small sleeve on his knee in minicamp IIRC

Man, what a great experience and HBD @Alphadawg7! Amazing story, esp chatting with Joshs mom (almost getting run over lol) and witnessing Joshs genuine personality with the kids. And yeah, word of advice, always good to have a "no kids" vaca sprinkled in each summer.. lol. I only have a 7 yr old, but def good to balance some time away/also kids can connect with the grandparents.

Not sleepers, but people on here doubt them. 2nd year guys: Keon on offense and Cole on defense. I've been signing Keons praises all offseason, very early on. Cole is going to be given every chance to win a starting safety spot- if he stays healthy, the kid is football smart and hes going to be playing without thinking this year. He's the biggest reason our defense takes a step forward, if he turns into a playmaker.

You clearly dont know Damars background well. Pittsburgh boy, spends A TON of time back home in offseason/ super close to Tomlin and their org. He's going to be a Bill in 2025, but if he ever signs elsewhere it will be with the Steelers. And its more than what you wrote "about him knowing the playbokk", as to why he will be a Bill. His contract his fully gtd/he just re signed, but most important is his connection with entire team, coaches, etc. He's ahead of Cam, there's someone we will all be talking about in camp (Hancock), that will make Lewis expendable.

My connection in the Steeler media, and Steeler friends all think Ramsey is overrated. There is an inner turmoil brewing, which caused the likes of talented players like Pickens and Minkah to be moved. Pickens made his own bed, Minkah is being thrown under the bus. My bigger issue is the mismanagement at the Qb position, and lack of any long term thought process. Tomlin is stubborn as hell and refuses to let a sub .500 team/down year occur. They should be re loading with draft picks and capital for 2026, instead they are doing a strange dance to stay relevant this season. Time will tell, but I think Omar is gone in 2026 or 2027. I dont see how they give Watt the $ he deserves- they'd be smart to move on now. But again, they think 2025 is their year.

Omar Khan is in over his head - this offseason has proved as much. Being in Pittsburgh, its crazy to see how mismanaged two of the most prestigious pro franchises have been HORRIBLY managed these past couple years (Steelers and Pens). Steeler country is in disbelief, I wouldn't be shocked to see a major change of the guard in Pittsburgh next year.

Only reason Diggs comes close to Shakir production, is bc of lack of weapons in NE or a Khalil injury. Diggs was the superior player, but coming off a torn ACL and a 2nd yr QB that I think is good/not great--- Shakir is also trending up still. I think Shakir gets close to 1k yards this season. He's going to have more opportunities open up for him, when Kincaid, Keon, and Palmer all step up. Lots of mouths to feed, but I see a highly efficient offense again.

I've been one of his biggest supporters since the start, and already said 1 month ago that he was gonna impress - his strength and quickness at top of route will be noticeably improved. Its not jump balls, its the leverage and his athletic ability that will be on better display. I think hes ready to be a big time player for us. Im going 65 catches for 900 yards and 8 TDs, if he can stay healthy all season.

100% agree with the sentiment that no sum of money would be worth it. I was thinking this same thing lol. My emotional hedge would probably be $50k, anything more and my wife might make me sell the bourbon collection lol

And if you want to go back to 2020, we had an elite QB/Wr combo...with Beas and Brown. And again, we should go for elite offense? This defense has never been able to get off the field in key situations, thats been a sad fact. Looking back to 2020 is just dumb. Like these teams are so comparable to now. But at least we had what you want then- and it still didnt work.

Very fair. We haven't seen McD with an elite def unit (healthy) come playoffs- unit or player at an impact position DE, CB). Im more pro McD than anyone else here. I think Beane has made so many great moves/and depth, but ultimately has failed at finding an elite defensive talent. Thats likely Beane+Coach+others making those decisions, so its not all on Brandon. Just think we'd see much different results on defense, if we had a Josh Allen equivalent - like the Chiefs, Eagles, Bengals, 49ers, etc have had to make a deep run.